Should I buy?

[flacowman]

A friend of mine is moving to Germany and has 2 simmental heifers to get rid of...

http://herdbook.simmental.org/simmapp/action/animalSearch.AnimalSearchAction?eventSubmit_displayAnimal=T&animalNumber=2477969+++++

http://herdbook.simmental.org/simmapp/action/animalSearch.AnimalSearchAction?eventSubmit_displayAnimal=T&animalNumber=2477971+++++

Phenotypically they are great but I don't know Simm epd's very well or animal names...

I offered him $800 apiece for them and was wondering if according to the numbers/pedigree I am getting a good deal from that aspect.  I haven't seen them in person but the pictures are great.  I'm going to look at them sometime later this week.

 

[savaged]

For $800.00 a piece.  Yes.  $800.00 is close to sale barn cull price in this market.

 

[flacowman]

I know that but I wanted someone with Simmental knowlege to look at the numbers and tell me whether all I'll be able to do is raise commercial calves out of them.  I don't know anything about their epd's so for all i know they're monstrous bw's and tiny yw's and no milk...  It's a dang good price and they'll be ready to breed with the rest of my herd since they're open.

 

[savaged]

I know that but I wanted someone with Simmental knowlege to look at the numbers and tell me whether all I'll be able to do is raise commercial calves out of them.  I don't know anything about their epd's so for all i know they're monstrous bw's and tiny yw's and no milk...  It's a dang good price and they'll be ready to breed with the rest of my herd since they're open.

Top 20% for breed:

For Calving ease (C.E.)  -  +10 or higher
Birth weight,  -  negative .5 or lower
Milk  - + 8 or higher
Weaning Weight -  +40 or higher

Numbers close to these are desirable of course, but few will be there in all areas.  Pick your most important and see how they line up.
Your second one listed is pretty low on milk, but other than that both have acceptable numbers to me.  Breed them high calving ease for that first one.

 

[CPL]

As low as those accuracies are you are better off judging by what you see.

If they really are "phenotypically great" then I'd say 800 a piece is a heck of a deal.

 

[savaged]

As low as those accuracies are you are better off judging by what you see.

If they really are "phenotypically great" then I'd say 800 a piece is a heck of a deal.

Good point.  Forgot to mention the accuracy numbers.

 

[flacowman]

They are long, deep, and thick but have the Simmy type front that could use cleaning up for my taste...classic mediocre/a little above average simmentals in my opinion.  

What would you breed them to going on that and the numbers?

 

[BIGTEX]

Angus or Dream On

 

[The Show]

I'd say their worth the money. The Dam side is a little before my time, so I can't tell you much there. They're out of a pretty good sire, but he is a Dream On son. I hate EPD's(not on these cattle but in general bc it's about phenotype), but one number I do look at is the API. They both have 100+ on their API which is good. An old school simmy guy told me that anything with a 100+ will make a good momma cow. I went home and sure enough, my best cows are in the 105's and up.

 

[flacowman]

I too hate epds (im an angus guy mostly) but i do look at weights.  I agree that it's about phenotype but people demand good (decent at least) epds and don't even know why.  I'm going to look at them saturday so I'll get pictures up if I bring them home.