Bulls to help me reach my goal.

I want to know the following about the bulls listed:  (I am not interested in making show steers but raising ranch replacement bulls and cows.)

Feed efficiency where the calves grow on feed and top out at 1100-1200 lbs.:

Fast growing calves that would wean at 600 + lbs:

Would sire great sound cows that travel well with longevity:

DCC Hard Drive
NBJ Gigolo Joe
JJ Oklahoma Storm
GVC Special Delivery
DCC Smokin Joe 157P

Joe Boy, I don't know much but I'll tell you what I think. Heard an ad on WNAX radio that Derouchey is selling commercial heifers bred to DCC Smokin Joe, must be something there as he is a double bred Energizer. I think the following programs are more performance oriented and market to commercial cattlemen: Green Valley Cattle(GVC), Trueline Maines(TLM), Nagle Cattle Co(NCC). I would also look at SEK Genetics as they have a commercial Maine section  I know from experience that the Topcut bull will work for what you what. 

OK Storm was reported to have great gaining calves. Also the previous bull from DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH but for the life of me can't remember his name.

Red

Thanks... keep thinking RED... come up with a name....

I hope more people will respond and let me know what you have experienced or seen, as these bulls are young ...

JB, as far as Gig & Smokin Joe are concerned, it's too early to answer that they are going to work long term. I think that they both have big potential, but nothing prooven yet. I'm not familiar with the others that you have listed. If you can find a prooven clean son of IW, that may be an avenue. Possibly with the price of IW himself dropping, you may want to use some of him and test offspring. I have been watching GCC bulls Dubai,3/4, & Patton 5/8s, both clean, but again too new. Another bull that caught my eye is a bull that is older, named Retro. I asked if anyone had heard of him on the board, no responses. He looks like he may be a female producer. Have you taken a look @ J3Cattle's bull, Catalyst? I think that he may produce a very good set of females," bonus", outcross pedigree.
  There are going to be a lot of heifers bred to Smokin Joe to try to put in place after Ali died. Brushy Park had sold SJ & bought him back to try to cash in on the passing of Ali, Hype, but we'll see, he actually looks to be and has the #s to be a great bull. Reports of calving ease should start to come in this spring. There nothing like a great calving ease bull to generate revenue. Just a few ideas and blah,blah, blah. Brent

Smoking Joe should work.
I like the Irish Whiskey option.

I also suggest
Chill Factor
Carney Man
Foreplay
Houdini

I think these will work but its too early to tell.  Might be worth trying to get ahead of the curve.
Shiver
Clean Jeans
Spice
Frank the Tank
Hairy
Top Shelf

afhm said:

Smoking Joe should work.
I like the Irish Whiskey option.

I also suggest
Chill Factor
Carney Man
Foreplay

I think these will work but its too early to tell.  Might be worth trying to get ahead of the curve.
Shiver
Hairy

Click to expand...

I like those Ideas along with the Gigilo Joe

  JB, have you ever used the Witch Doctor bull? He seems to be showing up on the bottom side more & more lately. There has been some debate on whether is can be used as calving ease or not. Brent

From what I heard from Dave Steen...he said Smok'in Joe was one of the best bulls he's seen.  He suggested using him on Angus based cows too.  From what I seen out of heifer calves offered this year, they look darn good.

I've seen some beautiful Gigolo Joe's at Nelsons.  I put a lot of faith in him and bred all my cows to him and Majors Money man except 2.  Juli's joe's looked to be put together beautifully.  I was imnpressed.

I left a bull off my list that is on my short list.  Zane wrote and told me, "Triple X not only had the Champion Maintainer heifer at the Texas State Maine Show in Navasota, but also had the 2ND place lightweight AOB steer at the State Fair of Texas. Not bad for a steer that had just hit his first birthday. All of this, and he is easy calving on top of it."  And he is correct.  That is not bad!  It is great!

I want a show cattle look in squareness, uniformity, pretty, thick with muscle expression, yet mobile enough to travel hills in rough country while walking a couple of miles to water.  I don't care for the terms "soggy" or "soft."  They are simply judges way of expressing hair and fat to me.  I don't think hair has anything to do with raising beef other than when it is cold to add cover and protection.  There is nothing uglier in the pasture in Texas during July and August than a long haired calf.  They are hotter and do not grow as well due to too much time under the shade.  They look almost sick.  We are in the meat business and the quickest growth, easy finishing and easy handling calf will make a rancher the most money.  Too many show calves are being bred back to dwarfy type cattle that are not functionable (IMHO).  My neighbor got a well known bull to clean up with this year that was too short to service and his cows are moderate.

Please do not label me as "anti" show cattle.  I think the show ring has done more good than many people realize to improve our cattle.  I just think we go in for crazy things sometimes.  It seems like things run in cycles every few years and we are always coming up with new terms for the latest fads.  Ranchers do not have as many fads.  The black craze has been on for a while and looks like it will continue with the white look now becoming a fad once again.  Black might be beautiful but some breed characteristics are being lost.  For ranchers the bottom line is the determining factor. 

Joe Boy said:

Thanks... keep thinking RED... come up with a name....

I hope more people will respond and let me know what you have experienced or seen, as these bulls are young ...

Click to expand...

I'm thinking Iron Man?

I have not seen a ton of the triple x calves but I did see several in the spring at ZNT's place. They looked good and seemed to feed well. I have a friend that has two Triple X calves this fall, and they are both growing like weeds. Seems to work pretty good.

Joe Boy said:

I want to know the following about the bulls listed:  (I am not interested in making show steers but raising ranch replacement bulls and cows.)

Feed efficiency where the calves grow on feed and top out at 1100-1200 lbs.:

Fast growing calves that would wean at 600 + lbs:

Would sire great sound cows that travel well with longevity:

DCC Hard Drive
NBJ Gigolo Joe
JJ Oklahoma Storm
GVC Special Delivery
DCC Smokin Joe 157P

Click to expand...

I don't know much about these bulls.  But I will tell you that if you look at some of leachman of Colorado bulls you will find some that are tested to meet your goals.  They strive for moderate cows (1200 lbs) and they test for feed effieincy and only the best bulls get selected for AI bulls, the rest sell in their sales.  When you have over 400 bulls on test the top ten are usually pretty good.  We have been completly satisfied with our calves.

Fluffer

Hey Red how is your Triple X calf gaining?

justme said:

Hey Red how is your Triple X calf gaining?

Click to expand...

to be honest not sure. He's up at the feedlot & I haven't checked for a while.

Red