What Breed are these Steers?

[LlanoLonghorn]

Could someone help me identify what breed these two steers are?
They are about one year old now and I would like to know at what age or weight is the most profitable time to auction them. I keep them for tax reasons only and do not plan to eat them. I will replace them with two new calves. Thanks

 

[herfrds]

Cross breed.

Look to have some Brahma due to the ear size. Other then that no idea. Can think of at least 4 different breeds they could be.

1400#-1600# is a good weight around 14 months of age.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I agree with herf, they definately look like mutts. They could have Red Angus, Brahman, Texas Longhorn and maybe a smidgen of Jersey in them, but it's really hard to tell. The rear half of the steer in the first pic definately has the typical rear of a TL. The face is long like a brammer, but the face itself has that angusy-look to him, especially around the muzzle, especially with the steer in the second pic. The length of dewlap definately tells me that they got brammer in them.

But I don't agree with the 14 to 16 cwt, as this is waaaay too big and heavy for them at that age!! These are just steers, and at 14 months of age they definately wouldn't be at 1400 to 1600 lbs! I'd go for more like 1000 to 1100 lbs, as the steers we sold that reached 14 months of age weighed at an average of 1000 lbs. These boogers in the pics look to be around 800 lbs, so they still got a few more months left until you can sell them.

 

[LlanoLonghorn]

WildRoseBeef,

Thanks for the reply. If I wait until they are 1000 or 1200 about what should they bring at the auction?

 

[herfrds]

Call your local sale barn.

It may seem like too much but 1200#-1400# is finished weight.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

It may seem like too much but 1200#-1400# is finished weight.

But not at 14 months of age. Most cattle that are finished at those weights are around 24 months of age, not 14. And you are probably aware as well that grass-fed, even with a little taste of grain, takes longer to finish than grain-fed, hence the smaller weights for grass-fed steers.

 

[herfrds]

I've seen 4-H steers finished out at that weight and they are 16 months of age.
So i'm off on the age sorry my mistake.

 

[jhm47]

Simmental cross steers. Big ears, but not drooping, and lots of "leather" on their fronts.

I have quite a few steers that are not yet a year old, and they are over 1000 lbs. Heifers are crowding 900 lbs. Even with this terrible winter they have gained well.

 

[LlanoLonghorn]

jhm47,

Thanks for your info, If what you say is true then they must be Black Simmentals since the herd they came from are all BLACK. These were the only BROWN calves from this herd in about 4 years. Interesting stuff.

 

[jhm47]

Yes, it's very likely that two black Simmentals can produce a red calf. It's a matter of dominant/recessive genetics. Black is always dominant, but an animal can carry a red gene, and a black gene. when the cells that produce sperm or eggs split (sperm and eggs only carry 1/2 of the DNA that is necessary to produce a calf), one half of them will carry the red gene, and the other half will carry the black gene. If a black sperm or egg unites with a black egg or sperm, the result will be a "homozygous black" animal, and it will be black, and unable to produce a red animal under any circumstances.

If a black sperm or egg unites with a red sperm or egg, it will produce a black animal that carries both black and red genes. this is called a heterozygous black animal. The resulting sperm or eggs from this animal will be half black and half red.

Of course, two red sperm or eggs will always produce a red animal, and that would be a homozygous red animal. If mated to a homozygous black animal, it will always produce heterozygous black offspring, and if mated to a homozygous red animal, it will always produce homozygous red animals.

I have raised black Simmentals for nearly 30 years now, and still occasionally get the odd red calf. when I get one, I immediately know that both the cow and bull that produced it are heterozygous black.

I wish that the industry would get over this "black is best" mindset. There are some very good red animals out here, and selecting for just one color is eliminating some excellent animals from the gene pool.

I hope you can understand what I have just tried to explain. Since I'm only semi-literate, it's hard for me to do much better. Take good care of those red calves. They're nice ones from what I can see in your pic.