-
COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 5
The best cows are slim having an angular body – that is not covered with bulging muscle like a bull – fairly long narrow head and neck and a well developed udder.
The beef cow doesn't have to have these traits because she does not have to produce that much milk. She should be more muscular and not have such a big udder.
A heifer should have feet and legs set at correct angles, a straight back – not swaybacked or arched up. It should have a hip sloping down rather than up at the tail. A high tail with pelvis tipped up can cause calving problems as she gets older. A downward sloping hip is better.
Steers:
Choose a steer in preference to a bull.
A steer is a male calf that has been castrated, that is he has had his testicles removed.
Calves are castrated when young at time of weaning.
A bull can provide good meat however it is more difficult to handle than a steer and is more likely to break fences to find cows.
Yearlings:
You can make a good profit by keeping calves over winter and then selling them as yearlings. When you buy them the price per pound is lower, but they weigh so much more as yearlings that compensate for the extra feed you provide for them during the winter unless the price of feed is high that year.
The beef cow doesn't have to have these traits because she does not have to produce that much milk. She should be more muscular and not have such a big udder.
A heifer should have feet and legs set at correct angles, a straight back – not swaybacked or arched up. It should have a hip sloping down rather than up at the tail. A high tail with pelvis tipped up can cause calving problems as she gets older. A downward sloping hip is better.
Steers:
Choose a steer in preference to a bull.
A steer is a male calf that has been castrated, that is he has had his testicles removed.
Calves are castrated when young at time of weaning.
A bull can provide good meat however it is more difficult to handle than a steer and is more likely to break fences to find cows.
Yearlings:
You can make a good profit by keeping calves over winter and then selling them as yearlings. When you buy them the price per pound is lower, but they weigh so much more as yearlings that compensate for the extra feed you provide for them during the winter unless the price of feed is high that year.