formersteerjock said:
I have three Chopper halfblood heifers that I just weaned. I know it will be Dec. or January of next year before I breed these heifers but give me some suggestions as what simmental bull to consider using on these halfbloods. I have bred several clubbies but I"m new to the simmental breed. I have considerd A Step Up, Trademark, Grandmaster, Hooks Shear Force. I know I could use an angus bull but I figure a three quarter blood would be worth more money than a quarter blood. Give me your thoughts. Thanks in advance.
Some thoughts on your other bull selections; A Step Up is new, but I bought some semen on him to give him a try. I am just not sure yet what to use him on, so I am going to wait to see what is out there. Remember, he is a half blood, so you would end up with half bloods on that cross.
Trademark can make some fantastic heifers, and he has been around a while.
Shear Force makes some outstanding females, but they are not very showy. If you are looking for heifers that might be able to go on to a career in the show ring, I would look elsewhere. If you are strictly looking for breeding females, use him! We have several Shear Force and Pacesetter (Shear Force son) girls in production, and LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
Some other thoughts, and a new bull worth sampling, is Combustible. No calves out there yet out of him, but he is affordable and had some really nice EPD's along with a good pedigree. You can get his semen through Cattle Visions. He stood reserve behind Broker, and looked good. It is a little close breeding though, since he is a Steel Force son as is Chopper.
Built Right is always a safe bet, and puts some pretty females out there. We use him some in heifers. Once again, going back to the Dream On.
Upgrade is another good choice, but like WKYIronMike said, there are a bunch of them out there (because he is good and throws some nice calves).
A final consideration is Make It Rain. We have seen some really nice babies out of him. We have a 3/4 blood bull calf out of him, that is going to be good this summer. Our bull calf is out of a Collins Macho x angus x draft pick cow, and Make It Rain really cleaned up her neck and shoulder and deepened her rib. He is a good out cross option.
Some other heifer safe bulls out there that do not get used enough; Movin Forward (we have had two and like them both), Ellington Dominator (an Olie son) is carried by ABS, and we have had two of these and love them! He will soften a cow and give her rib in our experience, but keep the power.
Hope that helps a little! We run a very small herd, so every genetic match matters to us!
