Article:Is the Angus Breed on the Right Course? A Marc Update

Help Support Steer Planet:

BTDT

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Messages
443
One of the best articles ever written. I had not seen this when I commented on the "why cow numbers are down" thread.  But makes me feel good that an "expert" agrees with me.

This article is also the reason there is a "riff" in the red angus breed about showing. The showing ring breeders have ruined many solid breeds and the red angus adm is cautious about having the show ring play such a prominent roll in the breed.
(Please note I said SHOW RING BREEDERS, and not the actual show ring. HUGE DIFFERENCE)

 

cowman 52

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Messages
719
Location
San Angelo Texas
The show ring people ruined breeds?  Bull buyers show up, look around, and want a calf with some performance, some stout, some guts.  The frail, spindly, low birth weights get shuffled to the back and most of the time end up at the packing house because no one was interested. 

The show ring did nothing but bring out the promoters, the bull of the month club, the slick salesmen.  It ain't the cattle that screwed it up.
 

cowboy_nyk

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
658
Location
Manitoba, Canada
Interesting article.  I think it reads more like an opinion piece but the facts presented are interesting on their own.  His comments regarding backgrounding calves vs feeding calves are a little out of touch in my opinion.  With land (grass) at a premium and with feed grain cheap, why would you want to hold on to calves for six months instead of feeding them out and slaughtering them?

Secondly, he makes the point a few times that some breeders have stuck to their ways and haven't followed the trend of "bigger is better".  I think that is one of the main advantages of the Angus breed right now.  There are quality genetics available on both ends of the spectrum and you are free to use them as necessary for your operation.  A 60lb birth weight and 600lb weaning weight are not acceptable in my situation, but I'm sure some of you farther south would never use a 90lb BW 900lb WW angus bull either.  The breed is large enough in numbers to accommodate both.  I don't see why that's a bad thing?
 

RyanChandler

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Messages
3,457
Location
Pottsboro, TX
cowboy_nyk said:
A 60lb birth weight and 600lb weaning weight are not acceptable in my situation, but I'm sure some of you farther south would never use a 90lb BW 900lb WW angus bull either.  The breed is large enough in numbers to accommodate both.  I don't see why that's a bad thing?

Those cattle likely have the same genetic performance- difference being environment..ie feed. 

I have a hard time believing there are any british calves that can gain over 4.3lbs a day ((900-90)/205) on roughage. 

 

cowboy_nyk

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
658
Location
Manitoba, Canada
-XBAR- said:
cowboy_nyk said:
A 60lb birth weight and 600lb weaning weight are not acceptable in my situation, but I'm sure some of you farther south would never use a 90lb BW 900lb WW angus bull either.  The breed is large enough in numbers to accommodate both.  I don't see why that's a bad thing?

Those cattle likely have the same genetic performance- difference being environment..ie feed. 

I have a hard time believing there are any british calves that can gain over 4.3lbs a day ((900-90)/205) on roughage.

I agree there is a feed difference but there are definitely Angus genetics that will only yield 600lb weaning weights, even with feed.  Think small and fat.  When comparing apples to apples, (same environment) both exist but they exist for different reasons, which was the point of my post.  I don't get why purists only think each breed is allowed to have a certain trait (or set of traits).

Why must I use Limo for muscling or Simmental for growth?  That's like saying Shorthorns should forget about calving ease and just breed heifers angus until they can calve out a big calf.  I get that you will never outperform the crossbred cattle, but it makes little sense to take a step backwards for the sake of "breed character".
 
Top