A Vanguard bull is a sire that has earned both Register of Renown and Maternal Performance Sire status. Not only have these bulls produced progeny that garner championships in the showring, they have also sired multiple Maternal Merit cows. Dams with the Maternal Merit rank are superior females identified through participation in the BHIR program as having an early onset of puberty, a regular calving interval and consistently producing offspring that perform above average.
In the history of the breed’s registry, only 22 bulls have obtained Vanguard status. The most recent additions to this esteemed group are (+)JDH SIR LIBERTY MANSO 874/5, (+)JDH ATLAS MANSO 328/3, (+)JDH MR WOODMAN MANSO 578/6 and (+)SCD DIDOR ESTO 302/1.
(+)JDH SIR LIBERTY MANSO 874/5
(+)JDH SIR LIBERTY MANSO 874/5 was a standout on the Hudgins show string and won the 1999 International Grand Champion Gray Bull title. After his show career, he grew to be a breed-changing sire. He is father to five Register of Renown sires, four Register of Renown dams, three Maternal Merit cows and one Vanguard herd bull. His notable progeny include +#MR. CC CAPITAL GAINS 77/7, +JDH CALIXTO MANSO 158/7, +JDH MR BRANDON MANSO 761/3, +JDH MR TULA MANSO 169/1, +JDH SIR AVERY MANSO 159/7, +JDH SIR JEROME MANSO 224/4 and (+)JDH MR WOODMAN MANSO 578/6. Additionally, he is a carcass trait leader in both Marbling and Retail Product %. He reached Vanguard status in 2016.
(+)JDH ATLAS MANSO 328/3
The legendary herd bull, (+)JDH ATLAS MANSO 328/3, was bred and raised by the Forgason Division of J.D. Hudgins, Inc. in Hungerford, Texas. (+)JDH ATLAS MANSO 328/3 was sired by +JDH CHARLEY’S JAZZ 946/1 out of the Register of Renown donor cow +JDH LADY MANSO 251/9. He achieved Vanguard status in 2016.
(+)JDH ATLAS MANSO 328/3 has sired one Register of Renown dam as well as three Maternal Merit cows. Some of his well-known male progeny include JDH MODELO MANSO 268/5, JDH MR. MANSO 854/4, JDH MR MANSO 840 “The Graduate” and MR H OAKLEY MANSO 605/4. He is also a trait leader in both Maternal Birth Weight and Ribeye Area.
(+)JDH MR WOODMAN MANSO 578/6
This champion herd sire was produced by the Hudgins Division of J.D. Hudgins. Inc. He is sired by the aforementioned Vanguard bull (+)JDH SIR LIBERTY MANSO 874/5 out of a (+)JDH MADISON DE MANSO 737/4 daughter named JDH LADY NELDA MANSO 485/5. He reached Vanguard status in March of 2017.
(+)JDH MR WOODMAN MANSO 578/6 was the National Grand Champion in 2001 and 2002 as well as the International Grand Champion in 2003. He has sired two Register of Renown bulls and three Maternal Merit cows. His progeny includes +JDH WOODSON DE MANSO 206/7 as well as +JDH MR FUSIG MANSO 226/1. He is a trait leader for Scrotal Circumference.
(+)SCD DIDOR ESTO 302/1
The youngest of the Vanguard group is a 2005 born bull named (+)SCD DIDOR ESTO 302/1. He is bred and owned by Sam Duplantis of D Bar Ranch in Erath, Louisiana. This bull is sired by +JJ DIDOR ESTO 204/2 out of the Vanguard dam $OLP MS COUNTRY SUE 239. (+)SCD DIDOR ESTO 302/1 had an illustrious show career, winning numerous championship banners and trophies as well as the 2008 ABBA Premier Show Bull of the Year title.
After his show career, he proved his superiority as a sire. He has fathered many competitive calves with the most well-known being the 2011 ABBA Premier Show Bull of the Year, SCD Didor Esto 623. He has also sired four Maternal Merit dams and is currently a trait leader in three categories, including Weaning Weight, Fat and Docility. He reached Vanguard status in March of this year.
