Hey Cattle People, need some advice...... Corriente/Longhorn heifers..

[Bleenie]

I found some Heifers for sale locally, the seller isn't sure what the exact breed is on them but they said possibly some pure Corriente & Longhorn... or mix of the two. Also said they are all approximately 2yrs old.

Any input on the breeds as far as Meat & Temperments go?
How easy are they to care for in comparison to BFW or Herefords?
I have heard that some can tell the age by the horns? any guesses?

We sold off our beef herd and need a couple girls to help keep the pastures down a little while things regrow. they look very pretty

but I am not familiar with either breed, we have always had BWF with the exception of an Angus/Brahma mix heifer.

 

[WIChookchick]

I knew a nice lady who had a long horn bull... he leaped gates and electric fences, barb wire.. .you name it, like a deer, barely a challenge for him.
I would try to do some googling on their breed types and perhaps ask the seller what type of fencing he uses...

 

[Illia]

Never had longhorns, but Corriente can be (depending on who you got them from and how young) either very mild tempered or very flighty. As they're bred almost soley for roping and bulldogging, it is natural for them to run away from people or other animals.

Their meat is pretty good, it's very lean and dark. I've never raised your normal beef breeds before though, so I don't know much in comparison besides store bought beef.

The pictured cattle look definitely like Longhorn x Corriente, possibly even pure Longhorn, and a little older than a year.

As for the rest of caring goes - They're easy birthers, very hardy to both heat and cold, and will browse more than other breeds. Really easy on land as well.

If those cattle were around here, I'd take that red one with the foreward horns any day.

If you do plan on purchasing them - Make sure your fence is cattle-proof. Corriente are BIG time escape artists and VERY athletic.

 

[Hound]

Both Corrientes and Longhorns do poorly at the sale barn. Corrientes are typically raised for roping/rodeo events, they're just not quality beef animals. They are smaller and therefore eat less, but consequently produce less. Longhorns were popular last century as they could survive on nothing. However again the beef quality is poor and so are prices. Longhorns are good (if fiesty) mothers and notorious fence jumpers. Longhorns are crossed with other breeds to improve mothering (Longhorns are good mothers) and vigor while adding the productivity of modern beef breeds; I can't see much to be gained by crossing a Corriente and Longhorn for beef production. Corrientes are generally hotter than your average Hereford.

Not sure about which part of the country you're in, but here in the southwest a good Hereford or black baldie cow typically costs $1000-1500. Corrientes can be easily had for $400, Longhorns do not fair much better.

 

[Bleenie]

They are priced at $350 but we're discussing a trade for our 2 remaining heifers. Brahma/Angus and her daughter thats daddy was a BWF... shes a Tiger Stripe Baldie.

I did do some reading online and like that they are easy on the land, that's a plus for us since we want to give things a break. I also read that Corriente and usually very gentle cattle that accept and most times welcome human attention... anyone have personal experience that's opposite this?

These particular cattle are used to being trailered and move easily but never handled much. I don't plan on going and loving on them all the time, lol, but would like them to be easy to handle when we need to do anything with them. at least eat out of our hands anyway.

It's been my experience that when you seperate a few from a herd or flock they tend to calm down a little and are easier to work with and more accepting to being around people.

 

[arabianequine]

Look like some long horn in them.....year old cows I have their horns are about half that. I don't know if that means they are 2 or 3? I think the ones you wanna trade for are worth more. Your trading one cow for one cow?

 

[Bleenie]

Yeah, we may trade straight across. From what i can find online about them, they are easy on pastures & docile. I am wondering if they would produce nice calves if crossed with a beef type bull, but I am still tryign to find some good information online about that.

so far there hasn't been much interest in our 2 remaining girls, we had the baldie listed for $450 (shes 2 & should be bred) but no one much cares for her, she's leggier, more brahma like her mom. We were asking more for her momma because of the calves she throws... her bull calves are WONDERFUL. But she's 6 and real bossy. most people with smaller places don't want a girl like her... we're just lucky enough to have a big property.