Best Female Option

[Warrior10]

Would you rather:
1) Have lets say 15 females that will throw above average/good calves for you year in and year out?
or
2) 3-5 females that will do that ^ and lets say 3-5 high quality donor females that you can switch out flushing year after year but you run risk of bad flush throwing off calf crop #'s?

Thought it'd be interesting to see what people would say

 

[ZNT]

Would you rather:
1) Have lets say 15 females that will throw above average/good calves for you year in and year out?
or
2) 3-5 females that will do that ^ and lets say 3-5 high quality donor females that you can switch out flushing year after year but you run risk of bad flush throwing off calf crop #'s?

Thought it'd be interesting to see what people would say

We do #2 in our herd.  It has worked well for us, but I guarantee we are on the edge of our seat when the new calf crops come, especially out of a new flush mating.  Pretty much the epitome of "putting all of your eggs in one basket".

 

[vet tech]

#2, your best bet is to just flush to the top bulls, not flushing to unproven bulls. That gives you the best chance calf wise, and marketing wise.

 

[frostback]

If you do the #2 option, bad flushes, unless very often should not throw you into low calf numbers as you should have frozens on hand when one does a bust flush. If you have 15 recips a year then you should get more than enough eggs flushing 3-5 donors, to fill those recips. If you dont buy some to have on hand.