Breeding Maine heifers for club calves

I have a couple Maine heifers out of an Ali xdraft pick bull that I would like to breed for some clubby calfs. They are so I don't want a bull that would not be too hard on them any suggestions

Proud jazz,Sin City,OCC Anchor,Dmcc Bodybuilder,Witchdocter,Jazz.Peer Preassure,Grizzly,Wildside.Smokin Joe O0

Half of those bulls you just listed i would not breed to first calf heifers.  Anchor is definetely a no.  Witch Dr you can put you will have to pull half of them.  Jazz is not a heifer bull either.  And i have heard bad things about grizzly on heifers.

Sin City also

Angus
OCC LEgend
Northern Improvement
SS Traveler T510 6807
OCC Missing Link- early reports are he is a good replacement for calving ease.

Shorthorn
Gizmo
There is a new bull we are going to try possiblely this year that is not new but just on market new, Captain Obvious.
I am not a fan of Jake's Proud Jazz but does click for some just wasn't a home run with our cows.
Surf is an old stand by

Maine
We bred Who Made Who and got along okay, I was kind of nervous
TLM Bouncer
Money Man
Tiny Tim- he is clubby this is his first year. Saw a group that came small and were very consistent. They were out of older maine genetics and some chi-maine cows.

Simmi
Dream On
Goldmine

These are one's that I know have consitently thrown small birthweights and have worked for first time heifers. Live calf live heifer is the goal. You will sometimes get a home run on the first try. Our luck this year has been varied. So far I am liking what Northern Improvement did for our Macho daughter. She will make a super replacement. I have on my short list for this coming year. Northern Improvement, OCC Legend, and Gizmo for heifers.

TYD said:

I have a couple Maine heifers out of an Ali xdraft pick bull that I would like to breed for some clubby calfs. They are so I don't want a bull that would not be too hard on them any suggestions

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I  breed all my Maine Anjou heifers to Red Angus calving ease, low BW high accuracy bulls - I want a live calf that is not paralyzed, and a live heifer, also not paralyzed  who will re-breed easily - I want a vigorous aggressive calf that is born without assistance - give your heifers a chance to get their full size before you go the clubby route.

A dead great clubby calf is worth a lot less than a live calf

DL,  he wants club calves out of the heifers and there are bulls that will do it.

a good Maine bull for that would be GCC Chilled Chivas.  Even BK Power Plus, or Intense Plus. Another bull that may be really good on the mating is Chill Factor.  I also agree with the Legend comment for Angus...OCC Next Step (son of OCC Legend) is good, but they not be quite clubby enough.  TYD, You could also use Irish Whiskey or possible that GVC Maverick bull.  I would stay away from Power Plant breeding if you don't know what's in the background of the cows.

I've thought the Lifeline bred animals that I saw were good and he may do what you want him to do.

Thanks everyone have been around cows all my life but when I was showing my grandfather had bout 40 head of angus and simmi cows and a herd bull and mid summer me and my cousins would go out into the field and pick the best three calves. Now that i have my own place my own cows and a son that is going to b showing soon the fairs are getting alot more competive and want to get the highest quality I  can also my wife is now hooked on showing feeder calves after she showed for her cousin last year so I'm a newbie in club calves and steer planet thanks for your help

I've never had a problem with Witch Dr. on heifers, he use to be my bull of choice on heifers.  Now I'm sold on Major's Money Man and Gigolo Joe.  They come out tiny, get up and go, and start growing before you know it  PLUS...you'll have a live heifer (if all goes well) at the end.

DTW said:

Half of those bulls you just listed i would not breed to first calf heifers.  Anchor is definetely a no.  Witch Dr you can put you will have to pull half of them.  Jazz is not a heifer bull either.  And i have heard bad things about grizzly on heifers.

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Anchor is the sire of bodybuilder who is ok-Bodybuilder is the sire of TLM Bouncer-certainly calving ease- If you got a big one out of sin city-then the female had alot to do with it-I was allways told jazz was ok-grizzly seems to be a bust-go figure O0

I have smokin Joe and northern improvement in my tank already for the calving ease but nobody has really mentioned to much about smokin Joe can anybody tell me why is it because you haven't used him much or just haven't had any luck with him I wasent going to use him on the Ali heifers just in case u were wondering 

We used Copyright on some 1st calf hfrs this year and so far really like them.  Haven't pulled any.  They say he is throwing some clubby type calves.  We will breed a Eye Candy, I am Legend and Dirty Hairy heifers to him this spring for their 1st calves in 2010.

I would go with a angus bull the first time around with heifers. Something like Grizz, In Focus or Connection. Would suggest Image Maker, but neighbor had a 100 pounder out of a first calf angus heifer and lost them both. Have used Gizmo before, but it is pretty expensive these days. Calves are small at birth, but were wild as deers. A live calf and a live cow is better for the first year. I wouldn't give them any grain prior to having their calf either. Afterwards I give it to them just to keep up their body weight and it seems to help them as far as getting them to breed back. The first year or so showing will be a learning experience for your son so you should make it to where it is more about having fun than going for it all. Make sure he enjoys as well as you and your wife. Kids will learn more that way vs. having all the pressure to win added to it.

Smokin' Joe...I almost used him on heifers but glad I didn't after I heard calving nightmare stories.  I know one angus herd used him extensively and had good results, but I heard alot of people complaining on very large calves out of him.

Yeah I'm a uncurable optimist but I know I'm not going to get everything I want in a few short years if it were that easy everyone would do it just exploring my options and trying to get the best possible outcome last thing I want is a dead cow that we put so much time into . This is something we are doing that weall enjoy as a family so when it's not fun we will get out of it thanks for the advice though I don't care what my son shows or if he even shows at all as long as it's not goats or sheep at least cows have a lil common sense that probally po alot of people

Total Solution has worked really well for us on all types of heifers.  We haven't pulled any and they seem to come a little early.  Very small calves at birth.  I can't say much about how they all grow out, but we do have one bred heifer due to calve late this month.  She is a really solid heifer.  I don't think there are too many other bulls that you could use on crossbred cattle with as much confidence.  My father-in-law is pulling about half of his Blue Moon calves.  His cattle are maine-angus and properly conditioned.  Sometimes even the angus bulls don't work on crossbred cattle.  Blue moon was suppose to be a very proven calving ease bull.......but I gurantee my father-in-law won't use him ever again.  New Direction, Chiangus, is another bull we have used with outstanding results.  His calves are moderate framed and stout.  They might not be clubby enough but they are good cattle. 

Has anyone done any good with northern lite or liquid asset

Maybe Freddy can say something about Northern Gun?

justme said:

I've never had a problem with Witch Dr. on heifers, he use to be my bull of choice on heifers.  Now I'm sold on Major's Money Man and Gigolo Joe.  They come out tiny, get up and go, and start growing before you know it  PLUS...you'll have a live heifer (if all goes well) at the end.

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All i can tell you is that i calved alot of witch dr. out of first calf simi angus heifers and they were 85 to90 lbs on the heifers and bull calfs were 90 plus.  The weight wasnt so bad but they were thick and thus had to assist them.    And i used to help calf out about 30 to 50 heifers a year for a guy.  And it wasnt a feed issue either. 

If the heifer has any birth weight or clubby bloodlines behind her i would use a proven calving ease angus bull.  Then second year go with a calving ease maine  bull.    You never know how much room the heifer will have or how much  birthweight she throws until she has a few calves then you can adjust what you breed her to based on her past performance.  Cost to much to develop a heifer only to ruin her after one or two calves.  And trust me i have seen some very expensive and great looking heifers never breed back after her first calf. 

Call me what you will but I'd go Hereford on a Maine before Angus.  I know of one large breeder who has done it this year and said they maybe there best calves ever