|
|
Post by littlecowfl on Aug 2, 2016 16:01:10 GMT -5
Our sweet cow, Fiona, has one of the most easy-going temperaments in our herd. She's a bit goofy looking, but she's like family because she is actually our son's cow. Our little steer maker, lol! She is so much fun and always up for anything. She will load up in a horse trailer like a ranch horse. We suspect she has hardware disease because she's a hard keeper. None of her calves are this way and she has had a complete workup by our vets (who suggested hardware disease as the culprit). Her biggest fault is that she has cone shaped teats. Because of this, I have always castrated her bull calves (and she has given us only bull calves except one). It always bothers me a little because her calves are so sweet and easy going, but as they grow, they usually have a lighter build in the back, so I think I've made the right call. Now, there's Harold. His sire is Armstrong of Paradise. Both dam and sire are PHA and Chondro negative. He should be A2/A2 obligate and his baby coat shows that he carries either dun or red or both. Both sire and dam have traditional lines. I don't think we've ever had a sweeter little bull calf and I wonder if he should be sold as a bull rather than made into a steer. I think he has a better build than the previous calves. I do worry about his dam's udder and what he might pass on, but I also know that many people would like a nice, calm, bull that is easy to be around. Many people would like to add gentle temperaments to their herd. I always sell with full disclosure and recommendations based on the animal's strengths as well as their faults. Please look at these pictures and tell me whether or not I should consider selling him as a bull, once he's weaned, or castrate him. I usually wait until six months to castrate, so I can update with more pictures as he grows. Your opinions are greatly appreciated. His dam, Moonlit Oaks Fiona:  Harold at 3 1/2 months old:  |
|
|
|
Post by cddexter on Aug 3, 2016 9:41:23 GMT -5
Hi Alicia:
Fools rush in...
I really don't like giving an opinion based on just one photo, because I know all to well sometimes the best animal can look like h... if the photo isn't good.
So, from what I can see,
you're right, mom's udder isn't something I'd wish on anyone. It's not just the teats, it's the attachment as well: front not too bad but it looks like the escutcheon is very low so with time I'd expect the whole udder to drop. I also notice the feet appear to have almost no heel so she ends up with very long toes. Or maybe it's just very weak pasterns. Either way, not good. Then there's the tail set. From the pic it seems to separate from the body too soon, so you have a flat area at the vulva instead of a gentle curve down. This is considered a serious fault because it can (not will) lead to infection when calving because the poo doesn't drop cleanly away. Again, from the pic, she seems to be ewe-necked, as well.
Having said all that, she has a nice topline, very good hook to pin length, good body length, and is very clean in the brisket, perhaps a little shallow in the heart-line and great hormone balance. All in all what I would have expected to see in a non-dwarf Dexter from maybe 30 years ago.
Re the hardware disease, have you tried a magnet?
The calf appears to be a big improvement on his mum: tail set good, length good, head proportion better. Maybe check out the scrotum and see how it attaches and where the teats are. I'd keep a close eye on how his feet develop. Other than the feet, I'd say the calf looks pretty good.
cheers, c.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlecowfl on Aug 3, 2016 14:37:48 GMT -5
Thank you for the input!
I want to do the best thing for my cattle, while keeping in mind the best thing for the breed.
I will get Fiona's feet trimmed when the farrier comes out to do the horses.
With our very soft sandy ground down here in Florida (we have don't have any rocks), all the cattle in our area need their feet trimmed every once in awhile. Fiona missed the last go-around. It's hard to explain if you don't live in Florida. It doesn't matter with steers because of their shorter lifespan, but it's a limiting factor for broodcows in large breeding operations. When their feet go bad because their toes get too long, they are culled. The big producers don't bother trimming hooves. The small breeders just get them trimmed every so often, unless they can afford a hard, paved surface for the cattle to walk on regularly. The dairies do this, but us little breeders usually can't afford it, so our cows walk through soft sand with nothing to wear their hooves down. Our cows don't go lame and we trim only about every year or two. The dairies trim much more often. I always play with my calves feet with the idea of teaching them to pick them up for trimming, but it never seems to quite work out the way I plan, so we tie them up and lay them down using a rope.
|
|
|
|
Post by kansasdexters on Aug 4, 2016 15:39:04 GMT -5
littlecowfl -
Have you considered training your nice little bull calf for use as a single ox? If he was castrated, his disposition could be even better as he matures and he would have a job for a long time. There is a place for a male with an excellent disposition, and that doesn't include breeding. Your instincts have been good up to now, and I agree with you, and would not have kept any bull calves out of your sweet cow, for breeding stock. But that doesn't automatically make him beef, there may be other options to consider here.
Patti
|
|
|
|
Post by littlecowfl on Aug 5, 2016 8:13:48 GMT -5
I would love to train an oxen, but all the equipment is so expensive.  |
|
|
|
Post by kansasdexters on Aug 5, 2016 17:47:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by littlecowfl on Aug 8, 2016 4:27:09 GMT -5
Neat idea to make one, but I'm not sure we have the right tools. We don't do ebay. |
|
|
|
Post by cddexter on Aug 8, 2016 22:39:17 GMT -5
Alicia, go for the first one. It's a neck yoke, and the animal uses its shoulders and hindquarters to pull and leaves the head free. The second is a horn yoke, and it immobilizes the head, sort of like a tumpline. Not as nice for the animal and transfers the strain to the neck. Send us pictures. c.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlecowfl on Aug 12, 2016 4:32:07 GMT -5
I do prefer the neck yoke, but I can't buy one through ebay. If anyone knows another way to get one, or has an old one they aren't using (Dexter sized), please let me know. We just don't do ebay.
When he's six months old, we'll see how he does. I'll also take pictures of his personal stuff to see if it passes muster. I have heard about the scrotal shape determining udder shape, but I don't know how to judge it. If he is a 'bad shape', we'll castrate him and start experimenting with using him as a draft animal. I am a bit concerned that I would need several sized yokes as he grows from 6 months to full size. Perhaps I can get away with a training one for awhile?
|
|
