Simmental Bulls

[mainecattlemother]

We are trying to breed more Simmental into our herd. We would like to be able to use them as show stock if possible but more importantly we would like productive animals. What would you suggest for first time calfers that will not be throw always. Just for everyone's info I am not a big fan of Ebonys Grand Master.

 

[Justin69.o]

Id lean toward a dream on son jmo <beer>

 

[Deleted member 20265]

Id lean toward a dream on son jmo <beer>

As if that narrows the search  (lol) (lol) (lol)

 

[Deleted member 20265]

Not Sure if they are for heifers but these look good. Mr. NCL Upgrade, Card Uproar 49Y, GCC Whizard, Flying B Cut Above, JF American Pride, and Built Right

http://cattlevisions.com/simmental_directory.php

 

[bryan6807]

WS A Step Up, 3C Macho, Dream Catcher, W/C Wide Track, Jades Dream Works, all work well for producing show prospects

 

[firesweepranch]

Wow, I am kind of shocked at some of these suggestions for first calf heifers! I would never use Macho on a first calf heifer, though I love his calves out of cows! Along with Cut Above, not safe for heifers.
I would use Upgrade carefully, but his females go on to make fantastic cows after their show career. We just bred a half blood heifer (a Ruby heifer) to heifer sexed Upgrade. Montecito is starting to look pretty good, and is heifer safe. We have a really nice fall heifer out of a first calf heifer that will be shown this year by our son. Built Right is always a great choice. Beef Maker will add muscle and works well on angus based cows with some rib. And we love our Grandmaster calves, but he is not for everyone. We just had a 22 month old FLT Next Big Thing heifer that laid down and spit out a 68 pound Grandmaster heifer calf. We have a few more due this spring. We also like Movin Forward on heifers. We have an April Movin Forward heifer out of a first calf heifer that is in our show string this year also.
I will try to think of others.... But there are a lot of good bulls to choose from.

 

[Steve123]

Here's a new one:
W/C No Remorse 174A
Owned by:
Brandon Bird, TX and Bill Fulton, NE

 

[Steer4Caddy]

Built right

 

[BLRanch]

I'll second Built Right and Upgrade. I'll also add In Dew Time. One other bull that I am considering using this year is Gunslinger.

 

[simmi1133]

we had a Gunslinger heifer calf out of a heifer and it is the best calf we have had so far. She had her without any assistance and she weighed 75-80 lbs.

 

[jd720]

I like the looks of the new bull named Tail Gater that Cattle Visions has. He has a cleaner front than most Simmy bulls and if epds mean anything should be calving ease but is unproven. Not sure what your heifers are but keep in mind that is half of your calving ease.

 

[Davidsonranch]

Uno Mas is proving to be a great heifer bull with great looking calves.  We are using him on all of our simmy and 1/2 blood heifers this year.  And even though you mentioned no Grandmaster, I agree with firesweepranch.  I love my Grandmaster heifers a lot (as I always talk about him).  Some do seem to take a little longer to develop (may not look like wing dingers at weaning), but once they do grow into their shells they are some of the most femine correct females we have. 

 

[firesweepranch]

Uno Mas is proving to be a great heifer bull with great looking calves.  We are using him on all of our simmy and 1/2 blood heifers this year.  And even though you mentioned no Grandmaster, I agree with firesweepranch.  I love my Grandmaster heifers a lot (as I always talk about him).  Some do seem to take a little longer to develop (may not look like wing dingers at weaning), but once they do grow into their shells they are some of the most femine correct females we have.

+ 2 on the grandmaster heifers. When ever we have visitors walk our pastures, it is the Grandmaster that is always found first.

 

[cowboylaw]

I agree with Firesweep.  There are far too many calving ease simmi bulls out there to select Macho or Fat Butt. 

Unless you guys missed the Denver pen show, I'd take a serious look at GLS New Direction.  My Gunslinger calves came small and have incredible bone, hair and look.  Shocking Dream would be great, but a little pricey.  I would also agree that Montecito has turned into a respectable calving ease bull that will soften the females up but add bone and hair as well. 

 

[GoWyo]

Have seen some very nice heifer calves by JF Foundation.  He is half Sim half Angus.

 

[CAB]

Maybe should start a new thread on this topic, but here goes anyway. What are your thoughts on the prices of so many of the new SM bulls in comparison to the other breeds of bulls. There are many bulls that are new that are being priced at $100 plus. Very hard to get too excited about spending that kind of money on a unproven bull.

 

[Till-Hill]

Maybe should start a new thread on this topic, but here goes anyway. What are your thoughts on the prices of so many of the new SM bulls in comparison to the other breeds of bulls. There are many bulls that are new that are being priced at $100 plus. Very hard to get too excited about spending that kind of money on a unproven bull.

I hear ya there. I don't mind at all spending $50-150 unit on a PROVEN bull on the right mating but just to sample a bull no thanks. I didn't use Upgrade until he can down to $30, now can get for $25....

 

[CAB]

IMO there are a bunch of very good SM bulls that'll have a hard time getting out there B/C of price, but the good news is that there a bunch of good SM bulls to choose from.

 

[firesweepranch]

IMO there are a bunch of very good SM bulls that'll have a hard time getting out there B/C of price, but the good news is that there a bunch of good SM bulls to choose from.

ITA! I am with Till-Hill about Upgrade, did not use him until I could get him cheaper from Genex. I think American Pride would be used a bunch more if they lowered his price to the $30 range. I have seen a few good calves out of him, but he started at $100, and now down to $50 a few years later. By the time he becomes affordable to use on the average cow, he will be past his prime. I can see starting a bull high, so that he is hopefully used on the top end cows and the resulting calves would prove he is worth the money, and his price drops to average. But to leave him high for as long as some of these people do... when there are so many out there that are as good to use instead, I think defeats the purpose of getting his semen out there. I think Upgrade proved his worth when he became affordable for the average cow use, and still put out fantastic babies on average. I will pay the price of say, Steel Force, for a flush on a cow that I hope will click with him. But I will not pay that kind of money on a bull that has few calves out there to prove what he can do. Let someone else take that chance and see what he can do, I have time to sit and wait....  (pop)

 

[AAOK]

I'm very "old school" when looking to improve through better breeding. With that said, I would bite the bullet and spend the cash for Meyer 734.  This recommendation is void if the cows to be bred are less than incredible.