Can cows bred together that.....

[77Herford]

Your location helps some in breed selection. Cattle in general are pretty resilent animals. Angus will get you in some markets a higher price but they can be a bit skiddish cow. I prefer Herefords myself, they do well on pasture of all types and are good mothers. They can bring good meat prices as well.
There are many fine breeds out there just be careful from who you buy from and check lineage if they have it.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

You might also want to consider selling all the offspring your heifers will drop, no matter if they're female or male. Reason being is that the calves from first-time heifers tend to do poorly in terms of production than calves that are born from experienced cows. If you want replacement heifers, only keep those that are above average in terms of growth, conformation, and vigour. How big a cow-calf herd are you planning on making?

 

[arabianequine]

I would like a dozen or so ultimately...or more it just depends.

I just don't want to keep her first years girls right? The 2nd year and on I can keep those ones right?

If you want replacement heifers, only keep those that are above average in terms of growth, conformation, and vigour.

How do I know this, if they are small and only babies at the time?

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I would like a dozen or so ultimately...or more it just depends.

I just don't want to keep her first years girls right? The 2nd year and on I can keep those ones right?

If you want replacement heifers, only keep those that are above average in terms of growth, conformation, and vigour.

How do I know this, if they are small and only babies at the time?

Right and right.

You don't make the decision when they're babies. You have to make the decision on two counts: after weaning before they are going to be bred, and after they have given birth to their first calf. This also applies for when you get your new heifers. You want a cow-calf herd that won't cause you much heart-ache nor hurt your pocketbook, right? Well, you have to make culling decisions in order to have such a healthy, sound herd.

Check out these articles on selecting replacement heifers:

http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/Beef Cattle Handbook/Selecting_Replacement_Heifers.pdf
http://www.tncattlelane.org/beef/pd...Selecting Replacement Heifers - AS-BV-M-9.pdf
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-3076.pdf

Also check out this report: http://www.extension.umn.edu/beef/components/publications/bccd05.pdf

 

[Royd Wood]

Culling example - I have 4 yearling heifers which will be culled in the spring. The first one is quite good but looses size on the sholders - it seems as the rear gets bigger the sholders drop. Two of them are twins and were never going to make it into the breeding herd - tiny at birth and although the right shape just too small (should sell them as minature Galloways and make some decent money) The last one is quite sad really as her mother is my avatar Tarry a Belted - her calf from last year it is the best Galloway yearling heifer on the farm by a long way but she has no belt so I cant register her or any of her offspring.

 

[77Herford]

Can't you register them as Galloways assuming its a Galloway bull.

 

[Royd Wood]

Can't you register them as Galloways assuming its a Galloway bull.

It was a solid dun Galloway bull that bred the Belted. The belt is a strong trait from the mother which quite often follows through to offspring with solid colour sires. If the calf had a belt then she can be registered but no belt then no registration possible. Its a shame as she is all round perfect. Its a risk you take by using a solid sire instead of a belted sire.
Why did I use a solid dun - well he is a top bull and carries the red gene so I gambled and lost. In a perfect world I would have got a red belted heifer, I would have settled for a solid bull calf and pinched him

 

[CESpeed]

Culling example - I have 4 yearling heifers which will be culled in the spring. The first one is quite good but looses size on the sholders - it seems as the rear gets bigger the sholders drop. Two of them are twins and were never going to make it into the breeding herd - tiny at birth and although the right shape just too small (should sell them as minature Galloways and make some decent money) The last one is quite sad really as her mother is my avatar Tarry a Belted - her calf from last year it is the best Galloway yearling heifer on the farm by a long way but she has no belt so I cant register her or any of her offspring.

Why can't she be registered as a non-belted Galloway?