Do you have a favorite breed?

[OH Breeder]

My family has always had shorthorns. Across the creek, grandmother had Purebred Angus and on a rare occasion, a black one would pop up in our herd. I am partial to the shorties! Yes, I run an equal opportunity farm. We have many colors and few other breeds!

 

[Jill]

Maine-Anjou   We started out with a few Polled Herefords.  That's what my Father-in-Law had, and we got 'em cheap.  After a couple of years showing pigs, my girls decided the kids showing heifers were a "cut above".  We went to all the shows we could find, and the girls decided the Maine-Anjou calves were the prettiest (they were all red/white then, Red).  We started with a Cow/heifer calf pair, and a bred heifer.  Eighteen years later, I all the way up to 9 Maine-Anjou cows, and I'm firmly convinced no other breed comes close.

Sure, cutability, personality, and marketability are positives, but it's the Junior Program that makes the Maine-Anjou breed great.  Our daughters attended the Junior National events for 10 years, showing heifers, but more importantly learning Public Speaking, Animal Science, Salesmanship, livestock Judging, Photography, and most impotantly, learning about TEAMWORK. 

I know that all breeds have Jr. organizations, and National Jr. shows, but show me another breed which has grown as fast as the Maine-Anjou, and, it's all because of the Juniors.

And even BLACK, the Maine-Anjou calves are still prettiest.  DAN

Cattle wise we have Maine-Anjou, Shorthorn, Angus and crosses of each, like the Maines the best!

I would have to agree.  The Maine-Anjou breed is the only breed that I know of that still allows everyone to participate at the Junior level.  From birth to 21 there are no restrictions, if there are 100 teams that want to do team grooming, they still are willing to accomodate anyone that wants to learn.

 

[red]

Jill, some of my best family memories were going to the Junior Nationals. we went to S.Dakota; Whicita Falls' TX; Enid ,OK; & Columbus, Oh.
Great times & memories!

Red

 

[Jill]

We were actually at all of those, we hauled a neice and nephew around before we had kids.  We have probably met each other and just don't know it.  Wichita Falls has not been the best place for us, the 1st trip my son was on goats milk, so we hauled the goat to Texas and she died, this year he broke his leg there.  For us, Jr. Nationals is normally the highlight of our year, it's like vacation, summer camp and family reunion all wrapped into one great weekend.

 

[red]

We were actually at all of those, we hauled a neice and nephew around before we had kids.  We have probably met each other and just don't know it.  Wichita Falls has not been the best place for us, the 1st trip my son was on goats milk, so we hauled the goat to Texas and she died, this year he broke his leg there.  For us, Jr. Nationals is normally the highlight of our year, it's like vacation, summer camp and family reunion all wrapped into one great weekend.

No, it sounds like that is a jinx place for you! did you get to Springfield, Ohio? They have such a nice place there. I was really jealous, I grew up there & they have really improved it!
S. Dakota was a muddy mess if I remember right. All was fun & we really got to see the country!

Red

 

[Showcalves]

We run Chis, Maines, Simmis and Angus.  There are some within each that I really like and some that I'd really like to shoot.  (lol)  We have some DeBull daughters that make tremendous mommas, but we don't even consider showing DeBull heifers anymore.  We've been purchasing a Maine heifer each year for show and to build our #s in that breed and are really pretty happy with them.  We have a Jazz daughter that we flushed last year and some of those embryos are due soon.  The simmis milk really well, but man are some of those calves dead heads.  Some of the mommas aren't too bright either.  We have a good base of Angus cows.  Some problematic ones and the best Angus we have just never seems to raise anything worth a hoot and frustrates us beyond belief.  Overall, I'd say if we could only raise one breed, we'd choose the Maines.  We took the boys to the Maine Jr. National last year and we were VERY impressed.  We also like working with Mary in the registration department up there and have seen reps from the breed at many sales.  We've been involved with the Chis for over 20 years now and we see that association as one that is going downhill quickly under the current leadership.  That's probably all I should say on that subject.

BSC

 

[Jill]

We were actually at all of those, we hauled a neice and nephew around before we had kids.  We have probably met each other and just don't know it.  Wichita Falls has not been the best place for us, the 1st trip my son was on goats milk, so we hauled the goat to Texas and she died, this year he broke his leg there.  For us, Jr. Nationals is normally the highlight of our year, it's like vacation, summer camp and family reunion all wrapped into one great weekend.

No, it sounds like that is a jinx place for you! did you get to Springfield, Ohio? They have such a nice place there. I was really jealous, I grew up there & they have really improved it!
S. Dakota was a muddy mess if I remember right. All was fun & we really got to see the country!

Red

We didn't go to Springfield, there was about a 3 year gap from the time we quit hauling my neice and my oldest son started showing.  S. Dakota if I remember right was where Dan's daughter was champion high % heifer, muddy and the barn was REALLY dusty, but like I said, we have never been to a bad one, they all are fun and memorable.

 

[garybob]

Do you guys even need to ask?? LOL!!!!! I love Gert-Herford cross Commercial cows, too.Yellow-baldies bred back to good, red, Shorthorn bulls have really worked for me down here, and F1 Brahman/Hereford "Tiger Stripe" mamas bred to the same Shorthorn bulls have popped out some good'uns, too.

 

[shorthorn man]

my favorite breed is a shorthorn but i also like simmentals

 

[red]

my favorite breed is a shorthorn but i also like simmentals

nice calf on your profile! What is it out of?
Did you get to the KY Expo? How was it?

Red

 

[cowz]

Do you guys even need to ask?? LOL!!!!! I love Gert-Herford cross Commercial cows, too.Yellow-baldies bred back to good, red, Shorthorn bulls have really worked for me down here, and F1 Brahman/Hereford "Tiger Stripe" mamas bred to the same Shorthorn bulls have popped out some good'uns, too.

Gary Bob, You would probably love Barzonas.  Ever heard of them?  They are very maternal and can live on next to nothing.  We used to work for a ranch that raised them.

 

[garybob]

Already heard of 'em. They are part of Teddy Gentry's "South Poll" Composite Breed. In the 'Eighties, there was a Veterinarian in Iowa, named Steve Radakovich that used them. Remember reading this in  Drover's Journal in High School. Thought it was a neat deal that a tropically-adapted breed was being used successfully that far north.