Why Shorthorns ?!?

[mark tenenbaum]

and the reason i dont know much about them is because they cannot survive down here, they make great barn cattle, but not always good real world cattle down here south. there is hardly any shorhorns down here because they just cant live, so i have nothing for or against the breed fyi im just doing like you are, keeping the storys straight
////that may be true now-and it will probably apply to about anything that doesnt have some ear blood. However-the first improved cattle (for lack of a better description) that existed with the wild cattle and oxen were Shorthorns-in your country-in the far west etc. Almost every commercial cow that hasnt been immediately imported to that area will trace by DNA-every Angus traces,Every Charolais,Every Maine,And I believe original fullbllod Simmis,Alot of the Longhorns clearly go back by color alone,not to mention various strains of ear cattle.Kansas and Oklahoma aint no picknic either in certain areas,so I guess survivability is just as much a matter of fashion . If some of the Desert RAT Shorthorns fromHoyts in  Oregon were put out in your country(Ive seen em,they aint barn cattle,and they aint friendly)they would woop the hell out of whatever got in thier way just like they do out there and survive. Thats because they have been exposed to that environment.PS-the Hoyt desert cattle (Shorthorns) were one of the largest groups of cattle of one breed in the US.

 

[COWgirls]

I started in 1972 with Shorties as my 4h project. My dad chose them for their docility & mothering ability , even thou he was raised with Herefords. Now that I do everything by myself , the docility factor is a major plus. I do sell some freezer beef each year & I sure have happy customers eating Shorthorn beef.

Sounds like our story, with minor adjustments... Started in 2010 with our oldest daughter's 3rd project and our youngest daughter's 2nd.  Docile.  Maternal.  Also, seem to bridge the gap between us and my Daddy/their Paw Paw who's no longer with us.  He LOVED horses and found nothing more beautiful than a red roan eventhough show judges knocked them for their color against the blacks, bays, and other solids.  It's about personal preference for us.  Our shorthorns have been all we expected them to be and more.  Sure, we have a pasture full of black hided cattle (always have) but plan to see that gradually change over the next few years.  Shorthorns for us.

 

[shortdawg]

Around 40 breeds have some Shorthorn parentage.

 

[shortdawg]

Around 40 breeds have some Shorthorn parentage.

 

[Okotoks]

The reason they have been used in the formation of over 40 breeds is their ability to cross so well on other genetics and improve both maternal and carcass traits. They cross well with both British and Continental based commercial herds.

 

[fryguy]

Now I don't own any shorthorns (Yet) but I have black angus, red angus, murray greys, a couple belties and some other mix cattle. There is no doubt that the black is way easier to market in my area. I even think sometimes if a black animal with a little white in the wrong place is hard to sell around here. Now the murray greys started with a shorthorn cow and a angus bull. All I can tell you is they are awesome cattle. They are docile, excellent mothers and so easy keeping its not even funny not to mention the longevity. Sold one last year at nineteen years old and have another one that's twelve. She looks like shes maybe five or six and still raises one of the best calf's every year. The murrays were on the worst pasture I had all year versus the angus and never missed a beat, they looked great. Now i'm not trashing the angus or any other breed out there because I love them all but why are the murrays easier keepers. I don't know but they started with a shorthorn cow. This is just my opinion and what I see every day and think that all my cows are great, if not their gone. Nobody eats the hair so the bottom line is raise the cattle that you love and works for you. I got in to the cattle business for a couple reasons and the main one is because I love cattle and that's why they all work for me.  

 

[linnettejane]

i first became interested in shorties because of their coloring...just wanted to show one of those pretty roans!....10 years later im in love with them....their disposition is the main selling point for me...i can throw a halter on any of them in my field and do whatever i need to do with them...and i dont have to wait for the hubby to get home to help me  ;D  they are excellent mothers and great milkers...and it only takes one strand of electric to keep them in, lol 

 

[Okotoks]

and the reason i dont know much about them is because they cannot survive down here, they make great barn cattle, but not always good real world cattle down here south. there is hardly any shorhorns down here because they just cant live, so i have nothing for or against the breed fyi im just doing like you are, keeping the storys straight
////that may be true now-and it will probably apply to about anything that doesnt have some ear blood. However-the first improved cattle (for lack of a better description) that existed with the wild cattle and oxen were Shorthorns-in your country-in the far west etc. Almost every commercial cow that hasnt been immediately imported to that area will trace by DNA-every Angus traces,Every Charolais,Every Maine,And I believe original fullbllod Simmis,Alot of the Longhorns clearly go back by color alone,not to mention various strains of ear cattle.Kansas and Oklahoma aint no picknic either in certain areas,so I guess survivability is just as much a matter of fashion . If some of the Desert RAT Shorthorns fromHoyts in  Oregon were put out in your country(Ive seen em,they aint barn cattle,and they aint friendly)they would woop the hell out of whatever got in thier way just like they do out there and survive. Thats because they have been exposed to that environment.PS-the Hoyt desert cattle (Shorthorns) were one of the largest groups of cattle of one breed in the US.

Not only were Shorthorns the first breed used on the Texas Longhorns way back you will find them working in some pretty severe conditions in Australia. When things get real hot there is no doubt eared cattle are going to be used. Even here the Shorthorn genetics gets used like in Santa Gertrudis and South African Bonsmara breed.You are also going to find Shorthorns surviving just fine where it's 40 below as well.

 

[katie_k]

what im saying is if you breed a cow to a bull like heatwave, she can be shorty brahman charolais whatever and eventually you will pull one. the cow cant help that? i dont know shorties but i know that much and that does not add or take away from shorthorn cattle. . . and what difference does it make, its a difference because she has no cattle and is getting this from a farmer who raises her calves, thats the difference,

no this is not information the farmer i work with has told me. i researched the breed i was working with so i could know information about them if anyone ever asked me. and he DOES NOT raise them for me. i work with him and do about 98% of the work that goes into my calves.  so dont spout off before you know what you are talking about. thanks. and if you know your cows and what your breeding you wont have to pull.

 

[katie_k]

also you say you dont know much about shorthorns but then you try to correct me, who works with them and has researched them and knows, and tell me in wrong.  and yes if you did any research you would know that the shorthorn is a basic breed that has contributed to MOST breeds through-out time.

 

[Hilltop]

Around here we call them them the "Home Alone" cattle.........When my husband was away working way north!!! I calved the cattle at home alone.. didn't need anyone to help to get them in or any trouble at all....they Do stay in a 1 wire electric fence (whether it is on or not!!!!!) Our neighbour has blks. and they have trouble staying in a 3 wire fence!!! I wouldn't give up our Shorties for anything... Our daughter and I get the cattle ready for the shows from the halter-breaking to the show ring....ourselves...Temperment is everything!!!   At our auction marts around here the good roans don't bring any less than the blks.!   Momma Hilltop                 p.s. it is -37 wind chill and the cattle are out 1/3 mile from corrals eating hay.....

 

[Diamond]

though I don’t have shortys anymore, Ill stands behind the breeds ability to be versatile, and a great temperament. We had the milking kind, beef kind and pulling oxen. They may not beat other breeds for beef ( but I tell you what I rather have a little less quality then animals I’m afraid to turn my back on.) they don’t produce as much milk as a Holstein, and they couldn’t pull as much as a pb chi...But its by far a breed that could stand agents anyone. I like the breed, It contributed many great factors to my Murray grays, especially that temperament. I have raised everything from long horns to watusi, angus to Brahma and everything in between and shorthorns make my short list for good cattle.

As far as the color and prices, If shorthorn breeders are resourceful enough (which I believe they are) they will find a nitch market, heck I grow Murray grays for beef a breed that’s not nearly as large as the shortys, and are silver (though they can be black or dun) , I have had some stand vary well in the ring but they aren’t hair cattle, they are beef. I get 6.50 per pound hanging weight for my pb and always have a waiting list. Not To mention 50 years ago it was the red and white that stood above all other breeds, right now its the black hide because of the angus. There’s nothing to say that that roan one day wont be the king, or any other 'off color' personally I get sick off black, you cant tell me white, red, or brown aren’t good enough.

 

[justintime]

I agree with everything Hilltop has said. I grew up with Shorthorns but that is not the only reason I have continued to raise them. I have had numerous chances to switch breeds as I have also had sizable of herds of 7 different breeds as well as a large commercial herd at one time. In 2004 I decided that I had too many cows here to manage properly so I took a serious look at which herd I would disperse, the hundred plus Shorthorns, or the hundred plus Charolais. It was an easy decision when I looked at this with an open mind. Our Shorthorn cows raised calves that fit well with our Charolais. There were less problems at calving time with the Shorthorns. The last year I calved my Charolais cows, my vet bill for calving related issues, was $3200.Every dollar of this vet bill involved a Charolais female.  I did not have a vet assisted birth for 3 years after the Charolais cows were sold. Calving Shorthorn cows is in a totally different realm than calving most other breeds I have raised. I have no idea how many times I have bent over a Shorthorn calf and checked to see if it was a bull or heifer calf while the mother was watching me. Of course, I used caution every time simply because these are still animals we are dealing with. I had a purebred Charolais herd for 11 years. When I started the Charolais herd, we could sell 3 Charolais bulls to every 1 Shorthorn bull. When I dispersed the Charolais herd, we were selling 3 Shorthorn bulls to every 1 Charolais. I fed our Shorthorn and Charolais bulls together in the same pen, and I was always found it interesting how many times a potential bull buyer would come to look at the Charolais bulls and would spend as much or more time looking at the Shorthorns. On a few occasions, I sold one or two Shorthorn bulls to guys that came for Charolais bulls. One commercial producer, needed 4 bulls. He came to look at the Charolais bulls. He left with 3 Charolais bulls and 1 Shorthorn bull. He has purchased bulls from us every year since then and last spring he purchased his 14th Shorthorn bull in the last decade from us. He uses only Shorthorn bulls now in his herd.

As Hilltop said, disposition is a trait that so many people overlook, when really it is so important. We are most fortunate here in Canada in that our markets are not as prejudiced as the US for any color but blacks. Our markets still have some ridiculous fads but thankfully, usually quality cattle of any color can get the top dollar on the market.Red, roan or white cattle with thickness, capacity and hair can top the markets on any given day.

I have often said that the Shorthorn breed could see major growth if every Shorthorn breeder gave two heifer calves to a neighbor who is trying to establish a herd. Shorthorn cows are basically very trouble free. We have had Shorthorn cows on this place since 1903, and there has never been a Shorthorn cow that had a uterine prolapse in over 100 years and several thousand Shorthorn cows. Recently, I heard of a Shorthorn cow having a prolapse, so I suspect there are some, but it is an exception rather than a rule. I have had many uterine prolapses in every other breed I have raised ( some are worse than others!). Just last month, I had our first Shorthorn cow with cancer eye. I have never seen another and have only heard of a couple others.

Like any breed, there are lots of variations in quality and all other traits in the Shorthorn breed. Like any breed, if you only chase fads, you will probably never develop a herd that you are happy with. You need to have a good mental picture of where you want to go, and try to find cattle that you think will help get you there... no matter whether they win a major show or were never shown. Quality has it's own definition to different people so plot your own course and don't just follow the crowd.... unless you firmly believe the crowd is going where you want your herd to do. Sometimes the bull that will improve your herd the most, has never seen a show ring or may have stood 5th in class.

 

[showsteerdlux]

what im saying is if you breed a cow to a bull like heatwave, she can be shorty brahman charolais whatever and eventually you will pull one. the cow cant help that? i dont know shorties but i know that much and that does not add or take away from shorthorn cattle. . . and what difference does it make, its a difference because she has no cattle and is getting this from a farmer who raises her calves, thats the difference,

no this is not information the farmer i work with has told me. i researched the breed i was working with so i could know information about them if anyone ever asked me. and he DOES NOT raise them for me. i work with him and do about 98% of the work that goes into my calves.  so dont spout off before you know what you are talking about. thanks. and if you know your cows and what your breeding you wont have to pull.

I'm not going to argue the bull crap stuff, but one line in there sums it up for me, "if you know your cows and what you're (notice correct grammar) breeding, you won't have to pull. WRONG. Have you ever heard of breaches. Now I know you know everything about cattle here with the infinite amount of wisdom that you have learned working with this guy, but evidently you really have not been in the real world with cows, because sooner or later dystocia can and will occur, end of story.
BTW, the stupid banter back and forth on almost every post and topic is getting old. Sometimes it is better to sit back and read and learn. Also, the grammar stuff on here has gotten awful, and for me to say that, its pretty bad because I hate grammar and english as it is, but it is pretty simple to capitalize something like "I" and the 1st word in a sentence. Lordy I hope school starts back quick.

 

[mark tenenbaum]

OKOTOKS-I drew a blank on the bull in the Canadian Brochure-whose he again? O0

 

[justintime]

The bull in the brochure is Byland Steadfast, who was a herd sire at Shadybrook a few years ago.

 

[Okotoks]

The bull in the brochure is Byland Steadfast, who was a herd sire at Shadybrook a few years ago.

Yes that is Steadfast, a maternal brother to Byland Gold Spear. He came to Shadybrook as a mature bull and they lost him not long after,can't remember the details.
Here' the same ad with Alta Cedar Royalty 58K

 

[hamburgman]

It is off topic somewhat, but to all you canadians, why are red simmentals and red simmentals crossed with chars so common up there?  it seems that whenever i go to a feedlot and they say those came from canada, you see a lot of cattle of that cross.

 

[ALTSIMMY 79]

Well thanks for all the replys to the shortorn topic ! Some good points where brought up . Ill give it to them for staying with their roots ! My simmys certainly don't look like they did when I was young ! Not sure where a person would even find one anymore with the traditional markings !

 

[trevorgreycattleco]

Okay I understand the shorthorn breed has a long history in the show ring, but what good are the rest of them and why do all these people breed them ? I know for a fact that the big feedyards and buyers don't care for them. I have hauled livestock for years all over the states and not once , anywhere , hauled in or out a load of shorties ? Am I missing something somewhere ? I've seen a few sell here and there and they fall way short of the other breeds of cattle ? 

It's simple for me. Believe it or not. I feel they hold the key ingredient to move carcass quality forward. Without even trying, shorties will test as tender or more tender than anything. Here is another little dirty seceret no stockyard buyer wants you to know. All those off colored calves that they buy at a discount rate are the reason they can turn a profit. Come to Mt Vernon, Ohio salebarn and sit in the back and watch the 3 or 4 buyers there. It is a JOKE! If I had the funds, I would just go to all the sale barns around and just buy the off colored calves. Even if they do happen to eat a little more, who cares, you can absorb the costs because you stole the cattle at the salebarn. Doesn't take a genuis to tell a good calf and a bad calf in the ring. When raising freezer beef, I have found it is essential to have at least 50% shortie in the equation. They keep it tender even  on grass and can flat grow. The trick is finding and using the lines to fit your needs and not fall prey to the hustlers of the hard doing high input cattle. Which leads to all the bad press floating around about how bad our breed is. Like so many other things in life, the reality is far from the perception.