Hereford/Holstein X

[Auntina]

Hello everyone...I'm new to this site so forgive me if this topic has been previously discussed. I am also rather fresh at raising cows. I hope you will be able to help me.

We picked up a few bottle calves for our kids that are Hereford/Holstein X. I have searched the web and found very little info on this X. Can anyone tell me more about it? Thank you

 

[brentr]

Holstein is a dairy breed; Hereford is a beef breed. Many different reasons for the X. Breeding dairy heifers to a beef bull produces a lower birth weight calf, giving first calf heifers an easier birth is one reason. The dairy influence might produce a bit leaner carcass is another. Market demand is another - I worked in a beef packing plant years ago that had customers who preferred beef produced by this cross.

Most beef breeders don't raise this due to longer finish times due to the dairy influence. Most dairies would never milk this cross because beef influence would mean more feed consumption but less milk.

For backyard producers it can be a reasonable home-grown beef option.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

We raised a few before. Great beef! They grew great, and tasted wonderful.

 

[Cricket]

And should be pretty mellow! If they aren't polled, I'd have them disbudded. Good luck (any pictures?)

 

[Auntina]

A big thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge with me. It is appreciated.
The first picture are of the two heife calves. They are about 5 days old. The second is the bull calf. He was just over a day when we got him.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Look up "Hays Converters." They're a composite breed of Holstein-Hereford cross. Canadian-founded.

 

[Cricket]

Too cute! Makes you wish your humans looked that happy every time you fed them, eh?

Canadians of English-German descent, WRB?

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Too cute! Makes you wish your humans looked that happy every time you fed them, eh?

Canadians of English-German descent, WRB?

Possibly. http://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/89/hays-converter/overview

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/haysconverter/

 

[aggieterpkatie]

And should be pretty mellow!

You're not joking!! This is one of the Hereford/Holstein steers we raised.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Welcome and Congratulations!

They are super cute and should make you a great first herd!