With 100 to 150 pound increases in average weaning weights, Kansas cattle producer John Rose is a believer in the increased performance Judd Ranch bulls bring to a cow herd. Along with the increased weaning weights, John says the calves are noticeably thicker and deeper bodied.
The Rose herd, located near Mullinvale, Kansas, includes 300 Angus cross cows with about 90 percent spring calving. John says he's been a Judd Ranch customer for more than 20 years, buying bulls seven out of the last eight years - he switched to a 100 percent Judd Ranch bull battery in 2010.
Before the switch, John had tried Angus and Simmental bulls in his program and reports he was not happy, especially with calving problems. These issues led him to transition to producing Balancers.
John admits that, until recently, he selected bulls with a focus on producing terminal crosses. Marketing steers after growing them on wheat pasture to 800 to 850 pounds, weaning and yearling performance was always top priority in selection - not maternal characteristics.
With a desire to keep replacements instead of buying replacements, he altered his selction criteria and has been keeping about 10 percent of his heifer crop as replacements each year for the past four years.
"The heifers sired by Judd Ranch bulls we have kept are really good," John explains. "They are better than the replacements we were buying."
John reports the Judd Ranch sired females have great udders and are very docile. Excited about those replacements and wanting to continue to improve his cow herd, John purchased four heifers in the 2018 Judd Ranch female sale.
Describing the Judd program John says, "They have reputation genetics - they have a reputation that they will perform exceptionally well. When you take calves to a sale barn sired by Judd Ranch bulls, they will always sell for top dollar that day. The best buyers and the best feedlots want calves sired by Judd Ranch bulls."
John prefers to buy red Gelbvieh and red Balancer bulls, so he does get red calves. He says you hear how "red calves" are discounted in the marketplace but he doesn't experience discounts with his Judd Ranch sired red calves. "I don't sort my cattle; the blacks and reds all sell together and I get top dollar at Pratt Livestock every year. That is a testament to the fact that people know Judd Ranch sired cattle will perform."
John also compliments Judd genetics on their docility. "The bulls are awesome," he adds. "I can't say I've had a bad tempered one. They are always great when trying to move them."
Judd Ranch bulls are also bred to last and perform. John says he's used some Judd bulls until they are 8 years old. Focused on buying "super stud" Judd Ranch bulls, he uses some of his purchases both naturally and artifically each year. This past year one of the bulls he bought sired 100 calves through the use of artificial insemination as well as naturally breeding a group of cows.
"I couldn't ask for a better seedstock supplier," John summarizes. "You never hear anyone complain about the Judd family or Judd genetics. I don't want to raise bulls and they do it so well - that is why I keep going back."