Guess the breeds of this calf...

Karin L · #1 12/02/06, 07:47 PM

Okay everyone, here's the challenge: tell me what sort of breed(s) that this calf has in him:

Guess the breeds of this calf... - Cattle

Hint: I have no clue myself what he is, only I know he's not a shorthorn.

And yes, he is a real odd ball.

Now go to it!!

agmantoo · #2 12/02/06, 08:06 PM

Santa Gertrudis crossed with charolais

~Tomboy~ · #3 12/02/06, 10:06 PM

Longhorn and Shorthorn would be my guess.

james dilley · #4 12/02/06, 10:13 PM

It would help if we had A photo.

GREEN_ALIEN · #5 12/02/06, 10:27 PM

Longhorn / Charolais

**ladycat** · #6 12/02/06, 10:38 PM

Lomghorn and *something*. But definitely some longhorn in there.

**ladycat** · #7 12/02/06, 10:42 PM

Charolais *could* be the other part. The hair looks like Charolais. The head looks a little like it too.

arcticow · #8 12/02/06, 10:55 PM

Normande/Charolais.

Karin L · #9 12/03/06, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james dilley

It would help if we had A photo.

pic don't come up for you? I do have one up on here.

Ronney · #10 12/03/06, 05:03 AM

When you start crossing breeds, it's anybody's guess. I had a Hereford/Simmintal/Friesian bull that when put over my Jerseys produced calfs exactly like this, every bit as ugly and the coats tended to be long and shaggy despite the fact that we don't ever get snow. Consequently I wouldn't even attempt to hazzard a guess.

Cheers,
Ronnie

doodles · #11 12/03/06, 07:20 AM

longhorn definitely and maybe highland

wr · #12 12/03/06, 09:24 AM

I would suggest longhorn and just about anything else you can think of but definately not highland, the hair would be more coarse at this time of year and the the highland shaggy hair over the poll always seems to show up, even when crossed with the finer haired longhorn. The coat you folks are looking at is very typical of any shorter haired breed in our climate, we do get serious winter coat up here. The color pattern is not uncommon when you cross longhorn with hereford or red angus, which are common breeds in Alberta.

Karen, the University of Lethbridge completed a study a few years ago that indicates that cattle in our climate will develop a greater heart/girth area to allow greater protection of the vital organs in our cold weather. How's that for a totally useless bit of information on a Sunday morning

caseyweiss · #13 12/04/06, 06:26 AM

If one of the parents is a purebred Charlais, the calf will almost always be some shade of cream, and not spotted. My guess would be shorthorn, but since you said it isn't, I'll guess some kind of Maine Anjou cross.

Razorback21 · #14 12/04/06, 08:42 AM

Maine Anjou and something is my guess as well. The top of his head reminds me of Charolais. Regardless, I bet he'll kick out a few good steaks for you.

tinknal · #15 12/05/06, 09:31 AM

I'm going with Normande. The color, pattern and small head looks like the description. IMO too beefy at this age for a longhorn. Here are some Normande pics, but hard to compare as the pick are of adults in warm weather.

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/

unioncreek · #16 12/05/06, 10:13 AM

I'm also going with Longhorn and Shorthorn, if it was Charlois (sp?) he would be almost of all white.

Bobg

wr · #17 12/05/06, 10:21 AM

unioncreek, I tend to think you may be right. It's not uncommon for purebred breeders to breed their heifers to a longhorn bull (for the calving ease) and the northern part of the province does have a bit of a shorthorn population. Some of the other breeds mentioned are so rare in Alberta that it would be highly unlikely to see them crossed wtih anything.