Midland bull test-Area 51

[aj]

Sounds like this is where the new frontier will be in cattle breeding. Sounds like they have id'ed a line of Angus cattle that legitimately cuts feeding costs by 80$ a head in the feedlot. It almost seems like it would be better for a young kid to buy a female out of this line and develop a herd of cattle then pursue-ing a triple bred heatwave that kinda looks like a Herford. And of course the Shorthorn breed is liniing up their triple bred Rodeo Drive,Trump,Sonny bloodlines without a clue about what their feed efficiency is. But seriously looks like to me the Angus has discovered another gemline of cattle. It almost makes them look like a business breed or something. The Midland deal really seems like it is changing the industry and they are now getting alot of cattle thrown into the tests and they are getting alot of info out of there also. It almost makes you wonder about what bull in the Simmental,Gelbvieh, and what ever breed could move their breed forward. Most likely they are not winning a purple ribbon. I know this is a show orrientated site but dang looks like we could aim more youth in a different direction. And Midland seems to be making the club calf deal really look like a joke with the new feed efficiency data. jmo

 

[sue]

There are nearly a 1000 hd of Shorthorns on feed- check with Jake Alden or Patrick Wall. I think it's a step in the right direction for those that have participated.
I just looked at a  bull sale catalog that went to all the trouble of printing Carcass information without scan wts?? The next Bull catalog that came in the mail was kind enough to print everything but Calving Ease information? I have to chuckle when a breeder tells me that "most commerical breeders get confused with epd's and carcass information" ...... really it's the breeder that does not understand it?  Who cannot understand fewer days on feed???  Or REA/cwt ( muscle per 100 wt). We still have a few in the crowd that think long legs = growth or performance.
Just a note about Club calf : Any time a kid gets involved in agricultural it is a bonus... I guess if they are spending time in the barn it's better then the streets.  Spending time with a "hair ball" is fine with me.

 

[carl s.]

AJ, what are you on your computer for?  Shouldn't you be loading all of your Durham Red cattle on the trailer RIGHT NOW to make room for this new line of cattle?

Or are you just regurgitating your same old schtick and telling everyone what they are doing wrong while not actually practicing it yourself...

 

[Jenny]

think the angus breed has to do something to counteract the negative publicity out right now with their genetic defect problems....I NEVER thought I would see the dethroning of the angus breed but the demand now for bulls here has come around to solid reds being more and more sought after because it is presumed they are not genetic defect carriers.
don't get me wrong, I admire the development of the angus certified beef program as a huge selling tool for the angus breed  but with the genetic stuff out now, I think they needed to develop another innovative selling point to their breed and hats off to them if they can do it and over come the negativity in their breed  associated with the genetic defects.

 

[aj]

I fed a pen of steers last year in the proof positve tests last year that was reserve champ for rate of gain. Got beat by Wakura. I am using a Durham Red bull that was 8 for 8 stars in feed efficiency in the one test. I need to identify a Shorthorn bull that is good marbling to use. I want to improve carcass quality in my herd. What are my options? I would think jpj would improve marbling but I don't know.

 

[knabe]

I want to improve carcass quality in my herd. What are my options? I would think jpj would improve marbling but I don't know.

so burn a few straws and send them out to get tested, then you will know.  beware of feed efficiency and correlation rate of growth.  some results indicate the more efficient an animal is, the slower and longer the rate of growth, and hence maybe less marbling.

 

[carl s.]

aj, you raise a non-mainstream breed of cattle and you like how your herd in doing?

How is that even possible?

 

[simtal]

And of course the Shorthorn breed is liniing up their triple bred Rodeo Drive,Trump,Sonny bloodlines without a clue about what their feed efficiency is.

or birth weight, growth, carcass merit, and any other real world trait

 

[aj]

Not sure I get your question carl. The Durham Red deal is only couple years old. I like their attributes they will bring to the commercial deal. Had Shorthorns for 40 some years. I think they are a maternal breed that went overlooked cause they didn't jump into the black deal. On my Durham red deal I am getting to the point I'm breeding half bloods to half bloods and they are good uns. I don't think there is any question that the Shorthorns and Durham Reds have any market share at the present time. I did think the shorthorn plus shows would be more like say the Limi flex show and have Durham Red Cattle in them. Carl....one a feedlot contest. I am slowly getting Durham Red customers on board.

 

[hamburgman]

I want to improve carcass quality in my herd. What are my options? I would think jpj would improve marbling but I don't know.

so burn a few straws and send them out to get tested, then you will know.  beware of feed efficiency and correlation rate of growth.  some results indicate the more efficient an animal is, the slower and longer the rate of growth, and hence maybe less marbling.
[/quote

When it comes to hogs the company we feed for sends out a newsletter and it shows the data from the top 10%, the people who have the greatest feed efficiency are almost never on the ADG part.

 

[aj]

Isn't REA and marbling antagonistic? Maternal cattle could marble and terminal breeds should have the muscle and weight per day of age.

 

[Diamond]

"In 2008 of the first time in the history of the Midland Bull Test and sale in Columbus, Montana, a Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 on the genetic test for marbling and a near perfect 9 on the genetic test for tenderness. No bull of any breed has ever performed so well before.[7]"

Every breed has its use. Breed for show, breed for beef, what’s the point of down grading anyone’s program, if you haven’t noticed farmers are a dieing breed...

IMO, raise what you want, and anyone who has nothing decent to say can kiss off.

 

[knabe]

"In 2008 of the first time in the history of the Midland Bull Test and sale in Columbus, Montana, a Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 on the genetic test for marbling and a near perfect 9 on the genetic test for tenderness. No bull of any breed has ever performed so well before.[7]"

so did he score high on ultrasound?