Doc,
I think you are right on with a 5.5 to a 6 frame as being the right size. We personally try to keep it at a 6, with that being said, we do have bulls at a year of age that are 5 and some that are 7, but we shoot for a 6. It just seems to me that when everyone talks about frame they all think that a 6 frame is way to big, and in reality, it is not for the average cowman as long as they have the capacity to go with it.
Those calves I was talking about is an example of one day at one location, BUT, the same thing is happening all the time up here, so it is really more of an average of the area and time, not just 1 time. On another note about those calves that I spoke of, they were not big frames either. By eyeballing them in the ring, I would guess that they were right around a 6. Now don't get me wrong, I did see some alot bigger than that too, but also some peewee frames as well.