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AI heifer bulls - Oak Hollow & Front Range

L

LCP

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2008
Messages
240
Location
north central SD
Looking for bulls to AI my heifers to this year. Right now I'm calving heifers bred to Final Answer and Dakota Gold with good luck thus far. My supplier says FA will be hard to get a hold of, he's suggesting Kesslers Front Range instead. Anybody used him? I'm also looking at Oak Hollow 7709. He's been around a while, probably for good reason. Any experience with him? We raise all our own replacement heifers and will probably be selling some next year, either bred or as pairs, so maternal attributes are important. Thanks for the help.
 
PureCountry said:
No experience with those bulls. Just wondered about your plans though. Breeding heifer bulls to heifers, and keeping replacements out of them??? Sounds as sure as breeding a Chihuahua to a Pomeranian to produce guard dogs.
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What is wrong with keeping replacements out of heifers?
 
Nothing. Unless they're out of a bull that's good for little but calving ease. Single trait selection isn't it? I don't mean to assume anything, just asking to find out if that is the case. I've heard the theory before of new genetics being a faster improvement/quicker genetic progress. My point is around focusing on single trait selection for calving ease, because you'll certainly sacrifice some other traits along the way.

My opinion is that good cattle under good management can have 100% of their calves unassisted, and still be cowmakers/sale-toppers, whether they're cows or heifers.
 
There wouldn't even be a question in my mind... It would be Oak Hollow 7709... Has a great record of producing moderate framed very maternal momma cows- with no extremes on any traits or numbers... Definitely not what I would call a single trait bull...
 
I asked the question about these bulls to find out if they actually are good for more than calving ease. Their calving ease is already known (EPD's) but I would like to find out if they actually do make good cows, produce a decent carcass, have bad bags, are wild, ect. Its got nothing to do with genetic turnover or single trait selection. I just want to have heifers that calve easy and heifer calves that have a shot at being worth keeping as cows.

If calving ease was the only thing I was worried about (which its not), I would breed 'em longhorn. :D
 
Did you look at Sinclair Extra4X13 we've used him and he makes some mild mannered well uddered moderate framed females that look to be very fertile. The one's we have are coming with there 2nd calves and are going to calve 1st cycle.Were going to use him alot more this year.
 
Denny, any problems with disposition? I see a -21 DOC epd. Dad used EXT back in the 90's and liked the cows other than disposition. I know you said they were mild mannered, just wondering.
 
Don't do Oak Hollow..... Been there done that and don't care for them.. No growth and size and are plain.... Actually kinda butt ugly. What about Quiet Lad? Has anyone used him?
In a couple of weeks we'll have some entourage and hustler calves on the ground and I'm getting really excited..
 
katrina said:
Don't do Oak Hollow..... Been there done that and don't care for them.. No growth and size and are plain.... Actually kinda butt ugly. What about Quiet Lad? Has anyone used him?
In a couple of weeks we'll have some entourage and hustler calves on the ground and I'm getting really excited..
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You and I might not share the same selection criteria. The reason I'm interested in Oak Hollow is calving ease with moderate size and the positive $EN. I kinda figured he wasn't much of a performance sire, where Quiet Lad appears to be. I'm a little more interested in the cow-making ability, first and foremost.
 
Your Genex Rep sounds like the rest of the company, they are trying to sell other bulls based on what the company tells them.

Oak Hollow is very small framed, good effecient desert cattle. But if your looking to downsize at least 2 frame scores, no nuts, average heifers he just might be your bull

Front Range i think is a good bull, I have seen some calves out here in the west. They are pretty good. Kesslers run a great program. I actually like his daddy better. Frontman

Quiet Lad has also been used out here in the west, starting to see some calves. I will see some fall yearlings this fall.

As far as Final Answer goes, I would stick with the program and since you can't get him. I would definetly use a son. Pioneer being the best and seen several successful breeding with heifers, calving ease ok. But he is also backordered.

I would suggest if you have to use a Genex bull, Boyd Resume. Genex will tell you to use Connealy Right Answer and he is good, but not my first choice.

I would suggest this bull http://www.universalsemensales.com/detail_angus.php?angus_id=394
McKeller Final Call. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember I don't work for any semen company, I am a registered breeder and have no ownership to these bulls. I see lots of cattle because I carcass ultrasound and AI lots of heifers for folks in the West.
 
Oak Hollow is very small framed, good effecient desert cattle. But if your looking to downsize at least 2 frame scores, no nuts, average heifers he just might be your bull

So much more eloquent than what I said... :D :D :D We've got some hiefiers, I'll see if I can get some pictures of our Oak Hollows....
 
Selet Sires has a bull called 2x15 I have used him the past 2 years really like his calves they come out small and take off growing. He is a ext bull but I havent noticed any temper issues with the the heifers I am calving out right now. How do you like the Final Answer calves I am thinking about using him this year on some replacements this year?
 
LCP said:
Denny, any problems with disposition? I see a -21 DOC epd. Dad used EXT back in the 90's and liked the cows other than disposition. I know you said they were mild mannered, just wondering.
Click to expand...

Well I've got some and so does a friend. First the bull stamps the daughters all alike. They are'nt mean or wild that I've seen.I normally try a sire than wait a few years to see if I like them. I just ordered 20 more straws of 4X13 on monday. I had a freighliner cow calve last night and those females are very quiet. Seemed almost too safe.
 
katrina said:
Don't do Oak Hollow..... Been there done that and don't care for them.. No growth and size and are plain.... Actually kinda butt ugly. What about Quiet Lad? Has anyone used him?
In a couple of weeks we'll have some entourage and hustler calves on the ground and I'm getting really excited..
Click to expand...

Bennett Total makes some very nice calves..
 
Nothing wrong with Oak Hollow here. I needed to downsize and his heifers are certainly smaller. Nice udder structure, easy keepers, fertile (almost all bred AI) Every one calved on their own and went to their motherly duties.

Katrina, could you define "butt ugly" please!
 
Frank in West Dakota said:
Nothing wrong with Oak Hollow here. I needed to downsize and his heifers are certainly smaller. Nice udder structure, easy keepers, fertile (almost all bred AI) Every one calved on their own and went to their motherly duties.

Katrina, could you define "butt ugly" please!
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:D :D :D use your imagination frank... :D :D :D
 
PureCountry said:
Nothing. Unless they're out of a bull that's good for little but calving ease. Single trait selection isn't it? I don't mean to assume anything, just asking to find out if that is the case. I've heard the theory before of new genetics being a faster improvement/quicker genetic progress. My point is around focusing on single trait selection for calving ease, because you'll certainly sacrifice some other traits along the way.

"""My opinion is that good cattle under good management can have 100% of their calves unassisted, and still be cowmakers/sale-toppers, whether they're cows or heifers.
Click to expand...
"""

That's a plum "interesting?" opinion.
 
cure said:
How do you like the Final Answer calves I am thinking about using him this year on some replacements this year?
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The first 20 calves mostly 70-75 lb, an occasional 80,very good vigor. Pulled a dead one and another one in which the heifer wasn't dialated well. #21 was a different story... I just came in the house from pulling him, a 90 lb monster. Genetics come from both sides I guess. This is my first AI calf crop, so I don't have any experience on how FA's calves will perform in my herd. He's been around a while, must be doing something right.
 

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