I knew that there is so much more to Mr.Judy's success then the great info he freely shares in the video. It's not that I thought he was holding back. I am glad you two are drilling down on these topics. What's that saying? I don't know what I don't know. That rings truer for me now then before. Thank you.
I'm glad you discussed the bull in a small herd. I'm in that boat right now and wasn't sure what the best thing to do. I. Have 10 cows and I want to build up. I have a really nice mid aged bull that I like allot, and I was planning on letting him breed his daughters but I wasn't sure if I should keep back the heifers from those daughters or not. But you are saying that is just line breeding and isn't a problem at all then. Thanks for the tip boys, you may have prolonged my bulls life!
Great work on these topics guys 👍 I personally have taken an interest in Lucky 7 Angus ranch out in WY. They have developed cattle that thrive on no supplement even out there in the harsh conditions. Apparently they have bred for an incredible feed efficiency rate. You can watch an American Rancher episode on them. Curious what your thoughts are on trying a highly efficient bull line on some south poll cows. Also what are your thoughts on Pharo Cattle company bulls? They are very similar in developing highly efficient cattle with no supplements.
While working in west Tejas last year I saw lots of really slick hided black angus. But the Corriente breed was the one that I’d like to see crossed with your South Pole bulls. Corriente breed up early & drop a 50 pound calf year after year 🤔. Love your content. Keep educating fellas
@@BenHawley Great video. I just retired from a fire department and bought 35 acres in NE Arizona. I looking at using 25-30 acres for grazing and thinking about running 3 head on them. I watched your other video about crossbreeding and was really interested in a corriente cross since we have a bunch of them here in Az. This video really helped out making my decision. We only average about 12” of rain and 13” of snow a year so I think starting with 3 head would help me build up the soil and get the native grasses growing well while running them in small paddocks. My question is, since I have such small area with low rainfall would it be better for me to buy the semen straws from Greg and go the AI route instead of buying a bull? After seeing this video it sounds like you should stay with the same bull for breeding but not sure if that makes sense with so few cows.
Great video. One point is that even though there are 2 years between generations in terms of improving the genetics the herd is growing every year (on average following golden ration exponential, 1.68, over time i.e. #cows = initial-stock * year^1.68). Given that you can both grow your herd and improve genetics at the same time, what do you see as the right stocking level (as percentage of optimal stocking level) to start out with using this line breeding strategy? This fits into a larger question which is this: If you had $150k (or ability to borrow $150k) what do you see as the right allocation to the following 1. Land lease costs 2. Land improvement cost 3. initial cattle costs. 4. Subsistence costs until positive cashflow 5. cash in reserve? Do you see see this line-up-breeding strategy as a no-brainer? In other words do you think it would be silly for someone starting out on grass-fed cattle farming _not_ to do this?
Really enjoy the videos guys! Quick question... Greg markets his heifers and steers as 3/4 south poll. I'm assuming he keeps them 3/4 for the size? Would the Senepol add a lot of size to them? Or any other reasons for the 3/4 south poll vs full blood composite?
As per Oahl angus he said it’s line breeding when it works inbreeding when it does not. Line breeding includes a sibling or cousin that’s better than a sire on his daughters granted size of herd and years all taken
Hi Ben and Isaac, What do you guys think about Brahman Cattle??? Would you ever consider using this breed of cattle? Thanks ahead of time for your response and awesome videos!!!
You guys are both from somewhere north of Missouri? What breed or combo would you consider for a colder snowier climate. Say annual overall average temps of 40-50F, 40-60" precipitation mix rain & snow. Possibly more rugged, less flat land.
Central Missouri. Yea I would look for crossing a south poll with something that is more cold tolerant. Galloway maybe? Not belted just straight Galloway
Any herd bull battery will remake a cowherd in his own likeness in 3 generations. While there is an investment of time involved, the change is also relatively permanent. I agree with Tom Lasater that the most profitable aspect of the cow calf business is the improvement if the cowherd. That is best accomplished utilizing population genetics. Tom best described population genetics when he stated "we're turning the genetic crank just as fast as we can.". The Lasater herd is the oldest closed herd in the world. In Western big range country don't overlook the tremendous contribution that Brahman cross cattle offer. We have ranched in TX, MT, CO, OR, and NM and laughed at by many until their eyes were opened!
There's one other possible issue with the theoretical cross. The expensive bulls, they can only breed so many cows...to talk about any serious numbers in that endeavor you'd really need more than one expensive bull or you'd be talking about only maybe up to what 20 cows that a young bull could responsibly breed (?). It'd take too long to plod it out, you'd really need minimum 40 head so that's 2-$4-5000 bulls. It's an interesting concept for young men like you two but a 45 year old like me, that's pushing things out there quite a ways. This was originally the route I was going to take, I had everything sourced and was about to pull the trigger when I came across a different opportunity with another breed that was much closer to the end goal so I went that way. I may still chase that corriente concept one of these days just for the heck of it as a side project. We'll see.
I had a crazy idea as I was driving by the neighbors bison herd. Just a hypothetical but I think it would be fun to see what kind of cattle that would make.
Yes it does. The male is going to have the largest impact on your herd or flock. If you need to pinch pennies, bulls and rams are not the place to do so, imo
@@BenHawley they do get a decent winter coat yeah, but they shed nicely for summer. I’m in East Texas and have a very similar environment weather wise to what Greg describes for his place. I agree that you’d want something on the slick end of the spectrum for sure though. 1700 to 2200lb bull weight and 950 to 1300lb for cows. I’ve always thought they were very similar to the South Poll breed in color, docility, size, and grass performance.
Lot of breeds came from france charolais limousine salers, main ,etc you have to remember they feed indoors 6.mo a year yes they survive on grass ,just as the Japanese breeds they go thru generations to develop when euro breeds here in the mid 60s and seventies double muscle 100 calf or bigger it took that long for industry now accept the smokies in Europe when feeding in confinement they feed beet pellets do not castrate and I think the govt helps them out
Red Devons are excellent too. I'm a sheep guy, but I bought a devon cull cow for 500 bucks once when I had extra grass to try cattle, and she was just perfect as far as I'm concerned. She probably weighed about 850-900lbs. Eventually sold her and her bull calf for $950. Don't think I could have done that if is bought a serious amount of cattle though. I'm sticking with hair sheep.
@@drewk5929 I admire Texels very much. My neighbor has a cross bred wool flock, and the Texel and Texel influenced ewes are gorgeous. I like not having to deal with any wool with my cross bred hair sheep though.
prefer the red poll ,line breeding when it works in breeding when you have deformation, best to have half brothers or a third cousin for bull ,yes best to have a 900 cow w a good 500 calf just looks good get ready for 450. 550 corn ohle angus has line breeding
@@BenHawley it's a french breed with two axe, Milk for cheese and a meat branch. But there is an other breed that could efficient as south Pol it is the Aubrac that have a Light frame with very curvy 💪.
Why would put a South Poll bull on Angus Red that just a Waste of good money. I no South Poll is a Composite breed and it’s good but the Stabilise is better tho . ITS the best grass to Meat and it’s proven tho .
Line breeding and inbreeding is hard to understand. Having the father(bull) breeding his daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughter and great great granddaughter how is that not considered inbreeding? But to keep purebred animals is a form of line breeding, somewhere down the road they may have the same dna. I know people do it but I personally wouldn’t do it. With a large herd like greg has he keeps back the best bulls and that bull still has a chance to breed to his sister, mother, and his cousin. I’m not a fan of line breeding but I won’t stop you from doing it
