Opinions needed on sale bulls

I will be starting to prepare the following three bulls for sale in September:

i)  D. Tarantino 159, 3yr old Shadybrook Scotty 83K son
ii)  D. Threadneedle 187, 3yr old D. President 049 son
iii) D. Ultimate 200, 2.5yr old D. Ronin 073 son, out of a Sprys All Gold D052 daughter

Pictures of the sires on the website if interested.

Any opinions are welcome.

I will start with the fact that I feel D. Ultimate possibly has loose shoulders.

I would place them in the order that they are shown. Are loose shoulders the same as a tight heart girth? The bull in the 3rd photo would be easier to compare if his head was up. Useful looking bulls. (thumbsup)

Maybe the photos are deceiving but I would have thought the first bull had more fat cover and the third bull more depth and volume so would pick between those those two. All good bulls.

Are most bulls marketed as 3 year olds in SA. Have you got a photo of Tukulu Ladysmaid

Okotoks said:

I would place them in the order that they are shown. Are loose shoulders the same as a tight heart girth? The bull in the 3rd photo would be easier to compare if his head was up. Useful looking bulls. (thumbsup)

Click to expand...

Not as I understand it, it is when the top of the shoulder blades protrudes above the spine when cattle are walking or standing.
Just for interest, I have heard of a tight heart girth referred to as a 'devil's grip' behind the shoulders. Seemed to be a colourful description!

huntaway said:

Maybe the photos are deceiving but I would have thought the first bull had more fat cover and the third bull more depth and volume so would pick between those those two. All good bulls.

Are most bulls marketed as 3 year olds in SA. Have you got a photo of Tukulu Ladysmaid

Click to expand...

The first bull is very easy doing and that is one of the reasons for keeping him for own use. I have also collected 200 doses for further use at a later stage as I feel he is the best Scotty son I have ever bred and is also in the top ten ever bred.

I think the second bull shows good length, although his hindquarter lacks that 'ham' shape that I strive for.

I thought that the third bull could do with a bit more length. His maternal half brother by JSF Gauge 137W, currently 16 months old, is a far better prospect to use in the herd as he is a bit longer.

Bulls are marketed as two- and three-year-olds in SA and I made the decision after last year's sale to sell fewer 3yr -old as opposed to 2yr-old bulls as there was poor demand. I cut 70% of the offering for this year. I calculated that the profit on an unsold bull going to slaughter was lower than selling a weaner calf to the feedlot at eight months of age, and therefore changed my strategy. If the demand improves I can easily revert to the old format and catch up the loss of turnover I took at the changeover! I certainly hope so!

I will look for a picture of T. Ladysmaid.

Okotoks said:

I would place them in the order that they are shown. Are loose shoulders the same as a tight heart girth? The bull in the 3rd photo would be easier to compare if his head was up. Useful looking bulls. (thumbsup)

Click to expand...

I don't live where my cattle are so pictures take time!
Have had them on lucerne (alfalfa) pellets, 13% protein, as a supplement for the last few weeks, since June 10, at 110lbs daily for the 4 bulls being prepared for sale on 16 and 25 September.
Below are pictures of the third bull, D. Ultimate 200, taken 19 July.

Duncraggan said:

I will be starting to prepare the following three bulls for sale in September:

i)  D. Tarantino 159, 3yr old Shadybrook Scotty 83K son
ii)  D. Threadneedle 187, 3yr old D. President 049 son
iii) D. Ultimate 200, 2.5yr old D. Ronin 073 son, out of a Sprys All Gold D052 daughter

Pictures of the sires on the website if interested.

Any opinions are welcome.

I will start with the fact that I feel D. Ultimate possibly has loose shoulders.

Click to expand...

I will agree with the fact that D. Ultimate is loose in his shoulders. However he is my favorite. I think he could use a little more length as stated before, but put on the right cows I think he will make some great calves. In my opinion he is the most shapely and expressive in his rear 1/3 and has the most power out of all three. One thing I also appreciate is his depth from a side profile. So many bulls you see are muscled out the wazoo, but they sacrifice so much depth of body. But 3 great bulls!  (clapping)