Major Leroy Semen

Who handles Leroy's semen in the USA this year. Last year I bought some from Cattle Visions. Contacted them and they are not caring it this year. I would sure like to get some more this year. The first calves I have got sure look good.

I believe that Semex has the rights on it.  PM Justintime on here he would know better than anyone.

Ditto that,

I believe Semex is sold out, PM Justintime and I'm sure he can give you the official word.

Semex has decided they are not going to collect more semen from Leroy, as they have several new Shorthorn sires in their inventory. Because of the several requests we have had from breeders across the US and Canada, Major Leroy is presently at Alta Genetics in Alberta, and we are hoping to have semen in the US by Late Febraury orn early March. It will be stored at Hawkeye Breeders at Adel, IA and it will be handled directly by me.PM me, if you want more info. or if you want to book some semen from him.

I'm collecting him for my own use as he is now 9 years old, but there will also be a very limited amount offered for sale in both Canada and the US. It will be sold on a first come first served basis.I have some orders already so I expect it will sell out fast.

Grant, has there been any more collected for export?

thunderdownunder said:

Grant, has there been any more collected for export?

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There will be Australian qualified semen collected. I haven't decided if I will send any semen down under or not. Guess it will depend on how much interest there is from down there.

justintime said:

thunderdownunder said:

Grant, has there been any more collected for export?

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There will be Australian qualified semen collected. I haven't decided if I will send any semen down under or not. Guess it will depend on how much interest there is from down there.

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I'd say there may be a bit of interest from Australia, I've had a fair few people ask about him recently.

Whats the deal on the HC Tracer bull that is a service sire on a lot or two in the Summit sale? What is he?

trevorgreycattleco said:

Whats the deal on the HC Tracer bull that is a service sire on a lot or two in the Summit sale? What is he?

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When Bob Miller ( Millvale Shorthorns, Fordville, ND) called me looking for a calving ease bull, Tracer was the first bull I thought of. Tracer is sired by Shadybrook Optimum 75F and he was born with a BW of 88 lbs unassisted from a first calf heifer. His dam was sired by WF Player, who was a former herd sire by Woodland Coach.

Optimum was bred here, and sold in dam to Shadybrook. She is still in the Shadybrook herd and is the oldest cow in their herd now and is still producing( HC Misty Juanita 30D by Highfield Irish Mist). Optimum has been one of the most consistent calving ease sires we have used, and he is also homozygous polled. His calves are very moderate with great muscle expression. Tracer has this trait along with Optimum's rich red colour. Optimum was the high selling bull at the Quebec Bull Test Station and was ranked #1 over all breeds by the evaluation committee for structural soundness. He sold to Semex International and he has been marketed around the world for many years. He is one of the best kept secrets in the breed as Semex have never promoted him in North America and as a result most of his semen has been sold in South America, Eastern Europe and in Quebec. ( Many dairy cows in Quebec are bred to easy calving beef sires, and Optimum excelled here)
I have used Optimum on my heifers for many years, and I have never touched a calf from him. Another thing I like about Optimum is that his calves have all been marketable as breeding stock. Ev ery bull calf by him, from a two yr old dam, has been sold as a breeding bull.We have enough confidence in Optimum that we have flushed some of our best donors to him.

Optimum is sired by HC Cherokee 125C, who was a bull I should never have let go. I used him on my heifers and sold him to Bi-Lo-Ji Ranches, Saco, Montana where he proved to be a calving ease sire. Cherokee was sired by GR Rodeo 4000 who was a very easy calving son of Rodeo Drive.

I do not think Bob Miller fully believed that Tracer would be as easy calving as I thought he would be. After his first calf crop, Tracer was turned out with all their heifers. He said he was the first bull he has used in many many years , that is a true calvbing ease sire.

Here is a yearling pic of Optimum

Interesting. Thanks!

I have a very nice Major Leroy X River Acres Daffodil 5H bull calf from JIT embryo purchase.  He looks a lot like Major Leroy, and I've been toying with showing and/or selling him.  Very much looking forward to seeing how he grows out and develops!

I concur on Optimum, a very good calving ease bull.  I still have some Optimum in the tank and I think I should get some more!  Looking forward to results on two grass-finished steers  this summer by him.