Milkman cows

[src cowman]

Does anyone have any experience with Milkman heifers?  If so, do they milk very well as cows?  I have on and she has her first calf and doesn't have much of an udder at all.  I'm curious if it will get better as she ages or do they not milk very well.  Are they, "Milkman females", not good mothers? 
Thanks,

 

[cowpoke]

The dam will also have a big influence on what kind of mother your heifer will make.I have leased him the past two years and Phil said he is starting to show his age this winter but I had as many saleable calves out of him as any bull and not one cripple plus no calving problems that some people who have never used talk about.

 

[LLBUX]

Age and how you fed the heifer will also determine how large her udder is and how she milks.

Heifers should have smaller udders than cows anyway.  You really don't want a big one as a heifer.

Big bag doesn't necessarily equate to being a heavy milker.

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

you don't judge milking ability by size of udder;
you judge it by size of calf.

 

[RyanChandler]

I judge it by udder size.  I've never once had a cow with what I thought was an adequate sized udder be poor in terms of milk production.  On the other hand, the cow that has adequate milk production despite having a small udder is the rare exception.

 

[RankeCattleCo]

We have two daughters, one out of an angus cow the other a a Sooner cow, both have normal to below average udder size and both milk normal to above average. Each have had 2 calves by I-80 in March any where from 65-80 lbs. and weaned calves in September all weighed over 640, 1 heifer 3 bulls

 

[RyanChandler]

We have two daughters, one out of an angus cow the other a a Sooner cow, both have normal to below average udder size and both milk normal to above average. Each have had 2 calves by I-80 in March any where from 65-80 lbs. and weaned calves in September all weighed over 640, 1 heifer 3 bulls

Hearing of a calf with average at best growth genetics, whose dam visually has less milk than average yet is said to have still gained over 100lbs a month through weaning leads me to believe these weaning weights should be attributed to whatever you were feeding them and not necessarily as a testament to their dams milking ability. 

 

[Pleasant Grove Farms]

we have several cows aged 4-6 sired by Milkman; can't tell you how large their udders are.....
the cows themselves are larger framed, well muscled; their calves do grow and aren't small at weaning;
believe they milk just fine.

 

[RankeCattleCo]

We have two daughters, one out of an angus cow the other a a Sooner cow, both have normal to below average udder size and both milk normal to above average. Each have had 2 calves by I-80 in March any where from 65-80 lbs. and weaned calves in September all weighed over 640, 1 heifer 3 bulls

Hearing of a calf with average at best growth genetics, whose dam visually has less milk than average yet is said to have still gained over 100lbs a month through weaning leads me to believe these weaning weights should be attributed to whatever you were feeding them and not necessarily as a testament to their dams milking ability.

Only creep fed last 15 days before weaning, they were on pasture, I'll attribute all that gain to the grass I guess since clubby cows can't milk EVER.  There aren't any exceptions.  Shorthorn cows are the best out there no comparison no substitute yada yada yada

Personally I wouldn't mind a small herd of Milkman cows, both of ours are black, like Pleasant Grove said larger framed, well muscled, calves grow big, maybe they require a bit more feed because of their frame size but as far as raising a hairy show steer or a fat sale barn steer, I don't think you could mind a terminal sire to make better daughters.

 

[cowpoke]

Udder size doesn't always mean extra milk.Cows with adequate udders and nice teats will last longer in your herd.We have all seen what happens when there is too much milk and large teats.We also know what happens when milk production is too much as nature has a way of balancing things.They have to breed back to stay in business and raise a quality above average weight calf.

 

[Freddy]

Very true and great  statement ----cowpoke

 

[src cowman]

Yes, some of you make excellent point.  I agree that udder size is not the end all be all test when it comes to milk production.  I have been and still am in the business of raising commercial cattle in the state of MS.  I understand what it takes to make money and it is not ever a good idea to poor money down the drain.  The heifer in question is out of a Cigar cow.  I have no knowledge of club cattle nor their genetics. 
Thanks,
Bo