Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

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The NWSS is coming to a close.  It's getting close to calving season.  All the 2016 Sire Directories are out!  It's that time of year to begin choosing our A.I. bulls for this upcoming breeding season.

Every year I choose one proven, easy calving bull to "put across" all my yearling heifers.  My heifers are predominantly Angus, Angus/Simm X, Angus/Maine X, and Angus/Simm/Maine Cross.  I have tried many types and breeds over my 35 years of breeding A.I.  For many years now I "normally" use Angus bulls.

Discussion Topic:

In your opinion, and using your personal experiences on breeding and calving heifers...

Who are the best proven calving ease bulls to use on yearling heifers selecting the traits below.

1)  Calving ease
2)  Replacement females that are good uddered and will milk
3)  Structurally sound
4)  Long or moderate spined
5)  Deep or moderate ribbed and bellied
6)  Have some performance or grow
7)  Phenotypically pleasing to the eye (somewhat showy, i.e. not heavy fronted)

I realize that this is quite a list and that no bull or cow is perfect.  However, some bulls will bring certain traits to the table while others might bring a larger assortments of traits.

I shall start the discussion with a bull that I have used with success and quite like. 

SAV Bismark.  He brings together most of the traits that I have listed above.

 

I think you are pretty dang spot on with Bismark. Hard to beat him. Id consider Detour the Red Angus bull. Ask Gargan about him, swears by him. I'd also thow in Final Answer and In Sure

  Ever since running across this bull, I can't seem to not think that he should be used. His numbers are very hard to ignore. WS Journey, Origen and ABS.
http://origenbeef.org/semen_detail.php?bull=454

One thing that I have noticed in almost all of the leading $B Angus bulls is that they all have CA Future Direction 5321 in their pedigree.

Bismark is okay if you are at lower altitudes.

We have comrade, Irish, and Cedar ridge calves hitting the ground right now and we have had to help more heifers with Cedar Ridge.

We are a Maine/angus cross commercial operation. Moving away from the Maine part though.

We used quite a bit of SAV Angus Valley 1867 last year on heifers.  They are coming easy and the calves I saw out and about would hit on almost all of the traits you listed.  Only concern may be rib/depth.

HF Kodiak or one of his sons may work.  Soo Line Motive comes to mind.

Personally I'm going to give Baldridge Breakthrough A091 a try I think.

Coleman Regis should meet the criteria for Angus, or Final Answer. Simmental UNO MAS or Goldmine. These are all proven Bulls.

we had a couple Unbelievable on Clubby influence.  worked really well.  pic is an Unbelievable on a Sim x Hillbilly deluxe.  so a generation removed from clubby sired. 
used "Doc" several years ago and his females are sure nice momma cows.  I would not call him sure fire calving ease unless you get a hold of the sexed heifer semen.  bull calves can be a nickle too stout on 1st calvers.

Also, last year, I tried GCC Gold Standard after hearing good reports.  However, now I am hearing that he may be a "down-sizer" with is opposite of my needs, as my heifers are moderate frame now.

I am looking forward to these GCC Gold Standard calves in March, however, at this point, I do not want to breed any further heifers to him until I see how this years calves finish out.