Cut the BS said:
I know of several operations who take these basic F1 Angus/ composite females and use them as their keepers for that extra shot of maternal in thereor I know of one person (thinking Chambero) who takes these and sells the steers as high $$$ Angus steers who compete and win at the majors
Not so much on the high $$$, but we do raise competetive Angus-type steers and replacement females that way.
This may sound contradictory, but in general people worry way too much about calving ease for breeding cows. At least down here in our part of the world where we calve in the fall. However, most people don't worry nearly enough about calving ease for heifers. The most overwhelming variable for getting a baby on the ground safe and sound out of a heifer is the heifer herself - her size and most importantly in my mind - her willingness to get down and push. Some heifers just don't know what to do that first time - and I think it is a lot worse if a heifer is by herself. They start having contractions and hurting, and some are just restless and won't lay down and get with it. In a group setting, they seem to figure it out better. We calve out 40-50 heifers a year and more often than not we either have to assist the very first one that calves or we lose it for some reason or another.
I believe you have to give a heifer every advantage you can when it comes to having that first calf and there still aren't any sure things. My biggest calf born and hardest pull out of a heifer this year was a purebred Emblazon heifer bred to OCC Prestige - one of the best and most proven Ohlde calving ease bulls that exists. I calved out About Time and Sunseeker heifers that didn't have to be touched. We use almost exclusively calving ease Angus bulls. I expirament with something else for a "special" one sometimes, but we are set up to handle trouble. We have a dedicated calving parlor 200 yards from my house, an internet camera system where I can watch them from my house (or anywhere else in the world for that matter), at all hours of the night, and a wife, two boys, + a host of friends that can pull a calf any time night or day.
I hate the term "throwaway" calf. I don't know who all used it in this post, but in my opinion frequent use of that term is a symptom of ignorance when it comes to raising show calves. By definition, very few calves born should be good enough to be "great" when it comes to show. Lots of things are bigger variables for having a great calf out of a heifer than just genetics - it's milk, its mothering ability, environment, etc. The odds are stacked against them. Any cow, I don't care how expensive, has done her job if she raises a good commercial steer or replacement female. The rest is luck. You can buy expensive cattle, flush them, etc to increase your odds, but you still have to get lucky.
In short, if you don't know what you are doing when it comes to calving out heifers and aren't willing to or can't put in the work during calving season to baby sit them (having a vet's phone number doesn't count), breed your show heifers Angus the first time. It's no guarantee, but your odds of taking care of your girl to ensure 10 more calves in the years to come are a lot better.
And by the way, Tyson is a real good Maine bull. Use him for heifers if you meet the above criteria. If you don't, don't. Whoever posted they'd seen big ones (as in bigger than a heifer needs to have) is absolutely correct.
