Discussion: Who is the best Calving Ease bull?

[SEA]

Hot Stove Time of the Year.​

The NWSS is coming to a close.  It's getting close to calving season.  All the 2016 Sire Directories are out!  It's that time of year to begin choosing our A.I. bulls for this upcoming breeding season.

Every year I choose one proven, easy calving bull to "put across" all my yearling heifers.  My heifers are predominantly Angus, Angus/Simm X, Angus/Maine X, and Angus/Simm/Maine Cross.  I have tried many types and breeds over my 35 years of breeding A.I.  For many years now I "normally" use Angus bulls.

Discussion Topic:

In your opinion, and using your personal experiences on breeding and calving heifers...

Who are the best proven calving ease bulls to use on yearling heifers selecting the traits below.

1)  Calving ease
2)  Replacement females that are good uddered and will milk
3)  Structurally sound
4)  Long or moderate spined
5)  Deep or moderate ribbed and bellied
6)  Have some performance or grow
7)  Phenotypically pleasing to the eye (somewhat showy, i.e. not heavy fronted)

I realize that this is quite a list and that no bull or cow is perfect.  However, some bulls will bring certain traits to the table while others might bring a larger assortments of traits.

I shall start the discussion with a bull that I have used with success and quite like. 

SAV Bismark.  He brings together most of the traits that I have listed above.

<beer>

 

[CRS]

Ali......  There are other options, but they all come back to him

 

[sizzler14]

I think you are pretty dang spot on with Bismark. Hard to beat him. Id consider Detour the Red Angus bull. Ask Gargan about him, swears by him. I'd also thow in Final Answer and In Sure

 

[hntwhitetail]

Comrade of Select Sires

 

[CAB]

  Ever since running across this bull, I can't seem to not think that he should be used. His numbers are very hard to ignore. WS Journey, Origen and ABS.
http://origenbeef.org/semen_detail.php?bull=454

One thing that I have noticed in almost all of the leading $B Angus bulls is that they all have CA Future Direction 5321 in their pedigree.

 

[Chap]

we have used Bush's Unbelievable with great success and i would say he fits your criteria to a T.  he is however,  a Bismark son, so if you are breeding Bismark daughters you might need to look elsewhere. 

 

[Dooder]

Bismark is okay if you are at lower altitudes.

We have comrade, Irish, and Cedar ridge calves hitting the ground right now and we have had to help more heifers with Cedar Ridge.

We are a Maine/angus cross commercial operation. Moving away from the Maine part though.

 

[Gargan]

we have used Bush's Unbelievable with great success and i would say he fits your criteria to a T.  he is however,  a Bismark son, so if you are breeding Bismark daughters you might need to look elsewhere.

Have you had any calves out of clubby bred hfrs and unbelievable? I'm a fan of the bull

 

[cowboy_nyk]

We used quite a bit of SAV Angus Valley 1867 last year on heifers.  They are coming easy and the calves I saw out and about would hit on almost all of the traits you listed.  Only concern may be rib/depth.

HF Kodiak or one of his sons may work.  Soo Line Motive comes to mind.

Personally I'm going to give Baldridge Breakthrough A091 a try I think.

 

[Warrior10]

How about Brilliance? I'm a big fan.

 

[b_kackley]

Coleman Regis should meet the criteria for Angus, or Final Answer. Simmental UNO MAS or Goldmine. These are all proven Bulls.

 

[SEA]

Has anyone ever used "Doc"?

 

[Chap]

we had a couple Unbelievable on Clubby influence.  worked really well.  pic is an Unbelievable on a Sim x Hillbilly deluxe.  so a generation removed from clubby sired. 
used "Doc" several years ago and his females are sure nice momma cows.  I would not call him sure fire calving ease unless you get a hold of the sexed heifer semen.  bull calves can be a nickle too stout on 1st calvers.

 

[SEA]

we had a couple Unbelievable on Clubby influence.  worked really well.  pic is an Unbelievable on a Sim x Hillbilly deluxe.  so a generation removed from clubby sired. 
used "Doc" several years ago and his females are sure nice momma cows.  I would not call him sure fire calving ease unless you get a hold of the sexed heifer semen.  bull calves can be a nickle too stout on 1st calvers.

Thanks Chap!

 

[SEA]

Also, last year, I tried GCC Gold Standard after hearing good reports.  However, now I am hearing that he may be a "down-sizer" with is opposite of my needs, as my heifers are moderate frame now.

I am looking forward to these GCC Gold Standard calves in March, however, at this point, I do not want to breed any further heifers to him until I see how this years calves finish out.

 

[HavinABlast]

I've got Brilliance calves coming between 50-60 lbs out of Registered Angus females (some on the show circuit - well fed).  I attribute the low birthweight to early calving - closest mine have got to their due date was 14 days ahead of schedule!  Early but very vigorous active calves with great appetites - they'll catch up to their birthgroup buddies in no time!

 

[Gargan]

Mrg Peter is a bull I'm incorporating in my hfr breeding this spring. He's a full blood lowline. He's owned by 7C Lowlines and Duff Angus. Super low bw, calves can be registered as halfbloods and the lowline association has half blood div at their Jr nats. It's a growing trend . pictured is Peter recently at Duffs, 2nd is him as a yearling, 3rd is a halfblood hfr out of him and a torrington/ Ali show hfr.