Who wants to judge cattle quality?

[ABS9590]

Or offer helpful suggestions on improving their body condition once they're delivered?
There's a Jersey pair, "horned Hereford" bull calf (I thought Herefords were polled? but don't really care too much), 6 unknown breed beef heifers, and 2 Longhorn beef crosses.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Or offer helpful suggestions on improving their body condition once they're delivered?
There's a Jersey pair, "horned Hereford" bull calf (I thought Herefords were polled? but don't really care too much), 6 unknown breed beef heifers, and 2 Longhorn beef crosses.

What are you wanting them to look like in body condition? Also, Herefords do have horns, but it’s more common to see polled.

 

[ABS9590]

More well fed and smoother coats. I feel like they're a little rough looking. Am I judging too harshly?
The current plan is wormer, pasture, a protein tub, and maybe some hay depending on how bad of shape the pasture is in.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

More well fed and smoother coats. I feel like they're a little rough looking. Am I judging too harshly?
The current plan is wormer, pasture, a protein tub, and maybe some hay depending on how bad of shape the pasture is in.

No, you aren’t judging harsh at all… they do look pretty fluff. I’d definitely do that plan, maybe give them some feed too.

 

[ABS9590]

No, you aren’t judging harsh at all… they do look pretty fluff. I’d definitely do that plan, maybe give them some feed too.

Thank you! Will do, hopefully some TLC will have them looking better

 

[casportpony]

More well fed and smoother coats. I feel like they're a little rough looking. Am I judging too harshly?

I'm not a cattle person, but they do look underweight and scruffy.

The current plan is wormer, pasture, a protein tub, and maybe some hay depending on how bad of shape the pasture is in.

Sounds like a good plan. @Overo Mare has cattle, maybe she can offer some advice.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I thought Herefords were polled? but don't really care too much

Herefords can be horned or polled. AHA and APHA are the respective registries for Herefords.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford_cattle

I'd say their appearance is pretty typical for calves born in the winter. They haven't had any pasture. A few weeks on good pasture with some supplemental hay and a prepared diet should see them sleek up and drop their wooly coat for the upcoming summer.

 

[Painted Calls]

I'm not a cattle person, but they do look underweight and scruffy.

Sounds like a good plan. @Overo Mare has cattle, maybe she can offer some advice.

Current plan sounds like a good one. Definitely get them wormed and get them a mineral tub.

The sooner they can be put on good pasture, the better.

 

[casportpony]

I'd say their appearance is pretty typical for calves born in the winter. They haven't had any pasture. A few weeks on good pasture with some supplemental hay and a prepared diet should see them sleek up and drop their wooly coat for the upcoming summer.

Is it typical for them to look so thin? I know dairy calves normally look thin, but I thought non-dairy calves were fatter.

 

[Painted Calls]

Is it typical for them to look so thin? I know dairy calves normally look thin, but I thought non-dairy calves were fatter.

To me they look wormy and a bit malnourished. No, it's not typical for beef cattle to look quite like that. They are almost all mixed breeds though, so that can also affect their build.