Grant
True BYH Addict
Anyone crossed their Dexters with a small birth weight Wagyu bull? I’m thinking small Kobe quality calves might make for excellent eating. Any thoughts out there?
Dexter cows Wagyu (Kobe) bull
- Thread starter Grant
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greybeard
Herd Master
https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=12327
Wagyu and Kobe are 2 completely different animals. People have found themselves on the ugly end of lawsuits because they claimed to be selling, serving or raising Kobe beef when in reality, it was just Wagyu.
If it wasn't/isn't born, raised in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan and of the breed variety called Japanese Black, it isn't Kobe. There is no Kobe beef raised in the US. And very very little Kobe beef sold here. The Japanese have strongly restricted the amount of real Kobe exported.
Just a few years ago (5) less than 300 lbs per month of Kobe beef was exported from Japan to the USA.
Every crossbred generation loses half of the special marbling and fat characteristics of true Wagyu.
Wagyu and Kobe are 2 completely different animals. People have found themselves on the ugly end of lawsuits because they claimed to be selling, serving or raising Kobe beef when in reality, it was just Wagyu.
If it wasn't/isn't born, raised in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan and of the breed variety called Japanese Black, it isn't Kobe. There is no Kobe beef raised in the US. And very very little Kobe beef sold here. The Japanese have strongly restricted the amount of real Kobe exported.
Just a few years ago (5) less than 300 lbs per month of Kobe beef was exported from Japan to the USA.
Every crossbred generation loses half of the special marbling and fat characteristics of true Wagyu.
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Grant
True BYH Addict
That I am aware of. We do have some in our area who sell purebred Wagyu. I know true Kobe beef can only come from Japan just like Champaign can only come from the Champaign region of France. My question was to see if anyone had-tried the cross in practice. Dexter already produces good beef, this looked like a way to add good marbling to good beef.
farmerjan
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There are several people who have done crosses. The beef will have some more marbling characteristics from the Wagyu. If there are people near you who have pure Wagyu, then you also realize that they are built more like a dairy animal in the hind end at least. A Dexter is also not the "chunkiest" or beefiest built animal. So if you do a cross, do not expect the calf and subsequent "beef" to look like a beef animal or to gain like one.
They also require a different feed plan to enhance the marbling and fat that is deposited throughout the tissue. The true Kobe beef that @greybeard had referred to, not only come from the specific strain of Wagyu, but they are fed a very specific diet and often for as much as 40 months. Even a cross, will not develop the amount of fat/marbling without some serious attention paid to feeding.
This is just a few things that I can think of offhand.
The calves should not present any real problem as they are built longer and leaner as opposed to blocky and beefy. No real calving problems as long as the Dexter is a mature cow. Would not try it with a heifer for the simple fact of not knowing the combination of genes and how they would work. I would not rely on CE or anything printed for the breed when using on a smaller animal. CE is a comparison of animals WITHIN their breed.
Low birthweight on a sire does not necessarily translate to calving ease when used on a completely different breed such as a Dexter.
Why not use a jersey? They are the second best marbling breed, and if a heifer, the calf can be a good milk cow. The calves are small, long and slender. The calves will not get "beefy", but jersey beef is very good and they can be finished if fed out, by 24-30 months at most. They do put on weight after they hit about a year and do very well on grass. Have been eating jersey beef for over 30 years.
They also require a different feed plan to enhance the marbling and fat that is deposited throughout the tissue. The true Kobe beef that @greybeard had referred to, not only come from the specific strain of Wagyu, but they are fed a very specific diet and often for as much as 40 months. Even a cross, will not develop the amount of fat/marbling without some serious attention paid to feeding.
This is just a few things that I can think of offhand.
The calves should not present any real problem as they are built longer and leaner as opposed to blocky and beefy. No real calving problems as long as the Dexter is a mature cow. Would not try it with a heifer for the simple fact of not knowing the combination of genes and how they would work. I would not rely on CE or anything printed for the breed when using on a smaller animal. CE is a comparison of animals WITHIN their breed.
Low birthweight on a sire does not necessarily translate to calving ease when used on a completely different breed such as a Dexter.
Why not use a jersey? They are the second best marbling breed, and if a heifer, the calf can be a good milk cow. The calves are small, long and slender. The calves will not get "beefy", but jersey beef is very good and they can be finished if fed out, by 24-30 months at most. They do put on weight after they hit about a year and do very well on grass. Have been eating jersey beef for over 30 years.
greybeard
Herd Master
I think you will have calving and post partum problems breeding a larger breed to a significantly smaller breed. I most certainly wouldn't do it with a heifer, and would be on pins and needles till the calf was on the ground alive even with a cow that had successfully calved prior.
Roy Atherton seems to be the guy you want to talk to.
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16121
https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=12327
Roy Atherton seems to be the guy you want to talk to.
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16121
https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=12327
