Bulls Heads

[aj]

The head deal may be more of deal for a first calf heifer calving I don't know. Shoulder width would be hard to measure. It would be fascinating for someone to have a study........measure heads, hooves, actual weights, and calving ease. And then correlate all comparisons. Then.....what does work best. Measuring a head is usually easier than hoisting the damn calf up.

 

[justintime]

The head deal may be more of deal for a first calf heifer calving I don't know. Shoulder width would be hard to measure. It would be fascinating for someone to have a study........measure heads, hooves, actual weights, and calving ease. And then correlate all comparisons. Then.....what does work best. Measuring a head is usually easier than hoisting the damn calf up.

There has been some research done on this and Jan Bonsma from South Africa did quite a bit of measurements of the length and width of heads and how it should correlate with different measurements of cattle. I heard Bonsma speak once, probably back in the late 60s and it was fascinating how he said the length and width of the animals heads could tell you. I am still trying to find some of his speeches and I would think some of this should be on the internet someplace. Seems like everything else in the world is on the net someplace. I will keep looking. In the meantime, I have attached a picture of a bull's head I have always liked. This is Saskvalley Pioneer 126P who was a herd sire for us several years ago. I am still using him some each year.

 

[cowboy_nyk]

Came across a couple bull pics.  First one is pretty nice headed for a thickness and power type of bull. Certainly not a calving ease type.  Second picture is starting to get to that "puggy" stage in my opinion.  Notice the raised brows and curved nose.  To me those cattle lack some growth and females tend to be less fertile with those heads, especially i the more extreme cases.