Which Bull would you use on your Maines?

[Joe Boy]

If you had a herd of young cows that are 50% to PB Maines and you wanted the calves to look like Market Show steers, yet, have cattle that will be in your herd for 10-14 years, and calves that would grow up to be commercial prospect bulls and replacement cows, because they grow and have great dispositions, Which bull would you use?  Your cows have weights between 12-1400 lbs with a very 1600 and maybe one or two 1800 but they are not bone wagons but meat wagons:

Rocky Balboa
Rajun Cagun
Grizzly (50% Semi)
Detour
Gucci
Shiver
Tyson
Smokin Joe
Giggolo Joe
Patton
TLCC Turk
BPF Black Diamond
Triple X
None of the above but:

 

[kfacres]

i would choose to win the lottery instead.. cuz in order to fill that order- the odds would be about the same... 

 

[knabe]

turk.

 

[mooch]

I been thining Rajun Cajun might be interesting to make cows with Sunseeker x Whiplash and still make steers.

 

[gates98]

Good luck trying to make show steer looks that last 10 years. Most clubby type maines just don't milk and have no fertility.  That said,  Dr Who makes nice steers with some maternal ability.  Also seen some nice Gigolo Jo calves and he had a nice "real bull" look.

 

[BIGTEX]

Dr. Who

 

[JSchroeder]

So all you want is a bull that can do everything without sacrificing anything?

 

[mark tenenbaum]

If that list dosent work-try a proven Oklahoma-Texas shorthornx or charolais deal; some of rhe older blood seems to be more consistent. O0

 

[ZNT]

Joe Boy, stop by our place if you want to see Maine cattle that have a steer look, yet loaded with milk genetics.

 

[Jill]

There is no bull in any breed that can do it all, that just isn't a reality, replacement cows shouldn't and don't look like market show steers.  We raise both and most of our cows fall under your guidlines, but you either breed for a replacement cow or you breed for a market show steer.

 

[spb]

What about lifeline? I have a lifeline 1st calf heifer that I think is the real deal I have her set up to flush to yellow jacket. The heifer is moderate and deep with a nice udder and came in heat in 45 days. Thoughts on how "sp" members think about half brother/sister mating will work?

 

[Joe Boy]

One of the nice things about getting ideas from people is that you are responsible for your own and final choice.  I did not say I wanted a bull to do it all.  I said I wanted the look.  The look in not like a Holstein milk cow, which some Maines do look like.  I want my females to have muscle and carry condition during hard times.  If you will look at many Maines that some are selling they look like little more than bone wagons with little under their skin.  You cannot eat a bone sandwich.  
I do not care about the hair on show calves and when we have 115 degree weather in the summer and the calves have shaggy off colored hair.
I have a bull from XXCC that is smaller than most of the Maine bulls I have had, but he has lots of muscle, not enough muscle expression for a show calf, but he has lots of milk and lots of growth in him.  I was disappointed in the BW's the first time I used him but all the heifers this year have had small guys and gals.
I have another bull from Fryar that is a Legacy Plus dam and a Witch Doctor son.  He throws cows like I am talking about, but occasionally will throw one that will make a great club calf, and some of them are heifers.  I have not kept one of those heifers yet.
I want the thickness, wide tops, deep hearts, squareness and correctness, mixed with longevity and breed ability.

 

[Joe Boy]

What about lifeline? I have a lifeline 1st calf heifer that I think is the real deal I have her set up to flush to yellow jacket. The heifer is moderate and deep with a nice udder and came in heat in 45 days. Thoughts on how "sp" members think about half brother/sister mating will work?

I love the Lifeline cattle.  I have a lifeline son out of a Jazz dam.  He is the real deal too.  Many have asked me to collect him.  I kept two heifers from him out of heifers.  They are the real deal too.
I sold one steer from him for a show steer and he is the real deal, and the others lacked a little in the flank or width between their front legs, which is OK with me....  That is what I want.

 

[Jill]

What I read you were asking for is a bull that will give you Market Show Steers, Productive 10-14 year old cows and Commercial Prospect Bulls, I'm just saying those are 2 different types of cattle, there isn't 1 bull that will through 2 different types of animals and if he does he isn't IMO a consistant producer he is non dominant and the calves are taking on the traits of the cows they are out of. 
The only bull on your list I have used is Gigolo Joe and in our herd he was non dominant, each of the calves has the same traits as the cow.  From that list if I wanted Market Show Steers I would breed to Rocky Balboa or Tyson, if I wanted Commercial Bulls or Replacement Heifers I would use Smokin Joe.

 

[Joe Boy]

Thanks Jill.  I like to pick people's minds to see what they think.

On some of my cattle I will use all of the above, but I am looking for something different from each.  I am going to use several 50 and 75% bulls this year to try and personally evaluate what that bull might bring to my herd.  For my replacements I am using Triple X and Smokin Joe with a few Gucci (I want to see what the Midas in his background will do.)

Have a great day....

 

[Dyer Show cattle]

Depends on what breed your other 50% of the cows are? If they all have 50% plus maine I would go with a percentage bull like Grizzly if your other 50 percent is not angus/simm. Then your calves are going to be closer to a 3way cross which is good for club and market cattle. I would only go with a high percentage maine agian if your wanting to sell some purbred or maintainer calves. I would deffinatly try and get some simm genetics and angus genetics in your calves, a little shorthorn would not hurt one bit either.

 

[RCF Farms]

How about Bushy Parks Hard Drive  I like the look of his calves

 

[Chap]

i think i may look toward Shiver as an option.  old school maternal with a new age look.  the calves that i have ssen look very complete.  may give you a good chance at optimizing your goals

 

[ploughshare]

I've always liked GVC Special Delivery 42S.  Maverick might also work.

 

[Joe Boy]

Depends on what breed your other 50% of the cows are? If they all have 50% plus maine I would go with a percentage bull like Grizzly if your other 50 percent is not angus/simm. Then your calves are going to be closer to a 3way cross which is good for club and market cattle. I would only go with a high percentage maine agian if your wanting to sell some purbred or maintainer calves. I would deffinatly try and get some simm genetics and angus genetics in your calves, a little shorthorn would not hurt one bit either.

Many of our cows go back to other cattle we showed in the past.  3 Ch-Angus; 3- Shorthorns; 7 Maines; one Semi, one Lemi, and bred to a Cunia grandson from Chris Black, and an Angus heifer bull whose sire won Fort Worth and Houston.  WE have 7 blues and they are thick, milk great, travel well, have long lifes and breed back on the first or second attempt.  I cull hard on udders and milking ability.