RDDS FUTURE PROTOTYPE 13M 1SA was the top selling SimAngus bull from our 2003 Bull Sale going to Genex at $7,600 for one-half interest. Prototype has proven to be the “Real McCoy as we now have over 400 calves born into our system with ratios of 100 – 101 – 103 for birth – weaning – yearling.  The real value of this bull is being transmitted through his daughters as 35 Prototype daughters in production have now posted overall progeny ratios of 98.1 at birth and a whopping 110.1 at weaning.    Prototype was a very high IMF bull himself and as you would expect it is carrying through in his sons as 6 of the top 10 SimAngus bulls in the 2006 sale offering were Prototype sons backed by the exact same results for the 2007 sale.  Prototype currently ranks in the top 2% of the SimAngus data base for marbling.  You can expect the Prototype progeny to be deep bodied easy fleshing cattle that will be born easily and mature at very common sense and practical mature frame size.   We fully anticipate the Prototype daughters and the SimAngus cows carrying his service to be one of the hottest commodities in our 2007 Female Sale.  Prototype is still roaming our pastures but we regret to report he has not produced freezable semen for the past two years and most likely won’t.  You can contact your Genex dealer for availability. 

RDDS Ultra Dice 1SA was the top selling SimAngus bull from our 2005 Bull Sale at $10,500 for one-half interest going to Mallett Simmentals, Lampasas, TX.  We previously referred to this bull as RDDS Clear Direction 1017P.  DNA testing on progeny has revealed that an error was made in the transferring of embryos and consequently this bull did not match his reported parentage.  Further testing has confirmed that he is in fact sired by Lucky Dice and out of our RR3 donor cow.  RR3 is an Angus (EXT daughter) who is out of Finks Vixon 788, who is also the dam of BT Ultravox 297E.  Ultra Dice was a member of our 2005 National Western Stock Show Reserve Champion SimAngus Pen of Bulls, and did just about everything on test one could hope for: 877 lb. AWW; 1539 lb. AYW; 4.12 ADG; 40.7 scrotal; 16.92 REA and 4.48 %IMF.  The RR3 cows joined an elite group of Angus females early on who were rewarded the two star status for the original marbling gene marker.  The marbling combination of Lucky Dice and this cow seems to be carrying through as seven Ultra Dice sons from the 2006 calf crop were the highest marbling sire group, within the SimAngus contemporary group, including two of the top four.   We have recently completed compiling weaning data from the 2007 calf crop and were pleased to discover 16 Ultra Dice progeny posted the highest weaning index, in our entire program, at 116.7.   

RDDS POWERLINE 1535P 1SA was the second high selling SimAngus bull in the 2005 Deiter Brothers Bull Sale going to Steve Kubic, Hamill, SD.  The dam of ‘1535P’ is also the dam of RDD DESTINY’S ACE 1CA, a past National Champion ChiAngus Bull, whose progeny are now dominating the modern day ChiAngus population.  ‘1535P’ was a solid performer in the Deiter program as he gained at a 4.5 pound per day clip while on test. ‘1535P’ represents  a unique genetic package as he blends proven performers on both sides of his pedigree and consequently offers our industry a common sense approach to maintaining that magical blend of Continental and Angus genetics.  Powerline 1535P is now available through ORIgen www.ORIgenBeef.org   

RDDS MR PREF BEEF 1015P was a member of our Reserve Champion pen of SimAngus bull in Denver 2005.  He sold as lot 71 on our 2005 Cream of the Crop Bull Sale to Tom Kearns, Rushville, Ne.  This calf put up some incredible individual performance data as he weaned at 846 gained 4.63 to earn a yearling weight of 1586.  Combine that with a 41cm scrotal and a 16.52 REA and you have a “Beef” Bull.  A son from his first crop, and out of a full sister to Future Prototype, was a member of our Denver pen in 2007.   This bull is transmitting tremendous growth and performance as 36 progeny from the 2007 calf crop, and mostly out of heifers, ratioed 109.2.  Expect progeny with exceptional length of body and frame similar to most purebred bulls.     

GW LUCKY DICE 187H has proven to be a consistent sire for us and one we can depend on to deliver outstanding performance for growth and carcass.  He currently ranks in the top 1% for Yearling Weight, top 1% for Rib-Eye-Area, top 5% for API (all purpose index) and top 1% for TI (terminal index).  We have used Lucky Dice exclusively on Angus cows which has enabled us to nearly eliminate any color issues that can surface as Dice does carry, what is commonly referred to as, the spotter gene.  To date we have no reports of any color from our customers who have used our Hybrid Dice sons.  His negative maternal milk number tends to be a barrier for some people, but again where we have used him exclusively on Angus cows, we have not seen an adverse milk issue.  In fact, we currently have 79 Dice daughters in production with an average weaning ratio of 105.8.  Furthermore, we now have over 450 Dice progeny born into our system with average ratios of 100 – 107 – 107 for birth – weaning - yearling.  You can count on Dice sons and daughters to deliver outstanding performance and you can take it to the bank in the form of Payweight!!       

SRS J914 PREFERRED BEEF was added to the Simmental sire line-up for 2003/04 and has been a solid producer for us.   Preferred Beef, now deceased, has proven to be a very multi-dimensional bull and his daughters are some of our favorites.  They are born small, they grow well and his daughters may be his strength.  They have plenty of milk and tend to deliver it in a high quality package.  23 active daughters in our system have posted impressive progeny ratios of birth at 98.1 and weaning at 111.7.   

3C MACHO M450 BZ is undeniably one of the highest profile purebred Simmental bulls in the business right now and has solidly staked his claim as the “must use” Meyer 734 son.  Expect the Macho progeny to be strikingly similar to those of his daddy, but you can also expect more power and performance.   Macho’s unique ability to combine eye appeal, performance and maternal excellence has proven to make him a great addition to the ABS lineup.  He was used heavily in our program this past summer and we anxiously await lots of Macho babies from Angus and low% SimAngus cows in 2008.     

SVF STAR POWER S802 progeny will be some of the most highly anticipated Simmental/SimAngus calves to be born in 2008.  He obviously took a great photo that has stirred lots of interest but beyond that he offers a tantalizing pedigree being double bred, top and bottom, to Nichols Joliette 107W.  Furthermore being a Dream On son out of a Power Drive daughter blends two of the most dominant Simmental bulls in recent history.     

IR REAL VALUE R218 is a new addition to the Genex program. We were presented an opportunity to purchase the natural service rights to this young prospect ans were pleased to do so. It is very comforting to be able to turn loose bulls of this caliber. An all around carcass prospect out of dam that has earned the highest cow performance status with the ASA Gold Merit Award program. The tem SimAngus cows carrying his service in this offering will be a great sample for this young bull and should result in some tremendous carcass cattle as several are Dice and Strike daughters.      

CNS DREAM ON L186 has been the most heavily used bull in the breed for several years.  He leaves behind progeny that are easy on the eye and easy to sell.  The things that Dream On does well don’t go out of style and consequently he and his progeny will continue to have a huge impact on the progress of the Simmental breed.       

GW LUCKY STRIKE 147G was one of five bulls we chose to use the first year we decided to add a SimAngus component to our program.  Early data at that time indicated promising carcass potential from this Gate Way bred bull and he has gone on to solidify himself, with high accuracies, deep into the top 1% of the breed for both REA and Marbling.          

NICHOLS LEGACY G151 was another one of the five bulls originally used in our program.  This bull has undeniably made a huge contribution to the resurgence in popularity of the “new wave”  Simmentals.  Calving ease, eye appeal and maternal producing ability would have to be three of the primary components that Legacy will be remembered for.  In our system, his progeny have earned birth and weaning ratios of 95 and 101 while his daughters have posted average weaning ratios of 105.1.            

PVF PREFERRED EDGE 717G was another of the original bulls selected for use in our inaugural A.I. of Simmental Bulls to Angus cows.  This is a low birth – high growth bull that sires just a tick more frame and extension than most of the Purebred bulls we have used.  His daughters across our entire program have performed admirably as they have posted average weaning ratios of 105.1          

HART PARAMOUNT M180 was selected from the top of the Hart Farms Simmental breeding program at Frederick, SD.  He put up some very impressive ultrasound data within his contemporary group and has gone on to produce very smooth and attractive progeny in our program.         

HC POWER DRIVE 88H was another of the original five bulls selected for use when we launched our SimAngus program.  A limited supply of semen only allowed us to sample him but given an opportunity to do it all over again, I would sure breed more Angus cows to him.  From what we have seen he is a very multi-dimensional bull siring power in his bull calves and making very productive daughters.           

TRIPLE C INVASION R47K looks to be a solid addition to the Select Sire line-up and was a bull we felt we sure needed to sample for the 2008 calf crop.  Early reports indicate ‘knock out’ phenotype and with his marbling EPD in the top 1% of the breed he is a very exciting prospect.           

RDDS STARZ  was the lead off and high selling SimAngus bull from the 2007 Bull Sale going to ABS, Breining Simmentals, Partisover Ranch & Tuell Cattle Co.  A very unique combination of low birth, high IMF, stellar phenotype and maternal excellence on both sides.         

GW LUCKY MAN 644N was sampled for the firs time in our 2007 calf crop.  Granted only a small sample, but none the less, his first 10 calves posted impressive ratios of 95 at birth and 112 at weaning.  With relatively high accuracies already established this young spread bull has a bright future for ABS.         

FBFS VENOM OF 2139 526R was purchased from Foster Brothers after being their featured and “lead off” bull in their very impressive Champion Pen of Three SimAngus bulls in Denver 2007.  This was a great flush of calves from this E161 donor cow.  His daddy, as well, deservingly captured the purple banner when he was named Grand Champion Purebred Simmental bull in Denver 2005.  Venom himself was a very smooth structured, sound and fault free individual.  We are very pleased and excited with this young SimAngus prospect.           

3JT GUNSLINGER 05 is an impressive SimAngus bull we purchased from Jake Tiedeman.  With only a limited number of calves born we have been pleased.  They seem to come easily and have a nice look.  Again a limited number of the SimAngus heifers in the offering carry his natural service.           

SAND RANCH HAND is a relatively young prospect in the ABS line up that I think lots of folks, including ourselves are taking a hard look at and anxiously awaiting the 2008 calf crop.