Charolais x Santa Gertrudis

[warhorse]

I have a couple nice dark Santa Gertrudis cows and am considering putting a Charolais bull over them. Does anyone have photos of the color type this cross may produce?

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I would be less concerned about the colour and more excited about the potential hybrid vigor in the calves this cross would produce. It's likely that calves will come out a bit lighter than their dams, which is typical of a Charolais since the Charolais tend to have the diluter gene which dilutes any colour it's crossed with--brown, red or black.

 

[warhorse]

Yeah, I know my first perrogative should be "product", but I'm just curious about the color. I love my mahogany lady cows!

 

[warhorse]

Well, I decided to go with purebred Santa Gertrudis for now to build up a herd of more than 2... the ladies went to the breeding station and I picked KR Ricardo:

I think he looks yummy! I hope all goes well. I may breed them for a cross next year.

 

[Snowhunter]

That is a nice lookin bull!! I'm interested to see what the cross produces. Cross color genetics in cattle escapes me.. but its so cool seeing some of the resulting colored calves. I'm really hoping for a brindle from my Jersey, she's bred to a black Simmental.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Very nice looking bull. I am sure that you will be please. As you say to "beef" up your herd and then start with the crossing if you desire to.

 

[goodhors]

He is handsome, should have some very nice calves.

I don't actually like the Charolais cattle and would not own
or cross them on any cattle I had. The ones I have met or
dealt with were not friendly or easy to handle. They would
go out of their way to cause difficulties in all parts of doing
things like Vetting or moving them for various reasons.

The folks I know who had them, got them for good prices,
but quickly sold them or sent them to the processor because
of the handling problems. Not worth the danger of getting hurt.

Heck we loaded one Charolais heifer by me standing in the front of the trailer
and singing, then jumping out the side door after she charged inside
to get me!! I am not a bad singer either! She just got ticked off about
being in the corral and my being there too. Had another person behind the
trailer gate, swung it closed and off she went to the processor. The problems
dealing with the breed, totally out-weighed the rate of gain and large bodies
to sell advantages.

No one around here uses Charolais anymore, not worth the problems
they create, even when used in crosses. They can be extremely "bull-headed",
and that includes the calves, cows, steers and heifers, in comparison to many
other breeds who have the same good points AND have better tempers when
being handled. We are mostly a farm setting around here, not range country
or excessively large pastures. Cattle have to get along with people on foot,
going thru the fields on horses or vehicles. Not like a ranch setting that is more
isolated from people. Cattle around here may get handled a lot, so they
need to be less reactive.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

He is handsome, should have some very nice calves.

I don't actually like the Charolais cattle and would not own
or cross them on any cattle I had. The ones I have met or
dealt with were not friendly or easy to handle. They would
go out of their way to cause difficulties in all parts of doing
things like Vetting or moving them for various reasons.

The folks I know who had them, got them for good prices,
but quickly sold them or sent them to the processor because
of the handling problems. Not worth the danger of getting hurt.

Heck we loaded one Charolais heifer by me standing in the front of the trailer
and singing, then jumping out the side door after she charged inside
to get me!! I am not a bad singer either! She just got ticked off about
being in the corral and my being there too. Had another person behind the
trailer gate, swung it closed and off she went to the processor. The problems
dealing with the breed, totally out-weighed the rate of gain and large bodies
to sell advantages.

No one around here uses Charolais anymore, not worth the problems
they create, even when used in crosses. They can be extremely "bull-headed",
and that includes the calves, cows, steers and heifers, in comparison to many
other breeds who have the same good points AND have better tempers when
being handled. We are mostly a farm setting around here, not range country
or excessively large pastures. Cattle have to get along with people on foot,
going thru the fields on horses or vehicles. Not like a ranch setting that is more
isolated from people. Cattle around here may get handled a lot, so they
need to be less reactive.

I couldn't agree more. I don't like Charolais too. They're nice to look at, but when handling them, they're nothing more than high-strung, nervous wrecks that are so prone to panic when cornered. I've dealt with a Charolais bull when I was younger, and that bull was so in-your-face you couldn't even cross into his corral without him trying to make a nose-print on your arse. Heck I wouldn't be surprised if he would decide to send you flying if he wanted to.

Charolais:

 

[Snowhunter]

Sorry yall have had such crappy luck with Charolais... I've been happy with the ones at this farm, the bulls were great.. very respectful and non aggressive, and the cows were good mothers and made some beautiful calves. I'd have a whole herd of Charolais if I could afford it

 

[Waterfall]

That is a great looking Bull.