Don Edwards on Gelbvieh Traits

Let's wrap this interview up with Hyde Gelbvieh's Don Edwards. What do you like about the Gelbvieh, Don?

 

"They're really good mothers. They got a pretty good sized carcass on them. The carcass characteristics probably aren't the best as compared to like a black Angus or a red Angus, but they do have the size of the carcass, but they have a really good adaptability to their environment. So whether you're in a high humidity climate with taller grass, or if you're in a real arid climate like I am with short grass, it seems like the cattle really adapt good to any kind of a situation in their environment that they're placed in."

 

So do you cross those Gelbvieh on Red or Black Angus?

 

"My personal choice is red just because it seems like the weaning weights on the red cattle coming off grass on the calves are about 50 pounds heavier on average than what the blacks are, and it depends on year to year, but on average it seems like the reds have a higher weaning weight when they come off grass and seems like they handle the heat stress a little bit better that we have here in northeast Colorado."

 

Any last words for folks considering Gelbvieh?

 

"If you're looking at maybe a breeding option or a crossbreeding option coming this spring or this fall, maybe look at Gelbvieh and see if Gelbvieh would have something to increase your genetic material in your cow herds. That's what I would say."

 

That was Don Edwards from Otis, Colorado in the northeastern part of the state, raising Gelbvieh at Hyde Ranch.

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