Stabiliser cattle

tanko

I see that powerful genetics are selling straws from a stabiliser bull. There's a lot of talk at the moment about the lack of milk and maternal traits in suckler cows. Stabilisers have a mixture of native and continental breeds (red Angus x Simmental x gelbvieh ). Strews are €20 euro.

He is supposed to be easy calved and suitable for heifers. I'm thinking of trying a few straws, just wondering does anyone have any experience of, or views on stabiliser cattle.

Muckit

There was a vet up north with a herd of them that was featured in the ifj about 5-6 years ago. From what he was saying they were the business.

grassroot1

Billy O Kane is the man you need to talk to, we purchased a bull from him but have no stabilizer crosses calved yet. They are cattle bred for production based on figures (low birthweight high growth rate FCE ) Our calves compared well against all previous crosses from figures going back to 2008 but you will take a hit if selling as weanlings (they can look as bit like aa crosses). Google leachman he bred them first with some research unit in the 60,s the jurys is out here, still so far so good. To see real benefits you need to be on at least the 3rd cross ie almost pure.

bigredbull

Hi i keep stabilisers and have done for about 3 years now
first i imported some straws from england my neighbour laughed when he saw the first 3 calves he said they were like rats ,however he was in the sales yard when i was selling them at about 270 days of age bulls were 440 and 460 kgs ,he couldnt believe them
then i bought a bull of billy o kane and had him since (now for sale)
last years weanlings never got a chance with the wet but compared similar to a couple of charlois that i had
this year cows all calved in side 10 weeks from feb 15th to 26th april weanling bulls now average 415 kgs with the heaviest about 440kgs
and the hiefers are average 355 kgs with a couple over 400kgs
i bought some pures last year and they calved in sept oct and a bull born on 16th sept is about 230kgs already
average calving interval this year is 361 days and last year was 356

jerdee

would you stick up a few pics...................

bigredbull

pics attached as requested

bigredbull

a few more
stabiliser cattle 2013 055.jpg

stabiliser cattle 2013 047.jpg

stabiliser cattle 2013 081.jpg

stabiliser cattle 2013 082.jpg

bigredbull

all weanlings were born from feb14 to 26 april
and photos were taken in sept

blue5000

Thanks, good neck exercise,:pac: welcome to boards, I thought they were nearly all black, yours are mostly red

tanko

Thanks for the photos, nice looking stock. Would most of the calves of the stabiliser bull be polled? Also the newborn calf looks very small, would your calves all be that size at birth?

bigredbull

all mine have been polled
but i think some can have horns but the purer you get the more are polled
some have a small horn like shell but vthey never develope horns

bigredbull

colour can range from a fawn colour trough to a deep red

bigredbull

the calf in picture 47 was my first pure calf
was 18 kgs when born i have to check the tag now to know which one it is
most were about 30 to 40 kgs born

onyerbikepat

That calf in picture 47 is seriously small alright. You'd be worried he'd fall down tru the slats.

grassroot1

Most stabilizer bulls will have at least one poll gene (heterozygous I think) calves 50% polled and bulls with 2 genes (homozygous) will always have polled calves have to admit I hate dehorning and one of the reasons I switched to Stablizers

Genghis Cant

tanko wrote: »

I see that powerful genetics are selling straws from a stabiliser bull. There's a lot of talk at the moment about the lack of milk and maternal traits in suckler cows. Stabilisers have a mixture of native and continental breeds (red Angus x Simmental x gelbvieh ). Strews are €20.

Is this the only Stabiliser bull available through AI?

tanko

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Is this the only Stabiliser bull available through AI?

As far as I know, he is the only one so far.

Future Farmer

He has two Stabilisers now

http://www.powerfulgenetics.com/stabiliser-sire.html

simx

bought a couple of cows with calves @ foot last year, sold the calves as weanlings, they were stabilizers, kind of sorry I didn't hold on to them to finish, not bad weights for weanlings only born in mid/late march either, one was a bullock-335kg other a heifer 285kg

kollegeknight

After a c-section on a limo heifer, my vet mentioned the breed to me.

I wonder how well do they sell in the mart?

onyerbikepat

Any I've seen on Dondeal etc, look like a cross between limousine and a shorthorn.

Dickie10

should we start thinking of these cattle again? seem very efficent on labour

Future Farmer

Dickie10 wrote: »

should we start thinking of these cattle again? seem very efficent on labour

It's the ownership issues that seem to put people off....

50HX

http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/beef-focus-stabilisers-increasing-profits-on-co-tipperary-suckler-farm/

grassroot1

We have bred Stablisers since 2011, they do most of what they say on the tin. The major fault I see however is their feet they are terrible.

Muckit

Good to hear some of the practical stuff and not just the good bits.

grassroot1

grassroot1 wrote: »

We have bred Stablisers since 2011, they do most of what they say on the tin. The major fault I see however is their feet they are terrible.

I was considering switching from an easy calving LM to a stabiliser or Angus. Looking for a breed that finishes easily and dosent need to be disbudded

Realistically, unless you are keeping your own heifers as replacements wouldn't the Angus be a better option as you get the bonus at the factory?

Cattlepen

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I was considering switching from an easy calving LM to a stabiliser or Angus. Looking for a breed that finishes easily and dosent need to be disbudded

Realistically, unless you are keeping your own heifers as replacements wouldn't the Angus be a better option as you get the bonus at the factory?

You are spot on with your assumption. I have had both breeds and the difference between them is not worth noticing and the bonus in Angus is good. No bonus in stabiliser. They can be a bit inconsistent quality wise tii

Cattlepen

Cattlepen wrote: »

You are spot on with your assumption. I have had both breeds and the difference between them is not worth noticing and the bonus in Angus is good. No bonus in stabiliser. They can be a bit inconsistent quality wise tii

Sound, thanks for that. I don't they are that easier calved either that an Angus or even an easy calving LM

Water John

If looking for polled, then Speckle Park also worth checking out.

Water John

Water John wrote: »

If looking for polled, then Speckle Park also worth checking out.

What I am looking for is a combination of easy calving, vitality and easily finished.

Polled is good alright as it's one less though job.

Current limousin has docile quiet calves but getting finished quickly would be good before the bulk of cattle hit the market.