The Dark Horse Sons

One of my favorite bulls in this year’s offering is this stout, deepmiddled, masculine, ripped up Darkhorse son backed by one of the leaders among the cow herd, 502C. Here’s a big spread bull that has a Top 10 Adj. WW of 757 lbs., to ratio 105; a Top 10 Adj. YW of 1,325 lbs. to ratio 113, and the 2nd Highest WDA in the entire bull offering this year at 3.69. With a Top 10 REA Ratio of 115, his Top 10% REA epd is validated. Top 1% Milk, you can see where the performance is aided from. Rugged, muscular, sound structured, and high-capacity, here’s a bull that will improve anybody’s bottom line, and you’ll want to keep every replacement you get from this guy.

NIO

RAISLAND REBELLA 225-120

BROWN PREMIER X7876

C9CC JULIANNA E246

M186

Here’s a sound built, smooth made heifer bull option that will inject the power and performance that we expect from the Darkhorse line. With a -3.0 BW, Darkhorse 2166 is a spread bull that’s also Top 1% Milk and Top 10% REA. A proud bull with lots of presence, he’s extra smooth in his design and sound at the ground. He should prove to be a sleep all night calving ease option.

Birth Weight And Calving Ease

University studies in Wyoming and data from Montana and Colorado lend credence to the following conclusions:

1. The birth weight itself influences calving ease by 65%.

2. The female has 60-70% influence on birth weight of her calf.

3. The bull has 30-40% influence on birth weight of his progeny.

4. Pelvic measurement and angle as well as the shape of the calf, have 35-40% influence on calving ease.

5. Length of gestation greatly affects birth weight. A fetus can gain over one pound per day in the last days of gestation.

6. Weather and temperature the last 30 days affect the length of gestation.

7. Size and maturity of the cow influence calving ease. Most commercial producers do not take birth weights. Guessing is as inaccurate as driving with a broken speedometer – what is thought to be 55 mph may in fact be 65-70 mph, and what is thought to be 70-80 lbs, may actually be 80-90 lbs. Remember, if everything is relevant, increased growth, frame and performance will increase birth weight. A longer-bodied calf will weigh more. If a calf is expected to have genetics for growth, it will display this prior to birth as well as after. As a rule of thumb, it takes a calf weighing 85 lb. at birth to finish at 1,200-1,250 lbs. A cow should easily give birth to a calf weighing 8% of her own body weight. Thus, a 1,200 pound cow should give birth to a 96 lb. calf with ease. Continued selection for light birth weights will ultimately reduce the mature size and performance of your cattle.

Cited from Crump Red Angus, Arvada, WY

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Nio Social 2060

ROJAS RIOJA 6052 PZC TMAS FIRESTORM 1800 ET

H/H ADVENTURE 0054

ROJAS MOONBEAM 194W 7102

RED U2 LARKABA 196G RED MRLA RESOURCE 137E RED U-2 LARKABA 209Y

- Lot 29 -

Top Ten BW EPD of -2.3

Nio Adventure 2052

SIX MILE LAKOTA 112Y

RED U-2 RECKONING 149A

U2 MOONBEAM 194

MRLA RELOAD 56C

MRLA MISS 4422B

RED U-2 ILLICIT 423P

U-2 LARKABA 404P

With his first calf crop on the ground, H/H Adventure 0054 didn’t take long to prove he was a bull worth using. With semen bringing $680 a unit last fall, it’s off the market and not available for purchase. The presence, proud look, extra muscle shape and incredible foot shape are what we’ve come to expect from Adventure. This son backed by a standout Resource 137E daughter in the herd is quick to strike your attention. With a killer look and proud presence, he’s as neat in his lines and sound at the ground as any bull in the offering. Adventure’s mother is one of the most recognized Red Angus cows in the breed, Moonbeam 7102, who is known for immaculate udder structure and near perfect feet. There won’t be many opportunities to purchase Adventure sons this year.

8051

One of the best calving-ease, heifer bull options in the sale, here’s an Adventure son that calved at 74 lbs. with a BW Ratio of 91. With all the proud, Adventure presence, this bull is stout made, smooth in his design and very sound at the ground. With an IMF Ratio of 116, he’ll also inject carcass quality into his fed offspring as well. Did I mention you’ll want to keep all of his heifer calves? Adventure’s mother is one of the best Red Angus cows in the breed.