Post by Shawn on Feb 15, 2024 10:14:43 GMT -5
I often wonder whether getting bull genetics from such a different location is such a great idea. Grass-fed genetics are great but if your cows are going to be on pasture I reckon adaption to local conditions matter all the more. New Zealand after all is quite different from Kansas, certainly in terms of climate if not also soil and forage. For example, I recall someone who got a line of sheep from Western Texas and brought them to a much wetter area of Georgia and they all suffered from horrendous hoof infection that the previous owners had never encountered.
I'm curious how your Jersey-Angus is doing? If you're open to cross-breeding, I wonder if it isn't more worthwhile to breed your cows to bulls from beef herds. Yes this is often done for a good beef animal, but I mean even for a future milk cow. Especially since many of what we today call beef breeds used to be dual-purpose breeds that were reliable milkers for countless families, and became relegated to the beef industry merely because they couldn't stand up to the milk production of the commercialized breeds. I've heard that many of them over-produce milk (from a rancher's perspective) and many breeders even encourage it.
Say you were to cross your Guernsey with a bull from a good grass-fed Devon line, wouldn't it be likely to get offspring with a combination of the hardiness of the Devon and the milk output of the Guernsey? This strategy would open up a much wider and more affordable pool of bulls than the limited number of dairy bulls with novel grass-fed genetics. It's certainly something I'd like to try, albeit a more long-term project.
Good thoughts. I agree that when moving animals you need to consider a lot of factors.
I have previously used NZ jersey genetics and been very happy with the offspring. They're thicker, more hardy animals. I'm not totally grass fed, so there's that, too.
I haven't been that impressed with Milking Devons. Sometimes I think the heritage breeds died out for a reason. Sorry, I know that's not a popular opinion.
And I don't want to breed my Jersey/Angus to beef because she already milks like a beefer. I'm hopeful to get more milk, while putting a bit more hardiness into the Jersey side by having her Angus in the background. But mostly, I'm just playing around having fun.
And yes, milk production is overemphasized in the beef breeds sometimes. Another reason I'm moving my beef herd towards the South Poll breed.