breeding question

[brierpatch1974]

My son asked me a question but I have no idea how to answer it since I raise goats and not cattle.. <for now> But he is wondering what kind of meat would you get from crossing a mini texas longhorn to some highlander cows?
My son has discovered 4-H and loves the goat projects but now wants to look into beef. I don't have room for beef here but His Grandfather has donated to him 50 acres of his 500 acres of land. Basically he gets all the fields and Grandfather keeps all those mountain woods. lol So now my son is researching mini cattle and requirements for them and also thinking he can develop a new breed of cattle someday. He wants to get a degree in animal science and study more genetics. I am just trying to do everything I can to encourage him and help him out.. Even if I don't have a clue to what he is talking about somedays lol.
I am still trying to figure out where he is learning so much about these things. Their 4-H meetings are not this in depth. lol Thanks for all the info you can pass along It is greatly appreciated.

BP

[KSALguy]

the Longhorn has Very little fat marbaling and its meat is tough on account of that, Mini Texaslonghorns wouldnt be much better if not worse, they are basically a show or rodio type animal if i remimber right,
Longhorns were replaced by the other meat breeds of cattle because their meat wasnt as tender and they grew out so slow without a very good feed to meat ratio,
i would use eather pure Highland or Highland/Dexter if you wanted to stay in the small breeds

[heritagefarmer]

Originally Posted by brierpatch1974

My son asked me a question but I have no idea how to answer it since I raise goats and not cattle.. <for now> But he is wondering what kind of meat would you get from crossing a mini texas longhorn to some highlander cows?
My son has discovered 4-H and loves the goat projects but now wants to look into beef. I don't have room for beef here but His Grandfather has donated to him 50 acres of his 500 acres of land. Basically he gets all the fields and Grandfather keeps all those mountain woods. lol So now my son is researching mini cattle and requirements for them and also thinking he can develop a new breed of cattle someday. He wants to get a degree in animal science and study more genetics. I am just trying to do everything I can to encourage him and help him out.. Even if I don't have a clue to what he is talking about somedays lol.
I am still trying to figure out where he is learning so much about these things. Their 4-H meetings are not this in depth. lol Thanks for all the info you can pass along It is greatly appreciated.

BP

Galloways would be good fo you, as they are pretty 'small' as in not very tall, but that is only because they have short legs, their kill out weight compares very favourably with 'bigger breeds' They are eays keepers nad good Mothers. Their feed converiosn rate is almost the best too, and lovely beef!
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[lilsassafrass]

there are several breeders of highlands I have known over the years who also raise texas longhorns. And although I have never seen them promote their hi-lorns, I know those folks also sold sides.never heard ill about the cross .
neither breed will lay on much back fat , and though my experience with long horns comes down to tlalking with the breeders at different fairs and one of the breeders at last years Keystone .I do know the highland will marble quite nicely , and the vast majority of highland bloodlines are the smaller animals .
So there really isnt any reason that they wouldnt make a good cross producing an animal with a mesium size carcass.

Paula
Hyde Park Farm