Need low Birthweight/Calving Ease Bull for Simi heifer

[wynona16]

I bought a red simi heifer this year and need a bull I can breed her to so she doesn't break down. I was hoping to get a nice calf with some facial markings but that might be a second time deal. Shes out of a macho cow and the bull is lucky a simi. If you can help I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Simmgal]

I bought a red simi heifer this year and need a bull I can breed her to so she doesn't break down. I was hoping to get a nice calf with some facial markings but that might be a second time deal. Shes out of a macho cow and the bull is lucky a simi. If you can help I'd really appreciate it.

Hello Wynona16! Does your heifer have any white markings? The Lucky/Macho combo might set you up for the spotter (white markings) gene! (thumbsup)

WLE Uno Mas is a really good option in my book. He's got great CE numbers and there is also sexed heifer semen available! I have used him some this fall. Here is his link!
http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.php/bull-database-view-page/page?bid=202

One that I have been using heavily that I believe will throw some white for you is W/C Lock Down. He's a SimAngus so the resulting calf would be a 3/4 if yours is a purebred! I don't have any calves yet but I will in a few months.
http://cattlevisions.com/bull_detail.php?BullId=3717

I have also used Westfall Voyager a fair amount! He can also throw some white if your cow also has the spotter gene! Calves come small and active and they make great replacement females. My herd bull is also a Voyager son and muscling is not a problem with him.
http://cattlevisions.com/bull_detail.php?BullId=860

Another bull that I have used in the past is CNS Pays To Dream. Not a whiteface, but the calves come small, grow and have some style too. Males and Females out of him have been equally good for me!
http://cattlevisions.com/bull_detail.php?BullId=3154

SVF/NJC Built Right is one who will throw you the white if you can find semen anywhere! I still have a few straws from a few years back so I haven't tried to get ahold of him for a while. Makes some really nice looking females.
https://www.accelgen.com/catalog/semen-beef/014sm03049/english/svfnjc-built-right-n48/

Grandmaster also works well and I haven't had any calving problems even though his calving EPD's aren't as great. His females can really work too!
http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.php/bull-database-view-page?bid=101

A Grandmaster son that I have used successfully on heifers is WS A Step Up. Will throw the white you're looking for. He's out of a Macho cow so that might be cutting it close. Again, CE EPD isn't as high as some of the others but he hasn't been a cow killer at all for me. No problems yet.
http://cattlevisions.com/bull_detail.php?BullId=3784

Hope this helps! You can PM me if you have any other questions! My list goes on and on, but these guys are a few of the highlights!

 

[Mark H]

If you want to use something right but different  I would consder using apolled full fleck bull.  Champ Bravo would be my pick if you want a white face and decent confirmation: http://www.semexusa.com/beef/i?lang=en&beef=view&view2=701002

 

[mark tenenbaum]

GARGAN ON HERE HAS A REAL GOOD RED BALDIE SIMM. THAT IS CE O0

 

[firesweepranch]

Hooks Broadway has done well for us so far. Small with a white face.
http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.php/bull-database-view-page?bid=355

Optimizer has also been a good bull. We liked our calves a lot, and bred a bunch back to him this fall so far.
http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.php/bull-database-view-page?bid=325&breed=SimAngus

A new one that has crossed my path that I am trying this year is Elevate. We have a lot of Dream On in our herd, so he is a refreshing new choice. No white face though
http://genex.crinet.com/beef/index.php?action=DETAIL&code=1SM00151&lang=EN
If you are wanting to stay red, Amigo is a good red calving ease bull
http://genex.crinet.com/beef/index.php?action=DETAIL&code=1SM00111
There are so many out there. Others mentioned that we have used and liked:
Pays to Dream
Built Right (good luck finding semen - last few auctions he was over $200 a straw)
Dream On (again, $75 to $100 a straw)
W/C Lock Down

I would not use Grandmaster on a heifer that has Macho in her pedigree myself. There is a lot of birthweight added there, too much for a first calf heifer. I have used Grandmaster on heifers, without problems, but they had good CE and BW EPD's to start with.

 

[Gargan]

Thanks for the recommendation Mark. Red revolver got used on a wide variety of hfrs in Indiana this spring ( double dirty clubbies, simangus, Maine, char composite, Angus) so we will have a good idea just how much his calving ease he really is. His numbers sure insist he's calving ease. He's really flat muscled and small headed like a true calving ease bull should be. What I really like about him is how sound he is. I think he can really compliment some straighter made, stout built females. He's papered 3/4 simmy.

 

[firesweepranch]

Thanks for the recommendation Mark. Red revolver got used on a wide variety of hfrs in Indiana this spring ( double dirty clubbies, simangus, Maine, char composite, Angus) so we will have a good idea just how much his calving ease he really is. His numbers sure insist he's calving ease. He's really flat muscled and small headed like a true calving ease bull should be. What I really like about him is how sound he is. I think he can really compliment some straighter made, stout built females. He's papered 3/4 simmy.

Where is his semen sold? How much?

 

[Gargan]

Thanks for the recommendation Mark. Red revolver got used on a wide variety of hfrs in Indiana this spring ( double dirty clubbies, simangus, Maine, char composite, Angus) so we will have a good idea just how much his calving ease he really is. His numbers sure insist he's calving ease. He's really flat muscled and small headed like a true calving ease bull should be. What I really like about him is how sound he is. I think he can really compliment some straighter made, stout built females. He's papered 3/4 simmy.

Where is his semen sold? How much?

He froze very high quality semen at interglobe. Semen available from Richland farms in Indiana. $25/straw .

 

[Simmgal]

Thanks for the recommendation Mark. Red revolver got used on a wide variety of hfrs in Indiana this spring ( double dirty clubbies, simangus, Maine, char composite, Angus) so we will have a good idea just how much his calving ease he really is. His numbers sure insist he's calving ease. He's really flat muscled and small headed like a true calving ease bull should be. What I really like about him is how sound he is. I think he can really compliment some straighter made, stout built females. He's papered 3/4 simmy.

Like the looks of him! (thumbsup) I'll be anxious to hear a calf report this spring! Keep us posted!  <rock>

 

[Gargan]

Will keep you posted and thanks for the compliment

 

[RyanChandler]

Hooks Broadway has done well for us so far. Small with a white face.
http://www.selectsiresbeef.com/index.php/bull-database-view-page?bid=355

This is a really good looking bull. Plus the fact that's he's a purebred with a more homozygous genotype substantially increases the likelihood that he'll replicate himself.

 

[Mark H]

Would hooks Broadway be considered a heifer safe bull with that BWT  EPD?
For a black simmy heifer bull I still like OLF Odin U5 with a -3. BWT EPD and acc of 0.89 he is a good bet.

 

[WinterSpringsFarm]

I would consider Broadway heifer safe. Especially if you check them any.

 

[firesweepranch]

About Broadway:
Our first calf was out of a first calf heifer and hit the ground at 48 pounds. That is him in the picture right after birth. Our second calf was 74 pounds, out of a second calf heifer that had a 78 pound calf her first year.
He has 190 calves registered, and his EPD's did go down, but I still consider him heifer safe at my farm.
JW Brune told me that Cow Calf Ranch ran him on a bunch of heifers, and they all calved unassisted without any difficulty.

 

[wypeterson22]

I have a couple simmy heifers bred to WS A STEP UP due here in another 6 weeks. Just out of curiosity with the conversation of this thread, what are you guys seeing as far as actual birth weights on some of these calves out of sires like STEP UP , UNO MAS, and Grandmaster? I continue to hear that they are all very heifer safe, but I have seen that bite people in the butt before. Wouldn't mind hearing some actual birth weights.

 

[Simmgal]

I have a couple simmy heifers bred to WS A STEP UP due here in another 6 weeks. Just out of curiosity with the conversation of this thread, what are you guys seeing as far as actual birth weights on some of these calves out of sires like STEP UP , UNO MAS, and Grandmaster? I continue to hear that they are all very heifer safe, but I have seen that bite people in the butt before. Wouldn't mind hearing some actual birth weights.

For Step, I've had 4. All in the upper 60's to mid 70's. None needed assistance.
Grandmaster, I've had 3. Upper 70's to lower 80's. Heifers he was used on didn't have the best BW EPD's but they spit them out.

 

[Gargan]

Thanks for the recommendation Mark. Red revolver got used on a wide variety of hfrs in Indiana this spring ( double dirty clubbies, simangus, Maine, char composite, Angus) so we will have a good idea just how much his calving ease he really is. His numbers sure insist he's calving ease. He's really flat muscled and small headed like a true calving ease bull should be. What I really like about him is how sound he is. I think he can really compliment some straighter made, stout built females. He's papered 3/4 simmy.

Where is his semen sold? How much?

He's also now available thru cattle visions http://cattlevisions.com/bull_detail.php?BullId=4114