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We have had a few Comfort Zone calves. They have been a nice size when born and grow reasonably well. front ends are long and extended. The heifers have potential to make good show ring heifers and qualify for Maintainer. Steers can be good, but may lack enough power to compete at a high level.

I always used 8K BTU for a fat steer, but thats still gets you pretty close. I have some old posts on here of the cool room I built and the automatic door that I use. It works great. I had 2 head with a 25K window unit and a coolbot and kept it at 57 all summer in Iowa, the first year I used it...

Here is an emergency door release that I built for my cooler. works every time I test it. http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/the-big-show/emergency-door-release-for-cooler/msg426793/#msg426793

I would say the value of conventional versus IVF depends on if you get embryos from conventional. I have $2000 into one cow trying two different conventional flushes and have nothing. The embryologist I use for IVF charges ~$240 per #1 embryo. no extra charges. If I only get 1-3 grade 1 embryos...

Did you tweak your protocol from the first to second flush? There is a chance you slightly over stimulated her to only get half the eggs as #1. I have been told that if you are getting the eggs but the quality isnt what you'd expect, that you may have stressed her or overstimulated her. Dialing...

I have a shorthorn cow that I tried to flush twice and she got 1 grade 1 and 1 grade 2 on the first flush with 6 more non-viable. The second flush we reduced the drugs thinking we overstimulated her and got nothing. She is now in the process of IVF. Last week we pulled 4 grade 1, 2 grade 1 and 1...

http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/the-big-show/led-chute-lights-at-iowa-beef-expo/ Here is a post on here that has a lot of info on it. For <$200 you can have 6 LED lights delivered to you from Home Depot. I use them all the time and love them. I put one on each corner post and two overhead.

Sorry for the slow response, I was out at a show all weekend. I initially bought two from Walmart. I liked them so much that I bought the 6 pack. They have a nub on them that is meant to hang them from, but I use that to keep them pointed inward on the calf and they light stays out of your eyes...

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Feit-Electric-4-ft-1-Light-White-LED-Utility-Shop-Light-6-Pack-73992-6/205725870?cm_mmc=hd_email-_-Ship_Conf-_-20151217_PP_ET_Merch_Ship_Conf_2876540-_-pip_url__W442972791 A quarter of the price of the Sullivan's lights. Just as good imo.

I dont care either way on the bull names, but when I think of Pistol Pete, I think of the  enormous ears that he put on his cattle.

I also made my own cooler door release. I posted the link to my post on here below. let me know if you have any questions. http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/the-big-show/emergency-door-release-for-cooler/msg426793/#msg426793

Before I had the cooler, I had a stall with fans. It had a concrete floor and I put mixed recycled wood and cedar over it. I could not control the smell in that, so I ripped it out and dug down 3 feet and back filled with sand. Over that I put mostly cedar mulch. I haven't found a good source...

Its about $100-$150 per month additional. I really believe that the blowers morning and night rinsing eat a lot of that energy cost. That was in central Iowa last summer which was somewhat mild so ~85-90 daily

Thanks. To me, you have to find the flaws in the cow and find a bull to fix those flaws. This shorthorn cow has a massive hip, and great extension thru her front 1/3. She lacks a lot of base width and chest floor, so I looked for something that would possibly shorten her length and add muscle to...

We ran a 12X15 cool room last year with a 25K AC and Cool Bot. I had the set point at 58 and it maintained well there with two head. I was also running two turbo fans in there. Mine has 2X6 walls, 2X10 ceiling, all bat insulation. It is in an old cattle barn with the hay loft over head, so I...

This is a steer I raised this past year that is hitting the circuit now. He is a BIM X JPJ. I didn't get $53k for him, but he paid a lot of bills. If it wasn't for the shorthorn docility, I am not sure I would have used BIM, but this steer was  a kitten from the beginning. I think MAB has his...

I found the setup below on Craigslist asking 1500 negotiated to 1100. It only has a 3300 capacity. I am pleased with the scale. The company I work for also has a couple of smaller systems for weighing pigs. I had to have the ends replaced that connect the weigh bars to the scal head on that...

I spoke with Esther in the fall and the management that they had after Chris Wilson left to go back to the family farm, Raymond Gonnet left to start up CEG, and Brad Punt moved to northern Iowa, just couldn't match what that threesome brought to the table. Chris, Raymond, and Brad made a hell of...

Before I built my wash rack, I would wash in my trailer with the winter kit in at home. I would put my Nibco bullet style heater in the nose of the gooseneck, close the center gate, tie the calf to the center gate in the back compartment, and wash and dry there. Have the trailer sloping to the...

We use several combs now. I find the plastic combs hard to get thru the thick hair right now. The shedding comb can be used all the time, it won't hurt a thing. We get them tied, blow them out, use a smart sensation or women's hair brush to work the hair then. Rotto brush legs and use massage...