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Crossbreeding with 2 New Bulls
For the past 25 years we have been using Red Angus bulls exclusively. This year we still have 3 Red Angus bulls for our cows, but will be crossbreeding our heifers with two new bulls. The red bull with two white tags is a South Poll from Sassafras Valley Ranch in Missouri. The Black Angus behind him is from Rocky Road Farms Angus, right here in Darlington.
I’ve never been opposed to crossbreeding, but I needed to find the right bulls. These bulls are excellent for our top two traits, disposition and calving ease. I’m excited to get some hybrid vigor back into our cattle.
I plan to use them together to breed about 30 of our Red Angus heifers. I’ll have to wait until April of 2026 to get calves on the ground, but I plan to get birthweights on all the calves to compare South Poll to Black Angus. It won’t be scientifically significant, but it will be anecdotally interesting. It will be easy to determine parentage as black is a dominant color in cattle and since the Black Angus bull is homozygous black, any black calves will be sired by him. All the red calves will be sired by the South Poll bull.
Check back for results of this experiment in June or July, 2026.
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2025-02-27 17:36:25
Karl Hoffman is a distinguished agriculturalist with over four decades of experience in sustainable farming practices. He holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy from Cornell University and has made significant contributions as a professor at Iowa State University. Hoffman’s groundbreaking research on integrated pest management and soil health has revolutionized modern agriculture. As a respected farm journalist, his column “Field Notes with Karl Hoffman” and his blog “The Modern Farmer” provide insightful, practical advice to a global audience. Hoffman’s work with the USDA and the United Nations FAO has enhanced food security worldwide. His awards include the USDA’s Distinguished Service Award and the World Food Prize, reflecting his profound impact on agriculture and sustainability.
