Advice on getting Started with Cattle

[Reindeermama]

I am still amazed at how big that baby was. The mom appears to be a Hereford/Brahman cross. The bull looks like it might be a short horn. I have never seen a bull like this before. I looked up short horn, and it is very close to the pictures I have seen. Whatever the bull is...it is throwing big calves.

After we let the pasture rest a bit, and clean it up. I would like to get some Dexter cattle. If anyone has some, please let me know your experience with them. I have done lots of research on them, and right now I am in the process of reading various books on cattle. My brother-in-law Matt works for A & M in agriculture, so I know he can give me some advice.

 

[greybeard]

Braford cattle can have some large calves without much problem.
I no longer have them, but did have some that routinely had 100lb or more calves unassisted, but then I also have had one of my beefmaster cows that every calf has been 100lbs, with the sire being a Char/sim cross bull.
Beefmasters are a composite breed of Shorthorn-Brahma-Hereford. The exact % of the foundation animals was never documented but thought to be 25% Hereford, 25% Shorthorn and 50% Brahman

 

[Reindeermama]

My goodness. Maybe it was okay, and it just needed more time, but the sack coming out and it going on for so long scared me.
I was thinking about Dexter cattle because if my Husband is gone, I felt like I could handle them, and take care of them. I also thought if we raised one for meat we could handle the smaller amount better.
On another note, what do you think of AI? I was thinking of doing that instead of getting a bull. Of course, I am a little scared of bulls. When I was a child we had to climb into a camper on the back of pickup in a field because two bulls decided to have a bull fight. ( of course Janice Ann and I shouldn't have been out there)I have heard that Dexters tend to be docile, so it might be okay to have a bull.
Any thoughts.

 

[greybeard]

AI is the ONLY way to go with only a few momma cows and heifers.
Learning curve for sure, and you will miss sometimes, but the options for your offspring's genetics are endless.
(borrow a bull for cleanup or just AI again)

 

[norseofcourse]

Glad the mom and calf are both fine!

 

[Reindeermama]

at 4 days old

 

[greybeard]

Yep, a Braford look about 'em, but the one you can barely see has a Beefmaster look just from the little I can see so they could be either breed.

 

[Reindeermama]

The bull is next to the tree. I don't know, but he kind of looks like the short horn I have seen on the internet. I am just really learning breeds.

 

[farmerjan]

From what I can see of the bull next to the tree I would say more Braford than shorthorn. Shorthorns usually do not have the defined red and white patches. They run more solid red, solid white sometimes, but mostly a roan mix of reddish white and some that are outcrossed with angus are a blue roan. He also seems to have more of a dewlap and that is not a shorthorn trait.

 

[Reindeermama]

Yep, not too good at recognizing breeds yet, just trying. It is good to know what to look for. Just beginning to read cattle books.
Right now, I have been focusing on Dexter, because that is what we want when we are done with the pasture lease.
First, we need to improve the pasture. I am trying to find a book about that right now. It also needs to be broken into another pasture with a fence and gate so we can practice rotational grazing. That way we would have three instead of two pastures. I am thinking we need to clear out the bitter weed patches, oak tree saplings, and cactus, and then fertilize the area for better grass.