Hereford's

[sidjon]

I have used ruby red Devon bulls on our dairy heifers for donkeys year's and used to breed our own as had a few pedigree cows, last of the bull was lost to tb in the autumn and a couple of the beef guy's who purchase our Devonx heifers for suck cow replacements have asked I'd we would change to hereford's. So is there any difference between the horned and polled bull as to easily calving?

 

[exmoor dave]

I have used ruby red Devon bulls on our dairy heifers for donkeys year's and used to breed our own as had a few pedigree cows, last of the bull was lost to tb in the autumn and a couple of the beef guy's who purchase our Devonx heifers for suck cow replacements have asked I'd we would change to hereford's. So is there any difference between the horned and polled bull as to easily calving?

@Blod knows her stuff on this.

We only buy polls, so that immediately limits your choice more than you'd expect, it's surprising how many breeders still breed horns!

I've got a feeling that apart of the horns, the horned type are seen as better on other traits.
But IMO horns are a big negative point in this day and age.

There's a couple good herds between taunton and chard.
We're on our second bull from one of those herds.


Would be very keen to try a bull with abit of foreign blood in it providing they didn't add wildness.

 

[exmoor dave]

I have used ruby red Devon bulls on our dairy heifers for donkeys year's and used to breed our own as had a few pedigree cows, last of the bull was lost to tb in the autumn and a couple of the beef guy's who purchase our Devonx heifers for suck cow replacements have asked I'd we would change to hereford's. So is there any difference between the horned and polled bull as to easily calving?

I'd say swing by brompton and have a look...... but it's nearly all Angus out there

 

[GTB]

Polled hereford and angus here. Criss cross between the two. Horns are so old fashioned

 

[tinsheet]

@Blod knows her stuff on this.

We only buy polls, so that immediately limits your choice more than you'd expect, it's surprising how many breeders still breed horns!

I've got a feeling that apart of the horns, the horned type are seen as better on other traits.
But IMO horns are a big negative point in this day and age.

There's a couple good herds between taunton and chard.
We're on our second bull from one of those herds.


Would be very keen to try a bull with abit of foreign blood in it providing they didn't add wildness.

Who do buy from Dave, pm if you like
Am having a bit of a mare with the Hereford I bought last year, great calves just to fudging big.

 

[sidjon]

Who do buy from Dave, pm if you like
Am having a bit of a mare with the Hereford I bought last year, great calves just to fudging big.

Were did you get yours??

 

[exmoor dave]

Who do buy from Dave, pm if you like
Am having a bit of a mare with the Hereford I bought last year, great calves just to fudging big.

I'll look up the name and let you know.

About 5mins off the A358 at stewly criss/Ashill

They had a good selection last year, they sell them fairly young as well.


Recorded

 

[Cowgirl]

Exmoor Dave - they're all foreign now (apart from the few traditional English ones like ours).

 

[Cowgirl]

I'm not a huge believer in EBVs, but you might be disappointed in calving ease if you don't choose carefully. Breeders who are keen on the show ring have bred some polled Herefords to be very large cattle indeed.

 

[Old Tip]

Not polled but @Bopeep1981 hss some good stock, had two bulls of her and not had to help any calve

 

[Bopeep1981]

Thanks @OldTip Always nice to hear how our boys are getting on. Favourable reports from the dairy buyers too, so our bulls seem to have passed on their easy-calving traits. We are breeders of horned Herefords, we started with horned cows (dehorned) and have stayed that way. They are performing how we hoped and so we have no desire to breed polled at the moment. Would never say never though. We have recently bought the senior stock bull from John Douglas (Ervie Herefords) to improve our calving ease EBVs. We have never had calving problems from any of our stock bulls, but because they were from herds that didn't performance record, their calving ease figures looked poor, and it takes a couple of generations before they improve and have any accuracy worth taking note of. We are hoping that by using a bull with higher accuracy figures it will have a positive impact on the EBVs of all of our herd (by providing a direct comparison within our herd), and so more accurately reflect what we, and our bull purchasers, have experienced.

 

[Forever Fendt]

Thanks @OldTip Always nice to hear how our boys are getting on. Favourable reports from the dairy buyers too, so our bulls seem to have passed on their easy-calving traits. We are breeders of horned Herefords, we started with horned cows (dehorned) and have stayed that way. They are performing how we hoped and so we have no desire to breed polled at the moment. Would never say never though. We have recently bought the senior stock bull from John Douglas (Ervie Herefords) to improve our calving ease EBVs. We have never had calving problems from any of our stock bulls, but because they were from herds that didn't performance record, their calving ease figures looked poor, and it takes a couple of generations before they improve and have any accuracy worth taking note of. We are hoping that by using a bull with higher accuracy figures it will have a positive impact on the EBVs of all of our herd (by providing a direct comparison within our herd), and so more accurately reflect what we, and our bull purchasers, have experienced.

I have been told the horned type flesh easier any thoughts on this statement ? my cows are polled and i had a horned bull from @Bandrews and have only 1 calf with horns

 

[Gulli]

I have been told the horned type flesh easier any thoughts on this statement ? my cows are polled and i had a horned bull from @Bandrews and have only 1 calf with horns

I expect polled animals lost a bit of growth whilst the horns were being bred off them and got a reputation

I'd say there's probably not a lot of difference anymore

 

[Philip Watkins]

I have been told the horned type flesh easier any thoughts on this statement ? my cows are polled and i had a horned bull from @Bandrews and have only 1 calf with horns

I believe horns is a recessive gene so your cow that threw the horned calve has the horn gene (heterozygous) and the others are probably homozygous polled or you would expect more horned calves.

 

[Pulham Herefords]

Hi I am a pedigree Hereford breeder with Horned & Polled Herefords in my opinion both much of a much but we find hobby farmers like polled because you might! Not need to dehorn & commercial finishers like the horned type more as they finish easier on grass & most farmers don't mind dehorning especially if crossing with another horned breed.
Calving ease comes down to the bull & not the type, you could ask when buying what the bull weighed at birth. I would recommend 43 to 46kgs.
We do have a selection of bull for sale if you are interested. www.pulhamherefords.co.uk

 

[exmoor dave]

Hereford heifers about to calf for the first time being walked home, including 2 who are a year younger and have joined the drive to get jabbed cause they had a daliance with the bull at tb testing a month ago.

Never been housed, wintered out on the moor
Out of Hereford x cows and Devons.

 

[GTB]

Hereford heifers about to calf for the first time being walked home, including 2 who are a year younger and have joined the drive to get jabbed cause they had a daliance with the bull at tb testing a month ago.

View attachment 510664

Never been housed, wintered out on the moor
Out of Hereford x cows and Devons.

Very nice. I'm so jealous of the fact that you can outwinter. Far too wet here.

 

[Henarar]

I'll look up the name and let you know.

About 5mins off the A358 at stewly criss/Ashill

They had a good selection last year, they sell them fairly young as well.


Recorded

Its Stewley cross and there are two breeders of Herefords not far from there one would be Marcus Lury 01460 234394 he does polled and horned [oakleaf herd]
the other is Isobel Jennings 01823 480321 cornbel herd polled

 

[Henarar]

Its Stewley cross and there are two breeders of Herefords not far from there one would be Marcus Lury 01460 234394 he does polled and horned [oakleaf herd]
the other is Isobel Jennings 01823 480321 cornbel herd polled

@sidjon both are only 5 mins away from where we are

 

[sidjon]

@sidjon both are only 5 mins away from where we are

Have spoken to both but they both have bull younger than I need , so off to Holsworthy today to have a look at a few.