belgian blue cattle

troy n sarah tx · #1 04/28/08, 12:35 PM

Has anyone ever seen these cattle? I saw a picture today and they look like a normal cow on steroids.

Sarah

copperhead46 · #2 04/28/08, 02:48 PM

OMG yes, they were at the Tulsa State Fair last year. I thought they looked like they were half hog and half cow, it's unbelievable the butt on them. My brother in law is thinking about getting a bull to put on his limosine cows. I bet they'd put the beef out, for sure.
P.J.

darbyfamily · #3 04/28/08, 02:57 PM

never heard of them, but went to look and UGH are they UGLY! much too muscular for my liking... ICK!

kclementsdvm · #4 04/28/08, 03:38 PM

They are double-muscled, and most need C-sections to deliver calves.

cjb · #5 04/28/08, 03:45 PM

Those are soo ugly. They're body builder cows.

Ronney · #6 04/28/08, 04:23 PM

Sadly they have been bred up in some cases to exaggerate that "double muscling" which makes them look revolting but they don't need to look anything like that.

Some years ago a neighbour lent me his quite small Belgian Blue bull to put over my cows and I kept one of the calves out of a Jersey cow and now milk her. She's small in height but a very solid little cow with a beam end on her like the back of a bus. She produces fantastic calves to an Angus bull. I'll take a photo this evening when I milk her and post it.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Jcran · #7 04/28/08, 10:10 PM

Hey, that is one BIG butt! Maybe the name should be Belgian Blue Butt

willow_girl · #8 04/29/08, 03:19 AM

I tested a dairy that kept a small beef herd of BBs. They milked a couple of the cows just for kicks. They weren't going to set any records for production (LOL) but they were nice enough cows.

CatherineE · #9 04/29/08, 04:12 AM

I've read that most BBs have to give birth by C-section, as the calves are so huge there's no way they can be born normally. I would be careful what size cow I was crossing with them. I look forward to seeing the Jersey/BB cross milk cow!

Ronney · #10 04/29/08, 05:37 AM

I didn't take my camera with me this evening because what started off as a beautiful day deteriorated into pelting rain by the time it came to do the evening milking.

I really wanted a photo showing her beam end - every time I put her in the bale to milk her I look at that backside and shake my head. This photo is the only one I have of her and unfortunately she decided to poke her tongue out just as I snapped it

but you can see that despite her size, she is a very chunky little cow.

belgian blue cattle - Cattle

Willow, I have no idea what BB's should produce but this cow, at the peak of her season, produces about 18litres a day so around about 5 gallons a day but much of that would be the Jersey influence I suppose. By nature she is as placid as the day is long and is a dream to have around.

For those of you thinking about going into the breed, don't discount them out of hand but perhaps look at staying away from the heavy double muscling.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Middle River · #11 04/29/08, 01:18 PM

So would a BB cross well on a dairy cow, or would they be too big and cause calving issues ? Odd cows.

bqz · #12 04/29/08, 02:14 PM

Goggled this image

http://www.hemmy.net/images/animals/supercow01.jpg

WOW!! are kidding me

That thing is a monster.

francismilker · #13 04/29/08, 03:46 PM

Ronney,
I must say that's about the beefiest looking jerseyX cow I've ever seen! I'd like to have one of those myself. Great job on this one! Not very often to get a blue spotted cow out of jersey.

Cheribelle · #14 04/29/08, 04:00 PM

Ronnie, that is one beautiful cow!

chickenista · #15 04/29/08, 04:01 PM

I have seen the pic that bqz posted... and I have been head over heels in love ever since!
I would love, love, love to have a few of those. I would love to stroll into the state fair with one. And park him right next to the Brahmas....aahh.. daydreams.