Herd Improvement With Black Baldy Cattle

By Eugenia Dickerson


Cattle ranchers know that there is little leeway between losing money or making it in the beef production business. The years of hard work in all weathers required to raise even the sturdiest animals on the open range mean that a barren cow or one that dies young is a real liability. Black Baldy cattle are showing ranchers a promising way to make their profit margin a little bigger. Reports of up to 20% annual increase are making beef producers sit up and 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.

Breeding an Angus bull to a Hereford cow has been a common practice for cattlemen, since purebred Hereford calves can be large enough to cause difficulties for first births in heifers. The hybrid calves have a lower birth rate and a smaller head, making delivery easier. The results of this cross-breeding is vigorous animals that do well in feed lot situations or on the open range.

Performance ratings are high is both birth statistics and growth patterns. The white-faced cows are known for early maturity, fertility, and longevity, all areas in which the purebreds have been having problems. They also exhibit excellent mothering talents and good milk production for their sturdy, fast-growing calves. Their gentle disposition comes to them from both sides, making them valuable in both the herd and the feedlot.

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.

Baldies are popular in areas with hot sun, like Australia, where their dark color minimizes sunburn. In the American northwest, this breed is called Black Hereford. These great beef producing regions have extremes of weather that demand sturdy animals. Ranchers may love their cows but they cannot and do not pamper them.

Black Baldy Cattle are available for breeding stock and for those who want to fatten animals for beef. Check out the results of performance tests that show how this breed can increase production in any aspect of the beef business.




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