Calf from I80

[Jay Collins]

I have a question for you experienced guys! I am new to this side of cattle, so what are your thoughts on a calf bred from I80! What can I expect and what would be a fair price to pay for a good calf?? Thanks 

 

[jbzdad]

Jay.. I think you can count on I-80 to clean up fronts , supply that Maine square hip and probably downsize a little...

It is harder to answer your other questions regarding costs... most I-80's are not going to win a steer show unless the dam brings some extra muscling such as char, clubby etc.. I doubt many purebred mains or Maine simmi or angus crosses will win steer shows

on the other side I-80 purebreds and maternal crosses have been very good on the heifer side ...and I have experience that they are good milkers

figure county fair steer prices for steers... probably 1500-2000 here... and I will have a few

figure 2500-4000 for heifers if you can get them from a small producer... 2x that at BBR, BPF,MCF etc

 

[Jay Collins]

I forgot to mention that its a shorthorn that is with I80....

 

[shortyjock89]

That can be a very good cross and has been extremely successful for the Streitmatter family and Cyclone Trace specifically. We've also got along well with using I 80 and other purebred Maine Anjou bulls on our Shorthorn cows.

 

[JDP]

We have had good results breeding to I-80. I posted a couple of heifers on the classified they are both mainetainers and have great dispositions. I-80 has produced our top calves the last two years. Last year we sold one to Ohio that did well in the show ring.  He seems to work on different types of cows.  One thing i have noticed is they really take off when they get on feed. Good luck!

 

[BroncoFan]

Jay.. I think you can count on I-80 to clean up fronts , supply that Maine square hip and probably downsize a little...

It is harder to answer your other questions regarding costs... most I-80's are not going to win a steer show unless the dam brings some extra muscling such as char, clubby etc.. I doubt many purebred mains or Maine simmi or angus crosses will win steer shows

on the other side I-80 purebreds and maternal crosses have been very good on the heifer side ...and I have experience that they are good milkers

When you say he downsizes, how much are we talking about? I'm thinking of options.

figure county fair steer prices for steers... probably 1500-2000 here... and I will have a few

figure 2500-4000 for heifers if you can get them from a small producer... 2x that at BBR, BPF,MCF etc

 

[jbzdad]

on the downsizes question... I am not a frame score guy... but I think to win a State Fair mature heifer show the heifer needs to weigh 1200 to 1300 or more depending on condition as a 3 month bred heifer (at 15 months of age).. if you are breeding to 1300 pound cows I-80 may not quite get them there.. if you are breeding to 1500 pound cows then absolutely
The reason that has helped me is that Maines tend to be leggy in relation to thickness and I think if you have a some what leggy cow that just needs to be brought a little more proportional then he helps with that also..

snake gutted tall cows don't look quite  as snake gutted if their legs are 4 inches shorter or to say it another way... fairly reasonable cow proportions can look different based on leg length

they will mature later than the clubbys,,, clubby heifers win jackpots ... maybe not so much state fairs

 

[jbzdad]

on the other hand ... to upsize a click I am using "X" and a new bull from DMCC called Blck Gold 500... and I thing NAGE Ante up may fit in here... 2 clicks up  SUH and DMCC Limited edition... man I love the Suh calves" disposition and performance ... haven't got a female yet

 

[BroncoFan]

on the downsizes question... I am not a frame score guy... but I think to win a State Fair mature heifer show the heifer needs to weigh 1200 to 1300 or more depending on condition as a 3 month bred heifer (at 15 months of age).. if you are breeding to 1300 pound cows I-80 may not quite get them there.. if you are breeding to 1500 pound cows then absolutely
The reason that has helped me is that Maines tend to be leggy in relation to thickness and I think if you have a some what leggy cow that just needs to be brought a little more proportional then he helps with that also..

snake gutted tall cows don't look quite  as snake gutted if their legs are 4 inches shorter or to say it another way... fairly reasonable cow proportions can look different based on leg length

they will mature later than the clubbys,,, clubby heifers win jackpots ... maybe not so much state fairs

We have a heifer that we'll probably end up keeping.  Her dam is about a frame score of a 4 and 1200lbs. The heifer will probably be about roughly the same size. We were thinking I80 if he will make the calf a little taller. Plus she's a crossbred so breeding high % Maine is a plus.

 

[jbzdad]

Bronco fan... I thought about your last post and I wonder how big that heifer is now... although I-80 is used a lot on heifers he will occasionally produce a 90 or so calf.. if she is going to be 1000 pounds at breeding and you feel good about her background then that should work out OK

If she weighs 750 at breeding and is going to weigh 1000 at calving...maybe not so much

 

[BroncoFan]

Bronco fan... I thought about your last post and I wonder how big that heifer is now... although I-80 is used a lot on heifers he will occasionally produce a 90 or so calf.. if she is going to be 1000 pounds at breeding and you feel good about her background then that should work out OK

If she weighs 750 at breeding and is going to weigh 1000 at calving...maybe not so much

Thank you for the reply.