Opinions on the "best" suckler cow

[Up the Dale]

What are your opinions on the best suckler cow? We have 100 BluexHolstein & LimxHolstein that run with Limousin bulls which produce some decent, muscly and quick growing calves that are sold fat, bulls at 600kg and heifers around 500kg. This system does work for us, but I was wondering what other peoples opinions on the "best" suckler cow are?
We did venture into British Blues bulls in the past, the first bull we had was brilliant and produced top class calves but with a few calving difficultys (80% assisted) and 3-4 cesarean a year, but unfortunately the last 2 we have had were infertile! So were back to the trusty limmy but I will miss some of the cracking calves we used to get.

 

[M-J-G]

Be prepared for every suggestion under the sun

 

[Henarar]

We did venture into British Blues bulls in the past, the first bull we had was brilliant and produced top class calves but with a few calving difficultys (80% assisted) and 3-4 cesarean a year, but unfortunately the last 2 we have had were infertile! So were back to the trusty limmy but I will miss some of the cracking calves we used to get.

you are easy pleased if you think the first one was brilliant, were the others infertile when you bought them ?

as for the cows if what you have is working for you and you can get more then why change ?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Limousin x charalois x blue x Simmental x Angus x Hereford x blonde x Galloway x luing x saler x Welsh black x shorthorn x long horn x Friesan

 

[steveR]

Limousin x charalois x blue x Simmental x Angus x Hereford x blonde x Galloway x luing x saler x Welsh black x shorthorn x long horn x Friesan

Nothing like some hybrid vigour....

 

[Up the Dale]

you are easy pleased if you think the first one was brilliant, were the others infertile when you bought them ?

as for the cows if what you have is working for you and you can get more then why change ?

Both bought at 20 month old and when we noticed cows were repeatedly bulling had them tested and no swimmers!

I'm just genuinely interested in what suckler systems people use and why.
You see a lot of plain looking Simx cows with a plain old Charolais bull about, i would imagine they produce some heavy calves, so is there more profit in producing a heavy big boned animal?

 

[Henarar]

Both bought at 20 month old and when we noticed cows were repeatedly bulling had them tested and no swimmers!

I'm just genuinely interested in what suckler systems people use and why.
You see a lot of plain looking Simx cows with a plain old Charolais bull about, i would imagine they produce some heavy calves, so is there more profit in producing a heavy big boned animal?

Did you get your money back
Well most folk don't like eating bone so best not to produce to much

 

[JP1]

Popcorn time

Some wag will be suggesting you posted to gain traffic

 

[MF 135 Man]

Gelbvieh but im a sheep farmer.

 

[Henarar]

Popcorn time

Some wag will be suggesting you posted to gain traffic

he is asking about suckler cows not wanting to build a road

 

[JP1]

he is asking about suckler cows not wanting to build a road

You know what I mean !

 

[Cowcalf]

depends on so many things, ground your on, time available to work with them, feed available, housing , the list is endless

 

[Qman]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, British Friesian X Limousin is the best suckler cow.

 

[Henarar]

I'm just genuinely interested in what suckler systems people use and why.
You see a lot of plain looking Simx cows with a plain old Charolais bull about, i would imagine they produce some heavy calves, so is there more profit in producing a heavy big boned animal?

If limmy and blue sell well to your market then carry on with that
do you find the Holstein cross cows last well ?
we have had a few Holstein cross cows and we found they didn't last that well but they would have good calves in the main and lots of milk to feed them but the Holstein could show in the calves

 

[Lazy Eric]

depends on so many things, ground your on, time available to work with them, feed available, housing , the list is endless

As above, what’s good on a lowland farm with maybe dry land and a 4 month winter wouldn’t necessarily be any good in an upland area, high rainfall, with a 7 month winter. Also do you like to sit up with them all night,and see too many c sections?

 

[Whitepeak]

Limousin x charalois x blue x Simmental x Angus x Hereford x blonde x Galloway x luing x saler x Welsh black x shorthorn x long horn x Friesan

Is that a new type of composite to rival the Stabiliser?

 

[sixrow]

Best suckler cow is the one that calves herself calf sooks is 500kg at a year old makes £1150 and calves first week of calving and lasts 10 years.If only it was that simple

 

[Agric]

the first bull we had was brilliant and produced top class calves but with a few calving difficultys (80% assisted) and 3-4 cesarean a year,

I’m just amazed that anyone would consider this a brilliant bull...

As for cows, always found our Blue X Holstein very disappointing, used to get some cracking calves when put to a Blonde bull but poor cow fertility, cows didn’t last and were expensive to keep, also had a lot of difficult calvings. But it all depends on your system

 

[AftonShepherd]

Limousin x charalois x blue x Simmental x Angus x Hereford x blonde x Galloway x luing x saler x Welsh black x shorthorn x long horn x Friesan

Was your Highland bull infertile?

 

[Happy]

I’m just amazed that anyone would consider this a brilliant bull...

As for cows, always found our Blue X Holstein very disappointing, used to get some cracking calves when put to a Blonde bull but poor cow fertility, cows didn’t last and were expensive to keep, also had a lot of difficult calvings. But it all depends on your system

Has to be a typo. Surely @Up the Dale meant 80% unassisted.