Читать книгу Hobby Farm Animals - Chris McLaughlin - Страница 26

A beef cow’s primary job is to raise a big, healthy calf every year. So, the first thing you need to find out about a cow is whether she calves easily and is a good mother.

Easy calving depends as much on the genetics of the bull as it does on those of the cow, so look for this trait when you are evaluating either parent. A heifer’s mother should have a record of easy calvings, and reputable bull producers will have records going back several generations that can be correlated with performance records in breed directories. (Ideally, the previous owner will have kept good records.)

If you’re looking at a heifer to buy, find out what kind of mother her mother is. A good mother is protective of her calves and diligent about cleaning them up and nursing them quickly after birth. A good mother always knows where her calf is located and produces plenty of milk. By weaning time, the calf is chubby, frisky, and a good grazer.

A cow also needs to be easy for you to deal with. A good mother is no good for you if she goes berserk in the chute or is in the habit of jumping fences. Look for cows or heifers that are calm, can be herded quietly, and don’t take off for the next county when a stranger enters their pasture.

Get a cow or heifer that can physically handle the job of carrying and birthing calves. Look for wide-set pinbones as well as an udder that is well attached front and back and won’t eventually sag so low that the calf will have to kneel to suckle. The cow should have reached puberty early for its breed, a sign of fertility, and be cycling regularly.

Finally, a cow or heifer should look nice, with that beefy boxcar body, a clean-cut head and neck, a wide muzzle, and calm eyes, and she should not be so fat that she waddles or so thin that her ribs show. Strong, straight legs and tidy hooves are signs that the cows will hold up for years of grazing and wandering around after calves.

Prioritize your wants. My primary concern is to get a heifer that’s going to be easy to live with and won’t have calving or milk problems. I’d also rather compromise on body type than on disposition. You’ll have to decide for yourself what is most important to you.