Hooks Beacon

[Bright Raven]

I got a cane of Hooks Beacon. The ABS Representative is a Cattle Today User. Let me introduce Bovine Breeder. About a month ago, I got a call. Bovine Breeder ask if I was busy. We met at the only restaurant in Mt. Olivet. I think Lance will agree, their pizza is delicious. Lance is from my home county. He knows my brother who was the County Judge Executive there for 20 years.

Yesterday, he came to the farm with a cane of Hooks Beacon. I have serviced most of my 20 head. I will use Beacon on any that come back in heat. We were discussing how tough the fall AI breeding has been. The weather has been wet and Heats have been short and suppressed. It has been brutal. ************* who is also a new User here, told me how tough their AI breeding has been this fall. Maybe he can add a post here.

Lance works for Genetics Plus, LLC. I know his boss, David. He teaches AI at Morehead State University. I came close to taking my AI training there. Genetics Plus breeds cows for my friend, Dr. DeMoss.

Lance is a very knowledgeable young man. He has a great background in animal science.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Hello Lance.

 

[Bovine breeder]

Thanks Ron. It’s a pleasure working with you. You’re an extremely knowledgeable person. That pizza was awesome. I didn’t expect to eat an entire one by myself. Lol. I hope you get along well with the Beacon. I think they will be great cattle.

Hello TT!

 

[Lazy M]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

 

[Son of Butch]

His stayability isn't bad... slightly above breed average... but he sure knocks the snot out of milk in bottom 1%

 

[Bright Raven]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

Lance works for Genetics Plus, LLC. The owner, David McGlothlin, lives in Richmond. You may know him.

 

[Bovine breeder]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

Can you tell me a little more about what your ideal replacements are before I make a suggestion?

 

[redcowsrule33]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

My limited experience with that bull was negative. Got one beautiful heifer out of a good cow that calved in with a tiny, ugly udder and milked like a sheep. She is no longer here. Her full brother was a nut, and lost his. Haven't used up that cane on my commercials yet, scared I might get some nice heifers and be tempted to give them a try. Prime Beef, another ABS red simm CE bull, has a very poor docility EPD and another breeder up my way had some hard pulls so I can't recommend him. Allied Genetic Resources has some good choices for CE red simm & simangus bulls if you wanted to give them a look. Depends on your goals.

 

[Lazy M]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

My limited experience with that bull was negative. Got one beautiful heifer out of a good cow that calved in with a tiny, ugly udder and milked like a sheep. She is no longer here. Her full brother was a nut, and lost his. Haven't used up that cane on my commercials yet, scared I might get some nice heifers and be tempted to give them a try. Prime Beef, another ABS red simm CE bull, has a very poor docility EPD and another breeder up my way had some hard pulls so I can't recommend him. Allied Genetic Resources has some good choices for CE red simm & simangus bulls if you wanted to give them a look. Depends on your goals.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a no go for me too

 

[Lazy M]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

Can you tell me a little more about what your ideal replacements are before I make a suggestion?

I like super fertile cows that mature at around 1200-1400#, hold up for 15-20 yrs, and wean 800+# calves every year. I prefer them to be gentle as lambs, too.

I'd be even happier if they could do all that and were red.

Does that help for your bull recommendation? :cboy:

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Beacon looks like a really solid all around bull. I'm playing with the idea of breeding a group of around 20 1st calf heifers to either a red sim or red Angus bull this spring after they calve. The goal is to potentially get some nice red replacements. Any suggestions from ABS bulls? I kinda like this bull but he has a lower Stayability and Milk score:
https://bullsearch.absglobal.com/en-us/ ... ountry/222

Can you tell me a little more about what your ideal replacements are before I make a suggestion?

I like super fertile cows that mature at around 1200-1400#, hold up for 15-20 yrs, and wean 800+# calves every year. I prefer them to be gentle as lambs, too.

I'd be even happier if they could do all that and were red.

Does that help for your bull recommendation? :cboy:

You likely can still get some WS Beef Maker. He will do all you asked for, and is red. His stayability is in the top for the breed, along with just about all of his EPD's:
https://herdbook.org/simmapp/action/ani ... er=2289889

ABS carried him, I have some wonderful, fertile, great footed females from him. Gorgeous udder, and raise a big AI calf every year. I gave my last few straws to Ron a few years ago, and now regret it since I would like to use him more. I do not buy ABS semen anymore; or I would pick up a cane on him. Select Sires and Genex keeps me with a lot of choices, so I lost contact with my ABS rep.
Anyway, check him out. He has lots of sons out there.... but I like the original.

 

[Franke]

Hooks xpectation. http://bullbarn.com/simmepd.asp?ID=756
Not super popular but I think could really be what you want.
https://herdbook.org/simmapp/template/a ... archAction

 

[Dale L]

I have two heifers bred to Beacon. They are due this weekend. Excited to see how the calves look. Both heifers are out of a Lock n Load bull.

 

[Bright Raven]

I have two heifers bred to Beacon. They are due this weekend. Excited to see how the calves look. Both heifers are out of a Lock n Load bull.

Please post some pictures. Is that Lock N Load 1143Y?

 

[Dale L]

I will do my best to get some pics when they come.
The heifers sire is a half blood simmental out of Remington Lock n Load 54U and a SAV Predominant cow.

 

[Bright Raven]

I will do my best to get some pics when they come.
The heifers sire is a half blood simmental out of Remington Lock n Load 54U and a SAV Predominant cow.

Ok. I have used W/C Lock N Load 1143Y. He is sired by 54U. Very nice calves. I got 3.

 

[Dale L]

Ok. I have no pics(they wouldn't be much to look at anyway). The first heifer calved on day 279 with a 51 lb bull. Heifer #2 calved on day 281 and had a 41 lb heifer calf. Both way smaller than I would have liked. On the plus side the birthing process was quick and easy on both mommas and babies. They were up and looking for their first meal in no time at all. These weights were taken on the day they were born on an accurate set of scales. So they are correct. Just really small calves.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Agreed - way too small. Maybe they grow like heck!!!
I 2nd the choice of Beef Maker - GREAT momma cows - but, I will be surprised if he is available. I would like to know myself.
Lance, does your last name start with E? (previously Cattle Visions?)

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Hook's Beacon has unbelievable numbers. Looks good also.

 

[Bright Raven]

Ok. I have no pics(they wouldn't be much to look at anyway). The first heifer calved on day 279 with a 51 lb bull. Heifer #2 calved on day 281 and had a 41 lb heifer calf. Both way smaller than I would have liked. On the plus side the birthing process was quick and easy on both mommas and babies. They were up and looking for their first meal in no time at all. These weights were taken on the day they were born on an accurate set of scales. So they are correct. Just really small calves.

Dale. I just got a cane of Beacon. I have bred the last two cows to him.

I have never had a calf that small. The smallest calf born here was 55 pounds and he was 30 days premature. My average BW is 87 pounds. That is way too small for me.