angus and dexter cross What do you think?

[karl e. lutz the great]

I am having my heffers bred with a large dexter bull. Ithought this would be good for the first calf since it would be small and make calving easier for a new dam. What is your opinion.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Why not just go with an Angus bull with a low birthweight EPD?

 

[karl e. lutz the great]

Why not just go with an Angus bull with a low birthweight EPD?

guess I have a lot to learn but what is epd?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Why not just go with an Angus bull with a low birthweight EPD?

guess I have a lot to learn but what is epd?

They're Expected Progeny Differences. Here's some information for you.

 

[jhm47]

A happy medium is best when selecting a bull to mate to heifers. If you use a bull with an extremely small birthweight, you will get a calf that will not sufficiently expand the heifer's pelvic region, and stretch her pelvic ligaments. Then, if you use a regular bull the next year, she will actually be much like a first calf heifer, and you can have problems that you would not expect from a cow that has calved. A bull that is slightly below average in birthweight EPD, and rates above average in Calving Ease Direct (CED) would be best for you. Also bear in mind that some of the extreme calving ease bulls will sire heifers that are quite small, grow poorly, and often have difficulty calving. I would definitely use a Angus bull with the EPD's that I have outlined above. The Final Answer bull, or one of his sons would be ideal. Find them on the Genex/CRI website.

 

[karl e. lutz the great]

Thank you for the help. I read the chart but I will have to read it a few times to digest it properly and comprehend.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Karl, if you have trouble deciphering the chart that Katie gave you, try this pdf file made by the University of Florida. It might explain things more thoroughly for you, and probably a little better. Even I had a problem trying to see what they're showing in that Noble link.

 

[karl e. lutz the great]

Wild rose ,
I thankyou for the link.I have printed it and am going to read it this weekend.

 

[DoubleSSRanch]

I have to agree. I would not use a smaller breed birthweight bull for heifers. We always just use a nice, lower birth weight yearling angus bull. With a birthweight around 60-70lbs. Like said above, a smaller bull will produce a much smaller calf, wich will result in things not getting stretched out like they should. I'd find yourself a nice yearling angus bull, with a 'feminine' type head, not a big square one (= hard caving) and away you go. OR you could also use a yearling herford bull. They are very easy calving, and have low birth weights also.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

OR you could also use a yearling herford bull. They are very easy calving, and have low birth weights also.

In my experience, that's the opposite. Herefords tend to have big heads wouldn't be a good cross for an Angus heifer.