2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Editorial

Kaycee Monnens Cortner
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All in the Family 

A resounding theme in this edition of the Winter Cattle Journal is the importance of family. Within these pages lie the incredible stories of nine Schiefelbein brothers carrying on their father’s legacy, Durbin Creek Ranch on which homeschooled kids are raised among a dozen family members, and each ranch individually paving the way for the next generation.  

Ask any grandfather or father involved in the cattle business: he probably won’t say that he’s passing the operation onto his children because it’s a sure paycheck or an easy life.  

He’s doing it because he knows it’s the best way to live.  

Our American culture is losing its sense of family. In fact, you could say modern society is an enemy of the family. Around every corner, we find dissenters of having children, smaller houses, more television channels, and infinite comforts that seem to lull us away from the challenges – and fruits – of family life in the country.  

Those who know, know it’s damned hard work to labor alongside their relatives every day. From the frustrations of broken-down hay equipment to the stress of the bank note, there are certainly easier ways to make a living – and easier people to do it with.  

Is it simpler to go it alone? Probably. There would be no power struggles or diaper changes or anyone to question your decisions. But there also would not be the day-to-day challenges that purify our intentions and wipe away everything but what matters.  

As a young mother, I can also attest that family life on the ranch – though often sleepless and misunderstood – has innumerable joys. A baby’s smile, a child’s first ride horseback, and seeing the start of one’s cowherd as newlyweds are experiences you simply cannot have alone.  

Pair those familial bonds with our agrarian lifestyle, in which we are privileged to sow what we reap directly from the earth, and you get about as close as you can to finding our purpose for being in this world.  

For now, families are shrinking, the small cattle producer is shrinking, and the land seems to be shrinking, too. I have no reason to hope that things will ever turn around, but as G.K. Chesterton said, “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.” Even if things never reverse, we can take solace in being the happy few. The greater our struggle, the greater our reward.  

It’s a good life, and it’s worth fighting for.  

Kaycee Monnens Cortner 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Frey Angus Ranch

Allen Frey built his ranch and Angus seedstock business from the ground up.
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Fresh off a boat with the Navy after World War II, Allen Frey planted flax on the land he was renting in rural Granville, North Dakota. Selling for a whopping $10 a bushel at the time gave Allen a sizable down payment for land of his own to build what would become Frey Angus Ranch. Headquarters for the ranch are still on this original homestead, even though they’ve added quite a few acres over the years.  

“There was nothing here when my dad bought the land, he built the house, barn, a chicken house and everything he needed to start a cattle herd,” said Lynn Frey who is the oldest of Allen’s three sons who now own and operate the ranch for their late father. “He started with maybe a half section of land and now we own about 3,500 acres and rent that many more.”  

The first animals in that herd weren’t all Angus as the registered business was in its infancy, but Allen knew that was the direction he wanted to go. A few Herefords and Shorthorns sustained Allen until his pastures were dotted exclusively with black-hided cattle, and they haven’t seen anything different since.  

“Dad wasn’t interested in marketing bulls, but he always kept his females and bought the best bulls he could find,” Lynn said. “It wasn’t until my brothers [Edward and Arlen] got out of college that we decided to start merchandizing bulls.”  

The industry was evolving quickly in the 60s, especially the Angus breed. Time as a livestock judge for North Dakota State University gave Lynn a first-hand look at this and made it clear that his family was on the right track.  

The Path Forward 

“I remember a judging trip that took us to Erdmann Angus in South Dakota, and I was impressed by their cattle and how similar they looked to the ones back home,” Lynn said. “They were providing cattle for industry leaders across the nation. In 1971, my brothers and I decided to buy a bull from their sale for $3,750 with a loan from the bank.”  

Back when Allen Frey first started the operation, his focus was exclusively on the female. Since his three sons came back to the ranch, they’ve shifted the ranch’s goals towards developing industry-leading bulls. Photo courtesy of Frey Angus Ranch
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With plans to sell a few bulls to pay off the loan, Lynn and his brothers were surprised when they got just as much or more for the bull calves as they paid for their sire. That proved to be a pivotal moment for Frey Angus Ranch.  

“We decided this Angus bull business was the place to be and so we had our first production sale in 1974 and we haven’t missed a year since,” Lynn said. “My dad gets a lot of credit for keeping those females registered and expanding the herd until we were at a time and age when we wanted to start raising and selling bulls.”  

Although Allen was a confident entrepreneur as a cattleman, he was an even better teacher in the profession. Intentional or not, his hands off approach when it mattered most is likely the reason his brand is packed around by a significant number of Angus cattle today.  

Arlen, Edward, Allen, Vernon and Lynn Frey before the third generation of cattleman and women came along. Photo courtesy of Frey Angus Ranch
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“My dad always put us boys out front and let us make the decisions we wanted to and just hung out in the background until we needed help or guidance,” Lynn said. “We’re trying to do the same with Dusty. He’s taken on some challenges that we probably didn’t even think to consider in years past.”  

Arlen’s son, Dusty Frey, is taking the ranch in some new directions while maintaining its tradition of excellence and performance in the herd.  

Custom corn chopping is just one example of how Dusty is adding a whole new element to the ranch. Not only are Freys able to chop their own corn to feed their herd, but they’re also generating income by chopping corn for other producers.  

“We’ve started giving Dusty more responsibility and tried to treat him the way our dad did for us when we got back to the ranch,” Lynn said. “My son Lance works in construction, but he’s still involved and helps out when and where he can.”   

Dusty’s sister, Lynsey Aberle, handles most of the marketing materials and helps out physically when time allows as she works off the farm and is busy raising three kids at home with her husband Eric on their grain farm.  

Better Than the 80s 

There’s plenty to be said about Frey Angus cattle but if there was one way to describe them it would involve the words performance, added frame and eye appeal.  

“We all see things the same way, the cattle are larger framed than most, but they still have performance, usability and durability to deal with the challenges of the harsh climate here,” Dusty said. “We get exceptional gain on them with their added frame without giving up muscle. We’re working on adding more carcass merit on the EPD side of things.”  

Even though big framed cattle went out of style in the 90s, Frey Angus Ranch hasn’t strayed away from what worked best for them and their customers.
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Despite how much the needs of the industry have changed over time, a lot of the same traits from that first herd bull – Marshall Pride 101 – Lynn and his brothers bought are still present in today’s herd. With that bull, the ranch’s focus turned from the female and zeroed in on herd bulls that would make a consistent group of productive females as well as marketable bulls.  

“When I was in college a well-respected professor said ‘If you use a bull and they can’t produce a son that’s better than them, then there’s no point in using him,'” Lynn said of the philosophy that’s stuck around for almost 50 years now.  

The commercial cattleman is top of mind with every decision Frey Angus makes. That’s why they stuck with the larger cattle even as trends swung a different way many years ago. Clearly, it has worked well for them.  

“We invest heavily into our own program and use our own bulls on specific groups of females because we know our bulls will do a good job for us and our customers,” Dusty said. “We’ve stuck with the type of cattle that our customers like so we can make a product that fits their needs.”  

Many of their repeat customers are looking for calves that wean heavy, continue to grow and gain in the feedlot without sacrificing performance on the rail, as well as females that have strong maternal traits and are capable of transmitting those to their offspring. 

“I look for the good in cattle and Dusty tries to find what’s wrong with them,” Lynn said with a chuckle. “When I find bulls that I like the looks of and Dusty can’t find anything wrong with them, that’s when we go ahead and buy them.”  

It’s a system built on trust and respect that was utilized between the first and second generations of Frey men. And it will continue between the third and fourth generations as the ranch works its way towards 75 years and counting.   

Marketing more than 100 yearling bulls at their annual sale the first Sunday of February, Frey Angus is making a name for themselves in the industry where a brand and a herd of cattle to stand behind it mean everything.   

For more information about Frey Angus Ranch, visit www.freyangusranch.com.  

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Gill Red Angus

Larry and Janet Gill
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In 1979, Bryan Gill’s father, Larry, traveled from Timber Lake, South Dakota, to Enid, Oklahoma, and bought the operation’s first registered Red Angus cows.  

Before this, Larry and his wife, Janet, ran commercial cattle and milked cows on the family operation — an operation they had taken over from Larry’s dad in the late 1960s. The ranch’s herd soon grew with cattle purchases from Montana, and in 1983, a landmark decision saw the exchange of their Holstein dairy herd for some Red Angus cows from Sodak Angus Ranch at Reva, South Dakota. This pivotal move set the stage for a thriving Red Angus breeding program that became Gill Red Angus.  

“Dad had his first bull sale in the late 1980s and now we’ve grown to have two bull sales each year — one in the spring and one in the fall,” Bryan Gill said. 

Gill grew up on the ranch doing everyday ranch chores and added marketing, registration and breeding decisions after high school. His wife’s job took them both away to North Dakota for several years, although Gill remained involved in ranch planning and management during that time. They returned once Gill’s parents started talking about retirement. Today, Bryan, his wife, Kristen, and their three boys and his brother Brent with wife, Emily, and their four children all run Gill Red Angus. Larry and Janet are retired but they still help when they can.   

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Be part of a business that’s working for your business every day is one of the mottos the Gills live by. 

“We sat down several years ago, and made a business plan to grow the ranch,” Gill said. “Part of that plan included assisting our customers in marketing their calves when they sell.” 

This means that Gill Red Angus prioritizes doing everything possible to make sure their customers get what their calves are worth when they sell them. 

“Every fall, we go to several different auction barns in the tri-state area to bid on as many groups of our customers’ calves as we possibly can,” Gill said. “It can be long hours on the road and sitting at the sale barns waiting for customers cattle to sell, but it’s more than worth it as a reward for being able to help our customers. We want to treat our customers like we would want to be treated.” 

Gill Angus Ranch prioritizes attending sales, making sure their customers get what their calves are worth when they sell them.
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This approach, focusing on both internal growth and aiding their customers, has propelled the ranch from selling 50 bulls a year in the 1990s to more than 300 annually today.  

“We market our bulls through two sales a year,” Gill said. “We sell all our yearling bulls the last Wednesday in April, and then we will have a sale of the coming 2-year-old bulls the second Wednesday in December. In both sales, we offer open and bred commercial heifers.  We also sell several bulls each year privately.” 

The sales take bulls across several states, with North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska as the primary markets. Quite a few bulls go to New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma and some go as far as the East Coast. 

Every summer, Gills hit the road and visit bull customers to see how the bulls hold up under breeding conditions and how their calves look. They take photos at each ranch and then email them to potential calf buyers come selling time, so they have an idea of what to expect. 

The Gill family’s customer-focused approach is also evident as they make plans for the future. This year, for instance, they made a strategic decision to halt operations at their feedlot, which is shifting the focus towards marketing hay and corn instead of feeding it. 

Gill said, “We’ve always fed cattle, but this move streamlines operations and also opens up a new avenue of income. But more importantly, it allows us to focus more on our cowherd and our customers.” 

Focusing on the cowherd is an opportunity to slow down things on the ranch a bit, and Gill says that it’s one of his favorite things about ranching. 

Focusing on the cowherd is an opportunity to slow down things on the ranch a bit, and Bryan Gill says that it’s one of his favorite things about ranching.
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From the beginning, the goal at Gill Red Angus has been to raise a maternal and performance cowherd. Gill Red Angus has bred for performance, maternal ability and efficiency from the start and understands that is what their customers need in the pasture and the feedlot.   

From registered Red Angus cows to feeder steers and replacement heifers, the ranch caters to a wide array of needs.  

“We strive for cattle that are very efficient and easy keeping on grass alone,” Gill said. “They need to stay in good body condition year-round because our main herd, which calves in May, will stay on grass and graze all winter. We do feed a little protein, salt and mineral, but they’re on their own throughout the winter.” 

This ensures that the cattle can thrive year-round on the ranch’s extensive pastures. Gill Red Angus encompasses acres of rented and owned land, predominantly pasture ground. The cattle are bred and raised to thrive in the rugged terrain of north central South Dakota, requiring minimal intervention and exhibiting exceptional efficiency. 

“We feel that you need to run what your environment allows you to run, and our cowherd fits right in that puzzle,” Gill said. “But they also need to be able to perform on feed. With us buying our customers’ feeder cattle, we understand that they’ve got to be able to perform on feed and get harvested at a good weight at a minimal cost.” 

The Gill family’s commitment to their customers and operation also extends beyond the present generation.  

A strategic approach to breeding includes AI programs for both spring and fall calving herds. 

The family has also extended opportunities to the younger members as well, allowing them to invest in registered cows and expand.  

From the beginning, the goal at Gill Red Angus has been to raise a maternal and performance cowherd.
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“Our nephew, Christian, and also oldest son Holden, wanted to purchase a handful of registered cows, so we held some of our May/June calving cows open on purpose and converted them into fall calving cows.  They will market their bulls through our spring sale,” Gill said. 

As the Gill family continues to look to the future, they remain grounded in their core values of an unwavering commitment to their customers, strategic breeding and hard work.  

“There’s a lot of work on the ranch and it’s primarily done by the family members,” Gill said, “But it’s definitely all worth it.” 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Durbin Creek Ranch

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High in the mountainous terrain of northern Wyoming a hardy herd of Hereford cows 1,000 strong make their living. Owned by the Agars of Durbin Creek Ranch, these cows are just a small part of the operation. From commercial and seedstock herds to a Quarter Horse breeding program to a feedlot and trucking operation, the Durbin Creek Ranch does it all. Owned and operated by four generations of Agars, this ranch is truly one of a kind. 

It all started in December of 1978 when Roy and Shirley Agar purchased some land in Huntington, Oregon to expand the ranch that was no longer big enough for their growing family. Roy, Shirley, and their two sons ran Durbin Creek Ranch (previously known as Agar Polled Herefords) on Durbin Creek in Huntington until 1988, when one son decided to leave the ranch and the other (Bruce) bought his brother out. At this time, the ranch raised solely Herefords. The ranch met some success, but the changing political climate of Oregon made it difficult to be in the agricultural business.  

By 2008, Bruce and his wife Mary had four children and several grandchildren taking an interest in the ranch and decided that the best step was to move the business to the more ag-friendly state of Wyoming. Following them to Worland, Wyoming were a herd of Red Angus cows, several Hereford bulls, and the beginnings of a Quarter Horse breeding program.  

These animals were the cream of the crop after 35 years of culling on the Oregon place. The Red Angus/Hereford crosses have the hardiness and flexibility to deal with the harsh Wyoming winters at high elevations. Bruce’s and Mary’s son Wyatt is in charge of the seedstock herd and the Washakie Feeders Feedlot aspects of Durbin Creek Ranch, calls his cows “the queens of efficiency.” They’re easy-fleshing, moderately framed cows with low PAP scores that spend 12 months of the year foraging, never receiving any processed or harvested feed. They spend most of their time at elevations of over 8,000 feet, and these cows are heavily pigmented to prevent sunburnt udders from the thin atmosphere. Calving in April, a crop of F1 baldy calves is produced each year. Most of the females are sold each year via private treaty while several hundred are sold at the annual bull sale held each February. Wyatt is especially proud of his bulls who are bred to run in the same conditions as the ranch’s hardy red cows. He says that their program is “tailored to produce the bulls we need to run on those cows to produce F1 females that work in the intermountain region”.  

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Wyatt Agar was elected President of the American Hereford Association in October. 

He and his wife Joey and their three children also run Durbin Creek Ranch’s feedlot – the newest addition to the operation. Five years ago, the Agars decided to create Washakie Feeders Feedlot, which backgrounds calves from their customers. The Agars wanted a way to be more involved in their bull customers marketing their calves. It also provides a way for them to obtain vital feedback about their breeding program. “It tells us a lot about where we are in a seedstock program when we see how our calves perform in a finishing program and how they hang on the rail,” says Wyatt. He says that 90% of their cattle grade above Choice, an impressive feat.  

On the other side of the operation are Jake and Hannah Agar, along with their three children.  

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Their family is in charge of the commercial cattle operation and the Quarter Horse breeding program, which is another fairly recent development for the ranch. The broodmares first came to the ranch in 1996, when Bruce and Mary bought them from a retiring neighbor. Mary says they started running the horses because at that time the ranch in Oregon had a problem with wolfy bunchgrass. The cattle wouldn’t eat it, but the mares did and quickly got the population under control. The colts were a welcome byproduct of the range improvements, and are now Jake and Hannah’s domain. Each year the ranch raises between 15 and 20 colts. The bloodlines they focus on include Sun Frost, Docs Oaks Sugar, Orphan Drift, Dash Ta Fame, and Royal Shake Em. Most of their colts now are sired by PC Frost Em John, a young stud by John Fame out of a daughter of Royal Shake Em. The majority of these colts are sold as weanlings or yearlings. The Agars like these horses for their grit and toughness. Wyatt calls these horses “electric.” His daughters compete on the horses they raise, and recently one daughter broke the arena record in deep mud and trashy ground. He says that that’s a testament to the drive and focus of the horses they raise. Hannah also believes in the greatness of their horses, but says that the biggest blessing to come from the horse business is the people that it has brought into their lives. 

While the Agar children are in charge of the livestock aspects of the ranch, Bruce operates the trucking side and he and Mary help out wherever else is needed. They’re also the resident historians, able to relay any detail about the ranch. Overall, though, they’re most proud of their family and their ability to work together. Mary says they have done what they can to turn different segments of the business over to their boys. All of the grandkids are homeschooled, and each has learned how to be a part of the business as well. She says, “There’s no better place to raise kids than out on the ranch. That’s why [we] keep doing it.”  

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Wyatt, Joey, Hannah, and Jake all feel the same about the opportunity. Wyatt says that the operation being as diversified has allowed all of them to be involved in the business and develop the interests they want to pursue, but still be connected and involved as a family. However, this is also one of the toughest aspects of the business. “One of the hardest issues is working together as a family. It’s a great blessing, but we’ve had to learn how to let each person be a leader in their own aspect and be a supportive player for those individuals,” says Wyatt. They have a good system in place, but with the next generation of Agars coming on changes may need to happen. According to Wyatt, splitting up the ranch is a possibility, but the ideal path is to grow the operation so that they can encompass more aspects for more personalities to be involved.  

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When asked what he thought made Durbin Creek Ranch so unique, Wyatt replied, “The fact that we as a family can work together the way that we do. We have our fingers in every level of the production chain, from the genetics that produce the cattle, to the feedlot that develops and can finish the cattle, to the trucks that transport the cattle and the horses that move the cattle.  
Very few people can be involved in all those layers and see the big picture.”  

This is an impressive feat, made even more impressive when you consider the ranch’s rich history and deep family ties. Durbin Creek Ranch is going strong, and with the next generation ready to lend a hand, the future is bright. 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Cross Diamond Cattle Company

The Ford family works together to maintain a Red Angus herd with outstanding genetics. From left: Kim, Marie, Scott and Johanna.
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“Everyone has a favorite cow, and the definition of a favorite cow or how long it takes to identify her might change,” says rancher Kim Ford. “A favorite cow is one that breeds back every year and is still standing out there when she’s ten.” 

This has been the philosophy behind the success of Cross Diamond Cattle Company, where the Fords strive to raise top-quality Red Angus genetics for the commercial cattle industry. 

Kim and Scott Ford met when they were in college, then married and started raising cattle together. When they had an opportunity to return to Scott’s hometown of Bertrand, Nebraska, they made the move. 

“There was some ranch ground here, and with the help of some partners, Cross Diamond was formed,” said Kim. “We moved here the fall of 2006 and had our first sale.” Today, Kim and Scott operate the ranch with their daughters Johanna, a sophomore at Oklahoma State University, and Marie, a junior in high school. 

Kim discusses the history of the Red Angus breed. “The red gene is recessive,” she said. “If red animals showed up in the black breed, the rancher got rid of them because it was looked down upon to have that gene in a herd. A few breeders started collecting the red cattle, and in 1954, they formed the Red Angus Association of America.” 

Important decisions regarding Red Angus have taken place since it became a registerable breed. Kim explains that while the Black Angus Association only registers black cattle, Red Angus can be registered in several categories including as ‘red cattle’. The Red Angus Association will also register black cattle that can sire red cattle, which allows flexibility to bring in more bloodlines and improve the breed. 

Although there are similarities among Red and Black Angus, many who raise Red Angus say they have a better disposition. “It’s a cow’s job to take care of their calf,” said Kim. “We don’t want them to be overprotective but I don’t want her to be nonchalant if a coyote shows up. That’s important in our herd.”  

The Fords strongly believe that if they respect their cowherd and what’s expected of them, the cows will respond with trust. “There are two sides of the relationship between the cattle and us,” said Kim. “We can accomplish our job much better when we respectfully respond to them.” 

To ensure cattle can be easily handled both on the ranch and by potential buyers, Fords move and handle cattle in a variety of methods, including on foot, by four-wheeler and on horseback. When it’s time to work cattle, the Fords take portable handling equipment to the cattle. 

When it’s time to process cattle, the Fords move handling equipment to where the cattle are to avoid excess stress and use low-stress handling methods.
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“We can easily gather them without stress, do what we need to do, quietly sort through them,” said Kim. “Then when we’re finished, they don’t have to be driven anywhere.” 

Cross Diamond has developed a breeding program to maintain a tight calving window. Their protocol begins with turning bulls out with cows for five days. On day five, cows are brought in, bulls are sorted off and the cows receive prostaglandin. Any cows that conceived during the five days the bulls were with them are not affected by the treatment. Cows that come into heat over the next three or four days are bred via A.I., then bulls are returned to the group. 

Of the group of 350 to 400 cows prepared for A.I., Kim estimates 180 to 200 cows are bred via A.I. Cows are then exposed to bulls for 45 days. Fords DNA-test all calves for parentage at weaning. Selection priorities for herd replacements include fertility, structural soundness, correct feet and legs, udder structure and disposition. 

First calf heifers calve around April 1, and cows begin calving about ten days later. “First calf heifers are exposed for 30 days,” said Kim. “We want to give them a chance and breed them because they’re the most fertile in that 30-day window. It keeps the first calving season tight. When we choose replacements, we select the ones we like and breed the most fertile heifers.” 

Corey Cable sorts pairs on horseback, one of three handling methods used by the Fords to ensure cattle are accustomed to various handling methods.
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After young bulls pass a breeding soundness exam, they’re offered for sale as age-advantaged bulls at 18 to 24 months before the Cross Diamond sale held in December. In addition, Cross Diamond sells bulls via private treaty. 

“It’s an advantage to sell bulls that are a little older,” said Kim. “They’ve had time to grow  very slowly and they haven’t been pushed on a high-concentrate ration. We think that results in long-term soundness both reproductively and structurally. We’ve had time to study them, get to know their disposition and make sure we’re providing a sound, good product for our customers.”  

Cross Diamond Cattle takes heifer sales seriously. “Every year we buy commercial heifer calves back from our customers,” said Kim. “We develop them, take pelvic measurements,  sift through them, and breed for March and April calves. There will be more than 400 bred Red Angus females this year for sale.” 

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Heifers that don’t conceive within  30 days are exposed for fall calving then sold. “They’ve gone on to become good fall calvers for customers,” said Kim. “We feel good about selling them as fall calvers.” 

Regarding challenges in the beef industry, Kim says that while there’s sometimes negative press, it’s important to show the positive side. 

“We don’t like to see cattle in bad conditions,” said Kim. “We have the well-being of the cattle at heart and want to do what’s best. Everyone in our workplace goes above and beyond to make sure animals are safe and comfortable. We also have an imperative to show how cattle are good for the environment. We’re doing good things for the land – cattle are making protein on land that can’t be used to make anything else useful. We have an amazing story.” 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Bulls for Big Country

Big Country Genetics is aptly named for the big country that the bulls are expected to thrive in. Bulls are PAP tested at 6,000 feet and expected to work for their customers at high elevations.
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Surrounded by mountains, Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin ranges from 4,000 to 7,000 feet in elevation. Though the landscape is mainly desert, good fortune brought rivers and creeks to water the basin, making it a prime location for Jimmy and ShayLe Stewart to develop SimAngus bulls in rugged country and big pastures at Big Country Genetics.  

“I think sometimes the commercial cowman’s bottom line was forgotten about and so I guess it was always my goal to create a bull that first serves the commercial cow man, and then the rest of the industry,” Jimmy says. “We don’t want to forget about the end product but we dang sure want our commercial cowman’s bottom line to be better than what I think mainstream genetics allow for today.”  

Many business plans were thrown in the trash while Jimmy and ShayLe brainstormed ways to meet their future customers’ needs with SimAngus cattle. They focused on three factors that they believe drive a commercial cow herd’s profit: input costs, fertility and longevity, and they found a path to reach those goals.  

“I think those three outweigh all factors and it’s my philosophy that you cannot control the market, but you can control your input costs,” Jimmy says. 

One way that they help their customers with input costs is by utilizing maternal heterosis, as they believe hybrid females bring higher fertility rates and added longevity compared to their purebred counterparts.  

“With our focused breeding program, we are able to create an easier fleshing, smaller framed mature cow while utilizing heterosis to obtain the weaning weights most commercial cowmen desire,” Jimmy says.  

Big Country Genetics offers around 200 bulls to the public. The hand selection of three additional operations to become cooperators allows the sale to source its bulls from over 1,000 head of cows. All the cows come from similar genetics and are run with the same breeding philosophies and under identical management systems and selection pressures. Big Country Genetics cooperators include Walker Livestock out of Rapelje, Montana, Clark’s Fork Angus and Simmental out of Pryor, Montana, and XL Ranch out of Cowley, Wyoming, the latter being Jimmy’s parents. The implementation of cooperators allows the April sale to offer enough bulls and ensures that customers can travel to the sale and not run the risk of leaving empty handed.  

“We want to be a source for the commercial cow man that maybe runs his cattle a little harder than others,” Jimmy says. “I think there’s a sector of the industry that expects more out of their cows, as they graze a few more months out of the year, run in harsher climates and rougher country and those are the guys that we are focused on marketing to.”  

In addition, the Stewarts offer both a three-year-breeding guarantee on feet, legs and semen for Big Country Genetics bulls, and volume discounts when 10 to 20 bulls are purchased. All bulls that sell through the sale are PAP tested at 6,000 feet of elevation and are guaranteed to work at higher elevations.  

Bull calves are weaned for 30 days, then congregated in a large pasture at the Stewart ranch outside of Cody, Wyoming where they are developed together on mostly a hay ration, with small amounts of whole corn to keep energy levels sufficient. On sale day, bulls average from 950 to 1050 pounds.   

“We breed our heifers at 50 percent of their mature weight, so why wouldn’t we develop our bulls to start breeding at 50 percent of their mature weight, too?” Jimmy says. 

Bull selection is based on sound structural and foot quality, masculinity, phenotype, and the cow family backing that bull.  

“I want to make sure he’s coming from a quality cow family that shows longevity and fertility,” Jimmy says. “Beyond that, we start looking at things like marbling, growth and calving ease. I want as much marbling as I can get without sacrificing anything else on my list. My personal opinion is that we are an operation that is looking for an optimum level of growth and calving ease, as opposed to maximum. I don’t think that bigger is always better.” 

A lot is expected from the cows that back the bulls at Big Country Genetics. They have to make a living on pasture for 10 to 11 months out of the year. Home raised heifers are expected to calve outside, unassisted, with the cow herd, after being bred in a 60-day window, and they must wean a decent calf in the fall.  

“We implemented this for a couple of reasons,” Jimmy says. “Getting started in this business, we couldn’t afford to ranch like a typical operation, so we said we’d have to make these cows profitable, but also, a large majority of our customers are grazing out extended periods of time so why would they come buy our bulls if we weren’t on the same thought process. I know that by the way we run them, our bulls will work in the harsh climates that our customers have to run in so the cows are forced to work like a commercial cow herd.” 

After holding their fifth annual sale in 2023, at the ranch in Cody on the first Saturday in April, Jimmy and ShayLe felt confident that their customers left with quality bulls that were bought at a reasonable value.  

Jimmy and ShayLe Stewart run cattle on mostly lease ground near Cody, Wyoming with their toddler son, Stetson, and their newborn son Coy, who joined the family in October of this year.
stewartfamily-72

“At the end of the day, if our customers are profitable with the bulls they purchased, then we will be profitable for a long time,” Jimmy says. “We and the commercial cow man have to work together to create a profitable product for all parties involved, that includes the packers and feeders, but first and foremost, the commercial cow man.” 

 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Keller Broker Heart Ranch

The rolling hills of Mandan, North Dakota, do a good job of romanticizing ranch life. Keller Broken Heart Ranch has evolved into a profession rooted in science while remained steeped in tradition and family. Photo courtesy of Keller Broken Heart Ranch
RollingHills

The soft rolling hills of Mandan, North Dakota, are picturesque but they don’t paint the full picture of the science behind the cattle dotting the landscape. There’s one operation in particular – Keller Broken Heart Ranch – that’s used the advancements in science and technology to their ultimate advantage.  

Now the patriarch of the ranch, Dwight Keller took the reins of the operation from his father who originally milked dairy cows at the Keller Broken Heart Ranch. Dwight started and grew a purebred Simmental herd from ground zero in the 1980s.  

“Back then, nobody did big framed cattle with a lot of performance better than Simmentals,” Dwight said. “The Simmental breed has come a long way since then. We’ve done a lot to make sure they’re functional and well-rounded cattle.”  

Dwight’s time as a livestock judging coach at Utah State University gave him the opportunity to see Simmental cattle around the country. He appreciated the breed because they had both good maternal and terminal traits. They also crossed well on British breeds and weren’t single trait focused.  

“The industry has evolved a lot since I started raising beef cattle in the 80s; back then it didn’t matter the breed, everyone was trying to make cattle as big as possible with as much performance as possible,” Dwight said.  

Growing kids and cattle together, Dwight and his wife Susan have spent a lifetime in the cattle business. Now they’re watching their three kids – Luke, Jake and Tessa – introduce the fourth generation of Kellers to the operation.  

Now the proud grandparents of four young ranchers, Susan and Dwight Keller have spent a lifetime in the cattle business. Photo courtesy of Keller Broken Heart Ranch
Grandparents

As the oldest, Luke predominantly manages the cattle herd while his wife, Katy, operates her own agronomy business. They have two kids: 2-year-old Iva and Rhett, 4 months old. Jake manages the crops and his fiancé, McKenzie, will join the family in 2024. Tessa is a county agent in Grant County and continues to help with the family operation alongside her husband, Thomas, while raising their 18-month-old, Tate.   

Luke’s family
LukeFamily
Tessa’s family
TessaFamily
Jake and McKenzie
Jake and McKenzie

Ranching is Science 

“Simmental had to change their breed more than most of the others, but they did a really good job of it,” Luke said. “Jerry Lipsey, who was one of the original founders of Certified Angus Beef [CAB] did such a good job for the American Simmental Association [ASA], that it’s now the number two breed in the country for registrations and bull sales, second only to Angus.”  

Luke was hired by Jerry in 2010 as a regional manager before becoming the director of seedstock and industry operations at ASA. His time with the association complimented his undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University, as did his livestock judging experience there. Those four years with the ASA further solidified the future direction the ranch would take when Luke returned to the operation full time. 

“When I first started the herd, it was commercial because I didn’t have the base for raising purebred cattle yet,” Dwight explained. “It’s been a process that’s changed from doing things based only on our knowledge of what cattle looked like to using the science behind those phenotypes. That’s what Luke helps bring to the equation.”  

Flipping through a sale catalog requires a lot more reading and number crunching than it used to. Exploiting those numbers to the highest degree has ultimately been the key to success for the Kellers.  

“We’re mating cattle on paper now and looking at those numbers for all the information we can, which has been a revelation,” Dwight said. “We’ve changed along with the times, and that’s been good for us. We have to keep learning about and using new technology to the best of our ability.”  

Black and white hides of dairy cattle used to fill the ranch’s vast pastures when Dwight Keller’s father first started Keller Broken Heart Ranch. Today, Simmental cattle bear the family brand. Photo courtesy of Keller Broken Heart Ranch
Herd

As Dwight and Luke used the numbers as their road map for mating decisions, they noticed their cattle began looking more uniform. Their performance numbers followed suit.  

The family quickly learned performance didn’t have to be sacrificed to make improvements in the breeding herd. For many years now, they’ve retained ownership and fed out a percentage of their calf crop. This allows them to review data so they can select genetics to improve carcass traits as well.  

“Our goal has not only been to focus on the science side, but to make sure the cattle also look the part,” Luke said. “Cattle with good data that look and function well physically are really easy to market.”  

WS Miss Sugar C4 and BarCK 106Z proved that the Kellers correctly embraced the science as these donor cows had the numbers and the look that eventually took them to the top of the breed.  

“They became top donors in our own breeding program and some of their female offspring have gone on to become elite donors in other producers’ programs,” Luke said. “Some of their sons are also used within AI programs throughout the industry.”  

It seems like most of the top cattle coming off the Keller ranch have those two cows somewhere in their pedigree. Daughters from both of those cows are now leading the Keller herd genetics.  

Challenges Ahead 

While North Dakota itself can be a challenge for a rancher, that’s not been top of mind for the Kellers as they look to the future.  

“With so many different things happening all at once, the cattle industry is sort of up in the air right now,” Dwight said. “Packers are heavily investing in fake meat and that may impact the beef industry worldwide. If they grow it cheaper than we can raise it and then sell it for just as much or more, then that could become concerning for us. We trust that consumers will ultimately want to eat real beef that has real nutritional value and is grown on a sustainable and environmentally friendly model.”  

No matter how bleak the market outlook might seem at times, the Keller family plans to stay the course and continue improving their herd for their bull customers.  

“As we think about expanding with the growth of our family, the price of land is a factor,” Dwight said. “And labor can be a challenge also. We’re at a point in history where we have to supply our own labor force. Those are probably our biggest challenges right now.”  

The fourth generation of Kellers are jumping in with both feet as they learn the ropes of working on the family operation in Mandan, North Dakota.
FamilyOperation

Annually selling 120 bulls and 80 heifers at their production sale in March, the Kellers have plenty to keep their minds occupied. Keeping their focus on building a reliable cow herd with high marks on the ASA’s all-purpose index (API) and the terminal index (TI) keeps them top of mind for Simmental breeders across the country.  

“Over time our cattle have gotten a lot more uniform, but we’re always working hard to bring up that bottom end as a way to make everything better,” Dwight said. “We want to get to a point where we expect something great out of every mating.”  

Not far off from that goal, everyone at Keller Broken Heart Ranch understands the importance of being lifelong learners.  

“We’re always trying to improve our genetics and even with everything we’re already doing now, we don’t have the idea in our heads that we have it all figured out,” Luke concluded. “I think when you do that it’s probably a sign that your cattle aren’t going to improve genetically.”  

For more information about Keller Broken Heart Ranch, visit www.kbhrsimmental.com.  

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Soreide Charolais: Loving Life

Soreide Charolais first-calf heifers with a bull in the lush grass of southwestern South Dakota plains.
Soreide replacement with bull

Visit Jay Soreide and his daughter, Joy Soreide Kinsey, and it quickly becomes apparent that these North Dakota Charolais breeders thoroughly enjoy their lives. The ranch has been in the family for over a century. Jay’s grandfather homesteaded the land near Bowman, and his father was born in what is now the Soreide’s yard. Jay’s brother ranches two miles across the pasture where Jay’s grandmother lived. Wonderfully, the fifth generation is keenly interested in cattle, the land, and the lifestyle. 

Jay and Joy
Soreide – Jay and Joy

Jay’s father, John Soreide, started the Charolais business in 1961 when he purchased a $1,200 Charolais bull originally from Texas—a considerable amount of money for a bull in the 1960s—that was in Dickinson. As part of the deal of being able to spend that much cash on the bull, John agreed to buy his wife, Dorothy and his mother, Ellen, a couch while he was in Dickinson retrieving the bull.  

“Dickinson, North Dakota, is 80 miles from Bowman, and when he bought that bull, he had no provisions to bring him home. He ran into a neighbor in Dickinson who had a grain truck. The catch was, the truck had no stock rack or tailgate,” Jay said. “Dad still thought it would work, so he put the couch in the front of the truck and sat on the furniture while hanging on to the haltered bull the whole way home.” 

The couch, bull, and rancher survived the trip, and the bull began breeding the milking shorthorns, creating buckskin calves. 

Jay and his father ran commercial cows, but in the 1970s, the family became interested in the purebred business, purchasing additional purebred Charolais bulls and cows. They used Charolais bulls on red cows and won many awards at shows with those buckskin calves,” Jay remembered.  

Although the family first sold their bulls as a private treaty, they realized marketing their livestock through a bull sale allowed the Soreide Charolais to reach more buyers, with the first Soreide Bull Sale taking place in 1984. 

One of the Soreide Charolais herd sires. Bulls must be the complete package for the family to sell them.
Soreide – herd bull

In 2006, the family moved the bull sale to their ranch in Bowman, N.D., selling 60-plus bulls at the sale.  

“Other than the auctioneering and videoing, our family handles the entire bull sale, from and cleaning/trimming the bulls to putting together the catalog and cooking the sale lunch,” said Joy. “We have plenty of repeat customers and feel we sell to our best friends.” 

What keeps people continually coming back to the Soreide bull sales?  

Jay explains that offering a complete package is essential all in one bull. “If they have everything except a good disposition, you don’t have a good bull. They need to have good feet, an excellent rate of gain, good scrotal size, and, of course, customer service is all a part of selling the bull, which includes offering delivery. We make sure everyone is satisfied.” 

The strategy worked; they continue to sell bulls to the first person they ever sold a bull to in 1978. New customers find Soreide by word of mouth. One order buyer told a customer that even though Soreide Charolais were 200 miles away, that was where they needed to get their bulls. 

“Those folks bought six bulls,” Jay said. He added that even though some customers have left the cow business or changed breeds, they will remain friends. They have customers from the Dakotas, Nebraska, Montana, and even Idaho. 

Soreide cow calf pair.
Soreide cow calf pair

The long-time rancher shares a business philosophy that guarantees success. “Produce a good product and take care of your customers.” 

Joy explains that many of their customers are within a 100-mile radius. “I was at the sale barn in Faith, South Dakota and saw three of our customers who were selling their livestock. It’s wonderful to be able to visit and have coffee together. We appreciate all of our customers.” 

In the years preceding the Soreide family getting into the Charolais breeding business, the French breed was burly and had calving difficulties. That changed as breeders started working towards calving ease. 

Jay Soreide and his brother, Carl, branding bulls.
Jay and brother carl branding

“Charolais are very distinguishable,” Jay said. “Ours is one breed that you can’t hide. Any Charolais or even part Charolais are white, buckskin, or smoky. You get prime beef with crossbreeding with a black cow. The ultimate is a Charolais and red or black baldie cross. You get all the hybrid vigor that comes with that package.” 

Joy serves as president of the North Dakota Cattlewomen and strongly advocates agriculture. For the past few years, they have held a ranching and beef education ranch tour, bringing in two classes of fifth-grade students and four agricultural education classes from Bowman School to their bull sale. 

“A few of our North Dakota Cattlewomen join me in walking them through the barn and pens, and we explain all about taking care of the cattle, what we feed them, and we talk about the bulls,” explained Joy. “Many of these students have never seen a cow. ” 

Kaylee, 19, helps with all aspects of the ranch including bottle-feeding calves when necessary.
Soreide – daughter Kaylee with calf

To keep the students engaged, the classes pick a favorite bull, and the auctioneer conducts a mock auction for them. In addition, the Soreides offer to host 4-H livestock judging programs.  

“We like to keep the future of agriculture and agricultural education going,” Joy said. 

In addition, during Beef Month, Joy works with the lunch lady at the school to offer beef meals and hold beef trivia events. 

“There are other groups who throw a lot of money around to deter people from animal agriculture,” said Joy. “However, consumers want to know how the meat gets on their plates. We want our information to get out there.” 

Jay lost his wife ten years ago and remarried Susan. Joy has helped on the ranch since she was young; the daughter and father chuckle that she didn’t realize that other eight-year-old kids don’t trim bulls over Christmas or drive a tractor when her dad needed help. 

Joy and her husband, Zach, are equal partners on the ranch with Jay and Susan. Their three children, Kaylee, Casey, and Johnny, are all involved, from hauling manure to helping put on a bull sale to making hay. 

Casey, Johnny and Kaylee prepare for a show at the Bowman County Fair in Bowman, North Dakota.
Soreide kids – fair

“There is no better way to raise kids than on the ranch,” Joy said. “They learn hard work and learn to appreciate the things that aren’t so consumer-based. They appreciate a bum calf following you across the yard. They learn to be independent. They also learn how to talk to people of all ages.” 

Jay added another benefit—rural ag kids learn neighboring and understand community. 

“From being an usher at the church to putting on a Christmas program or helping an underclassman get through something, they learn that’s just what people do, and as they become adults, they pass that on to others,” the rancher said. 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Rausch Herefords

“We select for growth and fertility, for problem free cattle. They have to earn their way around here. With this size herd, people can come in and prospect; they can find show cattle, rugged range cattle, and high-performance cattle.” –Vern Rausch
7 Rausch

Brothers Vern and Jerry Rausch joined their father, William Rausch, in the Hereford Hall of Fame this year. They are honored by this recognition from their peers for a lifetime of work in the Hereford cattle industry.  

They were more or less born into the Hereford business, and have spent their lives working together on the Rausch Hereford Ranch near Hoven, South Dakota. 

“I was four and Jerry was two when the first registered Herefords came here,” he said. “There were ten of us kids: seven boys and three girls. Jerry and I are the youngest of the boys. As the older ones got married, they each did an internship with dad but then went on to their own farms. Jerry and I are still here on the home ranch.” 

The Rausch family has a long history of involvement in the cattle business. From the time their great-great grandfather homesteaded in the area, each generation has worked with livestock, and this continues now with Vern and Jerry’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

“The registered cattle business is a labor-intensive business, with all the record keeping, performance data you have to catch, and the individual treatment of the animals,” Vern said. “The question always came up to dad, ‘Where do you get the help?’ Dad always told them, ‘We raise it.'” 

“Dad always said that the more boys he had the more cows he needed to keep them out of trouble,” Jerry chuckled.  

Current owners of Rausch Herefords: Sue & Shannon Rausch, Peter & Melinda Rausch, Kaitlyn & Michael Rausch, Christine & Jacob Rausch.
1 Rausch owners

Vern and Jerry officially became partners with William in 1970. Now it’s another generation’s turn; the brothers sold the corporation a year ago, and six of their sons and grandsons currently make up the full time Rausch Hereford crew, with several other young men in the family helping part time as needed.  

Vern and Jerry’s older siblings initiated the registered Hereford herd in 1946. They talked their parents into allowing them to sell their registered 4-H sheep and use the proceeds to buy some heifer calves.  

“They each bought one or two as they had the funds, and dad bought ten,” Vern said. “He said he had to take care of his to take care of ours; that was how the herd grew.” 

After age 10, the Rausch children earned cows for their labor. Over their growing up years, each worker earned a herd of cows that they could sell when they went to college if they needed the money, or could hang on to for leverage to get a start in farming when they were ready. 

Brothers Vern and Jerry Rausch joined their father, William Rausch, in the Hereford Hall of Fame this year. They are honored by this recognition from their peers for a lifetime of work in the Hereford cattle industry.
9 Rausch

William remained a silent partner in the operation and mentor in the business after he moved to town. 

“Older ranchers would come to buy bulls, and they would believe him, but not us young guys in those days,” Vern said. “He could sell bulls better than we could because of his experience. We learned from that; we learned to earn our customers’ trust.” 

Customer demand has pushed the shift from horned Herefords to a combination of horned and polled genetics in the Rausch herd. 

“Horned Herefords dominated the industry for a long time; the polled trait was a mutation,” Vern said. “The polled breed is not as old as the horned, but polled is dominant so breeders could make progress fast. Polled cattle started out behind the horned cattle in quality; today they are caught up. On the rail you can’t pick them out in any way.” 

“Initially we started crossing polled bulls on our horned cows; eventually we ended up with about three fourths of the herd polled and the other fourth of the cows are horned,” Jerry said. “Today it is easier to sell polled cattle to most people—not everyone, but most people. About three fourths of our customers want polled cattle so that’s what we have. We dehorn, so they all look alike.” 

“Horns have some advantage,” Vern said. “If a cow gets stuck in the mud you can rope her horns and drag her out without choking her down, or tie an animal to the pickup to treat it. When we were young, there were no such things as ear tags or chains; for identification we branded the animal’s tattoo number in the horn. With our modern chutes, handling the cattle works better without horns.” 

For 43 years, Rausch Herefords has led the U.S. in Hereford Dams of Distinction.
10 Rausch

For 43 years, Rausch Herefords has led the U.S. in Hereford Dams of Distinction. From William Rausch’s early performance tracking using a scale provided by the local extension service, to test piloting several software record systems, the family has kept abreast of technology and improvements. Yet both Vern and Jerry attribute some of the herd’s outstanding dam record to doing things the old fashioned way: turning bulls out to service most of the cows every year, rather than pushing a strong AI program.  

“We’ve had the most Dams of Distinction in America since 1980, so it seems to be working fair,” Jerry said. “We have AI’d all of the yearling heifers for the last ten years or so, and now the young boys are going further with it and AI’ing some cows too. They have the labor and the energy to expand the AI program; it was easier for Vern and me to just turn the bulls out. The biggest share of cattle are natural bred here yet.” 

“For a cow to be designated a Dam of Distinction, she has to meet certain criteria, such as having a calf every year in less than a 370-day calving interval, raising at least four calves, and those calves’ weaning weights have to average five percent above the average of their contemporaries in the herd. It takes consistency, and they have to have the right environment to work in too, to give that cow the opportunity and ability to produce. We attribute a lot of that to natural breeding.” 

“We’ve had the most dams of distinction in America since 1980, so it seems to be working fair. We have AI’d all of the yearling heifers for the last ten years or so, and now the young boys are going further with it and AIing some cows too. They have the labor and the energy to expand the AI program; it was easier for Vern and me to just turn the bulls out. The biggest share of cattle are natural bred here yet.” –Jerry Rausch
8Rausch

Jerry and Vern have expanded the herd from around 300 head in 1970 to over 1,000 cows. The operation has always been a larger family business, and continues to be.  

“We assumed the responsibility of marketing our older brothers’ herds,” Vern said. “We came up with a formula that has worked since 1965; the more the bulls brought the more we paid for the next year’s calf crop. They increased and improved their herds over time too. As our older brothers have passed away, their estates have been leased to the younger generation. It is now under one management rather than several, but we have had one marketing program that Jerry and I have managed, so we have had all the sale responsibilities.” 

Managing an operation with multiple financial interests is made easier with technology.   

Vern Rausch “We’re just blessed to have a legacy of working together as brothers on neighboring farms, and to be able to pass that legacy down to another generation.”
2Rausch Vern

“We’re just blessed to have a legacy of working together as brothers on neighboring farms, and to be able to pass that legacy down to another generation,” Vern said. “It required evolvement to today’s world, to the corporate world for protection, the need for limited liability, and keeping up with the demands of technology. We have software to ID each person’s standings, we keep track of which herd bull the cows are with and what pasture location the cattle are in at all times, if one is sold or dies, and at the end of the year we have a reconciling of all members that have cows in the herd.”  

Jerry Rausch: “We have worked hard to make a pretty good herd of cattle over the years and we hope these young guys can take it and make it better. I’m sure they will. We have a lot of faith in them to continue what has been started and make the herd better yet.”
3Rausch Jerry

The Rausch cow herd has about ten different bloodlines, with approximately 100 cows per line.  

“They all compete with each other through the performance test that we run,” Vern said. “We always have a bloodline going out every year and a new one coming in so that we can offer new genetics to our repeat customers.” 

Vern said that they have traditionally calved in the spring. 

“We always tried to be in sync with Mother Nature and get the best efficiency out of the cow herd this way,” he said. “Now with the larger work force, the boys want to try some fall calving, so they are experimenting with that, and they are planning to fall breed a little over 100 head. They’re young and they have the labor and the energy to make it work.” 

Vern said that typically they have about 150 bulls in their annual sale. About a third of these bulls are yearlings, with two thirds selling as two year olds. They will usually sell another 50-70 bulls private treaty throughout the summer. 

“We steer pretty heavy out of this herd,” he said. “Only one out of three male calves make the bull pen; the others go to the steer pen. We background all of our steers and either sell them around 800 pounds or send them to a feed yard.” 

One hundred fifty to 180 heifers are kept back for replacements every year, and 200-230 of the next cut sell as commercial heifers at the bull sale; they can be registered if a buyer chooses to do so. 

“We select for growth and fertility, for problem free cattle,” Vern said. “They have to earn their way around here. With this size herd, people can come in and prospect; they can find show cattle, rugged range cattle, and high-performance cattle.” 

“We strive for a lot of eye pigment and a lot of red on the animals,” Jerry said. “We find that is something that both purebred and commercial customers want. We like to sell to registered breeders, but we love our commercial customers. They come back oftener and need more bulls, so we cater to them as much as we can. Ninety percent or more of our customers are commercial cattlemen.” 

6Rausch Jerry and Vicki

Vern and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 58 years; Jerry and Vicki have been married 56 years. They are enjoying watching their grandchildren build families and continue building the Rausch Hereford business.  

Vern and Sharon Rausch
5 Rausch Vern and Sharon

“We married very hard working and talented sisters and have lived on the same ranch for over 56 years,” Jerry said. “After growing our families up together, now we get to watch another generation. By Christmas, we will have thirteen little ones all under four, most of which are here on the ranch. Every tractor has usually got one or two of them along.”  

“These young men are starting out in life, most of them are married and have little families,” Vern said. “They have gone out into the world long enough to know they want to come back. We’re pleased to have them home on the ranch with their energy and talent. It’s time for us to get out of the way and let them see what they can do. We get to enjoy watching them and helping them now.” 

Shannon Rausch
4Rausch Shannon

Rausch Herefords will hold their 66th annual bull sale at the ranch west of Hoven on Presidents’ Day, the third Monday of February, 2024. 

“We have worked hard to make a pretty good herd of cattle over the years and we hope these young guys can take it and make it better,” Jerry said. “I’m sure they will. We have a lot of faith in them to continue what has been started and make the herd better yet.”  

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the November-December 2023 issue of Hereford America. 

All photos: PC Christine Rausch

 

2024 Winter Cattle Journal | Garrigan Land and Cattle

Heifers on the move in summer pasture. Photo by Cally Garrigan

  The Garrigans don’t make excuses. “When you look at registered cattle, you can say that one looks great – but just because she looks great, it doesn’t mean she’s a year-after-year producer,” says Justin Garrigan. “You have to look at the numbers; you can’t pick favorites.”  The Garrigan family of Faith, South Dakota, has carefully crafted a registered herd of Angus cattle that are bred to be consistent producers. “We don’t make excuses for any of our cows, if they don’t check all the boxes, McDonalds is the next stop,” adds Riley.  

Getting Started in the Bull Business  

In 2003, Jack and Vicki Garrigan purchased a small herd of registered cattle. “My parents bought a nice little set of black Angus cows out of a dispersion,” recalls Riley. “My brother and I bought the herd in 2014. Since then, we’ve been taking them in the direction that best fits us and our environment.” The Garrigans used their registered herd to supply breeding stock for their commercial cattle, but soon they had more bulls than they needed and wanted to pass along the genetics that grew their ranch. “We started selling private treaty bulls here and there, until finally, we decided to try an annual bull sale in 2018.”  

By keeping back heifers and adding registered cattle from esteemed producers and friends, Garrigans’ registered herd grew from 13 to 200 Angus cows and 70 registered 1A Red Angus Cows. They offer the top half of the bulls each spring with a one-year guarantee. “I want our customers to come back year after year, but I’m happier if they don’t, because that means the bulls worked – they didn’t have to sell one because his feet went bad, he was wild or worn out.” 

Coming Home  

Riley and Cally, Madelyn (8), Gracie (5)

Both Riley and Justin were set to start careers outside of ranching after college. Justin graduated from South Dakota State University in 2002 with intentions to become a dietician. Plans changed when Jack Garrigan spoke of selling the cows. “When dad told me he was going to get out of the business, I said, ‘no you’re not!’ and I went to buying cows.”  

Justin and Somer with sons Quentin (9) and Karsin is (8).

Justin and Somer Garrigan enjoy raising their boys Quentin (8) and Karsin (9) in the heart of ranch country 25 miles southeast of Faith, South Dakota. “We’re 100 miles from any city. Luckily Somer’s job with First National Bank in Pierre lets her work remotely, so she can stay home and help on the ranch.”  

Riley had just graduated from Augustana University in 2008 with plans to attend grad school to be a physical therapist, when a family crisis prompted his return to ranching. “Dad had to undergo quadruple bi-pass surgery, so I put grad school on hold to help Justin on the ranch,” remembers Riley. “I played football in college, so I rarely came back on breaks or weekends and really missed the ranch. I decided this was what I wanted to do. Then I met my wife, Cally, and the rest is history.”  

Cally and Riley have two girls, Madelyn (8) and Gracie (5). Cally, who teaches high school mathematics in Faith, grew up raising registered Red Angus near Winner, SD. “I always knew I wanted to be involved in agriculture in some capacity,” Cally mused. “All throughout college, I lived to go home and help out on the ranch.”  

Cally manages all registrations and records of the operation– from pelvic measurements to genetic testing and paying the bills. “She’s the only one organized enough to do it!” laughed Riley. “Cally crunches the numbers, then we all take part in the breeding decisions and share in the calving and feeding. One of the best parts of the job is walking through the calves in the fall and admiring the results of decisions we’ve made come full circle.” 

Moving West 

Originally from Onida, South Dakota, the Garrigans found themselves in need of more pasture for their growing herd of registered cattle. The competition for the rich soil of eastern South Dakota was stiff. “We were getting pushed out for farmland,” said Justin Garrigan. “Along with housing and development, you couldn’t make cattle work with the prices of land.” The land market east river led Jack Garrigan to look westward. He purchased the ranch near Faith, South Dakota, in 2005 – the ranch Riley, Justin, and their families now call home.  

Due to severe drought, the first year was tough. “When Somer and I moved out here in 2006, it never rained. Dams were dry. It was so dry, there’d be static electricity storms.” Justin remembers sitting on a hill, counting prairie fires pop up as lightning danced on dry prairie grass.  “With Fox Ridge running right through it, our ranch is at a high elevation,” explained Justin. “We could spot lightning 100 miles away; those nights were like living a sci-fi movie.”  

The drought and lack of water was a challenge. East of the Missouri River, water comes easy, whereas in the northwestern part of South Dakota aquifers often hide thousands of feet underground. “Back at the old ranch, if you wanted a well you just needed a post hole digger and some dynamite and the cows could drink. Up here there was nothing,” Justin explained. “This was the biggest thing to realize.” The next year, a well was drilled, along with 11 miles of pipeline installed.  

Although water can be scarce, Justin says biodiversity is a benefit that came with the move west. “Every mile you move west, the cattle do better. We’re fortunate to have good dirt here. There’s everything from grama grasses and big blue stem to Russian wildrye.”  The Garrigans try to keep stock independent from feed as long as possible on pasture. But when winter comes,  cattle get through the winter with feed grown exclusively on the ranch – a mixture of alfalfa, barley, and prairie hay with corn silage.  

Looking Ahead: expansion for the next generation  

Madelyn feeds Dorothy the cow_ a 15-year-old cow that came from the original registered Angus cow herd Grandpa Jack Garrigan purchased. Photo by Cally Garrigan
Madelyn feeds Dorothy the cow_ a 15-year-old cow that came from the original registered Angus cow herd Grandpa Jack Garrigan purchased. Photo by Cally Garrigan

Garrigan Land and Cattle is working on expanding its registered cow herd but ultimately, it’s about the next generation. “I guess the biggest and only goal I have is to leave my farm better than it was when I got it, to leave it for my kids – to give them the opportunity,” said Riley. This is why Garrigans put careful consideration into breeding decisions, face their mistakes, and cull without partiality when cows don’t add up. It’s about creating cattle that last, and in turn, a ranch that holds up for the generations of ranchers to come. The Garrigans know that’s what the folks that fill the seats on their sale day have in mind too.  

“The best part of what we do is being able to raise a family on the ranch,” says Riley. “Taking the kids out to the pasture to give the cows some treats, letting them ride on the backs of the tame ones while mom takes pictures, watching your little girl hug a baby calf for an hour on the bathroom floor – trying to warm it up so it can go back to its mother: these are the best things in life.”