MINO Knock ‘Em Dead: His First Calves on the Ground

There’s a certain satisfaction in watching a plan come together—especially when that plan has four legs, a strong hip, and a curious eye. We’ve now got six calves on the ground from MINO Knock ‘Em Dead, and we’re starting to see just what he brings to the table.

Three of those calves (Meatloaf, Maestro, and Mandolin) have already weaned, and three more hit the ground during our spring calving season, which wrapped up in May. It’s still early, but we like what we’re seeing.

A Role Player With a Purpose

Knock ‘Em Dead isn’t our lead-off hitter—he’s the closer. His job is to bat cleanup after embryo transfer and artificial insemination. When the science doesn’t stick, he steps up. And while we count on AI as one of the most important tools in our breeding program, we wouldn’t be a success without a solid, reliable cleanup bull like him.

He covers the cows that didn’t catch on the first round, quietly and consistently doing his job without fuss. It’s a role that doesn’t always get the spotlight—but this year, he’s earned it.

Early Results: Growth, Disposition, and Consistency

The three weaned calves out of MINO Knock ‘Em Dead are showing a consistent stamp:

• Thick-topped and well-balanced
• Long-bodied without being coarse
• Growthy, correct, and easy to handle

We averaged the EPDs from these three calves, and here’s what stands out:

• CED 11.7 and BW 1.5 → Excellent calving ease with moderate birthweights
• WW 68.7 and YW 106.7 → Strong growth potential from weaning to yearling
• Milk 25.3 → Solid maternal promise in the heifers
• Docility 12.3 → True to their sire’s calm, manageable demeanor
• $TPI 85.37 → A well-balanced, profitable profile across traits

The spring calves are following suit—unassisted births, vigorous starts, and showing the same frame and disposition. We’re particularly excited to see all four heifers (Mandolin, No Doubt, Nena, and Nirvana) develop, as we anticipate a few future replacement females among them.

Looking Ahead

MINO Knock ‘Em Dead is back on pasture with the cows, quietly going about his business. We’ll continue to use him to back up our AI program, and we’re already planning to retain daughters to evaluate him long term.

We’ll share more performance data as these calves grow, but so far, his first group is shaping up just the way we hoped.

📸 Around the Ranch

Stay tuned for updated photos of Meatloaf, Maestro, and Mandolin—we’ll be sharing a few pasture snapshots soon.

👂 Join the Conversation

Do you rely on a cleanup bull in your breeding program? What traits do you look for when evaluating a young sire’s first calf crop? Drop us a note in the comments or send us a message—we’d love to hear from you.