Breeding suggestions on first time heifer

[MaggyCattle]

I have a low percentage Maine heifer (25% to be exact) her sire is a Northern Improvement son (Angus) and her dam's lines include Book'em Dano and Iceman. She is an April heifer, and is pretty small for her age. I was wondering if anybody had breeding suggestions for her. She was about 70 pounds when she was born, and I am looking for a bull that will throw a small calf that can be registered. I have been considering breeding her to Dirty Hairy or Rocky Balboa, does anyone have experience breeding to these bulls or have other suggestions??

Thanks!!

PS I have attached a picture of her. She was standing up the hill form me when this picture was taken.

 

[Shebet21]

I'd have to say Gigolo Joe or Majors Money Man. Both are calving ease and I've been seeing some pretty nice calves out of them.

 

[shortyjock89]

I'd have to say Gigolo Joe or Majors Money Man. Both are calving ease and I've been seeing some pretty nice calves out of them.

I agree with those suggestions, but I think that she's deep enough to use Witch Dr. on and get a nice calf her first time around.  All three of those bulls are proven and can produce excellent calves with calving ease.  Good luck with your choice.

 

[kane1598]

She will absolutely work with Dirty  Harry.  He is one of  the most popular TH free sire this year for a reason; his calves are good and sell high, making good heifers and steers. His calves are really selling well this spring. He would give your heifer more hair and thickness while keeping her pretty and he is very easy calving.  My Dirty harry heifer is a multiple time champion out of a first calf Heatwave heifer and is currently featured in Dirty Harry's ad in the Maine-Anjou voice. Look her up, you'll like what you see.

 

[justme]

One thing about G. Joe and Money Man...they are proven.  There daughters turn out to make great cows.  I haven't seen any Dirty Harry's to give my opinion on them. 

Another plus...G.Joe and Money man are PB maines so that will boost your percentage quiet a bit for there papers.

 

[kane1598]

That is very true, but the real reason Dirty Harry is so successful is that he can make great steers and heifers.  I hate when you get your hopes up for a heifer and end up with a sale barn steer! Dirty Harry will give you show heifers and steers that are just clubby enough to win jackpots and compete at at state fair and so on.

 

[[email protected]]

The other day I was looking a lautners bulls.  there was a bull called highlander.  50 lb birthweight.  Highlander was out of a highlander bull and a cunia daughter.  I think that is right.  My first thought was a true heifer bull with several things that might make him ok to use.  Hair and Cunia.  Might just work. <cowboy>

 

[justme]

That is very true, but the real reason Dirty Harry is so successful is that he can make great steers and heifers.  I hate when you get your hopes up for a heifer and end up with a sale barn steer! Dirty Harry will give you show heifers and steers that are just clubby enough to win jackpots and compete at at state fair and so on.

I just got back from Major's last week...Been thru there calves now 3 years in a row.  Money Man will make steers and bulls along with heifers.  Bet Commonsense will be able to show you some nice G. Joe steers and bulls also along with fantastic heifers.  JMO...I tend to go more "cowy" and stray away from clubby lines, and yet were successful showing on many levels.

 

[TJ]

The other day I was looking a lautners bulls.   there was a bull called highlander.  50 lb birthweight.  Highlander was out of a highlander bull and a cunia daughter.  I think that is right.  My first thought was a true heifer bull with several things that might make him ok to use.  Hair and Cunia.  Might just work. <cowboy>

He may have a 50 lb. birth weight, but what is the other 1/2 of his pedigree?  If it's not calving ease on that side too, several of his calves wont be either.  It might just be me, but he looks like all fluff & maybe not that eye appealing without it.
     
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If a Highlander composite is even an option, I can think of what I consider to be a MUCH better option ^^^, if you don't mind a smaller framed calf, which you'd also possibly/probably get with a Highlander cross.  And you wouldn't get a bigger birth weight calf when the dam's side kicks in.  And you can register the calf in my option & show it at any major show as a junior & at most major shows in an open show.  And you'd still have plenty of hair if it was kept in a cooler & if it didn't have hair, it would still look good.  And although I am not pointing at them, I am also including Dori's & Lazy G's bulls in that MUCH better option. 

But, if I had to go with one of the bulls previously mentioned in this thread, I would go with Gigolo Joe... IF he has enough calving ease, he looks like a real nice bull with a lot to offer.  But, since this heifer is smaller, she may need something that's 100% calving ease, not something that may only be 85-90%.  I honestly don't know if G.J. is that type of bull or if he isn't... someone that knows his calving abilities would be able to answer that question much better than I. 

BTW, that is a nice looking heifer that looks like she will make a good cow.

 

[afhm]

We have had good success with Rocky Balboa.  The calves come small and are hairy, hairy, hariy.  He is double bred calving ease with Ali and Who Made Who.  He is out of a heifer himself.

 

[BCCC]

OKAy you are the first person I have heard of that has had any rocky calves. PICTURES PICTURES!!! How do they come? Weights? Thanks alot

 

[MaggyCattle]

We have had good success with Rocky Balboa.  The calves come small and are hairy, hairy, hariy.  He is double bred calving ease with Ali and Who Made Who.  He is out of a heifer himself.

If you could post a picture or two of rocky calves that would be awesome! I haven't been able to find any calves!!



and thank you to everyone for all of the suggestions!!

 

[farmboy]

highlander is out of a cunia x EXT cow

 

[OH Breeder]

I am a big fan of Gizmo. That would give you a shorthorn plus calf. I also like Traveler T510 small but grow like weeds. We haven't had any calves out of Jake's proud jazz so I can't comment. You might also consider a twist of Dream On who is calving ease and would give you a foundation simmi. Just a thought.