judging brahman

[worthabit]

I was just on cattle.com and watched a brahman video. Can some of you tell me what to look for in an animal that represents that breed well. I have no experience with them at all.  

 

[CPL]

I know their appearance throws me off a lot, and I'd kind of like to hear a Brahman breeder's take as well on the question. But I would ASSUME  <cowboy> that you would still look for the traits like depth , length, soundness, muscle, etc. etc. I guess I would just find it hard to think the rules would change, to me cattle are cattle whether they have extra skin and a hump behind their neck or not.

 

[worthabit]

I know their appearance throws me off a lot, and I'd kind of like to hear a Brahman breeder's take as well on the question. But I would ASSUME  <cowboy> that you would still look for the traits like depth , length, soundness, muscle, etc. etc. I guess I would just find it hard to think the rules would change, to me cattle are cattle whether they have extra skin and a hump behind their neck or not.

I would think you are right as well, its just that I've been told all my life to look for clean fronted, clean sheathed and well muscled animals and all I see when I look at brahmans (sp?) is the floppy skin :-\

 

[LN]

The basics still apply when looking at Brahman. Although breed character is very important. They like them to be solid colored. I live in south Texas and see them all the time. Down here we like a little extra skin on our cattle.

 

[bcosu]

the longer the ears the better 

 

[justintime]

A few years ago, I watched the Brahman show in Louisville. I didn't have a clue what a good brahman should look like so I tried to place them and see how far off I was from the judge. I just ignored all the floppy parts and judged them on the rest of their traits. I was surprised how close i was to the judge. I think they select these cattle using most of the same trait selection.

 

[DFSC]

I acquired two Brahman heifers a couple of months ago and also really don't know anything about them. I posted this picture awhile back and was told she was a good representation of the breed.  

 

[LN]

the longer the ears the better 

Well I disagree, the bigger the hump the better

 

[qbcattle]

Brahman cattle have a genetic makeup to have all that loose skin in order to be as heat resistant as possible. They are also highly disease resistant, and that is why there are so many brahman and brahman influenced cattle here in south texas...dont have to baby them hardly at all they pretty much do it on their own. The same traits are desired as in any other breed and cleanliness of the leather on the neck and sheath is still desired, however some is still going to be present.


p.s. that is a very nice looking heifer, she is especially square hipped for a brahman and she will get deeper and deeper ribbed with age.  <cowboy>

 

[kimbaljd]

I acquired two Brahman heifers a couple of months ago and also really don't know anything about them. I posted this picture awhile back and was told she was a good representation of the breed.  

That is a very sharp looking heifer! I would love to acquire a few like her. Matter of fact I can take her off your hands for you.

 

[jbw]

What would happen if a hfr. like that was flushed to Heatwave or similar bull?

 

[OH Breeder]

What would happen if a hfr. like that was flushed to Heatwave or similar bull?

Isnt that an American Steer?

 

[jbw]

idk I am not familiar with Bos Indicus [sp?] breeding

 

[BIGTEX]

That would be an american steer. A lot of american steers are bred that way or similar.

 

[DFSC]

Thanks for the comments, she is a ham. We mainly raise shorthorns so I'm not really sure what we are going to do with her. I thought about going the clubby route after her first calf, but I really don't know. What do ya'll think?

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[CJC]

I acquired two Brahman heifers a couple of months ago and also really don't know anything about them. I posted this picture awhile back and was told she was a good representation of the breed.  

Take a look at this bull for her http://www.bovine-elite.com/clubepd2.asp?idProduct=399

 

[fluffer]

The year after I was on the judging team in college I went with the current team to LSU for the All East and they had a class of Brahaman heifers.  Being from Ohio we weren't too well versed in bos idicus (SP)  We stopped at some places that had Brahaman cattle and here is what I recall.  You want a good structure as is normal.  They are designed to be heat and parasite tolerant so you want some skin and ear.  They are not necessarily a beef and muscle breed, but you need them to have some.  Remember the thicker they are the less heat tolerant they will become.  On the sheaths you do not want them to be pinglous.  You want the sheath to come from the rear flank at an angle towards the front of the animal if that makes any sense.  You do not want it hanging straight down.  They are more tolerant on the slope of the hip then folks with the bos Taurus.    For the most part that is all I can tell you and that has been a while ago.  They are a neat animal though.

Fluffer

 

[JSchroeder]

What would happen if a hfr. like that was flushed to Heatwave or similar bull?

Well, if our experience with it is an indication of things, if you breed your best five Brahman cows to Heatwave you'll end up with five heifers.

 

[worthabit]

thanks for all the info. What about height? They appear to be quit tall, that heifer looks like she has as much legs as chiania (sp)? Frame size?

 

[CJC]

They do get petty tall.