We've got a Lucky Dice Daughter that we purchased at a Family Tradition Sale and she had an attitude problem, but also very nice calves. So we kept her and she settled down for us after a while, but we give ours plenty of attention. The first two years though was hard working with her and her babies, but now it's about like all the others.
I haven't sold myself on using either bull yet and I've only got 7 to AI. The gold and red heifers are commercial heifers 1/2 or 3/4 Simmentals out of a Heterzygous Black Dream On son. Matter of fact 3 out of the 4 red & gold heifers were from a black dams as well as a black sire. I know their cow families pretty well, they've been on the farm for decades. I think I'll have only 1 that may be a smoke colored calf, but again they are commercial heifers so their calves are likely going to the market or will be kept as commercial replacement heifers for us so it doesn't bother me much if they aren't jet black. Really looking for the one sire that would click with the 2 Register Heifers pedigree that has decent EPD's mainly CE, BW, WW, YW, MM, and a little white in the pedigree. The 2 Reg. Heifers are Solid Black Star Power, Dream On, Dream Doctor, Daisy Mae Grand Daughters.
Yeah, I remember seeing the Boxcar bull somewhere I had looked, I may try and look him up. I also am looking at the bull DRAMA at Accelerated Genetics a bit, but I don't like certain things about him.
Thanks for the replies leanbeef, and I'll keep studying and thinking what the heart, mind, and pocket book wants, lol.