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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5,
Countdown
Herd expansion appears to be at the threshold.
by Wes Ishmael
Odds remain stacked against aggressive beef cow herd expansion. Historically high prices challenge keeping heifers rather than selling them, while dry weather and the threat of reemerging drought in some key cattle states add reluctance. However, growing signs point to more producers leaning in that direction.
“Though there is no data confirmation yet, it seems likely that heifer retention may be underway in several areas including the Southern Plains and points east,” says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, in his mid-June weekly market comments. “However, it is doubtful that much aggressive restocking or herd rebuilding is in progress in several major beef cow states from Nebraska north and west. In total it is likely to still be a slow pace of herd rebuilding.”
At the very least, Peel says it looks more likely the 27.9 million beef cows at the beginning of this year were the cyclical low.
“Although the inventory of bred heifers was record-low, beef cow slaughter is down 16.2% for the first 21 weeks of the year, indicating a low level of cow culling that might allow for a fractional increase in the beef cow herd this year,” Peel says.
Further, Peel points out that Jan. 1 beef cow inventories were unchanged or slightly higher year over year in seven of the 10 largest beef cow states. He adds beef replacement heifer inventories at the beginning of the year were unchanged or higher in eight of those states.
Although forage conditions continue to be a limiting factor in some areas, Peel says, “It would appear that
a number of major beef cow states are interested in herd rebuilding.”
USDA’s semiannual Cattle report scheduled for release at the end of July should provide more clarification about producers’ expansion intentions.
Prices march higher
In the meantime, cattle prices continue higher, absorbing negative headlines and volatile outside markets. Prices should continue even higher when producers hold back more heifers to expand the herd.
“The cattle industry has been experiencing record-high prices for cattle, which is undoubtedly influencing larger profits. The forecast for the next couple of years is that cow-calf producers can expect to continue experiencing these high returns due to tight supplies and strong consumer demand,” explains Hannah Baker, University of Florida Extension beef and forage economist, in the early July issue of In the Cattle Markets from the Livestock Marketing Information Center. “However, just like cattle prices, operating costs have also increased over the last few years. Even with slight declines forecasted for the future, it is still important to intentionally manage input costs and marketing strategies regardless of how large the revenue stream may be.”
Based on price strength at the time, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) increased the projected average feeder steer price for the remainder of this year, compared to the previous month, in the June Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook. Forecast prices increased $4 in the third quarter to $306 per hundredweight (cwt.) and
Though there is no data confirmation yet, it seems likely that heifer retention may be underway in several areas including the Southern Plains and points east.
— Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University
$2 in the fourth quarter to $308. The projected annual average price was $297.78 for this year and $306.25 for 2026. Prices are basis a 750-800 pound Medium and Large #1 steer selling at Oklahoma City.
ERS analysts noted this class and weight of steers averaged just over $272 per cwt. at Oklahoma National Stockyards during the first 11 weeks of the year and had averaged almost $296 since then. However, they say lower auction volumes some weeks due to inclement weather add challenge to identifying price trends.
On the other side of the feedlot gate, negotiated cash fed cattle prices continued higher through the second week of July. Live prices that week (FOB) were $228-$230 per cwt. in the Southern Plains and $235-$240 in the North. Dressed delivered prices were $380.
July’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates pegged the five-area direct weighted average fed steer price at $226 in the third quarter this year and $229 in the fourth quarter for an annual average price of $221.31. The projected annual average price for 2026 was $229.
“Looking ahead, it appears that risks to the cattle complex come from macroeconomic uncertainty that may impact demand (domestic or overseas) and from any disruption that may push feed prices higher,” says Will Secor, University of Georgia Extension livestock economist, in the late-June issue of In the Cattle Markets. “Production
Meat’s Magnificent Moment
“Meat is having a moment,” says Glynn Tonsor, Kansas State University agricultural economist, pointing to elevated consumer demand and retail prices for red meat protein.
“Per the Meat Demand Monitor (MDM) project (beef and pork checkoff-supported, based at Kansas State University), there is an upward trend in self-declared rates of being a meat consumer (versus Vegan or Vegetarian),” Tonsor explains in the mid-June issue of In the Cattle Markets. “Further, when it comes to influencing protein purchasing decisions, aspects such as taste and freshness have been growing for the typical U.S. resident, relative to considerations such as environmental impact and origin/traceability. This is important to appreciate as stakeholders throughout the industry make production, marketing, and promotion decisions.”
In a related Farm Journal report with Tyne Morgan, Tonsor points to three drivers helping boost demand: increased consumption of red meat as a meal ingredient rather than only a center-of-the-plate entree; physically active younger generations; the number of consumers utilizing new weightloss drugs that promote more protein consumption.
Plus, Tonsor says consumers today appear more willing to continue paying more for the protein of their choice, rather than consuming less and substituting with cheaper alternatives.
“Ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, largely tied to trade discussions and possible implications for realized
risks from screwworm should continue to be watched as well. Otherwise, market fundamentals continue to point to strong prices year over year. In the months ahead, look for lighter-weight feeder cattle prices to slide as weaned calves hit auction barns this fall. However, given tight supplies, price declines may be small.”
Consumers want beef
All of this is underpinned by consumers’ willingness to pay more for beef (see Meat’s Magnificent Moment). Reduced packer production, seasonal demand strength and resilient consumer beef demand continued pushing wholesale beef values to new record-high levels through June with the Choice boxed beef cutout reaching $396.49 per cwt.
More specifically, Peel provided perspective on the sizzling ground beef market in his early-July market comments. He pointed out the price for 90% lean trimmings the last week of June was record-high at $401.45 per cwt.
“Not only have 90% trimmings continued to increase in price, but 50% trimmings have also jumped sharply in recent weeks due to declining fed beef production,” according to Peel. He noted the price of 50% lean trimming the last week of June was $236.03 per cwt., the
continued on page 8...
inflation and/or unemployment domestically, presents itself as the largest headwind against an otherwise supportive consumer demand situation,” Tonsor says. “There continue to be MDM-based signals that food service demand is softer, likely reflecting household budget-driven behavior change. As the 2025 grilling season gets in full swing, perhaps bolstering retail meat demand, both the macroeconomic situation and the inner-industry developments in response are key to watch.”
Consumer beef demand continues to be extraordinarily resilient, even as prices ratchet higher.
highest price ever, except for a two-week period during the pandemic in May 2020.
Further, Peel explained that mixing 90% and 50% trimmings in a 7:1 ratio produces an 85% lean ground beef product. Using the prices above results in a price of $380.77 per cwt. for wholesale 85% lean ground beef, also an all-time record-high price, according to Peel.
“Ground beef prices will remain high for the foreseeable future as cull cow numbers will remain tight while the cattle industry transitions to herd rebuilding,” Peel says.
Trade confusion pressures beef exports
Exports of U.S. beef and pork trended lower in May, due primarily to steep declines in shipments to China, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Beef exports totaled 97,266 metric tons (mt) in May, down 12% and the lowest in nearly five years. Export value was $798.7 million, down 11.5% and the lowest in 18 months. Even so, May beef export value equated to $406.05 per head of fed slaughter, down just 1% from a year earlier.
“The situation with China obviously had a severe impact on May exports, underscoring the importance of diversification and further development of alternative markets,” says USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom. “The need for progress in the U.S.-China trade negotiations is extremely urgent because tariffs could soar
again on Aug. 12. This deadline is already impacting exporters’ decisions about whether to continue producing for the Chinese market. On the bright side, amid all this uncertainty, demand for U.S. red meat remains robust in many key regions.”
May beef exports to China plunged to just under 1,400 mt, down 91% from a year ago. Export value fell 90% to less than $15 million.
Overall, January-May beef exports were down 5% from last year’s pace at 508,293 mt, while value declined 3% to $4.15 billion.
Peak cattle prices projected in 2027
Cattle prices will peak in 2027, suggests the latest U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook from the Food and Agricultural Policy Institute at the University of Missouri.
The outlook projects the five-area direct weighted average fed steer price rising to $198.19 per cwt. in 2027 and then declining to $169.29 in 2034. Likewise, steer calf prices (600-650 pounds, Oklahoma City) were projected to rise to $307.21 in 2027 and then decline to $250.54 by 2033.
The Outlook provides projections for 2024-2034, using data available in January of this year.
For broader context, the projections pegged the U.S. beef cow herd at a low of 27.8 million head when 2026 begins and then growing to a peak of 30.6 million head in 2031 before declining to 29.1 million head in 2034.
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Records Keep Breaking
Buyers bid aggressively for Hereford-influenced calves and replacements.
Cattle prices continue at record-high levels as buyers compete to own the dwindling supply. Browse the sale results on the following pages, and you will also see the growing demand for Hereford and Herefordinfluenced calves, feeder cattle and replacement heifers.
“There’s no question that demand is increasing for Hereford genetics,” says Trey Befort, American Hereford Association (AHA) director of commercial programs. “You see it in the increasing numbers of registered bulls sold as the average price of bulls ratchets higher. You see it in the willingness of buyers to stretch more for Hereford-influenced calves and feeder cattle. And when it comes to replacements, baldy heifers continue to set the pace.”
Befort notes the sale results shared here also reflect the commitment of Hereford breeders, commercial users of Hereford genetics and livestock markets to assemble the kind of cattle buyers seek.
Baldies shatter Show-Me-Select™ price record
Historically high cattle prices, combined with the proven performance of Show-Me-Select ™ (SMS) replacement heifers ignited bidding in the 57th Southwest Missouri SMS sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards, Joplin, Mo., May 16.
All told, 124 heifers from eight consignors commanded a record average price of $4,010 per head, according to Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Longtime consignor, Nolan Kleiboeker Farm LLC (NKFL), Wentworth, Mo., sold the top selling
lot of four black baldy heifers for $5,800 per heifer, establishing a new record-high lot price average, which was previously set at $4,772. NKFL consigned four lots of heifers that sold for $5,000 or more per head.
The nationally recognized ShowMe-Select heifer program helps producers develop and market productive females with calving ease and herd longevity. Eligible heifers meet minimum standards for reproductive soundness, pelvic size, body condition and weight; they also must be blemish free and adhere to a strict health program. Heifers are bred to sires that meet stringent requirements for calving ease expected progeny differences.
There’s no question that demand is increasing for Hereford genetics.
— Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs
Upcoming Hereford-influence Calf and Feeder Sales
Mitchell Livestock Marketing Fall Hereford Feeder Calf Special
Sept. 16, 2025
Mitchell Livestock Marketing –Mitchell, S.D.
Contact: office
605-996-6543
Mississippi Hereford Association Feeder Calf Sale
Nov. 17, 2025
Lincoln County Livestock Commission
– Brookhaven, Miss.
Contact: Lande Johnson 601-757-1914
Traditions Hereford-influence Sale
Dec. 4, 2025
Blue Grass Stockyards-South –Stanford, Ky.
Contact: Caleb Epling 606-669-8740
Kentucky Hereford Assn.
Certified Hereford-influenced Feeder Calf Sale
Dec. 11, 2025
Blue Grass Stockyards –Lexington, Ky.
Contact: L.W. Beckley, DVM
859-779-1419
Greater Midwest Certified Hereford Feeder Calf Sale
Bred, Developed and Pasture Raised by Dudley Bros. in North Central Texas. Bulls are adaptable to climate and forage conditions East, West, North and South!
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FALL BULL SALE
Accepting Entries
Entry deadline: Aug. 31, 2025
Current Consignors:
B&C Cattle Co., Case Ranch, WD Cattle Co., Schmidt Herefords, Moscatelli Herefords, O H Triangle Ranch, Rafter J, Pfluger Herefords, Schatte Herefords, Alyxandra Hackebeil, Rancho De Santos, Flying 5 Herefords, DRC Ranch
Entries Due Sept. 30,
Current Consignors: Carl Glass Jr., Moscatelli Herefords, WD Cattle Co, O H Triangle Ranch, Roy Steindorf, Stubenthal Brothers and Edward Roeder
Market Tracks
Market uptrend continues.
by Wes Ishmael
Cash trade continued leading historically high cattle markets through early summer while Cattle futures bounced back and forth on uncertainty surrounding wonderments, including on-again, off-again U.S. tariffs, Mexican cattle imports to the U.S. and the ultimate potential impact of New World screwworm.
Given the discount in deferred Cattle futures, it appears traders also might have been factoring in the potential loss of packing capacity as higher cash fed cattle prices and reduced production helped bolster wholesale beef prices and squeezed beef packer margins.
Although cash calf and feeder cattle prices were turning seasonally lower the last week of June, they continued to inspire awe. As an example, regional prices for feeder steers weighing 600-700 pounds were 18-23% higher year over year at $323-$376.91 per hundredweight (cwt.), according to USDA’s National Weekly Feeder and Stocker Cattle Summary (see Table). The weekly weighted five-area direct weighted average fed steer price (FOB) was $33.70 per cwt. more (17.2%) year over year at $229.51.
Beef consumers unflinching
These heady prices are due in part to the market’s attempt to ration consumption of declining beef supplies, but beef consumers continue to pay ever more for beef.
Choice beef retail value was 70 cents more year over year in May at $8.11 per pound, according to USDA data. All fresh beef retail value was up 44 cents at $7.96 per pound.
With that said, premiums for Prime and the upper two-thirds of Choice (premium Choice), compared to Choice, were showing some signs
of fatigue the last week of June. The Prime premium was 77 cents less year over year at $12.67 per cwt. and premium Choice was 19 cents lower at $4.83. The discount for Select narrowed by $3.41 to $15.10.
Market logic suggests prices will continue higher as declining cattle and beef supplies fall further and faster when producers begin retaining more heifers to expand the nation’s cow herd.
Potential carcass weight plateau
Cattle feeders have amazed many with their ability to feed cattle longer and to heavier weights, maintaining beef production at relatively high levels.
For instance, on June 1, cattle in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity of 11.4 million head were 1.2% less year over year, according to the June Cattle on Feed report. Yet, placements of 1.9 million head in May were 7.8% less than a year earlier and marketings of 1.8 million head in May were 10.1% less.
Estimated year-to-date total cattle slaughter the last week of June was 998,000 head fewer (-6.4%) than the same time a year earlier and estimated year-to-date beef production was 3.2% less at 12.7 billion pounds.
For broader perspective, federally inspected cattle slaughter declined month to month in May for the first time since the data series began in 1970, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), in the June Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook (LDPO). Slaughter typically increases in the spring months leading up to grilling season.
“Further, this was unexpected because the number of cattle on feed over 150 days was above volumes a year ago at the beginning of March, April and May,” ERS analysts explain. “Upon reviewing slaughter data
through mid-June, it appears that the pace may stay relatively flat month over month, which would also be a divergent trend.”
Although wholesale beef values have increased seasonally at a faster pace than usual, ERS analysts say fed cattle prices have risen comparatively more, keeping the pressure on packer margins.
“Specifically, from the first week of April to the second week of June, comprehensive boxed beef prices have climbed 9% compared to 13% for slaughter steer prices in the fivearea marketing region over the same period,” ERS analysts say. “Weekly slaughter steer prices in the five-area marketing region have been climbing so rapidly that eight consecutive records have been established with the week ending June 15.”
However, adding days on feed and carcass weight could be approaching a limit, according to the ERS.
“It is expected that cattle weights will plateau next year after the feedlot sector notched significant weight gains in fed steers and heifers over the last couple of years,” say ERS analysts in the May LDPO. “As a result, this will not offset the decline in slaughter as it has in previous years when weights trended higher during periods of year-over-year lower slaughter. This is likely due to feedlots being limited in their ability to extend the time on feed beyond the advances made in recent years.”
ERS projects beef production in 2026 to be 5% less year over year at 25.1 billion pounds, the fourth consecutive year of lower production.
“A smaller expected calf crop in 2025, more heifers retained for breeding and fewer live cattle imports will contribute to fewer calves placed in feedlots in late 2025 and early 2026. Fewer placements during
Regional Feeder Steer Prices1 North
this period will limit marketings for slaughter in 2026,” ERS analysts say. “Further tightening of cattle supplies available for placement in feedlots in 2025 and into early 2026 is anticipated to bolster prices next year.”
CME Feeder Cattle Index
Estimated year-to-date beef production11
year billion lbs. This year billion lbs. Change million lbs. 13.1 12.7 -424.0 (-3.2%)
3USDA Five-area weekly weighted average direct slaughter cattle, year over year, week ending 06/29/25
4National Weekly Boxed Beef Cutout and Boxed Beef Cuts (negotiated, weekly cutout value summary), weekly average for weeks ending 06/27/25 and 06/28/24
5USDA steer byproduct drop value (FOB central U.S.), 07/02/25 year over year
6National Weekly five area direct slaughter cattle premiums and discounts, weighted average week of 06/30/25 and 07/01/24
7Meat Price Spreads, Choice beef values and spreads and all fresh beef retail value, USDA ERS; monthly values, cents per pound of retail equivalent (May 2025 year over year)
8U.S. Meat Export Federation data — April 2025 and 2024
9CME futures, nearby contracts year over year, 07/02/25
10 WTI-CME, nearby contact, year over year, 07/02/25
11Estimated weekly meat production under federal inspection, year to date 06/27/25 year over year
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Quick Study
Red baldies help the Bethel family grow their herd and profit potential.
by Katie Maupin Miller
Bob Bethel and his wife, Heidi, started their commercial cow-calf herd with Red Angus and then added Hereford to create F1 red baldies that thrive amid the heat and fescue grass of northwest Georgia’s mountains. The genetic combination provides them with the performance they seek in the pasture and beyond.
“My goal was to build a very maternal cow herd,” Bethel explains. “The cross between the Red Angus and Hereford looked really appealing to me to have a good maternal cow that can go a lot of different directions.”
On one hand, the baldy heifers make efficient mama cows when they’re retained or marketed to others in search of reproductive efficiency. “The heifers are the right size and the breed-back is there,” Bethel says.
On the other hand, steer mates to these heifers prove their mettle in the feedlot and on the rail. Most recently, Bethel fed his steers at HRC Feed Yards LLC in Scott City, Kan. They all graded Choice and Prime, gaining an average of 3.6 pounds per day.
“The end result is that they were profitable, and they did well,” Bethel says. Plus, he explains the data he receives from feeding his cattle helps him make continual improvements in the herd.
“I enjoy business and growing something. I think when you own an operation, you need to understand it,” Bethel explains. “It helps you know where you’re trying to go and find the road to get there, learning your animals and knowing your customer base. The data plays into that whole process. To me it’s an important part of the process.”
Docility advantages
The process at the couple’s Rocky Rill Ranch near Dalton, Ga. — named for the quiet streams or “rills” which cut through the grasslands as they lazily meander toward the Tennessee River — includes strong commitment to intensive rotational grazing. For perspective, Bethel moves cattle through pastures every day early in the forage growing season and then every other day as the season progresses.
“I’ve seen the bounce-back the past couple of summers when we’ve had some pretty good periods of drought,” Bethel says. “Leaving that canopy, I’ve noticed that when we do get some rain, it bounces back so much quicker. Also, the weed control part of it has helped the whole cycle work.”
Frequently moving cattle through polywire-fenced
grazing paddocks is one reason Bethel appreciates the added docility Hereford brings to the equation. That and the fact that the Bethel’s children are involved in the operation.
“Hereford is very docile and that’s what I want my herd to be is docile and easy to handle,” Bethel says. “I like cows that work. Everything I set my goals to be, they’re doing.”
Partnerships pay
Bethel relies on the knowledge of seedstock producers to help steer him to bull candidates that will help him toward Rocky Rill’s goals, which include maintaining udder quality and feet structure. They understand his goals and the type of cattle he needs to meet them. They also help Bethel navigate the performance data in his selection process.
“In the cattle business, we can get covered up in the numbers and lost in the numbers,” Bethel says. “Research seedstock producers, get to know them, their practices and how they manage their cattle and see if that will perform with how I do things.”
Bethel’s relationship with Innisfail Farm, Madison, Ga., serves as a sterling example of how commercial and seedstock producers can build trusting relationships that benefit them both. His search for Hereford bulls
First-generation cattleman Bob Bethel uses his prior business experience and countless learning opportunities to profitably manage Rocky Rill Ranch in northwest Georgia.
led him to Innisfail Farm, where Breck Debnam helped Bethel identify herd-building genetics. In turn, Bethel has provided commercial red baldy heifers that Innisfail Farm makes available to other commercial producers.
“Bob Bethel is as good of a commercial operator as you will find and a loyal bull customer,” Debnam says. “He keeps a sharp pencil and knows the kind of cattle it takes to increase your margin.”
Business first
Debnam’s compliment takes on added meaning when you understand that Bethel came to agriculture and the cattle business later in his professional career. He grew up in an industry-centric town and immersed in his family’s manufacturing business. When the Bethel family acquired a large tract of land, he saw the business potential.
“I finally made the decision and jumped in, and it’s been just a fun process,” Bethel says. “There’s a lot of learning and networking. It’s just like any other business. It just has different terms, maybe different routines, but those business fundamentals are the same. And you just stay focused on that.”
Being new to the cattle business gave Bethel a unique perspective on the industry since his management decisions weren’t bound by years of generational tradition and know-how. Bethel prioritized learning as much as he possibly could.
“I feel like being a new producer has advantages,” he says. “The fact that you don’t know what you don’t know, and you can go out and learn some really good stuff. But,
on the flip side, there’s a lot of stuff you don’t know. I think that the startup process of learning your way around the equipment, its maintenance, the soil and how it all fits together is challenging. Then, to try to do it profitably just starting out is a challenge, as well.”
The University of Georgia’s Extension program has been an invaluable resource for Bethel. Their Extension agents have offered him sound advice, and Bethel has attended many of their events, webinars and networking opportunities. Still, he feels like there will always be more to learn.
“I feel like the more I learn, the more I don’t know,” Bethel says.
Bethel is quick to share the credit for his herd’s success with the many who have helped him cut his teeth in the industry, from Extension educators to knowledgeable commercial cattlemen and seedstock producers.
“You’ve always got to be willing to walk across the room and new doors will open,” Bethel says. “I like to be in a room with people smarter than me and I can learn. If I find I’m the smartest person in the room, I’m in the wrong room.”
With Bethel’s modest and open-minded attitude, he has not only been able to learn more about the industry but also meet countless friends and mentors who have helped push his operation forward.
“It’s just that constant yearning to learn and continuously improve,” Bethel says. “Hereford has helped me meet all those goals.”
Hereford-sired red baldies thrive on the Bethel family’s rotationally grazed northwest Georgia pastures. The heifers are efficient, sound and fertile, while their steer mates make the grade on the rail.
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BIF Hereford Highlights
American Hereford Association staff and members presented with BIF awards.
Sanders receives BIF Continuing Service Award
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented American Hereford Association (AHA) director of records, Stacy Sanders, with a BIF Continuing Service Award June 11 during the group’s annual research symposium in Amarillo, Texas.
Continuing Service Award winners have made major contributions to the BIF organization. This includes serving on the board of directors, speaking at BIF conventions, working on BIF guidelines and participating in other behind-the-scenes activities. Volunteers’ contribution of time and passion for the beef cattle industry moves BIF forward as a volunteerbased organization.
Sanders resides in Kansas City, Mo., and has been a key leader in advancing the Hereford breed’s genetic evaluation and research programs for more than 27 years. He played an integral role in developing the Whole Herd Total Performance Records (TPR™) program and was instrumental in merging the American Hereford Association and Polled Hereford Association databases following their 1995 consolidation. His efforts contributed to the success of the Pan American Cattle Evaluation project, which facilitated intercontinental genetic evaluation with Hereford associations in Canada, Uruguay and Argentina.
He also helped pioneer the incorporation of genomic data into Hereford evaluations, led the transition to the MyHerd virtual registry system and supported the development of important economic selection indexes including the Certified Hereford Beef® Index. Additionally, Sanders has contributed to ultrasound guidelines and serves as the breed’s unofficial historian.
Sanders is a past chair of the Ultrasound Guidelines Council and
has been a long-time participant in BIF Research Symposiums and genetic evaluation research workshops, which demonstrates his ongoing commitment to advancing the industry through BIF.
More than 400 beef producers, academia and industry representatives attended the organization’s 57th Annual Research Symposium and Convention in Amarillo. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.
Weaber awarded Roy A. Wallace Scholarship Fifth-generation Hereford breeder, Maddie Weaber, Wamego, Kan., was presented a 2025 Roy A. Wallace Scholarship by the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) on June 10 during the organization’s annual symposium.
The scholarships were established to encourage young people interested in beef improvement to pursue those interests with dedication and passion. Each year, two $1,250 scholarships are awarded — one to an
undergraduate student and one to a graduate student.
Weaber, the undergraduate recipient, recently completed her freshman year at Oklahoma State University (OSU).
Weaber is an animal science major with an interest in beef production and genetics. She is passionate about food security and the role beef production plays in providing nutritious food to consumers.
At OSU, she is involved in the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen’s Association, Block and Bridle and Sigma Alpha. Her future collegiate plans include competing on the meat judging team and continuing her education in graduate school. She remains active in the National Junior Hereford Association.
“My long-term career goals are to spend my time working hands-on with cattlemen throughout the country and world,” Weaber said. “I want to give them the technological tools necessary to elevate their operations to the best they can be, while making food as accessible as possible.”
2025 BIF Continuing Service Award recipient, Stacy Sanders (right) with BIF vice president Gordon Hodges. The Continuing Service Awards were presented June 11 at the group’s annual symposium in Amarillo, Texas.
The Roy A. Wallace BIF Memorial Fund was established by Select Sires to honor its namesake.
Wallace, who worked for Select Sires for 40 years, served as vice president of beef programs and devoted his career to improving beef cattle. He became involved with BIF in its infancy and was the only person to attend each of its first 40 conventions.
Wallace was passionate about the organization’s mission — bringing together purebred and commercial
cattle breeders, academia and breed associations, all committed to improving beef cattle. He was honored with both the BIF Pioneer and Continuing Service Awards and co-authored the organization’s 25-year history, Ideas Into Action.
Scholarship selection criteria include demonstrated commitment and service to the beef cattle industry, academic performance, personal character and a passion for beef breeding, genetics and reproduction.
AHA receives Trailblazer Award
The Canadian Hereford Association (CHA) presented its inaugural Trailblazer Award for the 2024 year to the American Hereford Association during the 2025 Beef Improvement Federation Symposium.
“Recognizing the American Hereford Association as the first recipient of this new award acknowledges the longstanding partnership between our associations,” says Michael Latimer, CHA executive director. “American Hereford’s contribution to the global PACE evaluation and their innovation in genetic tools for Hereford breeders have paved the way for resources developed by the CHA for Canadian breeders.”
The Trailblazer Award is presented to individuals or organizations who exemplify excellence and demonstrated innovation for the Hereford breed. They may or may not be members of the CHA but demonstrate a pioneer spirit where they were willing to take risks and go on a path that wasn’t already there, resulting in advancements for the beef industry and specifically the Hereford breed.
Eligible recipients of the award include researchers, academic institutions, auction markets, auctioneers, feedlots, cattle producers, marketers, service providers or others based in Canada or internationally. The award can be presented to either individuals or organizations. Priority is given to recent initiatives from within the past one to five years that have had a positive impact on the Canadian Hereford Association and the Hereford breed.
Maddie Weaber, Wamego, Kan., was the undergraduate recipient of the 2025 Roy A. Wallace Scholarship awarded by BIF. Pictured (l to r) are Lorna Marshall and Brian House, Select Sires; Maddie Weaber, Roy A. Wallace Scholarship recipient; and Gordon Jones, BIF president. The presentation was on June 10 at the 2025 BIF Symposium in Amarillo, Texas.
Canadian Hereford Association executive director, Michael Latimer, presented a custom trophy buckle commemorating the Trailblazer Award to American Hereford Association staff. Pictured (l to r) are Shane Bedwell, AHA COO and director of breed improvement; Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president; Michael Latimer; and Stacy Sanders, AHA director of records.
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RUNWAY was the high-selling Hereford sire at the 2025 Boyd Cattle Production Sale. Sired by the popular sire, Monument, RUNWAY offers the perfect balance of phenotype and genotype. He ranks in the top 10% or better for seven different traits. Physically, his added dimension and overall balance is exceptional. Predicted to be a calving ease sire that excels for maternal traits, RUNWAY is an ideal choice to use on heifers to create tremendous replacement females!
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Cautious Optimism
Cattle producers face climate uncertainty.
by Denver Drake
Cattle producers across the United States are navigating a season shaped by extreme climate variability, uneven rainfall and the lingering effects of prolonged drought caused by La Niña. While some regions are experiencing welcome relief, others continue to face serious challenges.
Parts of the Central and Eastern U.S., especially the Southern Plains, have seen a wet spring leading to improved rangeland and pasture conditions. However, this relief may be short-lived.
La Niña effects linger
While short-term weather patterns shape day-to-day decisions, broader climate cycles like La Niña continue to influence long-term drought risk.
Across the southern Plains, it seems as if we will be entering a period of reduced drought. Although, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently neutral, following four La Niña events in the last five winters, there may be vulnerability to flash drought this summer.
The La Niña climate pattern is a significant factor behind the prolonged drought period that continues to challenge beef production.
“In fact, four of the last five years have been influenced by La Niña conditions, which tends to promote widespread drought across the southern and western U.S. and often extends into the Central and Northern Plains,” says Matt Makens, atmospheric scientist and owner of Makens Weather.
Cattle producers must remain patient and aware while approaching production decisions with caution as La Niña effects continue to linger.
“The broader weather outlook suggests that global patterns will likely remain in a neutral to La Niña phase through the rest of this year and into next,” Makens says.
“Historically, these patterns increase the risk of drought expansion across the industry. If nothing else, remember that La Niña can be challenging for the beef industry.”
Regional Differences
While conditions have improved in the Southern Plains, the Northern Plains remain more vulnerable to drought re-intensification (Figure 1).
“This may be one of those rare summers where rangeland, pastures and cattle fare better in the south than the north,” says Brad Rippey, USDA agricultural meteorologist and managing editor of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin. “Cautious optimism might be the phrase of the summer.”
Rippey points to national improvements but emphasizes regional disparities (Figure 2).
“In early June, drought coverage in the Lower 48 States fell below 30% for the first time in nine months,” Rippey says. Still, lingering drought issues persist across key cattle-producing
areas, like Nebraska and Montana, leaving agriculturists and cattle producers nervous.
Though early-season rainfall supported pasture growth in parts of the Southern Plains, the outlook remains cautious as temperatures rise and rain events become less frequent. Rapidly rising temperatures and recordsetting heat are signaling a potentially challenging summer.
Longer-range federal forecasts warn that dryness will continue into late summer across the Northern Plains and upper Midwest.
“Mid- to late-summer dryness and heat could quickly reverse recent gains in soil moisture,” Rippey says. “It will lead to significant stress on rangeland, pastures and summer crops.”
Adapting strategically
These patterns could affect grazing management and forage availability. In areas where early rain fueled optimism, producers are advised to remain flexible.
“It’s important to approach stocking decisions with caution,” Makens says. Both meteorologists recommend using tools like long-range forecasts, rainfall insurance and flexible management plans. Rippey points producers to public resources including
will give producers a strategic edge and can inform stocking decisions, forage planning and overall risk management.
Looking ahead, long-term climate variability continues to complicate planning for herd management and expansion.
“One thing we’ve seen in recent decades is extreme variability, from drought to flood and back, over and over,” Rippey says.
Makens echoes that sentiment, pointing to broader climate cycles.
the U.S. Drought Monitor, Grassland Productivity Forecasts (Grasscast) and the USDA’s Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin. Makens agrees with those resources but adds that he is developing weather outlooks through 2026 for CattleFax members, which
“Right now, we’re in a decadal phase that began developing in the late 1990s, and it’s been marked by a higher frequency of drought, particularly across the Plains and western U.S.,” Makens says. “Until this pattern shifts, producers should anticipate frequent dry periods and factor that into longterm decisions.”
Whether it’s moving cattle, shifting grazing strategies or scaling back herd size, both experts stress that flexibility and preparation are essential for producers facing another summer of uncertainty.
Figure 2.
checks every box—pedigree, presence, & power Reg#: C03119703 Tattoo: RVP 201M
Bdate: 23/02/2024 Horn: Polled
90 lbs
1470 lbs
High Alert
Battling New World screwworm requires everyone’s vigilance.
by Wes Ishmael
New World screwworm (NWS) has already altered cattle markets in the United States with the on-again, mostly off-again, importation of feeder cattle from Mexico since last November when a new case was confirmed in the Mexican state of Chiapas, near the Guatemala border.
“An average of 1.17 million head of Mexican cattle were imported into the U.S. (each year) in the 20 years from 2004-2023, ranging from a minimum of about 703,000 head in 2008 to a maximum of 1.47 million head in 2012,” according to Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist, soon after the initial border closure. “Mexican cattle imports represent 3.3% of the total U.S. calf crop on average.”
From early February to May 11, when the border was reopened temporarily, Peel says 224,834 Mexican cattle crossed the border. The border reopened for a blink in July and then was shuttered again (as of this writing) when NWS was confirmed July 9 in Veracruz, Mexico, about 370 miles south of the U.S. border and several hundred miles north of Chiapas (see Figure 1).
Depending on the source consulted, NWS flies can travel approximately 6-12 miles in search of a suitable host but prefer the nearest one. So, common thought is that movement of infested animals, including domestic livestock and wildlife, is the primary threat of spreading NWS. History certainly supports the notion, given how it spread in the U.S. from the 1930s until it was finally eradicated in 1966. There have been periodic outbreaks since then, including 1976, when 1.5 million cattle in Texas were infested. In 2016, an outbreak on Big Pine Key in Florida, primarily affected its endangered Key Deer population.
Eradicating the deadly pest took decades, costs millions of dollars and exacted a heavy toll on the producers, regulators and scientists who fought the battle.
For economic perspective, NWS reinfestation in Texas alone would cost livestock producers $732.6 million annually and the Texas economy $1.9 billion, according to USDA’s Historical Economic Impact Estimates of New World Screwworm in the United States. That’s before considering the potential impacts on the state’s hunting and wildlife economy.
NWS is a national challenge
Although southern states would once again likely bear the direct brunt of NWS — due in part to the fact that NWS flies do poorly when temperatures are below 45 degrees Fahrenheit or so — it pays to keep a few points in mind.
First, as with the previously mentioned border closure, fewer available cattle disrupt supply chains and the markets guiding them.
Next, while the southern tier of U.S. states suffered the most direct NWS damage to livestock before eradication, cases were confirmed as far north as the U.S./Canadian border.
“In 1949, Bushland (a USDA scientist) conducted an emergency survey of a severe infestation in South Dakota, apparently spread by shipment of infested cattle. His report illustrated the panic that a sudden outbreak of screwworms could create among ranchers and the speed with which infestation spread,” according
Figure
to the Screwworm Eradication Collection at the National Agricultural Library.
Speaking of which, quarantine zones and controlled animal movement are key elements of USDA’s NWS Response Strategy.
“USDA may impose a federal area quarantine and restrict interstate commerce from the infested states, asking the states (or adjoining countries) to provide resources to maintain and enforce the quarantine,” according to an overview in New World Screw Worm Facts (NSWF), sponsored by the U.S. Beef Checkoff. “State quarantines may be placed on individual infested animals or premises with infested animals.
“Of most importance is the control of livestock movement within and out of an infested area, using a system that requires inspection for wounds and myiasis (infestation). This may include permit requests for permitted movement.”
How that would play out in real time as local, state and federal regulators coordinated surveillance and control efforts is unknown. The point is that reporting, surveillance, inspection and controlled movement are critical to eradication.
“It’s absolutely paramount for this program to work successfully that we have individuals who are able and willing to report instances where they have encountered
New World Screwworm Facts
The New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly native to the Western Hemisphere. It lays eggs in the living tissue of fresh wounds in warmblooded animals. The larvae (maggots) feed on the host’s flesh, causing severe wounds and often death if untreated.
Identifying screwworm flies
Adult New World screwworms are metallic blue blow flies, which have three distinct stripes that run down the top (thorax) of the fly just behind the head and large, orange eyes. This fly resembles the closely related secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria, which is also a metallic blue blow fly with three distinct stripes. However, the stripes all begin at the same point behind the head. Adult secondary screwworms do not deposit eggs on living animals, and their larvae do not infest them. Therefore, they do not pose a threat to animal health.
What to look for
Continual and regular monitoring and evaluation of all livestock are important for herd and flock biosecurity and health considerations. Producers should be alert
the screwworm,” explains Philip Kaufman, Texas A&M University (TAMU) department head of entomology, during a June TAMU about NWS biology, prevention and treatment strategies. “If people don’t report it, the fly is going to successfully develop and produce many, many offspring, and it becomes more challenging for us to solve the issue.”
Helpful Resources:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Screwworm Web Page, agrilifeextension. tamu.edu/new-world-screwworm
USDA-APHIS New World Screwworm web page, aphis.usda.gov/livestockpoultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm
Texas Animal Health Commission New World Screwworm Emergency Management Guide, tahc.texas.gov/ animal_health/fevertickspests/EMGuideNewWorldScrewworm.pdf
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, tvmdl.tamu.edu
Biosecurity and Herd Health Considerations, aphis.usda.gov/livestockpoultry-disease
for possible signs associated with potential infestation including:
• Foul-smelling wounds with visible maggots
• Animals biting or licking at wounds
• Lesions in navels, ears, and dehorning or branding sites
• Unusual restlessness or lethargy
Potential Control Products for use in the U.S.
U.S. producers have not treated livestock for NWS in more than 40 years. Although this health threat has not been experienced in several decades, several treatment strategies exist today and should always be used in consultation with your local veterinarian. Treatments could include:
Preventive measures: treat wounds promptly and maintain sanitation. Post-infestation treatments: topical larvicides (e.g., coumaphos and permethrin), and cleaning and removal of larvae.
Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) website for a list of potential pesticides to use against NWS.
If you suspect an animal has New World screwworm
Immediately report any suspicious wounds, maggots or infestations to a local accredited veterinarian, your state animal health official or USDA (aphis.usda.gov/contact/ animalhealth).1
In areas where NWS is found, measures should be implemented to prevent animal wounds and avoid NWS myiasis.1
For example, to the extent possible, eliminate or delay performing wounding procedures such as dehorning, branding, shearing, ear notching, tail docking and castration.1
Untreated umbilical cords of newborn animals and foot lesions are commonly infested sites. Immediately treat all wounds with approved insecticides; it may also be prudent to follow up with precautionary spraying of animals with insecticide before transport.1
Editor’s Note: From New World Screwworm factsheet, Texas A&M AgriLife and New World Screwworm Facts, sponsored by the U.S. Beef Checkoff1
An adult New World screwworm parasitic fly.
Photo courtesy of USDA-APHIS
Preconditioning Pays
Add value to weaned calves at auction.
by John Hutcheson, Ph.D.
Even though cattle prices are historically high, buyers are still willing to pay more for calves developed through strategic management and preconditioning programs, according to a recent analysis of how much calf buyers at auction are willing to pay for various attributes.
Insights come from an ongoing partnership between Merck Animal Health, Superior Livestock Auction and Kansas State University (K-State), which looks at prices and price factors for calves sold through Superior Livestock Auction each year. Data shared here represents 851,181 calves trading through Superior Livestock Auction sales in 2024. These calves weighed an average of 572 pounds1 and sold for an average price of $294 per hundredweight (cwt.). Keep in mind that the average price was 90% more than in 2019.
Analysts evaluated price factors, relative to the base averages. For each factor examined, all other factors were held constant so that each one is additive to the base averages. In other words, extra value from one valueadded attribute can be added to that of another.
Certified preconditioning programs lead
Buyers vote with their dollars and were willing to pay the most for recognized preconditioning programs of any price factors examined. Preconditioning boosts the immune system and increases weight, helping equip weaned calves to thrive in the stocker pasture, backgrounding operation or feedlot. Succesful preconditioning programs are built upon a series of vaccinations and management practices, such as weaning, deworming, implanting and transitioning calves to dry feed, as well as castrating and dehorning.
Working with a veterinarian to follow a certified preconditioning program can help producers give calves the healthiest start in the marketing channel, while adding value.
— John Hutcheson, Merck Animal Health
Preconditioning programs are generally categorized as VAC24, VAC34, VAC45, VAC60 or VAC PRECON. Different vaccination protocols and timing are associated with each category, as well as whether calves are weaned, and if so, for how long.
For instance, VAC45 calves have been vaccinated with two doses of a clostridial vaccine, two doses of a five-way modified live viral vaccine and at least one dose of Mannheimia haemolytica and/or Pasteurella multocida vaccine and have been weaned at home for 45 days before delivery. Buyers in the analysis paid $8.46 per cwt. more for VAC45 calves than those receiving only one dose of each of the three vaccines and weaned at shipping. So, relative to the base average weight, buyers paid $48 more per head for VAC45 calves.
Working with a veterinarian to follow a certified preconditioning program can help producers give calves the healthiest start in the marketing channel, while adding value. A preconditioning certificate at auction can also further establish a ranch’s reputation for selling calves that are ready for the next step.
PrimeVAC™ preconditioning programs by Merck Animal Health serve as an example. They are certified programs focusing on respiratory and clostridial vaccinations, protection against internal parasites and include optional implant protocols. For more information on the PrimeVAC
program, talk to your veterinarian or visit PrimeVAC.com.
The QR code at the end of this article leads to a decision tool created by K-State and Merck Animal Health to help producers evaluate the costreturn of calf vaccination programs.
Buyers don’t discount implants
Over the last five years, and nearly 5 million head of cattle evaluated, there is no difference in the price per pound paid for implanted and nonimplanted calves.2 Implants consistently increase average daily gain by 20%.3 Calves implanted at 2 months of age and older weigh 23 pounds more, on average, than non-implanted calves, are more muscular and have a slight increase in frame.4
Applying calf prices during this period to the additional pounds gained equates to a $66 per head advantage compared to non-implanted calves. Combined with a VAC45 program, this data suggests producers could potentially sell calves for $115 per head more than the base average.
Costs and benefits of value-added programs
Value-added programs may provide an opportunity to set your calves apart at sale and increase revenue. For instance, marketing calves in verified Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) programs brought $20 more per head than calves not enrolled in a program. Global Animal Partnership
(GAP) program calves sold for $18 more per head.
Unless the premium of marketing your calves in an NHTC-type program outweighs the productivity and efficiency of gains from implants, calves destined for finishing and sale to a terminal market should be implanted to capture increased revenue. Consider the cost of participating in these programs when gauging the potential return on investment.
Other value factors
Buyers were willing to pay $22 more per head for calves classified as medium to medium-large frame versus small frame. Calves with Continental breeding were discounted $10 per head compared to English breeding.
References:
1 Superior Livestock Auction Data, 2024.
Significant weight variation also impacted price paid per pound. Lots described as ‘very uneven’ brought $3.29 per cwt. less than those that were described as ‘uneven’ or had no classification. Lots described as ‘fairly even’ stood to gain an additional $1.14 per cwt., a total of $25 per head.
Tighter calving seasons can add uniformity. A heat synchronization program paired with natural service can shorten the calving interval and get more cows bred earlier in the breeding season. Studies have shown that a single shot of a prostaglandin four or five days after bull turnout can result in heavier, more uniform calves.5
Don’t leave money on the table at auction. Take stock of current management practices and health
protocols that buyers pay more for at auction and consider what you can do to increase revenue by strategically marketing your calves.
Editor’s Note: John Hutcheson, Ph.D., is director, Cattle Technical Services, Merck Animal Health.
2 Tonsor, Glynn T. Kansas State University. Evaluation of 2024 Superior Livestock Auction data.
3 Merck Animal Health. Technical Bulletin #11. Kentucky Comparative Study with Steers: Revalor®-G (trenbolone acetate and estradiol), Ralgro® (zeranol), Synovex®-S (progesterone/estradiol benzoate) and Control. May 2017.
4 Selk, G. Implants for Suckling Steer and Heifer Calves and Potential Replacement Heifers. Symposium Proceedings: Impact of Implants on Performance and Carcass Value of Beef Cattle. 1997. Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. P-957.
5 Cushman, RA, Kill, LK, Funston, RN, Mousel, EM, Perry, GA. Heifer calving date positively influences calf weaning weights through six parturitions. J. Anim. Sci. 2013;91:4486-4491.
Eric, Rosie, Briana, Rhett and Madison Katzenberger Monroe, WI 608-214-1154 ekatz@tds.net
Nick and Lenore Katzenberger Pearl City, IL www.plumriverranch.com
711E
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W16163 U.S. Hwy. 10 • Fairchild, WI 54741
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Brandon: 715-533-2470 • Garritt: 715-586-0033
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Steve Merry 1840 Co. Rd. CC Hartford, WI 53027
Steven.Merry@aurora.org 414-881-5274
mgmpolledherefords.com
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Josh, Kelly, Hannah and Ryan Oleson 1169 18th Dr. Arkdale, WI 54613 608-547-0430 20oleson@gmail.com
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Regenerative RANCHING
| by Hugh Aljoe
Rebuilding Regeneratively
Regenerative RANCHING
Push the pencil before trying to push cattle numbers.
Like many cow-calf producers, we’re puzzling over how to rebuild the cow herd at Noble Ranches.
Regenerative RANCHING
Depending on a producer’s context — type of operation, geography, business goals and more — rebuilding may look different from ranch to ranch. In any case, it’s an important time to take stock, not only of your animals, but also of your forage and carrying capacity. Let’s push our pencils before we push cattle numbers in the months and years to come.
As a part of this thought process, I’ll share what we’ve been doing to sustain our commitment to using regenerative management practices to restore and maintain grazing lands as we’ve navigated the recent years of drought here in southern Oklahoma.
Sorting through options
If you want to begin to rebuild and optimize your opportunity when you’re at the low end of cow numbers and the high side of the marketability for any category of females, you’ll need some way to feed them economically.
Across Texas, Oklahoma and other locations hard-pressed with drought over the last three to four years, we’re beginning to see a bit of recovery. We had close to 20 inches of rain at Noble’s headquarters in Ardmore, Okla., during April and May, setting us up for good cool-season growth and a good start for the summer. If we have a good forage year in this region, there will be opportunities for producers to look at retaining more heifers, not necessarily for their herd, but to provide opportunities for others to purchase them as either yearling heifers or bred heifers.
Many of us culled so hard through the drought that females within our
herds are typically of good quality. If you know that you’ve got a good herd and plenty of grass (hay, haylage or just standing grass) going into weaning, ask yourself how many more females you could keep beyond what you normally would retain to develop into potential replacements for yourself or someone else.
That’s one opportunity. Another option is buying heifers from your neighbor or another known source, or perhaps from an auction market that can verify the heifers have not been implanted with a growth hormone. Ideally, these purchased heifers will match up with your own retained heifers. The plan would be adding value to these quality females you’ve raised
and purchased by offering them for sale as bred, spring-calving heifers to help begin rebuilding the nation’s cow herd. Another way to capitalize on surplus forage and realize a quicker return on your investment would be to buy older, yearling heifers that are ready to breed. If you buy good-quality heifers now and turn bulls out in mid-December, you will have a few big, bred heifers you can sell for fall calving next year. Whether you purchase younger heifers born in the spring or older heifers born last fall, they won’t be cheap, but they’re usually $10-20 per hundredweight less than similar-sized steers.
We typically can count on spring rains. So, if we’ve got enough forage, either standing or stored, to get us through the winter into spring, we don’t have to push those animals very hard. Keep the heifers in good shape with decent nutrition, especially those being exposed to bulls for fall calving. Then come spring, with your annuals and that early spring flush, expose them to the bulls. Maybe not all of them breed, but even a big open yearling heifer is ripe for the feedyard and will bring a nice price.
Of course, you may need more bulls for those heifers. If so, start looking now, because bull prices this fall will be more economical than in the spring, when everybody’s looking. If you can find some young, easy-calving bulls at a good price, you can pick them up and hedge your bet a bit.
To afford to do this, you need to start monitoring your forage now to know how much standing or baled grass you can allocate for additional heifers. Knowing next spring will bring another flush of grass, do you have enough standing or stored grass to get to spring? The extra heifers and bulls may pencil out if your forage supply is 15-20% above normal.
Estimate your standing forage inventory with a measuring stick or based on your grazing rotation and history.
Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson/Noble Research Institute.
Capitalize on culls
Even with your culled cows, there’s another opportunity to capitalize on the demand for bred animals.
In the last few years here at Noble, our genetic selection has been to lower our frame score, so we’ve been trying to move some of our older, big cows. And with the drought, we’ve had short breeding seasons, expecting some of our cows to roll out. We really want to try to market everything we can strategically, so if the cow doesn’t breed, we’re going to get her in condition and sell her. If she’s old or a problem cow, she goes to a packer. We’ll turn the young ones around and expose them to bulls to be fall-calving cows. Historically, they have sold extremely well the following spring.
Given the current market, if you’ve got some young cull cows that are open, but sound and healthy, it could be worth exposing them again and holding them until spring. Our producers aren’t getting younger, on average; many would rather handle a bred cow than a bred heifer.
Forage comes first
To maintain soil health and be realistic about our carrying capacity, our decision tree at Noble begins with forage. August into early September is an excellent time to take inventory of forage supply. We hope that up to this point in the year, we’ve managed our grazing resources well and have stockpiled a surplus of standing grass for winter. We don’t make hay at our ranches; however, we stockpile about five months of standing grass annually.
When it comes to hay, the rule of thumb is to plan for about one bale per mature cow per month, assuming the bale weighs 1,000-1,200 pounds. For heifers, it’s about 80% of that. This helps you assess your stored hay supply and how far it could go if needed.
Estimate your standing forage inventory using a measuring stick or deduce it based on your grazing rotation and history, then compute your reserve herd days and plan how to manage your forage for your existing herd and any animals you may add.
As you take your inventory of how many months of grazing you have in front of you, consider the approach of
rationing it out a few days at a time, like you would for cattle in a feedyard, where they get one day’s worth of feed at a time. If you’re set up for rotational or adaptive grazing, moving cattle through paddocks sized for one day’s worth of grazing at a time is about the most efficient strategy. Two days at a time is not quite as efficient, but even twice a week is better than once a week.
If you can overseed a cover crop or if you have cropland to graze, make plans now to have this extra high-quality forage in place to provide at least some winter pasture to add to your stored and standing forage until the spring greening takes off. This works well as a cost-effective way to help your heifers be in shape for breeding in early spring without pushing them too hard.
We seed a cover-crop mixture in the fall, using cereal rye as the cool-season annual grass in sandier soils and wheat on tighter soils. We always hope to have a diverse mixture in the seed box, including some legumes. In terms of timing, we’ve delayed our fall covercrop seeding to avoid insect issues. We’ve managed our summer forages so that we don’t depend on grazing the newly seeded areas in the fall — we don’t need to, and we’re looking forward to that big spring flush.
Silver linings
Although cow numbers are the fewest this industry has seen in a very long time, we’re also more productive than ever, as far as pounds of beef. I’ve seen
this happen after each cattle cycle over the past 40 years of my career. We always have a better, higher-performing cow herd when we come out of these cyclical lows that follow destocking due to high numbers or drought. The silver lining of these events is that we’ve seen continual improvement in our beef herds.
Besides culling the poorest producers during these cycles, improvement stems from adoption of advancing technologies and our increasing ability to measure, monitor and analyze metrics. We’ve also made great strides in genetically improving many performance traits, thanks to producer use of genetic selection tools, such as expected progeny differences and selection indexes.
Let’s hope the weather and feed costs continue in cattle producers’ favor as the industry looks toward rebuilding a productive and profitable cow herd to meet consumer demand for beef.
Editor’s Note: This is part of a continuing series of articles about regenerative ranching from Noble Research Institute, long trusted by beef cattle producers for supporting the industry with research, education and consultation. Follow the series in future issues of Baldy Advantage and Hereford World, as well as in special 1881 podcasts at Hereford.org Additional regenerative resources and past articles in the series are also at Noble.org.
Hugh Aljoe is director of ranches, outreach and partnerships at Noble Research Institute.
Evaluate herd rebuilding options as you take stock of your herd and forage resources this fall.
Photo courtesy of Rob Mattson/Noble Research Institute.
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Diminishing Returns
Managing shrink to maximize revenue.
by Heather Smith Thomas
Shrink is a significant and often overlooked cost when marketing cattle. For example, 30 minutes spent gathering cattle into the corral may result in 1% shrink. Loading, hauling (less than 100 miles), unloading and weighing will generally create an additional 2.5% shrink. Sorting or waiting an extra hour before weighing will mean another 1%; 12 or more hours without feed or water before weighing will be an additional 2.5%, etc. The number of actual pounds involved may be more important than the price received for cattle. You often don’t have much control over the price you get for your calves, but you can usually control the amount of shrink loss.
Types of shrink
There are two types of shrink — excretory shrink, which is loss of belly fill, and tissue shrink. Animals that don’t eat or drink for up to 12 hours usually experience just excretory shrink. A small amount of excretory shrink (2-6%) is not detrimental to the long-term performance of the animal. A short time on feed and water will refill the gut and bring the weight back to normal.
Tissue shrink involves a decrease in carcass weight (actual muscle loss). This happens when an animal’s digestive tract and bladder are empty, and their body becomes dehydrated. Tissue shrink can occur on a long truck haul or during long periods without feed. It takes longer for the animal to recover from this type of weight loss, and it can be detrimental to the health of the animal. One reason why cattle, and especially calves, may have a hard time recovering from tissue shrink is that within 24 hours of being
held off feed, some of the important microbes in the rumen die off, making it difficult for the animal to digest feed when it does start eating again. The stress involved with this type of shrink also has a negative effect on the immune system.
Group variation
Shrink can vary greatly from one group of cattle to another, but a general rule of thumb is that cattle will lose at least 2% of their body weight overnight. Young calves shrink more than older, weaned calves. Cull cows sold right after weaning their calves may not eat much because they are stressed over losing their calves — and the gut will be relatively empty when you weigh them. Cull bulls sold and weighed directly off the ranch don’t shrink as much as bulls hauled to sales. In new surroundings and held overnight, some bulls may spend more time fighting, socializing or walking the fence than eating, and any extra activity results in more shrink.
Any emotionally upset animal will shrink. Due to the social nature of cattle, it is very stressful for them to be mixed with unfamiliar animals, and you can expect shrink to double when you mix groups of cattle during marketing.
Range cattle unaccustomed to being in a corral will often shrink more than 5% when held in a dry lot overnight, since they are more nervous and upset. Calves sorted off their mothers and corralled for the first time will also shrink excessively. Cattle put into a strange pen shrink more than if they are in familiar surroundings.
Handle with care
One of the biggest factors in shrink, especially in feeder cattle, is how they
are handled. Calves that are poorly handled — with a lot of stress caused by the way they are moved — may lose 3% of their body weight while being sorted. An Iowa study involving 4,685 feeder cattle found that cattle purchased from ranchers averaged a 7.2% shrink, compared with a 9.1% shrink on cattle purchased from sale yards. The cattle in the study were shipped varying distances (from 150 to 1,130 miles), and there was a 0.61% shrink for each 100 miles in transit.
Cattle buyers at the ranch often walk among a group of calves on sale day to look at them, evaluate and sort them — stirring and moving the cattle around. Thus, they shrink more before being weighed, costing the seller money. Some buyers may insist that cattle be held in a corral overnight without feed before weighing or be gathered from pasture early in the morning before they have a chance to graze and drink. If cattle are brought off pasture, the buyer may insist on a certain amount of shrink being subtracted from their weights, before the price per pound is calculated. This is called pencil shrink and is deducted from the actual weight. Because they won’t eat much during the first 18-24 hours after weaning, calves sold directly off their mothers are best sold at home rather than after a truck haul to a sale. The worst shrinks occur if the cattle are gathered, and the calves are sorted off the cows and penned a day before being weighed and sold. Even if those calves have feed and water in front of them, they shrink as much as if they were being held off feed and water because they are too stressed to eat or drink much. Calves sell better if weaned a few weeks ahead of selling, giving
them time to adjust to weaning — especially if they are held long enough to start gaining weight again. Selling them only a week or two after weaning may result in a loss of actual body weight, depending on the way they were weaned. Groups that experienced low stress weaning methods, like two-step weaning with nose flaps, often keep gaining weight through the weaning process because they are not stressed much and never quit eating forage.
But if they were weaned cold turkey in a corral, they may lose weight for a while during the weaning process, and it takes a few weeks to regain it. If those calves are sold after being fully weaned, however, they’re not stressed and will shrink less if they have to be in a corral very long or hauled before weighing. Calves that are weaned and shipped at the same time always shrink more than those already weaned and accustomed to eating hay. Other stresses increasing shrink include hot or stormy wet weather, high humidity, etc. since cattle won’t eat well during these times.
Diet effects
Diet also affects shrink. In general, the drier the feed, the less the shrink. Cattle on lush green feed, silage, wet beet pulp or high protein alfalfa hay shrink more than cattle on drier grass pasture, grass hay or other low moisture feeds. The lush,
high moisture feed or high-quality alfalfa goes through the tract faster and causes feces to be looser and runnier. One study showed that cattle from dry pasture had a 3.5% shrink after a 2-hour haul, compared to a 5.3% shrink for cattle off lush green forage. Another study showed that cattle on wet feeds shrink about 4% after an overnight or 12-hour fast, while fat cattle on concentrates shrink about 2.5-3% during a 12-hour fast.
Cattle have a large digestive tract, holding many gallons of feed and fluid. The body weight of any given individual may vary, depending on whether the tract is full or relatively empty. This will depend on time of day, how much the animal has eaten or how much it has exercised or how far it has been hauled. Morning weights, when cattle are relatively empty because they’ve been resting during the night instead of eating, are generally less than mid-day or evening weights when the gut is full, unless the cattle were held off feed before weighing. Morning weights, when cattle have feed and water available free choice, are usually about 2% less than evening weights.
Mature cattle may carry nearly 30% of their weight in the gut (and bladder) and may lose a lot of weight quickly if held off feed and water for 24 hours or if they pass a lot of manure and urine in a short time, as when exercising or excited. You
can figure a loss of 8-10 pounds per defecation or urination; a gallon of fluid weighs about 8 pounds. With this excretory shrink, losses of up to 10% of body weight are not uncommon in cattle held off feed and water for 24 hours, and in some circumstances shrinks of up to 18% can occur. Research has shown that about 60% of total excretory shrink loss during marketing procedures is due to manure passage and about 40% is due to urine secretion.
Preventing shrink
You may not be able to do much about the price you get for your cattle, but you can minimize shrink. Sorting, loading, hauling to a sale and standing without feed and water can result in body weight loss of 15% or more. Check weather forecasts and try not to sell during hot, humid or stormy weather. Avoid rough handling, poor feed and dirty water in a corral where cattle are held before selling — since cattle may refuse to drink. Also prevent delays in transport or weighing after cattle are gathered, overloading or underloading trucks, etc. Crowded cattle are more stressed and nervous and will urinate and defecate more. Under-loading can also increase shrink since it allows cattle to move around a lot during transport. Any time cattle are moving they tend to urinate and defecate more often.
One of the biggest factors affecting shrink is proper cattle handling. Cattle can shrink 0.5-1% for every 30 minutes being moved and sorted.
Load trucks carefully and make sure the cattle can all fit on the truck comfortably. Overcrowding not only increases stress and nervousness but increases the risk of animals getting pushed down on the floor, unable to get up — which may result in bruising, crippling or occasionally death of an animal from being trampled or smothered. Jamming those last few calves onto the truck may cost you more in shrink than the cost of hauling those yourself. Also, it pays to have all your paperwork done ahead of time so that once the truck is loaded, it can leave.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is hurrying — not handling cattle quietly and slowly on sale day. Wild roundups, ramming and jamming the cattle while sorting or loading, etc., can dramatically increase shrink. It pays to have good facilities where cattle can be worked through and loaded easily. While well-designed facilities are a big help, the way you handle the cattle is most important. Forcing cattle to do something unnatural to them will also raise their stress level and increase shrink. Take whatever time is needed to sort and load the cattle slowly and gently. Gathering should be done calmly, such as luring cattle into the corral with feed rather than chasing them in.
Cattle shrink every time they are moved. They can easily shrink 0.51% for every 30 minutes they are moved around a corral. The more quickly and quietly they can be sorted, the less shrink, so it pays to plan and do your sorting before sale day. Reducing the number of sorts and the time spent handling cattle on sale day pays in less shrink. If calves are already weaned and sorted (separating steers and heifers, sorting by size, etc.) or if your cull cows are already in a separate pen or pasture from the rest of the herd, they will have regained their temporary shrink from the sort and can be moved quietly onto the scales or the truck with a minimum of shrink.
If you are taking cattle to a sale, keep in mind that hauling time and conditions affect shrink. Usually,
the first few miles are the worst, but if the truck is properly loaded and conditions are ideal for hauling, the shrink rate per mile after that will be less, as the cattle adjust to the trip and settle down.
If you are receiving cattle, keep them separate from others for the first few days to minimize stress. Stress and shrink are cumulative, and the more stress factors, the more the shrink. If cattle must be hauled long distances to market or to a feedyard, it often pays to give them a rest stop where they can be fed. This may cut the shrink to about 7.5%
Shrink by the Numbers
instead of 9-10% or higher. Giving cattle time to fill up again pays off most for cattle that must be hauled for more than 10 hours.
Make sure incoming cattle have a chance to rest and regain shrink loss before you mix them with others. Calves that are not allowed to rest (in their familiar group) may have shrink levels 15-25% higher than rested animals. Any advantage you might have had from compensatory gain can be lost due to poor performance and increased sickness or mortality if the calves experience a high rate of shrink.
Studies confirm that shrink is an immediate subtraction from your profit.
A study at the University of Wyoming showed that feeder steers standing for eight hours in a dry lot shrank 3.3%, a 16-hour stand resulted in 6.2% shrink and a 24-hour dry lot stand resulted in 6.6% shrink. Feeder steers spending eight hours in a moving truck shrank 5.5%, 16 hours on the truck resulted in 7.9% shrink and traveling for 24 hours produced 8.9% shrink. It’s easy to see that standing in a corral overnight and then shipping the calves to market can result in a huge amount of shrink.
A study in Iowa looked at the time it takes for calves and yearlings to regain in-transit weight loss after arriving at a feedlot. The cattle were purchased in seven states and hauled an average of 660 miles. At the point of departure the yearlings averaged 673 pounds, and the calves averaged 504 pounds. During shipment, the yearlings lost 9.62% of pre-shipment weight and the calves lost 9.46%. The yearlings required 16 days and the calves 13 days to recover the weight loss.
In another study, yearlings were trucked from Texas to Iowa, with in-transit weight loss of 8.83%. About 47% of this loss was excretory shrink and 53% was carcass (tissue) weight shrink.
Load trucks carefully; overcrowding results in more stress and shrink.
MISSOURI BREEDERS
Success Breeds Success BLUE RIBBON FARMS
Jeff and Stephanie Rawie
Aaron and Kylie Noble 11768 W. Farm Rd. 34 Walnut Grove, MO 65770
417-209-5538
jeffrawie24@yahoo.com
Premier Genetics
Tony Ward
35000 E. McQuerry Rd. Oak Grove, MO 64075
Reed Gooden
573-292-6799
Rick and Laurie Steinbeck 2322 Drake School Rd. Hermann, MO 65041 573-237-2668 573-680-0954 cell steinbeckredcows@gmail.com
Polled Herefords and Red Angus Breeding Stock Available
“What’s New?” is a column designed to keep you in the know about Hereford happenings. You can sign up for Hereford Headlines, an electronic newsletter distributed the first Friday of each month by the American Hereford Association (AHA) highlighting Hereford news and events. You can also receive the Bald Faced Bottom Line, a commercially-focused electronic newsletter sent the third Friday of each month. To subscribe to these free newsletters, send an email to outreach@hereford.org. Archived issues are posted at Hereford.org.
Annual Meeting/World Hereford Conference
2025 AHA Board of Directors candidate slate
The American Hereford Association (AHA) nominating committee is pleased to announce the six candidates nominated for election to the AHA Board of Directors. The candidates are: Ross Carlson Carlson Farms, Murdock, Minn. 320-808-7095
rbmrc1@gmail.com
Joe Ellis Ellis Farms, Chrisman, Ill. 765-366-5390
efbeef1@aol.com
Ryan McGuffee McGuffee Polled Herefords, Mendenhall, Miss. 601-668-1000
ryanmcgu@bellsouth.net
Bryan Blinson Blinson Hereford Farm, Buies Creek, N.C. 919-422-9108
bkblinson@gmail.com
Chris Beck
Genoa Livestock LLC, Minden, Nev. 618-367-5397
chris.genoalivestock@gmail.com
Joe Dan Ledbetter Ledbetter Cattle Co., Wheeler, Texas 806-236-0958 joedanledbetter@yahoo.com
Register for 2025 World Hereford Conference
The AHA looks forward to hosting the World Hereford Conference (WHC), accompanying tours and the Young Breeders Competition Oct. 22-26, in Kansas City,
Mo. Find event details and registration information at WorldHerefordConference.com. The registration deadline is Sept. 1.
Attend Annual Meeting
Join us in Kansas City, Mo., for the 2025 AHA Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the WHC.
The Annual Membership Meeting and Hereford Honorees breakfast will be Saturday, Oct. 25, and will honor the 2025 Hereford Hall of Fame and Hereford Hall of Merit inductees. The Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) scholarship recipients and Young Breeders Competition participants will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on Friday, Oct. 24. The 2026 National Hereford Queen will be crowned on Sunday, Oct. 26.
There is no registration fee to attend the Annual Meeting, but please register to accommodate seating. The registration deadline is Sept. 1. Find the full schedule, hotel information, registration and more at Hereford.org/Annual-Meeting or WorldHerefordConference.com.
Association news
Breed improvement adopted changes and initiatives
The Board reviewed suggestions presented by the DNA policy task force (Dave Bielema, Sam Shaw, Mark Cooper, Mark Squires and Charlie Boyd) and unanimously supported the following:
1. In addition to AI sires, all embryo transfer (ET) donor dams and walking sires born
after Jan. 1, 2026, will be required to have a genomic profile completed at the AHA official lab and be fully parent verified and tested for all recognized genetic conditions.
2. The Board voted unanimously to purge all DNA samples starting Jan. 1, 2026, after the requested testing is complete. For other accepted DNA policy changes, please see Hereford.org/ Hereford-Handbook.
DNA sample storage policy
The AHA Board of Directors voted unanimously during the fall Board meeting to purge, starting on Jan. 1, 2026, all DNA samples submitted to AHA’s official lab on or before Dec. 31, 2024. The AHA Board has determined to offer members the opportunity to request a return of any sample that was submitted to the AHA official lab prior to Dec. 31, 2024. These requests must be made prior to Dec. 31, 2025, with the following understanding:
1. A member must submit a request for the DNA samples they would like to retrieve. Only samples that were originally submitted by a member will be returned.
2. The AHA does not guarantee a timeline for delivery of the samples after the request is made, and it is highly recommended that requests are only made on animals that are deceased and there is no other sample available, including semen.
3. The AHA does not guarantee that a sample can be found, or that there will be viable DNA available.
4. Please understand that DNA sample storage is different for each type of DNA (hair, blood card, tissue sample unit [TSU]).
5. A fee will be charged for each sample that is requested to be returned. This fee will be determined from time to time by the AHA Board. At this time, the fee that has been established by AHA’s Board is $10 per sample plus packaging and shipping costs.
Moving forward, any DNA sample submitted after Jan. 1, 2025, the testing lab, in agreement with the AHA, will use the submitted sample for the purpose of conducting the testing requested by the member. After the initial testing is complete, the AHA, in agreement with the AHA official DNA testing lab, will store the remaining DNA for any additional testing that is available at the lab for a period of one year. After one year, the sample will be subject to disposition.
There is no guarantee by the AHA or the AHA official lab that there will be any additional or viable DNA available from the submitted sample. It is understood that, while the AHA’s agreement with its official testing lab requires the testing lab to store the remaining DNA sample for a period of one year, the AHA has no obligation or responsibility to do so or to make such remaining sample available to the member for subsequent testing or use.
Moving forward, the AHA would encourage any breeder to collect and store an additional
sample if they deem necessary. Most frequently used DNA types submitted and storage method:
1. Hair or blood cards. These types of samples can be stored in a dark, dry place at room temperature.
2. Semen — it can be thawed semen — but it is suggested to keep it frozen until a DNA test is needed.
3. TSUs can be stored (methods shared from Merck representative):
• The preferred method of storing is in a negative thaw cycle freezer, but they can be stored in a regular freezer.
• There has been success in storing them in a cool, dry place. Some have been stored this way for three years and are still viable.
• The biggest thing is to protect them from sunlight.
Sharing of ISAG/ICAR parentage markers
Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the AHA Board adopted a policy to share ISAG/ICAR reduced panel parentage markers through a request submitted to the AHA from a World Hereford Council member, other breed associations or any AHA member. A fee, determined from time to time by the AHA Board of Directors, will be charged for any requests except for those from any World Hereford Council member. Currently, the fee for an AHA member is $10 for each animal requested.
Please contact AHA customer service with any questions or requests at 816-842-3757 or records@hereford.org.
Youth Scholarship deadline approaching The HYFA fall scholarship deadline is Sept. 1. HYFA will
award more than $200,000 in scholarship money throughout the year, including $165,000 in scholarships and awards during the AHA Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Mo. Scholarships must be submitted online through Submittable. To learn more, visit the website: HerefordYouthFoundation.org/ scholarships.
Deadline for queen applications
National Hereford Queen applications are due Sept. 1. For more information, email nationalherefordwomen@gmail.com.
Enter the Fed Steer Shootout
Plan to learn more about the cattle feeding sector and how your genetics perform in the feedyard by participating in the 2026 National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout. The contest entry deadline is Nov. 1, 2025, and delivery for
cattle to HRC Feed Yards LLC in Scott City, Kan., is Dec. 13-16, 2025. For more information and to plan your cattle delivery, contact Trey Befort at tbefort@herefordbeef.org. Cattle can be entered individually or in pens of three and must meet the following qualifications:
• 2025-born steers
• Purebred Hereford and commercial Herefordinfluenced steers
• 600-pound weight minimum
• Be weaned at least 45 days prior to delivery
• Received two rounds of vaccinations
Visit Hereford.org/Youth/ NJHA-Fed-Steer-Shootout to enter and learn more.
35073 E. C.R. 1550 N. Mason City, IL 62664 bhrnds@speednet.com
Brent, cell 217-971-5897
Floyd and Annette 815-712-5735
Chad, Erin, John and Ella 815-712-5739
LaSalle, IL 61301 c_herfs01@yahoo.com
Tuscola, IL 61953
Dave, Marcia & Elise Hackett
Dave: 217-621-1761
Elise: 217-621-6864 davehackett91@yahoo.com
Lonny, Kim (Carney) and Riley Rhodes 18736 Cross Creek Rd. Carlinville, Il 62626 217-899-4104 Cell
rhodesfarminc.kim@gmail.com
Cattle and Embryos for sale at all times
Steve Lorenzen 17696 E. 1825th Rd. Chrisman, IL 61924
Adam Harms 217-369-3609
adamdharms@icloud.com www.lorenzenfarms.com
1764 U.S. RT. 136 Penfield, IL 61862
Buddy 217-649-0108
Bailey 217-714-4955
Cody 217-871-9708
edenburnfamilyfarm@gmail.com
Jack and Sherry Lowderman
Monte, Carrie and Rhett
Brent, Kris, Blake, and Morgan
Cody and Abby P.O. Box 488 Macomb, IL 61455
Monte 309-255-0110
info@lowderman.com www.lowderman. com
From the Field
In Passing
Everett B. “E.B.” Gee Jr., 92, Ocala, Fla., passed June 6.
Born in Memphis, Tenn., E.B. was the only child of Everett B. and Johnnie T. Gee. He grew up in Blytheville, Ark., where he graduated from Blytheville High School before attending the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and served as president.
On March 6, 1955, E.B. married Rosemary Monaghan. Shortly thereafter, he entered the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant and served at Scott Field in Illinois. E.B. and Rosemary, known affectionately as Rosie, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2018. She preceded him in death, along with their daughter, Gail Gee; son, Greg Gee; and grandson, Barker Gee, all of whom passed away as young adults, and his parents, Everett and Johnnie Gee.
E.B. is survived by his son, E.B. (Suzanne) Gee III; daughter, Ginger Gee; granddaughters, Rosemary Pease and Rebecca Morales; grandsons, Everett Gee IV, Greg Gee Jr., and Dustin Gee; and 10 great-grandchildren.
After returning from military service in 1957, E.B. joined the family agricultural business, E.B. Gee Cotton Co., which later became E.B. Gee Cotton and Grain Co. The business expanded to include grain elevators and farmland in Southeast Missouri, and developed an extensive seed operation, producing and marketing soybean and wheat seed in 14 states and Mexico.
Among the family’s agricultural ventures was a herd of registered polled Hereford cattle. The Gee Ranches sold seedstock across the eastern U.S., and E.B. served as
a director of the American Polled Hereford Association from 1974 to 1979, including terms as vice chairman (1977) and chairman of the Board (1978). He and Rosie made promotional trips on behalf of the Association to South America and England.
Another notable venture was the family’s American Quarter Horse breeding operation. They raised many champion Quarter Horses, winning national, regional and local titles. Their daughter Gail was particularly involved, earning the Youth National Championship, among other honors.
E.B. dedicated much of his life to public service, particularly in flood control and drainage in Southeast Missouri. He served for 29 years on the Board of Supervisors of the Little River Drainage District, including 10 years as president (1987–1997). He also led the St. Johns Bayou Basin Drainage District and served on the boards of the Elk Chute Drainage District and the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association. He was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal by Lieutenant General Joe N. Ballard, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Outside of his professional and civic responsibilities, E.B.’s greatest passion was golf. He grew up living behind the Blytheville Country Club and took to the game early, eventually becoming a high school champion and a member of the University of Arkansas golf team. Over the years, he won numerous amateur titles, competed in PGA Tour events as an amateur and remained active in senior amateur competitions. He qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur National Championship six times, making match play three times and won the Desert Classic in Palm Desert,
Calif., three consecutive years. One of his proudest achievements was being club champion in six different decades.
E.B. gave back to the sport he loved by serving as a U.S. Golf Association committeeman on the Senior Amateur Championship Committee for 21 years. He organized Arkansas qualifiers for the national championship for 19 years. He also served as president of the Arkansas State Golf Association in both 1964 and 1987. In 2007, he was inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame.
A lifelong Presbyterian, E.B. was active in the churches he attended in both Blytheville and Ocala. He served as an elder, participated in long-range planning efforts and served on a pastor search committee at the First Presbyterian Church of Ocala.
In later years, E.B. became a successful real estate broker, focusing on farm properties in the Ocala area.
Darrell Anderson, 75, West Lafayette, Ind., passed June 13. Darrell Anderson accomplished much during his 75 years on this earth. But if you were to ask him what he treasured most in this world, it was undoubtedly his relationship with Jesus.
“God will bless your life richly if you only will give him a chance — put your trust in Him and He will never fail you,” Darrell would often say.
Close behind his love for the Lord was his passion for family and purebred livestock. Darrell was born on Dec. 10, 1949, to Roland and Lucille Anderson in Sherburn, Minn. His family had
a small commercial hog operation and a purebred sheep flock that Darrell initiated with the help of his older brother Jim, who was killed in a tragic car accident at the young age of 21. Darrell, only 14 at the time, carried on their small purebred sheep flock. An active 4-H and FFA member, he never thought about attending college until an Extension summer intern introduced him to the world of livestock judging. That changed the trajectory of his life.
His love of livestock judging led him to South Dakota State University (SDSU) where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences in 1972. While working on his master’s degree at SDSU, he coached the wool judging team and served as assistant livestock judging coach. Before he completed his master’s degree, he was offered a position as public relations director at the Federated Rural Electric Association in Jackson, Minn. During this time, he provided leadership in various sheep organizations and started the first-ever Minnesota Suffolk Sheep Show and Sale at the Jackson County Fair.
On Aug. 9, 1975, he married the love of his life, Merlene. Not long after they were married, Darrell accepted the position of Cottonwood County Extension director. During his interview, he told the committee that one of his goals was to coach a national championship 4-H livestock judging team. Although they did not have a judging program at the time, Darrell believed in this dream and eventually achieved this goal in 1980, when his county team won the national 4-H judging contest in Louisville, Ky. He also became an auctioneer and was elected president of the National Suffolk Sheep Association.
This was a busy but rewarding time in Darrell’s life. However,
E.B. Gee
Darrell Anderson
in 1981, with two young sons at home, Darrell made the tough decision to leave Extension and accept a job with First Bank in Windom, Minn. He hoped the more regular schedule would afford more time for his young family. In 1985, he decided it was time to move on when the bank’s priorities no longer supported the agricultural needs of his community. For a brief period, he raised sheep, judged lamb shows and auctioneered to pay the bills until he was approached by the American Yorkshire Club to apply for the executive secretary position. Little did this organization realize back in 1987 that their decision to hire a “sheep kid” from Minnesota would one day revolutionize the purebred swine industry.
Darrell guided the practical application of the American Yorkshire Club’s new swine genetic improvement program – STAGES – by publishing the first “across herd sire summary” that helped the program take off. Unfortunately, the 1990s brought record-low market hog prices, significant reductions in the number of breeders’ production sales, a shift from family operations to larger and more numerous commercial operations and in general, the higher cost of running and maintaining an association. This made the need to consolidate a reality that the Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire associations each had to face. In 1994, he led the merger of the three organizations into the National Swine Registry (NSR) in his new role as CEO. The Landrace breed followed suit in 1998.
For 25 years, Darrell’s leadership steadied, sustained and grew the purebred swine industry. NSR embarked on a long-range strategic planning journey in 1998 and 1999. This led to the creation and development of the National Junior Swine Association, the hiring of geneticists and the growth of NSR shows and sales. For some, Darrell’s sharp business mind was his greatest
attribute throughout his tenure in the swine industry. For others, it was his creative ability to envision, implement and navigate periods of change. And for many who called themselves his employees, it was his leadership style that made him a legend whose service to the swine industry will always be remembered. One thing that cannot be denied is that Darrell developed a cohort of leaders that have directly affected animal agriculture and changed it for the better. One of his special gifts was seeing the potential in others.
In 2003, Darrell was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. With the NSR executive committee’s support, he continued to serve eight more years as CEO. During this time, Darrell and Merlene grew their llama business, Solid Rock Llamas, that started when both boys were gone and “empty nest syndrome” struck. They developed a nationally competitive herd of llamas and created the March Llama Madness Show and Sale of Champions.
Since he was a little boy, Darrell was fascinated by auctioneers and took every opportunity he could to listen to them. He auctioneered and judged sheep shows and sales in 21 states. He cried the first llama production sale held in the U.S. in Salem, Ore., and served as auctioneer for most of the top llama sales in the country.
His travel schedule was never light, but he always made time for his family. He served on countless committees and boards, but his favorite board was the bleacher board, watching his boys, Benjamin and Gregory, play basketball in high school and college. No one could be prouder than Darrell of their achievements and of the families they’ve built.
Darrell never passed up the opportunity to help other breed associations and served in a variety of leadership positions on the National Livestock and Meat Board, National Swine Improvement Federation, National Pedigreed Livestock Council,
National Pork Producers Council, U.S. Livestock Genetic Exports and National Pork Board. He was honored with the 2005 Long Time Service Award-National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest, the 2006 Livestock Publications Council’s Headliner Award and the 2016 Pork Industry Distinguished Service Award. In 2022, his portrait was hung in the prestigious Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Gallery.
From his editorials in Seedstock EDGE magazine to his heartwarming speeches to his famous top 10 list at the North American International Livestock Exposition Senior Collegiate Judging Contest, Darrell’s motivation, humor and ideas will long be remembered. He was the type of person who didn’t need the spotlight, who put others before himself and always found the good in life. He prioritized his relationship with Jesus, treasured every minute he walked alongside his wife, admired the strengths and talents of his sons and took great pride in the amazing grandchildren God put in his life.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Merlene Leila (Worthley); son Benjamin Dean and his wife Steffi (Rayburn), grandson Samuel Gabe (Raelyn Lomison), and granddaughter Mylo Hannah; son Gregory Donald and his wife Katie (Ramsay), grandsons Elijah Dean, Jude Thomas, Oliver Curtis and Shepherd Wallace, and granddaughter Naomi Kate. He’s preceded in death by his parents Roland and Lucille (Schafer), brother Richard, sister-in-law Joyce and brother James.
Editor’s note: Originally penned and published by Jennifer Shike of PORK magazine.
on Aug. 31, 1938, to William “Bill” Williams and Arlie (Anderson) Williams, Augie graduated from Rochester High School, Rochester Junior College and Mankato State University in 1960 with a business degree.
After college, Augie participated in an International Farm Youth Exchange in the Philippines and immediately following that, he traveled the globe for several months.
After his travels, Augie went to work at 1st National Bank in Rochester. He was eventually named the youngest vice president in its history.
In 1984, Augie moved to Blue Earth, Minn., as president of the 1st National Bank branch (now First Bank Blue Earth) and served in that role until his retirement in 2006. He was instrumental in working with other Blue Earth businesspeople to purchase the bank from First Bank System and make it entirely locally owned. He remained on their board of directors until his death. He was also on the board of directors of Olmsted National Bank (now called Eagle Rock).
Along with his work in banking, Augie was active in the farming and livestock world. In 1969 he and his brother purchased Williams Hilltop Farms in Rochester from their parents. After his retirement from the bank, he returned to his love of raising polled Herefords at his farm in Rushford. He received various breeding awards and was a partial owner of a grand champion polled Hereford at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. In 2023, Williams Hilltop Farms was awarded Golden Breeder status by the American Hereford Association (AHA) in recognition of 50 years raising registered Herefords.
August “Augie” Arthur Williams, 86, Rushford, Minn., passed June 15. Born in Rochester, Minn.,
Augie was also a member of Blue Earth Lions and the Minnesota Hereford Breeders.
Preceded in death by his parents, Augie is survived by Augie Williams
continued on page 60...
his brother, Robert (Mary Lou) Williams of Vancouver, Wash.; sisters JoAnn Carmack of Duluth, Minn.; and Carol (Malcolm) Ellison of Vancouver. He is also survived by six nephews and nieces, and 13 great-nephews and nieces; along with friends, Steve and Nancy Warner, their children Mark and Erin (Ryan Milbrandt), and Sandra Clow, who were also like family to him.
Beauregard
“Beau” Brite White, 71, Rosanky, Texas, passed June 23. Beau was born on Jan. 4, 1954, in Marfa, Texas, to James White Jr. and Jane Brite White. He grew up on his family’s Brite Ranch with its stunning views and abundant wildlife. The Brite Ranch, then owned by his mother and her sister, Nancy Brite Lynch, boasted Capote Falls, the highest waterfall in Texas, and a famous herd of Hereford cattle established by his great-grandparents.
Beau took naturally to being a cowboy and was skilled with cattle, all domesticated animals, wildlife and ranch chores. Beau was popular in school, a good student and an exceptional athlete. In junior high, he played football as center on offense. In high school, Beau played football all four years for the Shorthorns, achieving All District each year and All West Texas his final year. His jersey was No. 54, and he was described by his classmates as a handsome and remarkably skilled football player. Beau took Spanish in high school, joined the Spanish club and remained fluent throughout his life. He excelled at high school golf and was the campus “cool guy” driving his red Mustang. Beau graduated from Marfa High School in 1972. Beau initially attended Sul Ross University in Alpine to be on the football team. But after one year, he transferred to Texas Christian University where he
pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity, later becoming an officer and pledge trainer. He was popular on campus, always up for fun and sometimes mischief, and invariably surrounded by a large group of devoted friends. Beau graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He returned to Marfa to take charge of the J.E. White and Sons registered cattle herd at the Chispa Ranch, which was near the Brite Ranch, but was separately owned by his mother. Beau thoroughly enjoyed the tough but fulfilling life of ranching. He told many exciting stories of hunting predators, including mountain lions.
Beau became involved in ranching organizations including the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), AHA and Texas Hereford Association. Always a leader, Beau was valued by other ranchers for his encyclopedic knowledge of cattle breeding. Beau became a director of the TSCRA in 1995 and became an honorary director after 2016. He became the president of the Texas Hereford Association in 1994. He served on the AHA Board of Directors 20002003 and as Board president in 2003. The AHA states that Beau’s leadership “ushered in a golden era for the Association.” Beau advanced the Certified Hereford Beef® brand, helped unify the horned and polled Hereford organizations, supported growing youth programs and expanded the AHA’s international footprint especially in Latin America and Australia. Beau always made sure to make cattlemen gatherings fun for the children with educational programs geared to them, with plain fun activities like kite flying field shows and dog races with his Jack Russell Terriers.
By his late 30s, Beau was happy as a bachelor rancher and seemed destined to live out his life that way in West Texas. But everything changed when he was set up on a date with Kathleen Hartnett, a smart and beautiful lobbyist in
Washington, D.C., for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. They married in 1993 with Kathleen leaving the city and settling with Beau in a ranch house on the Chispa Ranch. Within a few years, however, Kathleen received a series of senior political appointments in Austin, Texas, until she was named chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by Governor Perry. Beau and Kathleen found a farmhouse in Rosanky, Texas, (Bastrop County) that was close to Austin and suitable for their growing hobby of raising Jack Russell Terriers. Beau worked several years for Bluebonnet Electric in Bastrop, Texas, before devoting himself fully to raising dogs and supporting Kathleen’s public service career. Additionally, Beau had a part-time public service career when he was appointed to the board of directors of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, El Paso Branch from 1996-2001, and again later when Governor Perry appointed him to the Animal Health Commission in 2007.
For many years, Beau and Kathleen bred a nationally awardwinning line of Jack Russell Terriers, under their registered kennel name, High Range. They attended regional terrier trials across the U.S. but always had dogs suitable to the national show of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA) in Maryland. Their kennel became the “go to” place for people seeking topperforming dogs. Beau served on the board of the JRTCA from 2010-2016 and was an expert on breeding, showing, training, doctoring and loving Jack Russell Terriers. Beau found a way to mix dogs and cattle when he began organizing terrier races at TSCRA cattle shows. Together, Beau and Kathleen formed many deep friendships across Texas, the U.S. and the United Kingdom with other dog lovers. Beau stopped breeding terriers after Kathleen’s dementia limited her participation.
Without her, Beau said it just wasn’t fun anymore.
Beau loved fishing, hunting and the outdoors in general. He hunted many whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and mountain lions over the years. He was a superb guide, always taking good care of visiting hunters at the Brite Ranch. Beau was an excellent wing shot and set up a great skeet range at High Range to entertain the steady stream of visitors he and Kathleen always enjoyed. Beau was an authority on beef quality, and no one could grill a steak as perfectly as he could. He loved a mint julep, and he made them perfectly with his homegrown mint to be served in his monogrammed silver julep cups.
Beau was raised in the Christian Church and accepted Jesus Christ from an early age. He was descended from devoted Christian followers including his grandparents who endowed the Brite Divinity School of TCU. However, after marrying Kathleen, he faithfully went with her to Mass at the Catholic Church for more than 30 years, especially to St. Mary of the Assumption in Bastrop County. He later became good friends with Fr. Jim Olnhausen of Ascension Catholic Church in Bastrop, and he enjoyed being referred to as an honorary Catholic.
Beau was predeceased by his beloved Kathleen who died in 2024. He is also predeceased by his mother in 2010 and his father in 2013. He is survived by his adopted son, Geoff Connor, of Bastrop. He is also survived by his younger brother, McMinn “Mac” (Julie) White of Marfa; his nephew, Jim (Melanie) O’Brien of Nashville, Tenn., and several cousins. The family is grateful for the people who loved and supported Beau in these last difficult years.
Beau White
Jerry and Mary Ann Berg 16821 Withrich Rd. P.O. Box 224 Dalton, OH 44618 330-857-7967 330-465-6185 cell jwberg@bright.net
CE -1.6; BW 2.7; WW 65; YW 99; DMI 0.3; SC 1.5; SCF 14.3; MM 37; M&G 69; MCE 2.0; MCW 76; UDDR 1.10; TEAT 1.10; CW 66; F AT 0.046; REA 0.48; MARB 0.94; BMI$ 368; BII$ 502; CHB$ 188 Embryos available!
SRM WHR 4010 Prime Plus 289 ET {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF,MDF,DBF} • P44544444
CE 7.5; BW 2.1; WW 71; YW 119; DMI 0.4; SC 1.8; SCF 23.1; MM 28; M&G 64; MCE 5.2; MCW 105; UDDR 1.30; TEAT 1.20; CW 83; FAT 0.086; REA 0.53; MARB 0.77; BMI$ 506; BII$ 641; CHB$ 198
Semen available on this breed changing sire!
654 Cold Springs Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325 Selling the Future – One Hereford at a Time
STONE RIDGE MANOR
6470 Beverleys Mill Rd. Broad Run, VA 20137
Tyler Newman 540-422-1747
Bob Kube 540-347-4343 fauquierfarmllc@gmail.com
KNOLL CREST FARM
“Serving the beef industry since 1944” P.O. Box 117 Red House, VA 23963 Office 434-376-3567
Paul S. Bennett 434-941-8245
Jim G. Bennett 434-664-7935
Brian R Bennett 434-664-8309
Dalton G. Bennett 434-664-7946
Scott R. Bennett 434-660-7268 knollcrest@knollcrestfarm.com
EAST SIDE FARM
Bob and Pam Rhyne 3700 Peach Orchard Rd. Charlotte, NC 28215
Kim, Alexis and Courtney Eudy 10945 Hickory Ridge Rd. Harrisburg, NC 28075 Kim’s cell 704-589-7775 248 River Bend Ln. Smithville, WV 26178
Bob’s cell 704-614-0826 rhynelandfarms@gmail.com
Ray Ramsey 317-727-4227 rayramsey77@gmail.com www.cottonwoodspringsfarm.com
ALABAMA
Glynn Debter, Perry Debter or John Ross Debter
205-429-4415 or 205-429-2040 4134 County Hwy 30 • Horton, AL 35980 debterfarm@otelco.net
Randy & Kelly Owen
John & Randa Starnes
John: 256-996-5545
Roland Starnes: 706-601-0800
Red, White, and Black: Dixieland Delight Angus, Hereford Production Sale 1st Sat. in May
553 Randy Owen Dr. NE Fort Payne, AL 35967 www.tennesseerivermusic.com cattle@tennesseerivermusic.com
High Cotton Bull Sale Last Monday in October
CALIFORNIA
Brandon Theising
805-526-2195
P.O. Box 1019 805-358-2115 cell Simi Valley, CA 93062-1019 brandon@pwgcoinc.com www.pwgcattle.com
Steve Lambert Family 2938 Nelson Ave. Oroville, CA 95965 Cell 530-624-5256
lambertranchherefords.com
Jim McDougald Manager 559-822-2178
McDougald Family 559-822-2289
Registered Herefords 46089 Rd. 208, Friant, CA 93626
The Brand You Can Count On MORRELL RANCHES
PEDRETTI RANCHES
Registered Herefords & Angus Barry, Carrie and Bailey Morrell morrellranches@yahoo.com 5640 Co. Rd. 65 Willows, CA 95988 The Mickelson Family P.O. Box 2689 Petaluma, CA 94953 707-481-3440
Carrie Cell 530-218-5507 Barry Cell 530-682-5808
marciamick3@gmail.com sonomamountainherefords.com THE COLEMAN FAMILY Tim, Kara, Tyler and Kathryn Tim 209-968-7232 • tim@sierraranches.com Kara 209-613-6062 • kara@sierraranches.com P.O. Box 577980, Modesto, CA 95357
707-396-7364
WEIMER
CATTLE COMPANY
GEORGIA
Polled Herefords • Brafords Jonny and Toni Harris 334 K-Ville Rd. Screven, Ga 31560 912-586-6585 • Cell 912-294-2470 greenviewfarms@windstream.net www.greenviewfarms.net
Square and Round Bermuda Grass Hay Performance and Quality from Grazing since 1942
Andrew, Suzanne, Taylor Belle, Austin and Rylee Matheny amathenyherefords@gmail.com
MARYLAND
EAST SIDE FARM
Registered Polled Herefords
eastsidehereford@comcast.net
Visitors welcome!
Jay and Shelly Stull 10718-A Liberty Rd. Frederick, MD 21701 301-898-8552 www.eastsidehereford.com
Jerry and Shelly Delaney & Family 2071 C.R. 101 • Lake Benton, MN 56149 507-368-9284 • 507-820-0661 Jerry cell jdh@delaneyherefords.com • www.delaneyherefords.com
James
Jacob, Michelle and Andrew Wolfrey 3859 Federal Hill Rd. • Jarrettsville, MD 21084 410-692-5029 • GGSC@grimmelfarms.com www.grimmelgirlsshowcattle.com
SCH Polled Herefords
Samuel C. and Linda Hunter • 301-824-4771 13651 Newcomers Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21742
HERD SIRES: KCF Bennett York D377, KCF Bennett D367 G391, KCF Bennett 776 G413 and SCH Sensation D503 G4
MICHIGAN
W7048 C.R. 356 • Stephenson, MI 49887
Glenn Hanson, Sr 906-753-4684
Glenn Hanson, Jr 906-630-5169
“Cattle made for the North in the North”
MacNaughton Farms
12967 N. Cochran Rd., Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Ron’s Cell 517-230-7431
Jill’s Cell 517-627-4327 jilllemac@aol.com
David and Lorie Kitchell Family
Matthew & Darci, Dawson and Dutton Kitchell 3471 State Hwy. 200 • Ada, MN 56510-9260 701-799-7690 • www.dakitchfarms.com
REGISTERED POLLED HEREFORDS Genetics for Certified Hereford Beef® Fred, Doreen and Rebecca McMurry
Squaw Creek Ranch 20 miles east of Billings www.mcmurrycattle.com mcmurrycattle@gmail.com
Richard and Shirley Bruce and Tammy 406-544-1536 Kurt and Jessica 406-239-5113 P.O. Box 30055, Gold Creek, MT 59733 bruce@thomasherefords.com www.thomasherefords.com
Wichman Herefords www.wichmanherefords.com
Registered bulls and females for sale by private treaty. Proven bloodlines, longevity, performance, functional justinwichman22@gmail.com
Justin and Carmen Wichman 1921 Wichman Rd. 406-350-3123 cell Moore, MT 59464 406-374-6833 home
48979 Nordic Rd. Spencer, NE 68777
Frenzen Polled Herefords
ANNUAL BULL SALE Fourth Tuesday in March
Galen Frenzen 50802 N. Edgewood Rd. Fullerton, NE 68638 Galen 308-550-0237 Eric 308-550-0238
Females and club calves for sale private treaty.
Denny and Dixie Hoffman • 406-425-0859
Jason and Kaycee Hoffman • 530-604-5096 Office 308-645-2279 • P.O. Box 287 • Thedford, NE 69166 jason@hoffmanranch.com • www.hoffmanranch.com
Ainsworth, Nebraska Harrison 402-382-5899 | Houston 402-382-5285 Jim 402-760-1919 | Office 402-382-8016 www.hutton-ranch.com @Hutton Ranch
HOME OF CHURCHILL BROADWAY 104J Timothy Dennis 315-536-2769 315-856-0183 cell tdennis@trilata.com 3550 Old County Rd. Penn Yan, NY 14527
SPRING POND FARM
John and Ted Kriese – 4385 Italy Hill Road – Branchport, NY 14418 315-856-0234 hereford@frontiernet.net www.fingerlakescattle.com BREEDING CATTLE BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP
NORTH CAROLINA
J. Brent Creech 14926 Taylor’s Mill Rd. Zebulon, NC 27597
919-801-7561
www.tmfherefords.com tmfherefords@icloud.com
LLC C. Porter Claxton Jr. 240 Upper Flat Creek Rd. Weaverville, NC 28787
Farm
828-645-9127 cpcfarm@msn.com
Sales: Wayne Welch 828-768-3024
Visit our website to see current offering — www.claxtonfarmcattle.com Ten miles north of Asheville, N.C., on future I-26 West
Farm: 2296 N. Lomax Rd., Traphill, NC 28685 775 Clacton Circle, Earlysville, VA 22936 John Wheeler, owner • 910-489-0024 doublejfarmllc@yahoo.com • www.doublejfarmllc.com
T ripleTT polled Herefords
James Triplett 127 Roseman Ln. • Statesville, NC 28625
704-876-3148 (evening) 704-872-7550 (daytime) VisiT ors Welcome Bulls and Females For Sale Private Treaty
Will-Via Polled Herefords
Lavette and Brenda Teeter 2075 Landis Hwy. (NC Hwy. 152) Mooresville, NC 28115
Gerald and Janelle Bischoff 20025 399th Ave., Huron, SD 37350
Gerald 605-350-0979 Garret 605-461-1555 Matt 605-350-0980 ravinecr@santel.net • www.ravinecreekranch.com Annual Production Sale - 2nd Wednesday in March
HEREFORDS
Gordon and Thordys 39462 178th St. Frankfort, SD 57440 605-472-0619
Michael and Becky 605-224-4187 605-870-0052 blumeherf@yahoo.com
e ggers sout H view farms
Tim and Philip Eggers 25750 476th Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Tim cell 605-929-6560
Philip cell 605-351-5438 eggerssouthviewfarms@gmail.com I-29 Bull Run Sale 2nd Saturday in March
Keith, Cheryl, Erin and Matt Fawcett • 605-870-0161 Dan, Kyla, Hollis and Ivy Fawcett • 605-870-6172 Weston, Kristin, Falon and Jensen Kusser www.fawcettselmcreekranch.com 21115 344th Ave. Ree Heights, SD 57371
Winn Woodard 615-389-2624 • Phil Spicer 615-351-2810
4948 William Woodard R d. S pringfield , TN 37172
TEXAS
ATLAS FARMS
Your source for top end bulls and females. Jimmy, Claudia and Precious Atlas 4920 CR 401 • Grandview, TX 76050 214-202-5178 • 817-456-4691 atlasfarms@sbcglobal.net
Bill or Chad Breeding 1301 N. Lions • Box 186 | Miami, TX 79059
Bill 806-662-2406 | Chad 806-570-9554 1941breeder@gmail.com | chadebreeding@gmail.com
Raising cattle in Texas since 1855 Joey and Susan Skrivanek, owners 407 W. Mustang • Caldwell, TX 77836 Cell 979-224-4698 • Office 979-567-3131 j.skrivanekranch@outlook.com
Larry Woodson Bonham, TX 214-491-7017 larrywoodson@gmail.com www.stillriverranch.com
SUNNY HILL RANCH
Horned and Polled Pete Johnson, owner St Hwy 94 • Lufkin, TX 75904 936-465-1672 • pljmhj@yahoo.com http://www.sunnyhillranchherefords.com Southeast Texas Bull Sale Headquarters
4609 Airport Freeway Ft. Worth, Texas 76117 817-831-3161
texashereford@sbcglobal.net www.texashereford.org
UTAH
Rod Curtis 435-770-0509 rod@cachefeeds.com herefords1@hotmail.com
JB Herefords
3847 W. 2200 S. • Wellsville, UT 84339 www.jbherefords.com
Billy Jensen 435-764-2422 Kyson Smith 435-421-9032 jbherefords@gmail.com Jensen Brothers Herefords – Since 1920
Jonathan and Craig Johansen Castle Dale, UT • 435-650-8466 johansenherefords@gmail.com www.johansenherefords.com Line One Performance Breeding Since 1979
Jake Rees 801-668-8613
Scott Rees 801-949-8960 Roger Rees, DVM 801-913-5747 Herefords & Angus ReesCattle.com reescattle@gmail.com
2235 E. Rees Ln.•Morgan , UT 84050
VIRGINIA
Linda Lonas P.O. Box 187 • Purcellville, VA 20134 703-850-5501 Cell • 703-368-5812 Office Featuring Polled Descendants of J215 Thistle Tree Farm
WASHINGTON
Bill Cox 688 Pataha St. Pomeroy, WA 99347 509-566-7050 cell cxranch@live.com
SINCE 1943
DIAMOND M RANCH
SELLING 1,500 HEREFORDS ANNUALLY “The great feedlot performance cattle” The McIrvins Box 99 Laurier, WA 509-684-4380 Winter Headquarters 646 Lake Rd. Burbank, WA 99323 509-545-5676
WISCONSIN
Kevin and Janice Bennett 3752 Ollie Bell Rd. Benton, WI 53803
Shannon, Matt and Derrick Wilcox 17912 S. Hwy. 195 Spangle, WA 99031 509-953-2535 – Marty www.wilcoxfamilycattle.com
Hereford Cattle Since 1902 P.O. Box 66 • Kaycee, WY 82639 307-738-2443 or 307-267-3229 Cell Sale Date – Nov. 16, 2023 largentandsons@yahoo.com www.largentandsons.com
McClun’s Lazy JM Ranch
Polled Herefords and Angus Raising Herefords since 1967 Jim and Jerri McClun and Family 1929 Rd. 60 • Veteran, WY 82243 • 307-837-2524 Cell 307-534-5141 • jkmcclun@wyomail.com www.mcclunranch.com Private Treaty Sales and Annual Production Sale in April
Sale — Fourth Wednesday in October
WY
Eddie Burks , Auctioneer 531 Rick Rd. Park City, KY 42160 270-991-6398 Cell endburks@hotmail.com 7710 North State Rd 56 Vevay, IN 47043 540-336-2737
Pregnancy ELISA testing • BVD PI testing
NIR Feed & Forage testing C. Scanlon Daniels, DVM PO Box 1150 3216 US Hwy 54 East Dalhart, TX 79022 806-244-7851 office 806-333-2829 mobile www.circleh.info scanlon@circleh.info
Calendar of Events
“Calendar of Events” is a listing of Hereford sales and events known to our staff. Italicized dates denote shows and events. Non-italicized dates denote sales. To make the calendar concise we have used the following abbreviations: association, assn.; international, int’l; junior, jr.; mountain, mtn.; national, nat’l; northeast, NE; northwest, NW; performance tested, PT; southeast, SE; southwest, SW; and university, Un.
2025 AUGUST
3 Indiana State Fair Jr. Show, Indianapolis 4-6 Texas A&M Un. Beef Cattle Short Course, College Station
5 Wisconsin State Fair Jr. Show, W. Allis
7 Illinois State Fair Jr. Show, Springfield
9 Illinois State Fair Open Show, Springfield 9-10 Kansas Hereford Assn. Tour
9 State Fair of West Virginia Jr. Show, Lewisburg
9 Wisconsin State Fair Open Show, W. Allis
10 Missouri State Fair, Sedalia 11-12 Western Video Market, Cheyenne, Wyo.
12-13 Cattle Country Video’s Oregon Trail Classic, Gering, Neb.
14 Iowa State Fair, Des Moines
14 LiveAg Video Auction, Casper, Wyo.
14 Upper Peninsula State Fair, Escanaba, Mich.
14 Wyoming State Fair & Rodeo, Douglas
16 State Fair of West Virginia Open Show, Lewisburg
Selling 10 pairs with heifer calves sired by SHF Houston D287 H086, SR Expedition 619G ET, BCC Sunrise 243K ET, and NJW 202C 173D Steadfast 156J. COWS ARE BRED AI TO SHF HOUSTON D287 H086, HB DISTINCT AND NJW 202C173D STEADFAST 156J.
34 Cranberry Marsh l Marianna, PA 15345 Brendan 304-815-4408
Les 724-267-3325
flatstonelick@gmail.com FLAT STONE LICK | Documented cattle that are right for today’s industry.
