British Breeds(of cattle) more suitable for commercial herds after B####t

[JP1]

@Henarar I still think that native breeds will come to the fore in the suckler industry, maybe to be sired by named sires like now. there are several large herds in the East Midlands using them in that way. That includes 1 large estate in Lincolnshire that uses Lincoln Cows with Angus bulls to get the Premium on the beef. There is also a suckler herd in Northamptonshire using Lincolns because of there ease of management crossing with continental bulls. The recent announcement about Newark is fabulous news and might draw more suckler men from the North and west to the sale on March 23rd. There is also a small offering of Lincoln Bulls and females at Stirling(maybe @JP1 can help me by putting a link in the appropriate places including here!)
WB

https://www.uagroup.co.uk/about-us/stirling-bull-sales

 

[sheepwise]

I'm not so sure that the fully beef bred cow will be marginalised, my guess is the dairy x cows will reduce in number as suckler herds are pushed onto harder ground.

Very good point regarding how continentals and natives can compliment each other, particularly when the EUROP grid is in use. Regarding your Blondes, would I be correct to think that they would produce a slightly smaller but shapier carcass than a typical Charollais out of the same cow? The reducing upper optimum level of carcass weight must have folks being a bit warier of the Charollais?

The great benefit of charolais crosses, (excepting the simmental which I would use more for it's maternal attributes) is that they are the most easily fleshed of all the continentals. If properly fed charolais cattle can reach target fat cover easily within spec weight range. We have more trouble with cattle going overweight and still under finished with the more extreme breeds like BBs and Blondes especially if they are also out of continental dams.

 

[sheepwise]

Anyway what has Brexit got to do with it? The most profitable cattle today will still be the most profitable after Brexit. Why wouldn't they be? There is some serious rubbish talked about on the consequences of Brexit and reduction of subs.

 

[Blaithin]

And there lies the problem under finished cattle getting killed which will put folk off buying beef next time as it tastes like it looks only way to get the big continentals to grade well is to take a penalty on weight, not good for profitability

What are your cattle allowed to weigh?

The continentals here go at 1500-1600 lbs. They're well finished at that weight. Sure they could easily go up higher, but on the right diet that's plenty of finish.

Perhaps that's one of the benefits of the ionophores, implants, beta agonists and high grain diets though, it doesn't pull away from frame growth and towards muscle and fat. It's why many feedlots also run backgrounding programs where calves are sent out to pasture for a summer before coming back in for a winter of finishing. Helps them grow more frame.

 

[JP1]

@Henarar I still think that native breeds will come to the fore in the suckler industry, maybe to be sired by named sires like now. there are several large herds in the East Midlands using them in that way. That includes 1 large estate in Lincolnshire that uses Lincoln Cows with Angus bulls to get the Premium on the beef. There is also a suckler herd in Northamptonshire using Lincolns because of there ease of management crossing with continental bulls. The recent announcement about Newark is fabulous news and might draw more suckler men from the North and west to the sale on March 23rd. There is also a small offering of Lincoln Bulls and females at Stirling(maybe @JP1 can help me by putting a link in the appropriate places including here!)
WB

 

[Wolds Beef]

@JP1 Thanks JP1 a lovely modern Lincoln Red of good colour, ready for Spring work!!
WB

 

[JP1]

@Wolds Beef

 

[Obi Wan]

Why has there been no mention of the Luing as the low cost hardy native ?? [emoji848]

I second the Luing for harsher environments.

Or a black baldie for better ground? https://nuffieldinternational.org/live/Report/UK/2006/robert-parker

Well worth a read and very relevant now with the current political climate, especially since it was completed in 2006!!!

Take my hat off to the author, great report.

 

[Woolless]

I second the Luing for harsher environments.

Or a black baldie for better ground? https://nuffieldinternational.org/live/Report/UK/2006/robert-parker

Well worth a read and very relevant now with the current political climate, especially since it was completed in 2006!!!

Take my hat off to the author, great report.

I would 100% agree with that. Read it the other week, very interesting.

 

[Wolds Beef]

Online can be watched on Monday. Starts with Shorthorns at about 1.00pm. In fairness there is a Beverley bull on the Beverley herd of Lincoln reds facebook page
WB

 

[tinsheet]

I second the Luing for harsher environments.

Or a black baldie for better ground? https://nuffieldinternational.org/live/Report/UK/2006/robert-parker

Well worth a read and very relevant now with the current political climate, especially since it was completed in 2006!!!

Take my hat off to the author, great report.

Read that a few years back good stuff!.

 

[M-J-G]

Pretty sure a lot of the breed comparisons are from Grange a long time ago.

 

[Wolds Beef]

A Lincoln Red can stand a harsh environment to. There are several herds in the wolds that have them out all winter on light land!! Admittedly some are also mollycoddled in Roundhouse conditions!!
WB

 

[Wolds Beef]

If anyone buys a Lincoln Red today for commercial use can you post pictures in a years time!! It would be good to see the results on here!!
WB

 

[M-J-G]

There are only 8 entered in Stirling, at a guess there might be 6 or 7 there.

 

[Wolds Beef]

@M-J-G They have to start somewhere!! We need a wider cross section of Suckler boys to use them. Whoever buys will NOT be disappointed! Don't be a pessimist!!
WB

 

[CharcoalWally]

There are only 8 entered in Stirling, at a guess there might be 6 or 7 there.

Slow progress, but healthy numbers of Shorthorns I hear?

 

[M-J-G]

Slow progress, but healthy numbers of Shorthorns I hear?

90 odd entered, probably 70-80 there on the day. Massively up on what it was a decade ago.

 

[CharcoalWally]

Have to say that that's quite impressive progress from where they once were. It used to be said that the buyers only wanted Shorthorn females in the Spring at Stirling, but it looks like that's changed, especially since AA numbers seem to be on the way down ? I've heard people say that there are less of them entered this year.

 

[M-J-G]

@M-J-G They have to start somewhere!! We need a wider cross section of Suckler boys to use them. Whoever buys will NOT be disappointed! Don't be a pessimist!!
WB

Nothing at all pessimistic about stating the numbers of bulls entered for a sale. Of course they have to start somewhere Shorthorn at Stirling were down to 20 or so bulls at one point and now have closer to 100, so it is possible.

I would have thought that offering assurance to buyers that they will NOT be disappointed is a tad optimistic regardless of what was bring sold.

When I go to a bull sale I tend to find very few bulls within most breeds that that are what I like, to put a figure on it, maybe 5 in every hundred or so would be a type that I would consider buying.