Breeding Opinions

[Jill]

We have a cow that was set to go into our donor battery that has something neuro on her back side and we are trying to get a flush out of her before she goes totally down, (we had her at K-State and the drugs she was on we have a 38 day withdraw period). We have not had her tested yet so the bull needs to be clean, she is out of a clean Black Dice donor, but is sired by Vegas so she could be TH.  Her calf this year was out of the clean up bull, should have been a steer, she is a box, but a little straight legged.  The cow is blue roan 1/2 Maine and 1/2 Shorthorn so she has a load of breeding options. 
If you only had a 1 shot chance, what would you breed her to, any suggestions welcome?

 

[shorthorns r us]

sounds like you want to find a replacement for her????

Chillfactor or Anchor!

 

[AAOK]

Jill,
After careful consideration, my thought is a PB Maine-Anjou for 3/4 calves, but I can't come up with THE ONE.  So, before Red suggests Majors Money Man I will. 
But, since MMM is only 7/8 MA, my ONE, also 7/8 MA, would be FR Magic.

Since I just wrote these lines above, I think I'm confused (most likely).  I believe I remember that the AMAA started, several years ago,  classifying 7/8 Bulls as Purebred, just as are the Females.  True or not, FRM & MMM would be my TOP 2.

 

[Jill]

I believe you are correct, is FR Magic semen still availible?  We do have Money Man in the tank.  I like staying PB because of Jr. Nationals.  Thanks

 

[Show Heifer]

I THINK I overheard something about Maines using only bulls to make percentage cattle for registery? Example: you can't use a fullblood cow and a commercial bull to make a half blood. Is that true?

I have seen some DMCC Limited Edition calves that look nice, but know nothing of the bull.

If ya wanna go shortie: use Elbee Gizmos Image, or Gizmos Imagine (I'm sure SOMEONE could tell ya more about them...)  :

If ya wanna go Angus: TC Freedom.

Doesn't it suck when the good ones change your plans for ya????

Another option...sometimes you can flush each horn to a different bull and collect them with different equipment to keep them seperate....that might be an option if time is limited  and you can't decide.

 

[knabe]

please elaborate show heifer,


Another option...sometimes you can flush each horn to a different bull and collect them with different equipment to keep them seperate....that might be an option if time is limited  and you can't decide.

i would pick Daines Hairy Crumb 92H or scooby doo, but no semen available on him

 

[Telos]

Knabe has been motivating me lately into looking at some Maine pedigrees. Just something to keep me busy because I don't have anything better to do.    (lol)

One bull that is a newcomer and one that I like is K&A Nautica. Kenny Bremer bred him and he is PHAF, homozygous black, polled, and solid. He is also 87 percent Maine. He is also proven a calving ease bull.

 

[DL]

Jill - If I remember right a 7/8 "purebred" MA crossed with a half blood will give you a 3/4 MA - so the offspring would show as high precentage MA (not Mainetainers)

I would second AAOKs suggestion about Magic - the Magic females are sort of triathletes - they make excellent show heifers, excellent cows and they have a great temperament - in addition they pass these traits on to their daughters - I think Don Coover still has Magic semen. Certainly Money Man would be another option- if you want to stay Maine. Shorthorn I am a big Gizmo fan...sorry about your cow, hopeya get a billion eggs ;D

Show Heifer - the upgrading chart for MA is (IMHO) wierd and changes with the gender of the animals which makes no sense to me but they didn't ask -- it is at http://www.maine-anjou.org/upgrade.html
I tried to cat and paste it for you but it became a cluster of junk! (cow)

 

[itk]

I don't know if you could get semen or not but I would consider Just Rite. The resulting offspring would be high percentage maine and shorthorn and would probally be easy to market to either breed. Not sure about his TH/PHA status.

 

[OH Breeder]

Jill,
What are your goals? Are you hoping to get a heifer? You may try some sexed semen on what ever bull you decide to go with. If not, females in my mind Maine Chill Factor, majors and Shorthorn Sonny and Gizmo. If you can find Sonny semen. Are you hoping for club calves?

 

[Jill]

Jill - If I remember right a 7/8 "purebred" MA crossed with a half blood will give you a 3/4 MA - so the offspring would show as high precentage MA (not Mainetainers)

I would second AAOKs suggestion about Magic - the Magic females are sort of triathletes - they make excellent show heifers, excellent cows and they have a great temperament - in addition they pass these traits on to their daughters - I think Don Coover still has Magic semen. Certainly Money Man would be another option- if you want to stay Maine. Shorthorn I am a big Gizmo fan...sorry about your cow, hopeya get a billion eggs ;D

Show Heifer - the upgrading chart for MA is (IMHO) wierd and changes with the gender of the animals which makes no sense to me but they didn't ask -- it is at http://www.maine-anjou.org/upgrade.html
I tried to cat and paste it for you but it became a cluster of junk! (cow)

Don is actually doing the flush, so I'll check with him on semen.  
The upgrading chart will take a Maine bull 50% or higher on bulls and steers, they allow upgrading of non registered Maine bulls only on heifers.  We asked about this one time, had a really nice steer out of a purebred cow and Heat Wave and they said that the bull gets the credit on the bull and steer side for how the animal turns out and that is why they wanted to keep those lines as showing a registered Maine bull as the sire, but they wanted to allow for upgrading of heifer going back into the herd as cows, didn't make a lot of sense to me, but that's not my job I guess.

 

[Jill]

We were initially breeding for more of the clubby steer market, but with a 1 shot at this point just trying to get some really nice calves out of her, only 1 chance I guess to find something that would really click with her.  I've included some pictures, this is the only time we showed her so I don't really have that great of pictures, but hopefully this will help, she is just a slick fronted powerhouse.

 

[xxcc]

Chill Factor.

he should give her a little more hip, and potential for good maternal.  obviously you like roans so, with the broken pattern, he will be more apt to sire red or blue roans.

if you want solid, maybe Stout or Magic.  one bull I always liked the looks of and never bred was SWSN Magician.

I beg you to please not waste your time with DMCC Ltd. Edition.  My Limited Ed. cow is the best counter-example.  When a prominent Maine figure person was at my place, he asked, "Who's that?!"  I should have told him, the only cow in my herd that milks so poorly she would fill a thimble.

All I can suggest is that you breed for "Good Cattle"  not "good papers," (or EPDs or percentages for that matter).

 

[DLD]

I really couldn't come up with much 'til I saw the pics, but when I did this one hit me pretty hard. I'd try her to Jakes Proud Jazz (if you don't mind color)... I think that could work really well, could be a valuable mating for females or steer prospects.

 

[pigguy]

hey jill what did you say was wrong with her? ))

 

[OH Breeder]

I would give Sonny a try. He also puts a nice hip into them. I really like his females and you could always have the embryos sexed. If you have the females you could create some nice clubbies in the future. I think Jake's Proud Jazz is also a great choice.

 

[Telos]

I saw SWSN Magician when Don Hicks owned him. He was a great looking bull. Most would consider him too big for todays standards. Calvin Fryer owned him last and did have semen on him the last time I asked. He is also out of a good milking cow that was a little colored up.

JDS Stout a great bull. Probably under used because he had horns but you will often see his influence on many good Maine genetics. A great cow maker.

I have to also agree with DL. FR Magic is hard to beat. Just pretty much another fault free cow maker. Bred a little like Magician with a shot more of Cunia and a little more Angus.

All these Smithbuilt influenced bulls will give you some really nefty heifer replacements that should make really good cows. Color would be my concerns. How well could you market them if spotted up?

I'm still going to endorse K&A Nautica because a like the reports on him. I also like his pedigree and the the fact he is homozygous for black, polled and solid.

 

[Telos]

I like Ohio Breeders selections with the Shorthorn genetics too.

 

[shorthorns r us]

if the color red is in play, put some chips on the table and get some solution.  aegerter has access to some.  if you really want females, have transova sort the semen b4 they breed her.  i think the charge for that is only a few hundred bucks.

what has she been mated to in the past and how were they?

 

[red]

Jill, I've always liked her. So sorry. what about Habanero? He works real well w/ my big red cow & would be high %. Also liked AAOK's suggestions.

Red