First Calf Shorthorn Heifer bull options

[Woodland Farms Show Cattl]

Curious what everyone has used for first calf shorthorn heifers that has consistently worked well. Looking to make a purebred calf that could possibly be a show calf? focus is usually heifer calves. we have used a variety of pure and crossbred bulls in the past with very little consistency. we appreciate anyones suggestions.

 

[diioriocattle]

My vote would be Jakes Proud Jazz. Ole reliable

 

[mark tenenbaum]

Jakes Sultan of jazz-clean including DS-Hot Commodity, O0

 

[sizzler14]

Keep an eye on Ghost Rider

 

[shortybreeder]

Homedale Creole 135 has been my "go to" heifer bull. Doesn't make em real stylish, but adds some performance and did a very nice job of balancing out a cow that was powerful-fronted and needed a bit more rump. So far we have only had 1 dud, but that was out of a very poor quality heifer that seemed to have continuous issues all the way from her own birth--and even that dud grew well enough to sell as a feeder calf in the middle of the market. My favorite heifer I've raised in the past few years is out of him, for what that's worth.

 

[Woodland Farms Show Cattl]

thanks for the suggestions everyone! We shy away from any of the Jakes Proud Jazz genetics only because of our own personal experience with them, We've had C-secions out of him and his daughters as well as poor milkers and poor doers. like i said only from our own experiences with those genetics, i have seen and heard of a lot of really good ones, just haven't had any of them here lol. 

Homedale Creole Interests me, Any calf pictures? and can you point me to where semen can be bought?

Mark Tenenbaum, You Brought up a very good point i missed, TRIPLE CLEAN is very important, We have only a few carrier cattle and we are breeding strictly clean if possible.

 

[shortybreeder]

Sorry it's not the greatest quality and not a very good angle (I'm still working on the whole photography thing) but this is our Louisville heifer. Judge said she was very sound, balanced, and would make a good brood cow. He said he would like to "power her up and add a little bit more performance" because she was 635 in a March class of mid 7s and 1 800lb heifer. We didn't feed her to be competitive, she came along because of her excellent disposition. As such we also didn't put time into her hair. We did push a July Creole steer a couple years ago to weigh 1290 the following August with an ADG of 3.77lbs from Feb thru August.

 

[shortybreeder]

As for semen, we just buy directly from Frank.

 

[Coach]

Since you asked . . . We are promoting BFS Master Prince.  I just updated our website with the current EPD's.  We had 18 calves last year - very easy calving.  (used on heifers and cows; many with larger BW EPD's) Expecting more calves this summer.  Reports from others who have used him have been positive.  Looking forward to scanning his progeny this spring for more data.

Top 1% of the breed for CE and BW
Top 2% for Marbling
Top 5% for REA
Top 10% for Milk
Top 1% for $CEZ
Top 4% for $BMI

Semen Available through Cattle Visions

 

[RyanChandler]

thanks for the suggestions everyone! We shy away from any of the Jakes Proud Jazz genetics only because of our own personal experience with them, We've had C-secions out of him and his daughters as well as poor milkers and poor doers. like i said only from our own experiences with those genetics, i have seen and heard of a lot of really good ones, just haven't had any of them here lol. 

My advice would be to look further into the other factors that caused the previous problems because if those were your results with JPJ, then none of these suggestions are going to improve your situation. 

 

[Dale]

We also like BFS Master Prince and plan to use him again.  Another high quality bull with similar $CEZ is Kaper 4508, and we continue breeding to him as well. 

 

[aj]

I would agree with x-bar. You must have trash on the cow side...either small pelvics.....or some huge BWt's in your cows pedigrees.

 

[mark tenenbaum]

Sorry it's not the greatest quality and not a very good angle (I'm still working on the whole photography thing) but this is our Louisville heifer. Judge said she was very sound, balanced, and would make a good brood cow. He said he would like to "power her up and add a little bit more performance" because she was 635 in a March class of mid 7s and 1 800lb heifer. We didn't feed her to be competitive, she came along because of her excellent disposition. As such we also didn't put time into her hair. We did push a July Creole steer a couple years ago to weigh 1290 the following August with an ADG of 3.77lbs from Feb thru August.//// WISH I COULD CORRECT the picture-but thats a pretty goodlooking March-to be 635 at Louisville aint a small animal-AS FAR AS the ONE AT 800-she was most certainly adjusted by the Mayan calender-NO DOUBT-SHE IS NOW CLOSE TO 1500 pounds @ 11 months. Did I read that GFS Creole PUTS A BUTT ON THEM? Appreciate a response-thanks in advance O0

 

[shortybreeder]

Sorry it's not the greatest quality and not a very good angle (I'm still working on the whole photography thing) but this is our Louisville heifer. Judge said she was very sound, balanced, and would make a good brood cow. He said he would like to "power her up and add a little bit more performance" because she was 635 in a March class of mid 7s and 1 800lb heifer. We didn't feed her to be competitive, she came along because of her excellent disposition. As such we also didn't put time into her hair. We did push a July Creole steer a couple years ago to weigh 1290 the following August with an ADG of 3.77lbs from Feb thru August.

//// WISH I COULD CORRECT the picture-but thats a pretty goodlooking March-to be 635 at Louisville aint a small animal-AS FAR AS the ONE AT 800-she was most certainly adjusted by the Mayan calender-NO DOUBT-SHE IS NOW CLOSE TO 1500 pounds @ 11 months. Did I read that GFS Creole PUTS A BUTT ON THEM? Appreciate a response-thanks in advance O0

I can try to get a better picture of her, but there is a limit to the size of the photo we can upload so I just edit and re-save as a lower quality. I'm glad to hear someone else thinks she was at a decent size for Louisville! I saw that 800lb heifer out in Denver and she was just shy of 1000lbs (I just visited Denver, didn't take any cattle). She is out of Homedale Creole 135, a son of GFS Creole, and I wouldn't say he really added a whole lot of butt, but the cow she is out of is pretty lacking in her rear so it didn't take much of a bull to add a butt.

 

[Dale]

If you want a calving ease bull that will add pelvic area (CEM) JSF Gauge 137W would be another one to consider. 

 

[mbigelow]

A bull that I have used with good results but, always get beat-up on here for mentioning is sonny California.  He had an actual 66 lbs birth weight and he breeds small calves despite what his pedigree indicates.  They will be a bit more flashy than most of the others.  However if you want sure fire calving ease then use muridale buster the 2nd, coal pit creek leager 6th, kaper 4508, Jakes sultan of jazz, or a&t renegade or gother buy a hamount bull.  I personally like to use yearling bulls from my own herd back on my heifers. Good luck and let us know what you choose.

 

[Doc]

We use KOLT Kane Nitro and Hot Commodity. Have very good results with them and the calves aren't all throw aways as far as show calves go.

 

[Woodland Farms Show Cattl]

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions, Hot Commodity has been an option we are seriously considering. Anybody know his DS status off the top of their head?

Doc, do you have any pictures of your nitro calves?

We are mostly looking for an option for this heifer, she is a DF waco x SULL Sara Rose  ET calf that we raised.
(picture is a little out of date, Haven't gotten the one from last weekend yet)

 

[shortyjock89]

I would use Hot Commodity without even thinking about it. In my mind, he just makes flat better cattle than any other calving ease sire. I also believe he's DS  free.

We've also been delighted with our calves by Deception as well. He's Hot Commoditys maternal brother sired by Red Reward.

 

[Duncraggan]

If you want a calving ease bull that will add pelvic area (CEM) JSF Gauge 137W would be another one to consider.

I hope you are correct here Dale as I have a number of 137W heifers joined, the Canadian way, to a 137W son. Of my three natural sires, two are 137W sons!
My 137W calves were all easily born and have great growth and I have great hopes for them, they are easy fleshing and hold condition well in the dry times.
I had great luck with him, low BW and easy calving, no white calves either!