Time to make a change!

I would like to start by introducing myself.  I'm new to the forum and appreciate all of the great information.  My father and I have a beef farm located in SE Ohio.  My father has mostly raised cross-bred beef cattle.  He has found himself aging and with new grandchildren he's ready to slow down therefore passing the responsibility of the farm onto myself. 

I'm looking at developing a more intense breeding program with more favorable genetics.  Club calves and 4-H are a big deal in our area as showmen are constantly looking for good quality cattle.

The reason I decided to post on this forum today is I'm looking into finding good quality angus or angus/simmental brood cows to serve as a base herd and breeding them to simmental bulls, etc. 

The problem lies within trying to find good quality and NEW genetics to bring into this region.  I don't want to run down the road and buy up some guys cattle who's genetics are on everyone's farms already. I want to bring something new into the show market for our area. 

My favor to ask of you is for direction in who I might contact in Ohio or surrounding states.  Due to the time of year, I'm mostly interested in younger, bred, good-quality brood cows to establish my base herd.  I am very open to suggestions and am in no hurry.  I'd like to do this correct from the beginning as opposed to developing an issue later on.

Thank you for reading!
j

It sounds like you already have cows, why not purchase embryos and use your existing cows as recips, or buy one or 2 cows that fit your needs and flush them with sexed seemen and use your exiting cows for recips. You could reach your end gaol much quicker and will probably end up costing less.. Most of the calves from the ranch we get show calves are ET calves.

I have several bread cows for sale I am downsizing my herd pm me for details if interested. thanks

I agree with vc, it would be better for you to use your existing cows as recips. Go to a couple sales, watch a couple of the big shows, see what genetics you like, spend $400-$500 per embryo from a cow that cost 10-15k as a heifer. You could spend $10,000 and get 20 embryos from some of the top females in the country of whatever breed you desire, and have 12-14 calves the next year. Great way to get started!

Try the express ranch sale in mid aug. they have great seed stock just my 2 cents good luck

thinking about sim/angus and maternal... agree with the embryo thought... I really have appreciated yardley, DMCC in kansas and Griswold (GCC)  see a lot more bulls and heifers from these guys 

if you are just starting out, avoid all defects unless you are prepared to eliminate them.

Not to be a party pooper but Ohio has about any club calf combo known to man already. Wanting something new is a good idea but not so easy. I wouldn't know where to begin trying to raise club calves around here. I wouldn't have sim angus cows to start I don't believe. I'd go with a single breed. If you want to make something new use your imagination. It may be the next big thing. I'd try and avoid the most popular bloodlines now. See where they lack in your opinion. Breed calves that improve the existing. I know kids in Ohio love the flashy colors of shorthorns crossed on whatever.

Trevor Gray is right-and there have been some really good x-breds coming out of Shorthornx Simm-angus.And Ive watched em sell very well in Ohio,there will allways be alot of Shorthorn influence in Ohio shows.Look at the blue roan Breathe EZS, Young Money,and the blue Simm xs I keep seeing in sales. Charolais xs work too:and yellow roans are pretty hot down South,for shows,not the sale barn. . With such a large base of these type of cows-it wouldnt be hard to get some females that would produce and have the look-As for x-bred or percentage sires, and contrary to some of the posts on here;there are a number of proven x-bred cows that get it done-like Harrietta,Foxie Moxie (Smilin Bobs Dam) and a bunch of others. O0

http://www.sinclaircattle.com/

They are dispersing their PA herd on 9/21/2013.  Granted its a dispersal, but many, many good cows that will work with simmental lines.