"especially for a Hereford"

[ShowmanQ]

Not sure I am going to make a point with this, it just happens to be a rant I decided to make (lol).
I too am guilty of doing this, but why when talking cattle and a Hereford comes into discusiion does everyone tend to say....he is good "for a Hereford"? Almost kind of like Herefords are in a category all of their own. I personally like the breed, think they have a lot to offer, have owned a few, and have considered getting a few more for the heck of it (lol)

Like I stated earlier, I know I am just pointlessly ranting, but why do you never hear someone say "she is good....for an Angus?"

 

[shortyjock89]

She's good...for an Angus....something I've heard many times around some Shorthorn guys. 

Just saying..from a club calf perspective, Herefords aren't exactly perfect for what most people want...hardly any purebreds are, so when you start talking about show cattle, composites fit the bill more often than not. 

 

[BCCC]

The typical hereford, isn't super thick, or big boned, or hairy, and same with Angus. How often can you walk threw a herd of Angus cows  and pick out over half of them that are as thick as a Maine? Angus and Hereford just aren't known for their bone, hair, and muscle, they are known for their mothering capabilities. I can guarantee I like herefords just as much as Angus(which isn't saying much!!  ;D )  Show me a herd herefords with hair like my maines, or a herd of angus with the thickness of my maines, and then I will stop saying " Especailly for...."

BTW my post had said He looks great!! especailly for a hereford!! meaning he looks good no matter what he is.

 

[renegade]

Crazy all of the hereford I have ever had had a Ton of hair  O0 but that just may have been there breeding - no cool room needed - only calves of about 5 families around here with hair on theres by the end of summer and they all have cool rooms. Im going to have to post pics of the three hereford stees I got this year tons of bone and hair they could use a little rear quarter but they will compete around here.

 

[shortyjock89]

Crazy all of the hereford I have ever had had a Ton of hair  O0 but that just may have been there breeding - no cool room needed - only calves of about 5 families around here with hair on theres by the end of summer and they all have cool rooms. Im going to have to post pics of the three hereford stees I got this year tons of bone and hair they could use a little rear quarter but they will compete around here.

To just be straight up for a minute...and I really do believe you..but I've never seen a Hereford with hair like my Shorthorns and Short/Maine/Chi calves have..and I don't have a cooler either.  I hope you do post pics, I'd like to see your calves.  I HAVE seen some flat good Herefords, but I don't think they were as good as the best Shorthorns and Maines I've seen. I guess thats why I raise what I raise.

 

[renegade]

True true - I will try and get some pics - its hard with this crazy weather but I am really excited for one steer I got cause I think he has that clubby look too him and his hair is a blast to work with its so thick and has that just clipped look all the time. That heifer I posted on here a few times is looking good but I do wish she had some more bone and she's filling out in that rear quarter a bit more but we have mainly angus around here and she compares in both so thats good i guess lol

 

[Steered]

It really gets me when someone says "He/She would really be good it they weren't a hereford"  If they are good they are good no matter what color/breed they are. 

 

[DiamondS]

If Herefords didn't have bone and hair they wouldn't survive and have the title of being rugged good mothering types.  No, they don't have hair that stands out 8", but they have thick tight curled hair that keeps moisture out and keeps em warm.  That's again what makes them survive.  They aren't meant to be club calf types.  Up here in the mountains at 9,000' there's Herefords everywhere, not a shorthorn or maine one to be found.  Difference in what's being asked of the cows.  There's a guy down the road that raises commercial Herefords and I guarantee you that you will struggle to find a set of calves that consistently have as much bone, muscle, top, and yes hair.  Up here at this elevation, one thing the cattle have is hair- no matter what breed.  Ok, off my soapbox....

 

[kanshow]

I've seen some Herefords with some awful nice hair.. maybe not that of a Shorthorn but still great the same..

What about .. she's pretty clean fronted .. for a Simmi..   

 

[ShowmanQ]

BTW my post had said He looks great!! especailly for a hereford!! meaning he looks good no matter what he is.

Trust me, I took no offense to your comment, and it was not the reason I posted this, just reminded me of the question (lol). I have often wondered about it haha. You hear it all the time, I too am guilty

 

[Cattledog]

OK...I'm jumping in the line of fire here knowingly.  I think when I look at the composites, Maines, and Shorthorn compared to Angus(my breed of choice) I find myself saying she's pretty good for a clubby.  I look at a bunch of club calves and often think they'll never make a cow.  Having angus puts you in that kind of mindset.  Like stated earlier Angus and herfords are known for their maternal capability and you'll find that the breeders look at them in that manner.  They see the club calf arena as a pool of genetic inconsistency.  I will let you all know that I often do go and look at the various clubby breeds because they do look cool!

 

[herfchic]

Having shown Herefords for my entire cattle career I have heard from several people that Herefords would never win the BIG show.    I have had quite a few Herefords that have had flat awesome hair.  A couple of the heifers even had "Shorthorn" hair.  I don't have a cooler room and I work and work on that hair and I was just a little gratified when a "Shorthorn" person told me that a bull I owned had awesome hair.  Herefords are unique, and I know that they don't have the "showy" look that the club calves have, but they are good mothers and the steers taste pretty good. 

 

[simtal]

The only herefords I ever seen with good hair with either: (1) brushed from when they woke up till they went to tie outs and (2) weren't all hereford

 

[ShowmanQ]

The only herefords I ever seen with good hair with either: (1) brushed from when they woke up till they went to tie outs and (2) weren't all hereford

Kind of a negative generalization isn't it?

 

[shortyjock89]

Having shown Herefords for my entire cattle career I have heard from several people that Herefords would never win the BIG show.    I have had quite a few Herefords that have had flat awesome hair.  A couple of the heifers even had "Shorthorn" hair.  I don't have a cooler room and I work and work on that hair and I was just a little gratified when a "Shorthorn" person told me that a bull I owned had awesome hair.  Herefords are unique, and I know that they don't have the "showy" look that the club calves have, but they are good mothers and the steers taste pretty good. 

Your bull had GREAT hair this summer, but it was still kinda kinky and curly, heck you even used a straightener on his tailhead!  He woulda been just as good without his hair though, he's a really nice bull.  The steer that we got from you a few years back was as tasty as many of the Shorthorns and X Breds we've eaten! 

 

[justintime]

Most of today's Herefords are good cattle. There are some that you have to be careful they do not prolapse when they get scared, because they did not see you walking up because of the pinkeye they have in both eyes. Just kidding of course.  Hereford cows do a great job of keeping their calf company after July 1st!!

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Most of today's Herefords are good cattle. There are some that you have to be careful they do not prolapse when they get scared, because they did not see you walking up because of the pinkeye they have in both eyes. Just kidding of course.  Hereford cows do a great job of keeping their calf company after July 1st!!

OH! OUCH!  ;-) RW

 

[DiamondS]

Most of today's Herefords are good cattle. There are some that you have to be careful they do not prolapse when they get scared, because they did not see you walking up because of the pinkeye they have in both eyes. Just kidding of course.  Hereford cows do a great job of keeping their calf company after July 1st!!

JIT, those are things that the Hereford breed used to have problems with.  They have worked hard to eliminate them.  I started work on a 1,000hd  commercial/registered Angus ranch in Jan 06. That spring I had 2 cows that prolapsed.  That fall when 400 hd of those black cows calved, I lost 6 hd from prolapses.  All solid black cows.  Of course when you eliminate them, they aren't a problem again.  I brought in Hereford bulls to cross on the black cows to bring in some maternal traights.  I grafted 22 calves.  14 of them were because their mothers calved and walked away to be fed and never went back.  Let me tell you, I was pretty down on the Angus breed after that first year on that ranch.  I culled those cows too.  The year that the baldy calves were born, we all had a bad run of pinkeye.  Neighbors included.  I kept track of statistics.  I doctored 42 hd of calves for pinkeye in one particular pasture.  Of those 42, 8 were baldies and the rest were solid black calves.  I had CTC in their mineral, they had fly tags.  It didn't matter.  We had tall course grass, lots of flies, and it was a bad mix for pinkeye.  Yes, I am a Hereford fan.  I also continue to run a ranch that is solid black.  But, you will never convince me that Herefords are worse than Angus cows for prolapses and pinkeye.....  Just my two cents.

 

[justintime]

DiamondS.... I take back every word I said and I apologize. I was saying all that with " tongue in cheek" and was just being smart. I actually agree with everything you have said.I do tease some of my Hereford neighbours that are completely barn blind... just to get under their skin a bit.  I raised Herefords for 10 years and we never had any more issues with pinkeye or prolapses than I have with the other breeds we have had. The only exception is our Shorthorns. There has only been one Shorthorn ever prolapse here in over 100 years of having them.... and this cow got rolled over on her back against a fence and calved in that position. I found her moments after she had calved and she had also just prolapsed. We were lucky as my vet was able to get it back in without her going into shock, and she is still here calving on a regular basis, with no more prolapse issues.  I have probably had more Charolais and Angus cows prolapse than any other breeds... with the Chars being the worst.

One of the rubs I give one of my Hereford neighbours, that really gets her going is.... I say to her" I have to give you Hereford people credit.... when other breeds get a dink, it is a dink and always will be. When you Hereford people get a dink.... you have separate branch of the breed for it ( Minature Herefords)" This really gets her going.

 

[Jill]

I tried to stay out of this one, but I just can't, sorry.  I don't like Herefords, will never like Herefords, they aren't my thing, I will tell you that bull looks fantastic "for a Hereford"!  That being said, I think we have breeds for a reason, Herefords haven't tried to go black, tall, clubby, epd crazy or anything else.  
I commend the Hereford breed and breeders for staying true to what they do best, most of the other breeds mentioned (most I raise) have all homogenized to the point there is very little difference between Maine, Shorthorn, Simmental, Chi etc.  The Angus breed has done a tremendous job of manipulating public perception with their promotions and that is what is keeping them alive, they are the king of no butt, no bone and no hair if that is your only complaint about Herefords.  
When you say that a Hereford can't win a BIG show, I have to disagree, if the judge is judging each breed for what they bring to the industry the Hereford has as good of a chance as any other breed, if you are judging them all as crossbreds (which is what most are anymore) that is where they are at a disadvantage.  JMO

Good one JIT!