habanero calf. bull or steer?

[spencer f.]

this calf is a habanero out of a purebred maine cow and i was wondering if i should steer him or if i should keep him a bull?

 

[spencer f.]

sorry that it is too dark if someone could fix it or anything to help would be great.

thanks

spencer

 

[herefordfootball]

Probaly steer him. Unless you need a maine herd bull. Nice looking calf.

 

[Telos]

Keep him a bull. Those high percentage Maine's usually never make good show steers.

 

[bcosu]

what's the cow bred like? he would have epd's and all since he is a purebred wouldn't he?

Keep him a bull. Those high percentage Maine's usually never make good show steers.

agreed, the best maine steers are only 1/4 bloods normally.

 

[spencer f.]

this is another picture of him that i went out and took this morning. thanks to all who have replied.

 

[vet tech]

What was his birth weight like? and do you need a bull? I'd say that if he has a low birth weight, a good temperment, you need a bull, and his mother is a nice cow with a nice udder.....go for it!

 

[furinsilex]

dapends on what u need. if you dont have need either way i would keep him as a bull personally

 

[spencer f.]

He was about eighty pounds at birth and he has a good temperment and is out of a good cow but what I need is money for college so I was planning on selling him.

 

[TMJ Show Cattle]

Keep him as a bull and fit him to sell later on. He's worth more as a bull if his mamma has as good of pedigree as his daddy.He has too much maine to make a show steer.Where do you live? Post his mamma's pedigree,sell him in a Maine sale next spring.

 

[spencer f.]

I live in southeastern Minnesota.
The cows pedigree.
                    DJ CHROMEC669
GUNNER
                                                  MSD DAINES HOLYSMOKE 30X
                    DE B68

                    DJ BULLS EYE B474
DE D17
                                                    POWER PLANT
                    DE X22



This is a picture of the cow.

 

[TMJ Show Cattle]

Fit the calf for a bull and take him to the Iowa Beef Expo next February.

 

[Show Heifer]

Here is another view: Steer him.
Theory:  You sell him in the fall for pound price. Should bring pretty close to top dollar so lets say $1.15. If he weighs 750 when you sell him. He should bring around $862.50. You will probably precondition him, so subtract a few dollars for feed and vet vaccinations. You will "take home" $800.
OR
Keep him a bull. You will push the crap out of him to get him in "show shape" for the Expo. You will have at least $600 in feed, plus semen check ($50), health papers ($15) hotel bill($400) food at expo-expenses ($120) pay a clipper ($75), DNA for genetic defects ($40), Entry Fee ($75?), Sale commission (20%).
Since your not a "big dog" your bull regardless of how good MIGHT bring between $1500-2500. Lets be optimistic and say he brings $2500.  20% commission = $500.
You have $1875 in expenses, plus you HOURS of labor. Hopefully you have other vet bill for illness or injury.
So your bull brought $2500 minus your expenses $1875 and that leaves you with $625 for your efforts.  You are actually LOSING $235 for your efforts of keeping him a bull and going the expo route. Don't know about you, but I would take the $860 in the fall without all the stress of breaking the calf for the expo and keeping it another 4 months.
Granted these are rough estimates, but I think you get the idea and I am willing to bet they are pretty darn close to the ball park.

 

[herefordfootball]

You'd probaly have to push extremely hard to get him ready fot the expo, you wont make the money like showheifersaid , but the nice thing about selling at the expo is you get your name out there. But you have to ask yourself what you're aiming to do, promote your name, or make money. In my opinion if you are fairly new to the cattle business I would take the money in the fall and promote yourself later on, but again thats JMO. I think you'll do good either way though.

 

[Show Heifer]

I wanted to add a few things I forgot and I hate the "edited last" thing as it implies you typed something you shouldn't have in the first place and now regret it, so I will add my thoughts here.

I forgot the typical 3% commission on the salebarn sale, so you have to subtract the $26 for that.  Also remember the transportation to the barn.

You also have to add transportation to the expo. You mentioned you were from MN, so that will add up with fuel prices as high as they are. Figure $200 for fuel/truck cost.

I reviewed the last several years of the maine sale at the Iowa Expo. Averaged something around $2000. So since you are a "unknown" you probably won't come close to $2500, maybe around $2000 or $1850.

herf-ball had a good point, if you are trying to establish yourself as a breeder, then remember to factor in the advertising value of attending the expo, but remember, if you take something that "isn't up to snuff" it will hurt your reputation more than it will help.

I am not saying your calf is not "bull worthy", nor am I saying it isn't "steer worthy", I am just saying do the math, be realistic (which is something many have a hard time doing - including myself) and make the call yourself.

 

[herefordfootball]

That should be the new term for herefords or calves with curly hair herfball!!!  (lol)

 

[shortyjock89]

That calf wasn't bred to be a sale barn calf, and he doesn't look like one either.  I'd take the time and money to take him to the expo.  You won't get any recongnition as a breeder by taking all your calves to the sale barn.  Not saying it's not a way to make money, but if I wanted to raise sale barn calves, I could buy grade cows and breed them to the neighbor's bull. 

 

[spencer f.]

The curly hair was definately frustrating. I never thought something like that would happen!!!!!
I was planning on showing the calf in 4H (being my last year and the cow was the first one I had ever boughten) so I don't think it will be too difficult to get him ready to sell in Febuary.

Thanks for all replies and keep them coming.

Thanks again

Spencer

 

[Show Heifer]

OSF: Are you saying that just because it is out of a pedigreed cow, and is sired by an AI bull, then it ISN'T  and shouldn't be a salebarn calf? Your right, a lot of calves are not "bred" to be salebarn calves, but that is exactly where they should go, and if you do not beleive me, I have a calf that is totally defect free (angusXClubbie sired) that had all the potential in the world, and right now, the coyotes wouldn't even eat it if it was ditch fill.  And I have a calf from a "grade cow" bred to my "herd bull" that would put the slap down on most "pedigreed" calves. You are making pretty broad and big implications in your statement which just are not true.

I wish you luck at the Expo Spencer, but it will be one tough ride and a lot tougher sale.

 

[herefordfootball]

The curly hair was definately frustrating. I never thought something like that would happen!!!!!
I was planning on showing the calf in 4H (being my last year and the cow was the first one I had ever boughten) so I don't think it will be too difficult to get him ready to sell in Febuary.

Thanks for all replies and keep them coming.

Thanks again

Spencer

Oh I wasnt saying anything about the hair, showheifer had a said"herfball" referrring to me herefordfootball and I thought it was kinda funny so I decided to make it my new term for herfs with curly hair!!!  (lol)