Half sib matings have been promoted for many a year as a means of reducing dystokia amongst maiden heifers, we practice this procedure in the Dulverton herd as a matter of course. Not only do we like to use half sibs but we also believe there are added benefits from using bulls born early in the drop, and bulls that are born unassisted from maiden heifers. Note here that M13 is an early drop and is out of the first calf heifer K152.
M13 is by Sydgen Black Pearl, I must say we have been very impressed with the performance of Black Pearl, his 12 sons averaged $12,170 at last year’s sale and his retained ‘L’ daughters all calved without any assistance. Black Pearl is a trait leader for Calving Ease Direct, Calving Ease Daughters, Gestation Length and is +122 for 600 day growth and only 88 for Mature Cow Weight. We have been great fans of the Forever Lady Family. In the 1980s and 1990s the GDAR herd was renowned for its relentless selection for deep bodied, functionally efficient cows with amazing fertility. The inclusion of this cow family in Black Pearl certainly attracted us to him. The Three Trees Anita cow’s pedigree contains a bunch or our ‘favourites’ – Ext, QAS Traveller, Scotch Cap, AAR New Trend and Paramount Ambush.
M13’s dam Dulverton Penny K152 is by KC Haas GPS. We used GPS because he was a trait leader for Calving Ease Direct, Calving Ease Daughters, Gestation Length, 400 day weight, Scrotal and he was in top 10% for Days to Calving. GPS is also trait leader for Carcase Weight and IMF%. Importantly there is a chance he could marble due to the Prime Time, 036 and QAS Traveller. K152 is a very functional young cow and is still here having presented us with a heifer by Gunsmoke and gotten back in calf again. K152 has a maternal pedigree that boasts Prairie Edge Marbul Design 931 (see website for his marbling data). Penny A48 (delivered and reared 10 calves) and Rebuild R112 himself a longevity specialist, he was still serving naturally as a 12 year old.
M13 has remained very sound, he worked very well with his mop-up post AI duties. He was set to work in a mob of 47, as it turned out 36 (75%) fell pregnant to the AI, and M13 got 10 in calf and 1 empty. Fertility not so much of a problem in the Dulverton herd.
Given his shape, soundness and EBVs, M13 won’t be offered up for sale. He will remain as stud sire in the Dulverton herd here at Shannon Vale.
