CreekAngus said:
************* said:
I totally agree with you, but if I crossed him with mine I would basically be emphasizing $EN and DMI even further than I already have it. Again, I'm assuming, I haven't seen his registration.
I like the bull, don't get me wrong, and I DO like going against the grain, but I'm betting he is not strong on the traits I'm trying to develop.
Branded; do you always chase the numbers? I prefer phenotype over numbers, I kind of compare raising cattle to lifting weights; I don't care to bench 300lbs, but I want to look like I can....I want my cattle to look like they the numbers are amazing, but I'm not all that concerned if their epds are rock solid. We can always mess with the numbers, I have one that has a horrible ww of 29, plugged Acclaim in her and wa'la, now I have progeny that is respectable on paper, but possibly a disaster in all reality. I ask this with sincerity, are you customers concerned about numbers or phenotype? After reading a lot of your posts it appears your neighbors are about as savvy as mine and they have no idea what $B, $EN or even YH is and they can barely make out WW.
I have a bull right now that if on your operation would probably make your neighbors jealous. He is a beautiful bull, but he has low $B. What does beautiful get me at weaning? Don't get me wrong, he's a strong bull from a maternal trait standpoint and efficiency traits, but he is not going to make it happen on the feedlot like say an EXAR Denver 2002B son.
I seriously wish you the best in ignoring EPD's. Do you think Zoetis and Angus has put that much research into things for the fun of it? For sh.ts and giggles? Those numbers have serious ramifications.
The bull I have never fails to make people giddy when they stand beside him, but if I could trade him for Hoover Dam, it would take less than a nanosecond for me to make that decision.
My clients don't ask about all the EPD's, they have to be explained, and that is a good point you brought up. What they are concerned about is this, will this bull make some nice steers that wean off strong? Will this bull make some high-quality daughters? The answer is yes for Stone Gate Kingston, it's H.LL YES! for Hoover Dam.
I can tell you without a doubt that my Hoover Dam and Connealy Capitalist daughters are better than the daughters from Stone Gate Kingston. Hands down.