Adding another breed

[sjcattleco]

I'd look at Shorthorns. They'd fit right in w/ my red Maines.

Red

How many do you want?

 

[sjcattleco]

I'll have to say that as a RA breeder I'm a little surprised by how many have listed RA as one of their top picks for a 2nd breed. Good to know we are being atleast noticed! RW

Red Angus would be my only pick! 

 

[TJ]

I'll have to say that as a RA breeder I'm a little surprised by how many have listed RA as one of their top picks for a 2nd breed. Good to know we are being atleast noticed! RW

Red Angus would be my only pick!   

How many do you want?  I'd like to get rid of my registered Red Angus females.  I've sold 3 of them so far & have 4 to go.   

 

[shortdawg]

I already have two breeds in Shorthorn and Angus. I guess I've been breeding some "Durham Blacks" for several years or "Appendix Shorthorns" or " Shorthorn Plus"..... ???...... maybe I already have too many breeds. Seriously, I like the Charolais cattle pretty good... I've got two halfbloods that have been doing a pretty good job. They would be my pick.

 

[BCCC]

Well we have maines, angus, char, simmis, herefords and crosses of the sort, and just added a new ChiMaine heifer heifer to the mix, so I would probally add shorthorn or lowline to my herd. I am not really sure I like one breed more then another its just that I like good animals so whether its maine, limmi, or angus(well maybe not that far lol jkjk) If its good its welcome here!!

 

[justintime]

While I like many of the Red Angus I see, I would not choose them as a second breed.... but for another reason.... that being, that I am surrounded by Red Angus breeders and there are probably 600- 700 Red Angus bulls sold in bull sales within 50 miles of where I live each spring.Some excellent herds of R Angus are close to me, so it makes little sense for me to try to get into the business and try to compete with them.

Shorthorns have been on our farm since 1903. The first registered Shorthorns came in 1917. Since I started full time here after college, we have also ran purebred herds of 6 other breeds, besides the Shorthorns. The last "other" breed was Charolais and we had over 100 registered Charolais cows when we decided to sell them about 6 years ago. At that time, the Charolais breed was seeing hard times here after many years of virtually owning the industry here. Most of the commercial herds in this area were Char X from years of using nothing but Charolais bulls. Now after several years of British bulls being used, I think breeds like Charolais and Simmental are going to have another era of success, within a few short years. Simmental breeders are already having great bull sales, after nearly a decade of  very sorry sales. There are lots of  private breeder Simmental bull sales here that average between $4000- 5000 with most of the bulls selling to commercial men.

So..... if I were to decide to add another breed, I think I would have to think seriously about Charolais again or Simmental ... even though I like some other breeds as much or more. I think it is smart to raise not only cattle you like.... but also cattle that will provide a living for you and your family.  

 

[aj]

In theory and you were a one stop bull provider you would have two maternal breeds and then a terminal breed for a terminal cross. Maybe one example would be have a angus and a herford herd. You would provide cattle for the producer to have a 2 breed rotation for his cow herd. Then you would provide a terminal cross breed for the terminal cross. Say Charolais or whatever. You would have a proverbial 3 way cross and would be maximizing heterosis. However some commercial cow calf guys don't raise their own replacement heifers. It cost to much for them so you have some cow herds withless than desirable makeup as far as a controlled crossbreeding system is concerned. Then it is not so much a maximizing heterosis deal it is buying a bull bred for ecomomically important traits. In Kansas there are more and more herds switching to a couple breeds.Finks,Pelton, Dickenson, come to mind.

 

[justintime]

What I have found to be the biggest problem in running more than one purebred breed on your farm, is trying to be active in each breed at the level you should be. When you are involved in any purebred breed, you need to be visible, and you need to support shows and sales within that breed. When you are in more than one breed, the number of events you should be attending goes up significantly. Keeping two sets of herd sires and seperate pastures, etc etc etc is very easy, compared to trying to do all the other things you should also be doing.

I know some people think that what you as a breeder do, within your chosen breed, does not matter. Personally, I think your involvement is one of the most important things you can do. The cattle business is also a people business. If you do not commit time to attend breed shows and sales, and be a part of the breed's activities, you probably will leave the breed in a few short years, disappointed and discouraged.

 

[Davis Shorthorns]

For me I would run Simmi's and (gulp cant believe that I am going to say this...) black Angus.  I think that they would go well with my shorthorns, and as a terminal cross you could add some lbs. and keep the carcass quality and add some feed efficiency. 

 

[red]

I'd look at Shorthorns. They'd fit right in w/ my red Maines.

Red

How many do you want?

remember this is a "if". I did use some Gizmo this year.

Red

 

[justme]

lol Red.....I do have one white red headed roan in the pasture!  I bought her while Eric was recooperating from his blood clot!  No wonder he doesn't let me go to sales with his checkbook alone anymore lol
Hopefully he eats his words when she has her Maine calf this spring!

 

[Show Heifer]

Without a second thought - lowlines.  Why? Because someone said I shouldn't, and I am an independent thinker.  Second reason - I think the lowlines have a lot to offer, one being defect free pedigree (so far anyway)  and a small frame (did I say that?) without sacrificing depth of body and do-ability.
I will either be a genius or a complete idiot.

 

[Jill]

I know we come from a different side of this than most of you, we are strictly show and love what we do.  We have primarily Maines, a few Shorthorns and a few Angus, all our cows are papered.  We have seriously looked at Red Angus for a couple of years now and when all 3 of the boys are showing we will probably go that route.  The only downfall I can see on the Red Angus deal is the lack of Jr. organization.  We got into the Maines because of the huge opportunities for the kids to come in with no prior experience and compete on all levels.  I know the Red Angus focus is not on the showring, but I also know the future of any breed is the kids coming up and it is a great way to attract them to your breed.JMO

 

[braunvieh]

I would probably go with Charolais. We are not showring types either and around here, nothing tops the market better than a smoky or dark nosed Charolais.

 

[Diamond]

We have mostly greys (and yes they come in silver, white, dun, and black) now with the way feed/beef prices have gone so I sold off my angus.  I would like to get some more back if the economy ever bounces back.

 

[oakbar]

I added our first Charolais cross heifer this falll!!  I'm thinking that I might use some Charolais and Maine lines on some of our Shorthorns.  I don't believe I'll probably do a lot with PB Chars but I would like to try crosses on my Shorty and Mainetainer females.

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

I know we come from a different side of this than most of you, we are strictly show and love what we do.  We have primarily Maines, a few Shorthorns and a few Angus, all our cows are papered.  We have seriously looked at Red Angus for a couple of years now and when all 3 of the boys are showing we will probably go that route.  The only downfall I can see on the Red Angus deal is the lack of Jr. organization.  We got into the Maines because of the huge opportunities for the kids to come in with no prior experience and compete on all levels.  I know the Red Angus focus is not on the showring, but I also know the future of any breed is the kids coming up and it is a great way to attract them to your breed.JMO

Jill - there is an effort to increase the junior program, you are right the youth are the future and hopefully we are getting at least some of the "problem" people out of power. There is a National Junior show conducted in conjunction withe the National show that rotates from Iowa to Denver to Billings to Ft Worth and then Louiville. There are also several state assn's that have junior shows etc. For years we fought the mentality of the powers that be that "we will not promote the show ring because they are not real Red Angus". It always bothered me that the very people that bad mouthed the show cattle would go to the shows and sit in the bleachers and tell everyone - "I have better ones than that at home". Don't tell me that BS - show me a good one and then I might believe you. I had a somewhat heated discussion with one such individual at a national show a few years ago. Long story short - If those of us that spend thousands of dollars each year keeping our breed in the public eye all decide to shut our clippers off and stay home, how many new customers will you have come to your bull/female sale when the public says - I have never really heard of Red Angus have you? Sorry kind of a sore spot for me - off my soap box now. Don't let the "good old boys" that used to run our breed keep you out. RW

 

[red]

Without a second thought - lowlines.  Why? Because someone said I shouldn't, and I am an independent thinker.  Second reason - I think the lowlines have a lot to offer, one being defect free pedigree (so far anyway)  and a small frame (did I say that?) without sacrificing depth of body and do-ability.
I will either be a genius or a complete idiot.

Well I'm sure that TJ or Dori never discouraged you!

 

[TJ]

Without a second thought - lowlines.  Why? Because someone said I shouldn't, and I am an independent thinker.  Second reason - I think the lowlines have a lot to offer, one being defect free pedigree (so far anyway)  and a small frame (did I say that?) without sacrificing depth of body and do-ability.
I will either be a genius or a complete idiot.

Well I'm sure that TJ or Dori never discouraged you!

I think that several others on this board wouldn't be "discouragers" either.  However, Lowlines are indeed one of those things that you either love or hate.  Almost no middle ground.  But, I'm like Show Heifer, I could careless what someone else thinks, if I think it will work, I'm gonna try it. 

As far as me getting another breed... I don't know that I need another & besides, I'm a composite type of guy at heart.  I've got Lowline, Tarentaise, Red Angus, Angus, Shorthorn, Charolais & small % of Chi, Simmi & Hereford.  I'll be flushing to a Maine bull.  Don't think that I want Gelbvieh, Braunvieh, Saler or ear.  South Devon might be OK in a composite, but I've never been wild about their type.   

 

[kanshow]

Been thinking about this..    We have Simmi & started into the Charolais deal but don't think we'll pursue that.  We've used Angus in our operation but no desire to go PB with them.  My daughter would love to get into Shorthorns but hubby is skeptical.  I grew up showing Polled Herefords & it they were economically feasible, I'd go back to Hereford/Polled Hereford in a heartbeat.