BULLS AT STUD

[bluffcountrycattle]

A great photo is the key to marketing, and that is what sells a majority of the semen.  Very rarely do people go through the studs and study the bulls like they should.  And in the end, very few bulls will look good enough to photo as mature bulls as well.  There are a few that will still work on the right cows, even though they look tough, and there are also good looking bulls that won't sire the right kind either.  It's just another tool to make an informed decision, and talking with others that have used the bull so you breed them to the right cows.  If you are within traveling distance, and are serious about your breeding program, it would benefit you greatly to go see the bulls.  It's an eye opener!! 

 

[justintime]

So back to walks alone how is he structually and how does he look when he's not all done up

I just went through the barns at Hawkeye two days ago. I will be honest and will say that I did not see many bulls there that I would even consider using. I know that these bulls are in stud, and they are probably never going to look worse than they do there, but..... I was sadly and totally disappointed. I will qualify what I am saying by saying that I have raised cattle all  my life, and I am used to looking at lots and lots of cattle, in thinner condition or in their everyday working clothes. I believe this is the most honest way of appraising cattle. Here is my opinion of Walks Alone... he has decent muscle ( I did not find him to be exceptionally well muscled). He should not ever be used on heifers. He has the most prominent shoulders of any bull in the stud, if fact, I feel this is a major problem with the bull. He does have decent body length, but I would have to say he is NOT a tremendous herd sire. Sorry folks, but that is my opinion. I saw many bulls at Hawkeye and I left wondering where the cattle industry would be in a few years, if these were the only bulls used to produce future generations. Quite frankly, I was surprised, shocked and a bit depressed!

 

[CAB]

So back to walks alone how is he structually and how does he look when he's not all done up

I just went through the barns at Hawkeye two days ago. I will be honest and will say that I did not see many bulls there that I would even consider using. I know that these bulls are in stud, and they are probably never going to look worse than they do there, but..... I was sadly and totally disappointed. I will qualify what I am saying by saying that I have raised cattle all  my life, and I am used to looking at lots and lots of cattle, in thinner condition or in their everyday working clothes. I believe this is the most honest way of appraising cattle. Here is my opinion of Walks Alone... he has decent muscle ( I did not find him to be exceptionally well muscled). He should not ever be used on heifers. He has the most prominent shoulders of any bull in the stud, if fact, I feel this is a major problem with the bull. He does have decent body length, but I would have to say he is NOT a tremendous herd sire. Sorry folks, but that is my opinion. I saw many bulls at Hawkeye and I left wondering where the cattle industry would be in a few years, if these were the only bulls used to produce future generations. Quite frankly, I was surprised, shocked and a bit depressed!

It's a sad testament to the cattle industry, but I whole heartily agree with your assessment Grant. In the past 3 years of going through the studs in Iowa I have never came home with more than 3 bulls total that I would consider using. I try to get through both studs as many times as possible during the spring collection period B/C I just can't use a bull unless I get a chance to see them anymore.

Grant did you happen to be one of the partners in on Red Reward? I thought that he was a good complete bull.

 

[bluffcountrycattle]

I agree CAB!  Although these little fuzzy calves are fun to look at in the fall, we need to realize that BEEF is the end product we are producing!  I hope people keep that in mind in their breeding decisions this spring, and will overlook the hype and the promotion, and use some functional sires that have some soundness and maternal function as well.  I think we are seeing a shift anyways in the showring to more functional cattle that can still convert feed to end product. 

 

[trevorgreycattleco]

JIT was there any REAL world bulls there or just show cattle? I have never been to that stud. What bulls were you impressed with? Just curious.  <beer> I am excited to read your comments bluff! I have always wondered why there was such a  difference between show and commercial cattle. I have only been farming 11 yeras now. I guess I am a outsider lookin in when I say that. No hard feelings.

 

[bluffcountrycattle]

JIT or CAB...who was the mature shorthorn bull that was at Hawkeye, up the hill in the south barn, and had a big run in the back??  He was really impressive for a mature bull I thought at quick glance, but I did not get his picture.  Just curious who he was... Thanks!

 

[justintime]

So back to walks alone how is he structually and how does he look when he's not all done up

I just went through the barns at Hawkeye two days ago. I will be honest and will say that I did not see many bulls there that I would even consider using. I know that these bulls are in stud, and they are probably never going to look worse than they do there, but..... I was sadly and totally disappointed. I will qualify what I am saying by saying that I have raised cattle all  my life, and I am used to looking at lots and lots of cattle, in thinner condition or in their everyday working clothes. I believe this is the most honest way of appraising cattle. Here is my opinion of Walks Alone... he has decent muscle ( I did not find him to be exceptionally well muscled). He should not ever be used on heifers. He has the most prominent shoulders of any bull in the stud, if fact, I feel this is a major problem with the bull. He does have decent body length, but I would have to say he is NOT a tremendous herd sire. Sorry folks, but that is my opinion. I saw many bulls at Hawkeye and I left wondering where the cattle industry would be in a few years, if these were the only bulls used to produce future generations. Quite frankly, I was surprised, shocked and a bit depressed!

It's a sad testament to the cattle industry, but I whole heartily agree with your assessment Grant. In the past 3 years of going through the studs in Iowa I have never came home with more than 3 bulls total that I would consider using. I try to get through both studs as many times as possible during the spring collection period B/C I just can't use a bull unless I get a chance to see them anymore.

Grant did you happen to be one of the partners in on Red Reward? I thought that he was a good complete bull.

cab... no I am not one of the partners of Red Reward. He looks good other than he is certainly big framed. He also seemed to be stiff on his front end, but that may have been due to being housed in a small stall.  The bull I liked the best of everything we saw was SULL Bo Diddley. He certainly has lots of thickness and muscle and his shoulder is tucked in pretty good. He is also a bigger framed bull but then, he was in amongst some clubby bulls that were simply too small for any good use. I am serious, I tried to look at this bulls and put any and all biases I had aside, and I did not find a bull that I would run out and order semen on.

Heatwave 11 was in Hawkeye. I haven't heard much about him, but if he had not had a sign over his pen, I would have walked right by him and thought he was just another bull. Nothing special by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[justintime]

JIT or CAB...who was the mature shorthorn bull that was at Hawkeye, up the hill in the south barn, and had a big run in the back??  He was really impressive for a mature bull I thought at quick glance, but I did not get his picture.  Just curious who he was... Thanks!

I did not see him. They said a few bulls had left in the past couple days when I was there, so he may have been one of these.

 

[CAB]

I didn't see that bull either Mark. Brent

 

[SHAGGY]

So here we go again. We need to keep in mind that commercial cattle, breeding cattle, and clubby cattle are all totally different and can not be viewed the same. Walks Alone is a very good clubby bull, not so much for a guy who is used to breeding for commercial and breeding type cattle. Vice versa when i look at a lot of commercial cattle at the yards i find myself thinking they need to use a clubby bull on their cows cause the calves have way too much frame and not enough "meat". Actually I think you will find that cattle through out all the industry will start coming down in frame and size. Talking to some people that deal with a lot of feeder cattle they are saying that they are buying smaller and smaller framed cattle because the slaughter houses dont want larger framed cattle becuase it is much easier dealing with a carcass of a smaller framed animal that may finish at 1200 instead of a little larger framed calf that might finish at 1300+, plus they are getting hit with a lot of regulations on hanging distance from the ground and such(from what i hear anyway?). And actually we have some good purebred angus cattle along with our "dumpy lil clubbies" and i would put our clubbies that are out of these bulls you criticize up against about any cattle for growth, correctness, and feeding. 

 

[Show Steaks]

when i was there little over a month a go the only mature shorthorn bull in the south barn was "radioactive" who looked great for a mature clubby bull.. penned next to alias and tiny tim when i was there

 

[VJ]

JIT or CAB...who was the mature shorthorn bull that was at Hawkeye, up the hill in the south barn, and had a big run in the back??  He was really impressive for a mature bull I thought at quick glance, but I did not get his picture.  Just curious who he was... Thanks!

Radioactive, too bad he's PHAC because he is very impressive.

 

[justintime]

I will agree that there are variations in type between breeding cattle and clubbie cattle. I think this variation is far too wide, but that is a topic for another discussion. I am not trying to just make negative comments here, but I really was looking forward to seeing some of these bulls in the stud. I have been to Hawkeye three times in the past 3 years.( twice since January 2010 and June 2008). I am just saying that I was really disappointed this time at the quality of the bulls in the stud. On my previous visits I always found some very interesting bulls, including several clubbie bulls. This did not happen this time. Some of the clubbie bulls I saw had decent muscle expression, but most were just average or below average for muscle. I saw a few clubbie bulls that quite frankly, I had to wonder who would ever buy semen from them. I am certain that anyone could sit at a local auction market and they could buy a feeder bull every bit as good.. or better.

As I mentioned earlier, Walks Alone does have some muscle expression, but he also has the most prominent shoulder of all the bulls I saw. I can put up with some shoulder if the angle of the shoulder is correct, but that is not the case with this bull. I am wondering how he is calving, as he certainly suggests to me that he may not be the easiest calving bull out there. If anyone has any experience using Walks Alone I would be interested in hearing how he is calving.

 

[Show Steaks]

i  myself like the eppearance of walks alone he had alot of style and very square but he was probablly too square... as justintime siad calving could be an issue and by could i mean has gotta be a problem... its a square with a long neck and big head coming out a little round hole.... thats just physics it isnt ment to work

 

[jbw]

Mine came EASY!  Not a one has a big shoulder, I was told that If I had seen the bull I would not use him. BUT, I like his calves and am going to use him again. I don't think alot of people used him right, I for one used him on a variety of cows, some did not work. They are the bigger framed cows that need some power, to tall. If I had to say anything about them, maybe a tick rounder muscled.  All in all pretty good bull.

 

[Dyer Show cattle]

Went to Nichols and Hawkeye yesterday. I would say for the new bulls out my favorite by far were Special Edition, One and Only at Nichols and Salty Dog and Thriller at Hawkeye. All of these bulls are thick, good haired, and going to be good big mature bulls from their looks. When compaired to the other new bulls at Nichols and Hawkeye these 4 bulls almost make the others look like they are 6months to a year behind them in age. Yes there are some great new bulls that are thick and hairy but they look like they are going to be downsizers bigtime. But who knows not all small bulls will downsize a cow either. Just have to wait to see the calves next year.  Stands alone and walks on water have about the same frame to them. Which I would say is med to small.  One thing Salty Dog is prob one of the thickest bulls on the top and rear but he does have real curly hair. A couple other bulls that I liked that I have not heard alot about are Waco (solid red bull), The Gift is shorter made, and Night owl that is medium frame and has a set on him like a 2 year old he may turn out to be a good one to produce cows.

As for 2 year olds at both places I dont know if there are alot to pick from. Highliner looks good, he has a solid med frame, thick and good hair still. He would be my number one pick if I had to choose. Walks alone reminds me alot of Sunseeker as a 2 year old only 2 ft shorter. Tons of hair and super thick. I have known the owners for years and most of the calves they are seeing his is not downsizing but throwing calves that will match the cows frame. Other than that I did not see much else I would breed to. Bojo is not much bigger than this years class of new bulls.

Mature bulls I saw DR Who, I think the age is starting to show, still really good, didnt see him moving around much. Flying B cut above ( or Fat butt) simm bull is prob one of the better simm bulls I have seen in person. Out of all the bulls the semen I went home with was Special Addition, One and Only, Dr Who, and Flying B cut above. If you can go and check them out before you breed this year I highly recommend it.

 

[Blue25]

Has anyone seen Choppin Wood? I'm curious how he is turning out and if he is as short sided as he looks in the picture

 

[willow]

when i was there little over a month a go the only mature shorthorn bull in the south barn was "radioactive" who looked great for a mature clubby bull.. penned next to alias and tiny tim when i was there

ShowSteaks, don't laugh when I ask, but how was Tiny Tim?  I have heard he is the size of a goat?  We have a calf that we really like out of him, but we used him on a real framey heifer and it seemed to work.  Any info is appreciated.  Thank you.

 

[cpratz]

I saw trading favors and red dirt at matt fuss place today. Red dirt looked like crap . Trading favors look good put one of my cows with trading favors.

 

[Hillcrest Show Cattle]

I looked Stands Alone he looks very cool should gets some very goods calves out of him if bred to the right cows. I also like I-80. Walks Aloneis one of my favorit bulls, yeah he is short but he is thick, sound, and very stylish. Have seen some very good calves out of him already.