Why is good confirmation important when selecting beef breeding stock?

Answer 1

Because the last thing you want in your herd is inferior genetics entering your herd that will only undo what you have been trying to achieve instead of improving it. As a starter herd, selecting GOOD cows and GOOD bulls will mean that you will have a calf crop that is above average compared to other neighboring herds that may only have average stock. The rule of thumb is this: If you have average cows, you will get average calves, no matter if you put a superior bull on those average cows.

Starting with GOOD cows is a step up to starting with someone's rangy-looking cull cows. Building your herd up to your dream-type herd will take a heck of a lot longer with inferior cows than if you started with cows that have great conformation and great genetics. If you start with GOOD cows, you are pretty much already where you wanted to be, and thus know what to select for when culling the hard-doers. Good cows can be bought at dispersal sales or private treaty with a breeder. Asking the right questions and looking for major flaws with your potential cow herd is important. You don't want to end up with cows that will pose problems for you in the future, more than you anticipated. What if the cull cow you bought from the salebarn had a history of prolapsing or calving problems, or keeps refusing her calf or is meaner'n a cornered snake? Some cull cows that are bought from salebarns can still be good, provided you looked them over carefully, because some producers are a bit more pickier than others, and cull cows for minor problems compared to what you select for. But others are only intended for the meat factory, and should only go that route and not end up causing trouble for a newbie.

The same goes with selecting for your herd bull. You don't want bulls that already know they can overpower a person, nor do you want bulls that are mean. Bulls that are inferior looking (not masculine, poor conformation, poor sperm count) shouldn't be even considered. Bulls with great conformation and good libido should be used, and most are found at bull sales held by seedstock breeders. Remember: a bull is worth half your herd. If you bring home an inferior bull, you will get inferior calves, no matter how good or average your cowherd is. A bull should only be brought into the herd to improve it, not to bring it down.

So good conformation isn't just about getting people's attention when your herd is grazing in the pasture by the road, or about bragging rights. It's about knowing what you are doing, what you are selecting for, and how you do things to make it easier on yourself. Not only that, but it's a good feeling to get a premium for some great calves you sold in the salebarn.