Herd Improvement And Greater Profits With Black Baldy Cattle

By Eugenia Dickerson


The beef production business is one in which profits can never be taken for granted. Breeding stock requires years of care - hard work in all sorts of weather conditions - to produce replacement cows and feedlot animals. Raising young animals to an age where they can be profitably sold is a separate aspect of the business with its own demands. When experience shows that Black Baldy cattle can increase profits by 20% or more, ranchers and feedlot managers take notice.

Black Baldy is the name given to white-faced, sable-bodied cattle that are produced by breeding a Hereford bull to an Aberdeen Angus cow. The white-face gene of the Hereford and the sable-color gene of the Angus are dominant, so the color of the hybrid crosses is remarkable consistent.

The same coloration is found when Hereford females are mated with Angus bulls. First births can be difficult when both parents are Herefords. Using an Angus bull gives a calf with a lower birth weight and a smaller head, which is easier for a heifer in her first calving. This practice alone can cut herd losses to a significant extent.

Both of these crossbreeding methods produces animals that perform well in breeding or in beef production. The black white-faced cows are known for their fertility, their longevity, and their 'good mother' characteristics. These include a gentle disposition, which makes handling easier, and good milk production to nourish the calf. In the feedlot, both types of offspring are docile and gain weight rapidly on less feed than other breeds might require.

A lot of the success of this practice is the effect of hybridizing. Purebred animals pass both good and bad characteristics to succeeding generations, and the inevitable inbreeding leads to the development of genetic defects and problems. In contrast, a hybrid offspring often is stronger, more vigorous, and just plain more adept at living than either of their parents. They in large part mature early, conceive readily, grow rapidly, and live long, productive lives.

In addition, Herefords are an especially strong breed. There are in fact more Herefords in the world than any other type of cow, experts say. This is partly due to the breed's docility and hardiness; these cattle thrive in almost any climate. It may also trace back to the British Empire, when these British cattle were shipped to many countries where the British were in control. Aberdeen Angus is another fine breed, especially noted for a gentle nature and the excellent taste of their meat.

Being dark colored, the Baldies are not prone to ill effects from the sun, which makes them valuable in Australia and New Zealand. It's also a useful characteristic on the high plains of the American northwest, where this breed is known also as Black Herefords. The cattle do well when raised outdoors in the extremes of weather that these great beef producing countries have.

Black Baldy Cattle have raised profits in many herds by as much as 20%. Go online to see the results of studies and performance reviews and to find out where the crossbred animals can be found.




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