Suggestions on Simmental bulls

Would like suggestions on good Simmental bulls to use if you are looking for real world production but actually may get a flashy calf that could make the show ring. Some of these bulls that I would love to use just do not milk well unless it is already in the cows genes to milk. Most of our bigger cows are 3+ years old so not a lot of concern about calving ease but if there is calving ease growthy bulls please comment as do have a handful of heifers.

For heifers I'd suggest WLE Uno Mas.

We also are impressed with our calves out of Yardley High Regard and TKCC Classified.

This year we are using a red son out of Remington Lock n Load (WC Last Call) and WC United. Haven't seen their calves grow in person yet but from ones I've seen at sales they are impressive.

Hope this helps!

Relentless- don’t think twice about it calves are very impressive.

Real world production with flash and heifer safe? I'd go HPF Optimizer!

I had one hit the ground out of 1st calf heifer at 62lbs. It was a scrawny thing and I was unimpressed. Fast forward to it being almost 60 days old and man has this thing changed! It's grown fast, is wide and thick, and has a pretty good look.

Has anyone tried MCF's SM bull Big Deal? I saw some pics of some good looking heifers in their heifer sale catalog last Nov.

WinterSpringsFarm said:

Real world production with flash and heifer safe? I'd go HPF Optimizer!

I had one hit the ground out of 1st calf heifer at 62lbs. It was a scrawny thing and I was unimpressed. Fast forward to it being almost 60 days old and man has this thing changed! It's grown fast, is wide and thick, and has a pretty good look.

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We had two this week; one out of a first calf heifer, weighed 58 pounds! The second was out of a 3 year old (second calf) and she was 63 pounds! Small for us.

CAB said:

Has anyone tried MCF's SM bull Big Deal? I saw some pics of some good looking heifers in their heifer sale catalog last Nov.

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I purchased some of WLE Big Deal semen to use this year. I really like the look of my WLE Uno Mas calves and Big deal is his maternal brother. He is a Steel Force son while Uno Mas is Dream On. Uno mas has better calving ease.

I see people are having small calves out of HPF Optimizer. That was NOT our experience. His EPDs say he is not heifer safe. I saw HPF was using him on heifers and was surprised. One of my friends had to assist at birth with a calf that was 95 lbs. The one we had out of him was a 91 lb bull.

We bred a few cows to Big Deal this year, cows that have clicked with the Steel Force sons out there as we wanted to get some of the 770 cow influence. Our calves are young, but look to be correct and big topped for their age.  We did get one with quite a bit of white out of a cow that only has a white udder.  I think he is also hetro black.  We may use him again, but watching the white part. 

OEF Simmentals said:

CAB said:

Has anyone tried MCF's SM bull Big Deal? I saw some pics of some good looking heifers in their heifer sale catalog last Nov.

Click to expand...

I purchased some of WLE Big Deal semen to use this year. I really like the look of my WLE Uno Mas calves and Big deal is his maternal brother. He is a Steel Force son while Uno Mas is Dream On. Uno mas has better calving ease.

I see people are having small calves out of HPF Optimizer. That was NOT our experience. His EPDs say he is not heifer safe. I saw HPF was using him on heifers and was surprised. One of my friends had to assist at birth with a calf that was 95 lbs. The one we had out of him was a 91 lb bull.

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We have had great luck with Optimizer, but I know my females and what they can do. Here is a break down of the ones I have records on in front of me:
75 lbs, bull calf, 284 days gestation, dam Shear Force sired
93 lbs, bull calf, 288 days gestation, dam Upgrade sired
59 lbs, bull calf, 281 days gestation, dam Cut Above (Fat Butt) sired
100 lbs, bull calf, 282 days gestation, dam Macho sired
50 lbs, heifer calf, 275 days gestation, dam Steel Force sired (and heifer herself)
58 lbs, heifer calf, 278 days gestation, dam Combustible sired (and heifer herself)
63 lbs, heifer calf, 274 days gestation, dam Steel Force sired
82 lbs, bull calf, 281 days gestation, dam Upgrade sired

That 100 pound bull calf is out of a 9 year old cow that always has big calves, so it was not unexpected. I would never recommend using him on heifers, but I would use him all day on a heifer of mine that I know will not throw birth weight. His calves are shaped right, small heads and shoulders, so even those bigger calves we have just slide right out. Not a one of those above had to be assisted.
The way those Optimizer calves GROW is outstanding! That 100 pound calf above is a mid-Sept born, and already weighs close to 700 pounds at just under 6 months! I will try to get a picture of him this week nursing his dam.

Question on the Big Deal bull, do you know his frame size? Goldmine influenced cattle tend to be small, so I typically avoid that bloodline since I do not want to downsize my frames.

I used Bandwagon on a halfblood Simmy cow , sure like the results and just bred her back the same way . I'm also planning to use him on a set of PB Angus cows soon .

Forgot to add that she was born @ 83 lbs , very quick to get up and nurse .
The gray heifer that's also pictured is out of my Smilin Bob x Brangus Donor and sired by my brothers Great Lovin 620 son .

Grandmaster, Bandwagon, Whizard, I also really like the Quantum Leap bull, and Shell Shocked just haven't seen many calves.

We will be using Executive Order and ironhide on a few cows this year both are calving east but still have the real world growth and muscle.

Is Ironhide still available?

Last I heard yes. $50/unit