Potential Heifer Buy. Thoughts?

[PinkOil Princess]

This is one of a few heifers I am looking at in a sale this weekend and am wondering what your thoughts are on her. She is a registered Maintainer

 

[knabe]

make sure she's soft on her rear pasterns.  she's ok for me.  best thing about her is her clean front, neck, chin,  rest is ok for me.

 

[PinkOil Princess]

Yes I agree soundness is what will make or break the deal for me on any animal!

 

[jbzdad]

I helped picture a heifer a few weeks ago that was not very powerful with chest width and not a powerful butt.. she profiled like this one ... in retrospect I think the one we were picturing was "piecey" some of the parts didn't quite match up 

would like to see a rear shot  and front 3/4 shot on this heifer .. then check the video for soundness

if that looks ok then I am good with her

 

[PinkOil Princess]

This is the only picture of her unfortunately. The sale is a live auction with a two hour preview. I agree with you though I like my heifers deep and wide and sound as a cat

 

[RyanChandler]

As a general rule, if the seller won't provide you w/ more pictures ==> pass.

 

[Jive Turkey]

NEVER and I mean NEVER purchase a calf with out seeing it in person.

Horrible cattle can be made to look much more powerful through posing and standing on an incline.

Plus, who knows if a pic has been Photoshopped.

Online auctions while great for the seller are a disaster waiting to happen for the consumer who purchases without ever laying eyes on the animal in person.

 

[RyanChandler]

I tend to agree though I feel I can make a pretty good determination from a video.  Unless of course the aspect ratio has been adjusted- which I took my money elsewhere after seeing this happen to the videos of some heifers I was interested a while back. 

 

[Jive Turkey]

I tend to agree though I feel I can make a pretty good determination from a video.  Unless of course the aspect ratio has been adjusted- which I took my money elsewhere after seeing this happen to the videos of some heifers I was interested a while back.

Would you buy a car without test driving it first?

 

[PinkOil Princess]

Yes this is a live auction so I will be going to the sale and viewing the heifer in person. I have had too many bad experiences buying online. I was just asking an opinion I understand it is hard to make judgement from just one picture

 

[RyanChandler]

I tend to agree though I feel I can make a pretty good determination from a video.  Unless of course the aspect ratio has been adjusted- which I took my money elsewhere after seeing this happen to the videos of some heifers I was interested a while back.

Would you buy a car without test driving it first?

IF I felt I'd driven enough cars to make an informed decision, then yes.

 

[Telos]

Scrutinise on the move and be critical of her if she does not move freely with a long stride. You don't want her choppy (short strided) as she walks. Also, examine how her spine floats while travelling. Does she roach in the loin area or does she want to pinch above the hip? Pedigree is also important and can be very beneficial. Look for a calm temperament.

 

[GoWyo]

Telos brings up good points.  I have seen many videos this year of especially Angus heifers that look great in their photos but roach their top or break/pinch at the hip on the move.  I hate seeing that.

 

[rackranch]

Agreed !!!

NEVER and I mean NEVER purchase a calf with out seeing it in person.

Horrible cattle can be made to look much more powerful through posing and standing on an incline.

Plus, who knows if a pic has been Photoshopped.

Online auctions while great for the seller are a disaster waiting to happen for the consumer who purchases without ever laying eyes on the animal in person.

 

[DL]

2.msg392865#msg392865 date=1383753406]
This is one of a few heifers I am looking at in a sale this weekend and am wondering what your thoughts are on her. She is a registered Maintainer

I have bought heifers without seeing them BUT that was because a friend who knew what I wanted (and what I wanted to spend, and which lots I was interested in) was at the sale and saw the cattle. I would not buy based on an online picture

Re this heifer - I could be totally wrong but there is something about the picture that bothered me - her top line looks funny, in several places -  there is a shading on the top line right about the level of the last rib that shouldn't be there and that little divet where her neck meets her body - maybe it's just bad clipping, but I wouldn't buy anything from anybody if I thought they had "cleaned it up just a little" with anything but soap and water.  She seems awfully straight both front and rear - could be the picture, could be the clip job. In this picture she almost looks like a heifer put together by committee

edited - can't spell LOL

 

[mark tenenbaum]

Scrutinise on the move and be critical of her if she does not move freely with a long stride. You don't want her choppy (short strided) as she walks. Also, examine how her spine floats while travelling. Does she roach in the loin area or does she want to pinch above the hip. Pedigree is also important and can be very beneficial. Look for a calm temperament./// Good eyes Telos-you can see the curvature in her spine which would also lend itself to the other conditions-If shes got some thickness and is sound with that Shorthorn looking profile-shed be pretty cool in my book. O0

 

[jfarms]

Her top line has been messed with.

 

[hsShowCattle]

I'm not sure if they edited the picture or not. But if they did, they did NOT do a good job of it.  Her top line is not straight at all, not sure if they didn't do a very good job clipping it straight or maybe she was tough to clip wouldn't hold still. or if whoever was doctoring it up the photo just did that bad of a job.  Also if you were gonna spend the time to edit the pic why not clean up her brisket area even a little more.  By the way I have and never would edit a picture other than to crop it.
I do think the heifer is very feminine but like previously stated I would want to see how thick she is and see her on the move.  Best of luck in whatever decision you make.

 

[RankeCattleCo]

I hate to say this but it does look edited. Those back wheels also concern me based on the picture- way to straight.

 

[SandyB]

I think she is feminine and pretty. You will have a better idea of what she really looks like when you attend the sale.