Here's some interesting studies from the University of Missouri on crossbreeding with Angus, Herefords and Charolais.
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G2040
but that is for getting bigger offspring. A Hereford bull over an angus cow yields a 5% larger calf.
In our case, our farm was 100 miles away and we were not often there for calving so wanted to avoid difficulty since they were on their own.
To reduce losses, avoiding calving difficulty with genetics is key. 70% of the calves that are lost prior to weaning are born dead or die within 24 hours of birth. Most of these losses are related to calving difficulty. Calves that experience calving difficulty are 4 times as likely to be born dead or die within 24 hours.
There are a lot of other factors, including nutrition but calf size and pelvic width (calving ease) are the primary causes.
Yes, they just move the party to the DR, Jamaica or Mexico. Just stay at home and avoid the air fare cost.
That's not what I want when I travel.
Hear that bama?...If you have a quirky sense of humor, that definately helps.
...
They're built for it.
Yes, and sometimes a 4th to do the manicure and facial.
Out of my 12 laying age hens/pullets, 5 are broody. I'm going to put the 2 that went broody last week in jail. I have enough chicks for now and I don't have enough secure housing options for them. I'm down to 4 or 5 eggs a day. Most of the chicks will be commencing lay from October thru January.
Broody heaven.
This hen is attempting to cover 50 chicks.
I give foot baths when it's over 95. Over 100F I freeze a bunch of pint plastic bottles and float one in each foot bath and in each water fount. I also freeze water in any disposable thing that will hold it like containers that held greens. Luckily, this year, there haven't been that many days at 100.
I was supposed to bring therapy chickens to the retirement home down the street from my house. I never got around to it when I had chickens that would sit still for being held.
What works in one climate or geographical area won't work elsewhere.
Some people rave about sand for bedding. I'm afraid it would turn into solid rock at <0F and 90% humidity.
We don't have In and Outs. The best chain burger joint around here is 'five guys'. They make the burgers in front of you from real ground beef, no preformed patties.There in and In and Our five minutes from work and another one five minutes from my house.
See why I have not been to McDonalds in a long time?
I wish we could get a burger and fries to you also.
Still, 'O'Connell's pub' and a local chain, 'Llywelyn's pubs' have the best burgers around - except for my house.
