How to tame a wild beef calf

[farmerjan]

I am laughing about the "angus" memories. I got some brangus/santa gertrudis/ something calves many years ago when you all were going through that horrible drought in Texas and surrounding states. There were a bunch of nice calves that wound up going through our stockyard sale . About 200 lbs. It was announced that they were from a drought stricken area and that the cows had been culled. I liked red and so we bought several. They were the stubborness thick headed calves I have ever tried to raise. They did have alot of strikes against them by being taken off their mommas at the worst possible size and age. Didn't want bottles, weren't really wanting or ready for grain.... We worked hard to save them and only lost 2 out of the 10 or 12 we got. I felt sorry for them but boy, were they a trial. Except for that priceless hereford. Funny thing is, we still have the other hereford we bought with her, it was a little older cow and she is getting up in age.

Ever deal with Chianina cattle? Talk about moody and attitudes. They are stubborn like Brown Swiss. But they get so big and tall. They make great oxen for pulling, but they work when they want to.

Funny how we all have our "preferred" breeds; and stories to go along with them. I just was trying to make a statement that not all angus are difficult or bad dispositioned.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

@farmerjan I love the stories! (I enjoyed @greybeard story too.) I now have to add a few more of my own...

A cross was bought for my younger brother when in 4-H. He was red/white like the older Simms were and had the attitude from you know where. Papaw didn’t believe us kids until he cornered him! Dad already had him scheduled to ship!

DH showed chianianas! They could be headstrong but once you won them over, they were like putty. His always ended up being huge babies for him. They showed well as they were wound up with everything at the shows and kept their heads high. He could muscle them around some too so it worked out well. There’s some chi influence in our herd as there typically is with show cattle. Not something I want a young kid showing though.

More breeds....hmmm...our black baldies are almost always the tamest animals on the farm, like pocket pets!

 

[greybeard]

Every cattleperson should own a few F-1 tigers (especially out of a Cherokee bull) once in their life.....
As they say...Hybrid vigor is nothing compared to hybrid attitude.

 

[Baymule]

I love F-1 tigers! We had some many years ago and they were the prettiest, sweetest cows that had nice calves. My ex-father in law had a Cherokee bull that was drop dead gorgeous and he couldn't bellow! Nope, no deep bellow from that bull! He had a high pitched squeak that always made us laugh. Thanks for that memory @greybeard!

 

[Rammy]

These are great! Good news on the girls. They came in last night when I called. Not sure, tho, if its just because they were close to the barn and saw the new feed I got them, or they are finally getting used to me calling, Here, Cow!! Common, Girls! Come and get it! Hopefully, in a few more weeks, when I know for sure they are coming in when I call, I can let them out on the pasture. Ive got it all ready!!

 

[greybeard]

I love F-1 tigers! We had some many years ago and they were the prettiest, sweetest cows that had nice calves. My ex-father in law had a Cherokee bull that was drop dead gorgeous and he couldn't bellow! Nope, no deep bellow from that bull! He had a high pitched squeak that always made us laugh. Thanks for that memory @greybeard!

Best mommas ever put on this Earth and bring good $$ in cattle country. Dad had some when I was younger....with them, we didn't have to check on them for days or even weeks at a time. They won't win no 'cute' contest, but easy keepers/easy doers/easy workers tho they could be a handful if they had a calf by their side. Then, you find out real quick where the tiger in tigerstripe really comes from. With calves, best to work them from horseback in open pasture. They'd kill any dog that came close to em. They're just that protective.
That country down between Winnie and the Gulf used to be full of them and so was my county when we were still open range.
I'd love to have some here, but they just cost too much. I could almost buy 2 Beefmasters or Brangus bred heifers for what a Tiger goes for.
They're worth every penny, but I can't personally justify it at my age.
http://www.cattlerange.com/801C151-201/801C152-201.html
http://www.cattlerange.com/710C618-201/710C618-201.html

 

[Wehner Homestead]

I’d wondered what a Tigerstripe was...definitely not common in my area. Interesting.

 

[greybeard]

Brafords usually, and not all Brafords are tigerstripes but 1/2 Brahamn-1/2 Herford is not really considered a tiger. A real Braford Tiger is 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford. Not all calves will be Tigerstripe..some will be motlled and some will be red baldies.
Tigerstripe and brindle are not the same thing. You can get brindle coat out of lots of different pairings, using just about any breed (I have a brindle beefmaster..and the heifer I posted a pic of from county fair was one of my brindled Beefmasters)
There's only one true F1 Tigerstripe and that's Braford, tho I have seen a Brahman/Simm cross that came close to the same thing. You cannot get a F1 Braford calf from mating a full blood Braford bull to a full blood Braford cow..Braford bulls are not terminal bulls.
Pound of gain for dollar input, year after year, nothing will beat 'em on pasture or their calves at sale.
Breed the F1 calves back to Hereford, Angus or Chars and you get both good mothering and steers that will mash the scales down with good grade to boot.
Great representation of the breed standard at show..as close to the perfect F1 Tiger as you will find. Long, tall, thick and wide:

http://pulse.sullivansupply.com/houston-stock-show-open-braford-f1-female/


No, probably not very popular in your area.

 

[Baymule]

Wow, I had no idea they were that high!

 

[greybeard]

Quality and longevity ain't cheap..