Sorry, a few more questions.

[haviris]

How bad would breeding half brother to half sister be? And what do you all think about using a bull out of a heifer?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

In line breeding can be tricky. I would say post more on their relationship. ie, half siblings how? Dam? Sire?

We considered keeping a bull calf out of a heifer to raise and use as a bull. Until her udder started falling apart as the caking came out.

 

[haviris]

Same Sire!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

So you're looking at many heifers and not just one? Personally, I wouldn't take the risk.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

How bad would breeding half brother to half sister be? And what do you all think about using a bull out of a heifer?

This form of breeding should only be done with SUPERIOR breeding stock on both the half brother and half sisters' dams side. As well as the sires'. If you are breeding stock that is not up to par as far as genetics and conformation is concered, then I wouldn't even think about it. You could run into risks of deformed calves or other un-wanted problems.

 

[haviris]

Thank you very helpful!

 

[Imissmygirls]

Again, it differs when you are talking beef or dairy, purebred or mixed.
Dairy AI studs often *sample* bulls from heifers, but these heifers have pedigrees behind them that are filled with generations of Excellent conformations.
I would think it is the same with purebred beef semen when they have generations of test data behind the breedings, but there aren't as much data collected as with dairy bulls.
When you start talking backyard small herd of mixed breed animals, ALL bets are OFF! There is way too much mix of genetics there to gamble on what you will get any further by adding even more variables.
Considering that cattle take you three years from conception to calving,and you only get ONE animal a year after that, can you afford to gamble with genetic crap shoots?
JMO