AA x bull calves - better as steers at 9 months than entire?

[willowwarbler]

We are about to calve our sucklers to an AA bull for the first time. Previously , we have used mainly Limmies as sires , and sold weaned at around 9 months, entire . It occurs to me that AA x will take longer to finish and therefore would buyers prefer them to be castrated? I read on here most farmers castrate with rings when first born , so perhaps we ought to be prepared to do that?

 

[Dave6170]

I have a few friends who’s Angus bulls are performing much better than limmys.

 

[Werzle]

Imo you will have to keep them until they are 12mths old to sell if your going to steer them. Castrate a few and compare growth and prices rather than put all your eggs in one basket perhaps.

 

[serf]

I'd band them , you got flexibility and options for marketing.

 

[Oliveau]

Ask yourself the question - Would you rather eat a nice AA steak from a steer, or bull meat?

 

[Full of bull(s)]

Ask yourself the question - Would you rather eat a nice AA steak from a steer, or bull meat?

That wasn’t the question it was which would pay best. Where are you from? Up here in the North there is a strong trade for beef bred Angus bulls as stores if they’ve been creep fed. They can match any continental for growth rates and cover a lot more easily than Blue crosses. I’d leave them as bulls if you want to sell at 9 months

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

We are about to calve our sucklers to an AA bull for the first time. Previously , we have used mainly Limmies as sires , and sold weaned at around 9 months, entire . It occurs to me that AA x will take longer to finish and therefore would buyers prefer them to be castrated? I read on here most farmers castrate with rings when first born , so perhaps we ought to be prepared to do that?

Why do you think they will take longer to finish ? ime they finish quicker but lighter usually.

 

[gatepost]

More buyers for steers.

 

[Werzle]

More length in a lim which equals longer loin and more meat.

 

[mac]

I have a few friends who’s Angus bulls are performing much better than limmys.

We finish all our Angus’s as Bulls regularly kill some 12 months old and be 400 kgs + deadweight. They perform a better than a lot of continentals.

 

[Optimus]

We finish all our Angus’s as Bulls regularly kill some 12 months old and be 400 kgs + deadweight. They perform a better than a lot of continentals.

I'd agree with that.most of my Angus are away before continentals.

 

[Werzle]

We finish all our Angus’s as Bulls regularly kill some 12 months old and be 400 kgs + deadweight. They perform a better than a lot of continentals.

Will they pay better thats the question sold at 9mths, nobody is knocking the aa as a breed. On average i would guess they wouldnt grade like a conti and from seeing them sold as stores they dont sell anywhere near as well as the contis until they are 18mths +. There are "some" quality aa cattle about than can hold there own with the lim/char but you dont see many.

 

[Full of bull(s)]

Will they pay better thats the question sold at 9mths, nobody is knocking the aa as a breed. On average i would guess they wouldnt grade like a conti and from seeing them sold as stores they dont sell anywhere near as well as the contis until they are 18mths +. There are "some" quality aa cattle about than can hold there own with the lim/char but you dont see many.

Surely you’ve answered the question then. As steers they need to 18 months to get the price but as bulls at 9 months weighing 350+ kg just right for buyers to get away well under 16 months

 

[Hilly]

Contimental breeders are like vegans having to tell you they are vegans they have to they you they dont like Angus cattle you know in a subsidy free world its net proffit that counts not price achieved … most cattle in countries with no subs are Angus and Hereford lower cop , and everyone laments about the eating quality of the beef in …………. Other countries USA…

 

[willowwarbler]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are in North Yorks, and at our advanced age are looking to keep things as simple as possible. So I ll take 'full of bulls' advice , and we ll leave them entire. [ I d thought perhaps AA x s may have been more grass finished , but am happy to learn they are no different to continentals!]

 

[Full of bull(s)]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are in North Yorks, and at our advanced age are looking to keep things as simple as possible. So I ll take 'full of bulls' advice , and we ll leave them entire. [ I d thought perhaps AA x s may have been more grass finished , but am happy to learn they are no different to continentals!]

You are not far from me then. Take them to one of the suckler/special sales, there will be no shortage of buyers for them

 

[Werzle]

Surely you’ve answered the question then. As steers they need to 18 months to get the price but as bulls at 9 months weighing 350+ kg just right for buyers to get away well under 16 months

Yes i think i have ,as 9 mth olds they will be less money than contis

 

[Werzle]

Contimental breeders are like vegans having to tell you they are vegans they have to they you they dont like Angus cattle you know in a subsidy free world its net proffit that counts not price achieved … most cattle in countries with no subs are Angus and Hereford lower cop , and everyone laments about the eating quality of the beef in …………. Other countries USA…

I was thinking the same about you traditional breed types, fingers in your ears lalalala to any debate Unfortunatly we arent paid on eating quality .....yet, mores the pity as we would all be breeding the black baldies

 

[Hilly]

I was thinking the same about you traditional breed types, fingers in your ears lalalala to any debate Unfortunatly we arent paid on eating quality .....yet, mores the pity as we would all be breeding the black baldies

Prehaps you have to become a dairy person to win the eating quality bit .

 

[Werzle]

Prehaps you have to become a dairy person to win the eating quality bit .

Dont fancy eating holsteins much