Need opinions on some heifers I'm looking at please.

[baseball]

I'm looking to purchase some breeding stock for my newly purchased farm.

Can you please give me any input good or bad on the following heifers I'm looking at.

These are Murray Grey's. Any info good or bad on this breed would be appreciated too.

Also if anybody knows where I can buy some or where I can buy another breed that does good on grass only.

Thank You

[agmantoo]

baseball

What is you main purpose for purchasing the cattle for your new place? The reason I ask is that I feel the cattle should match the farm and the goals. Until that is understood I do not believe that a meaningful response can be reached.

[baseball]

Agmantoo,

My goal is to have an operation like yours except I want to direct market my cattle as grass fed beef.

I have posted some info on my farm in your rotational grazing thread.

Thanks

[agmantoo]

To direct market the cattle you will need to retain them until they are roughly 2 years old. At times you may want to cull some stock for whatever reason and your choice could be the local sale barn. I suggest that you visit the sale barn and observe closely what the feedlot buyers are paying the best money for. Different areas want different animals. Deep south people want some ear on their animals whereas here, having some ear will result in a discount. Should you have to use the sale barn, your stock from the Murray Greys will likely be sold as Charolais. From what I have read, I think red angus sell good in your area and can tolerate sun better than some breeds. Those heifers in the pics are on what type of feed? They are getting more that grass aren't they?

[baseball]

I'm willing to take a hit on the sale of culls if it means superior grass fed genetics and heat tolerance.

I was told by the breeder of these that they were grass fed. Of course grass fed means different things to different people so who knows.

As far as their appearance, how do they look? Do you see any problems with their build or their health?

[topside1]

I'd consider buying animals in photo 1, 3, & 4. My opinion is just based on appearance, I've just completed a livestock evaluation course, and there is a bushel basket full of judging points to consider, as well as EPD type records if available. Without side by side comparisons of cattle of the same age group it's tough to determine clear winners, and generally easy to determine losers. My two cents....Topside

[topside1]

Lastly, if only given one choice I'd buy the animal in photo #4 first....Alertness and being cute has nothing to do with my choice. However she is cute. Topside.

[agmantoo]

As you know my brood cows are commercial angus. I have in the past had a Murray Grey registered bull. Other bulls that I have owned were registered Angus. Of all the bulls I have owned, the MG held up the best of the bunch. That said, but being honest, I have never bought a mature bull that did not lose body condition on a total grass diet. The MG cross with my black cows gave some great feeder calves and the black ones often were in the top price bracket. Other colors took the discount hit for color.
Looking at the cow in with the heifer in the first pic it appears that the cow is IMO too heavy and I cannot tell what frame size she is but she does appear large. Large cows require more upkeep to maintain them. Realize that the general public doesn't know what a MG is. In my opinion I would be trying to market something that the consumer is familiar with or has heard all the promotion of their advantages. I have no idea of what the consumer would want to buy regarding size for halves or wholes . Too large or too small could be an issue with some customers. I know a person that is trying to get into the same business as yourself and he is intending to continue breeding a black angus bull to black corriente cows. I know he has been selling the calves through a local sale and they look good. The man told me that he had zero issues with the herd and that the cows were trouble free when calving and that they stayed in good body condition off marginal grass and hay.

[rancher1913]

don't know much about the MG breed but you might want to consider the buyers habits, they pay more for a known breed--say angus or herford, so if your trying to sell an "off" breed you will have to do more talking to make the sale. might be worth going with the MG if they have a reputation in your area.

[ramiller5675]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

.... The MG cross with my black cows gave some great feeder calves and the black ones often were in the top price bracket. Other colors took the discount hit for color....

How much of a difference in price was there between the black ones and the other colors?

I've got black angus cattle and use registered black angus bulls, and don't think they have any more difficulty with the heat than my neighbor's red-hided and charolais cattle. If you buy some locally raised black angus cattle, they should have be able to handle any high-heat conditions you might have on your farm.

Of course, if I was starting over and knew what I know now, I might get a good group of red angus heifers and a decent black angus bull, so I would have the option of getting a red angus bull and getting whatever color of calf I wanted.

[chrismg]

Personally I love the flavor and tenderness of my Murray Greys. Started with an MG bull on my few commercial cows and the quality of the beef was enhanced greatly. Have gone now to PB MG and my customers love it. I have a couple of Brahman I'm crossing now also and I have an F1 steer in the freezer now that is very tasty and tender. It'd be hard to get me off of the MG's at this point. But like any other breed there's good ones and not so good ones.

[G. Seddon]

My only experience with MGs was at our local small ag fair; they were absolutely beautiful, quiet and calm, were bathed for the first time (!) and behaved as if they'd been bathed everyday since birth. So take my experience with a grain or two of salt. but I was quite favorably impressed with them!


Edited to add: I just came across this thread from the Cattle Today Boards about MGs that might be helpful to you!
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/vie...hp?f=5&t=68063