August 2025 California Cattleman

AUGUST 2025 BULL BUYERS

2025 GUIDE

EPD SELECTION FOR THE REAL WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS HONORING A CCA ALLY AND FRIEND THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S August ASSOCIATION 2025 California Cattleman

1

Your

Trusted

Representatives in

Livestock

Marketing

Upcoming Sales August 11-12 (NEW) Simulcast on DISH 998 Little America | Cheyenne, WY

September 16

Consignment Deadline: August 28 Haythorn Ranch | Ogallala, NE

©Amen

Watch all of our sales on

wvmcattle.com Follow us

2 California Cattleman August 2025

(530) 347-3793 wvm@wvmcattle.com www.wvmcattle.com

TEHAMA ANGUS RANCH

Gener at ion s OF PERFORMANCE

1 PM AT THE RANCH GERBER, CALIFORNIA

51ST ANNUAL

BULL SALE

SEPTEMBER 12

Featuring these powerful individuals

AAA 21159941 BD: 02-08-2024

N492

Woodhill Authentic x S S Niagara Z29 HERD BULL ALERT! WR of 103, YR of 108. Dam is one of our great established donors with a BR of 7@98, WR of 5@105 and YR of 4@105. He is stout and correct with elite eyeappeal to burn and has tremendous mass and power. Flush brothers also sell. Maternal brothers were featured last year and one was heavily used in the program.

AAA 21273860 BD: 08-08-2024

N700 S Architect 9501 x Ellingson Homegrown

Powerful and flawless phenotype and composition.

Stout, correct and massively built with perfect structure. BR 99 and WR of 121. Dam has a progeny BR of 3@94, WR of 3@108 and YR of 2@104.

CED

+11

BW

+.4

CW MARB

WW

+93

RE

YW

+144

$M

MILK

+28

$W

$F

+64 +.64 +.58 +97 +107 +87

DOC

+17

$G

CLAW ANGLE

+.47

$B

+.37 $C

+53 +141 +280

AAA 21273919 BD: 08-06-2024

N674 EZAR Step Up 9178 x Tehama Roulette C462 Length, volume and quality to burn. With a WR of 119 and a proven dam with a progeny WR of 5@108, this herd sire prospect has breed leading performance and carcass quality with added maternal value on the bottom side.

CED

+2

BW

+3.7

CW MARB

WW

+90

RE

YW

+154

$M

MILK

$W

+33

$F

DOC

+34

$G

CLAW ANGLE

+.43

$B

+.54 $C

+69 +1.20 +1.16 +85 +94 +105 +85 +191 +333

CED

+13

BW

+.1

WW

+88

YW

+153

MILK

+36

DOC CLAW ANGLE

+28

+.47

+.48

CW

MARB

+80

RE

$M

+.57 +1.36 +101

$W

$F

+103 +123

$G

+60

$B

$C

+184 +340

OVER 80 YEARS IN THE REGISTERED ANGUS BUSINESS

A proven program with multi-generational, cutting-edge genetics from a balanced-trait cow herd built for longevity, productivity and profit.

150

AAA 21275050 BD: 09-06-2024

N841

THOROUGHLY EVALUATED ANGUS BULLS SELL 60 Spring Yearlings - 90 Fall Yearlings SALE MANAGEMENT: Matt Macfarlane 916-803-3113 (cell)

m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com

BULL VIDEOS AND LIVE BIDDING SALE DAY

Woodhill Reality x S S Niagara Z29 With a BR of 96 and WR of 105, this soggy and athletic son of Reality comes form a productive female that has a progeny BR of 5@97, WR of 5@103 and YR of 3@104. Calving-ease, carcass-quality, performance and maternal stability all in one.

AUCTIONEER: Rick Machado 805-501-3210

CED

+6

BW

-.1

CW MARB

WW

+81

RE

YW

+142

$M

MILK

+34

$W

$F

+66 +1.10 +.78 +104 +99 +117

DOC

+12

$G

CLAW ANGLE

+.53

$B

+.51 $C

+71 +188 +348

TEHAMA ANGUS RANCH 23820 TEHAMA AVE. GERBER, CA 96035 BRYCE BORROR 530-526-9404

August 2025 California Cattleman

3

VOL. 108, ISSUE 7

CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

AUGUST 2025 WWW.CALCATTLEMEN.ORG

3841 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95834 PRESIDENT

Rick Roberti, Loyalton FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Mike Williams, Acton

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTS

John Austel, Boulevard Steve Lambert, Oroville Anthony Stornetta, Atascadero TREASURER

Beverly Bigger, Ventura EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Billy Gatlin

VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Kirk Wilbur

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Lisa Brendlen

UPCOMING EVENTS CCA & CCW Midyear Meeting + Cattle-PAC Fundraiser

Aug. 14 & 15 | Paso Robles Event Center

109th Annual CCA/CCW Convention

Dec. 3-5 | Atlantis Casino Resort | Reno, NV

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Katie Roberti

MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS COORDINATOR

Gracie LeCheminant

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Katherine Dickinson

PUBLICATION SERVICES OFFICE & CIRCULATION

CCA Office: (916) 444-0845 Fax: (916) 444-2194 MANAGING MAGAZINE EDITOR

Stevie Ipsen | (208) 996-4922 stevie.ipsen@gmail.com

ADVERTISING SALES/FIELD SERVICES

Matt Macfarlane | (916) 803-3113 m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com

TO HEAR A RECENT EPIDODE OF

BILLING SERVICES

THE CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S PODCAST,

Lisa Brendlen lisa@calcattlemen.org SERVING CALIFORNIA BEEF PRODUCERS SINCE 1917

Bolded names and businesses in editorial represent only current members of the California Cattlmen’s Association or California CattleWomen, Inc. For questions about membership status, contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845.

The California Cattleman (Publication #8-3600) is published monthly except May/June is combined by the California Cattlemen’s Association, for $20/year, or as part of the annual membership dues. All material and photos within may not be reproduced without consent of publisher.

Periodical postage paid at Lubbock, Texas, 79402. Publication # 8-3600 National Advertising Group: The Cattle Connection/The Powell Group, 4162-B Carmichael Ct, Montgomery, AL 36106 (334) 271-6100.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: California Cattleman, 3841 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95834

4 California Cattleman August 2025

SORTING PEN: SCAN THIS CODE

make your bull buying easier and more

Profitable Concentrate on one value index – $C If you market steers and retain replacement females, $Combined is the simplest number to concentrate on if you’re wanting to make your operation more profitable. $C is the “everything index” as it combines over 15 traits with a direct effect on your bottom line. By selecting for bulls with a higher $C value, you will see favorable improvements in calving ease, growth, docility, heifer pregnancy, carcass weight and foot structure. You’ll also improve quality and yield grades while moderating milk, mature weight & feed intake.

Keeping in mind that $C is expressed in dollars per head, it isn’t hard to see where buying bulls with a high $C can return substantially more $$ to your operation. Imagine being able to run more cows on the same amount of ground and weaning heavier, more feed efficient calves with the ability to grade high choice and prime.....that could be like putting an extra $10,000 in your pocket for every semi-load of cattle leaving your ranch!

The average BYRD bull selling this fall ranks in the top 3% of the Angus breed for $C at 354, while the top 40 bulls selling here rank in the ultra-elite 1% with a $C above 378. If you want to maximize your ROI, buy BYRD bulls and get help selling your calves for top dollar. At BCC, you don’t just buy a bull, you buy a part of our program and the added value and buyer confidence we have worked hard to establish for almost 40 years.

Byrd Fireball 7237-4080

Byrd True Balance 0065-4030

+*21112744

+*20934475

His maternal brothers are big-time A.I. sires!

His full sister sold for $165,000 last year!

CED 18

BW WW YW -3.0 60 111

CW MARB RE $B $C 63 1.45 .89 222 394

CED 14

BW WW -1.7 65

YW CW MARB RE $B $C 123 69 1.62 1.39 247 392

Friday, September 5

Los Molinos rancH, Los Molinos, Ca

65 Elite Registered Female Lots Sell at 12 p.m.

110 Bulls Sell Immediately Following the Females

Byrd cattle company llc

Distinctly Different

Angus Bull & Female sale

CATALOGS & VIDEOS ONLINE: www.byrdcattleco.com

DAN BYRD 530-736-8470 TY BYRD 530-200-4054

BYRDCATTLECOMPANY@GMAIL.COM

Post office Box 713 • Red Bluff, CA 96080

August 2025 California Cattleman

5

CONTENTS ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVES

10 CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN 14 BUNKHOUSE

CCA works to keep good times coming People like beef and trust the work ranchers do

20 DUES DOLLARS AT WORK 24 WORKING RINGSIDE 44 CHIMES

State budget moves CCA initiatives forward Prices high as quality grows

California CattleWomen name new beef ambassadors for year ahead

72 YOUNG CATTLEMEN

Finding a home in the California beef community

76 COUNCIL COMMUNICATOR

CBC celebrates back-to-school with enticing beef promotion

78 82 NATIONAL STAGE BEEF ABROAD

Beef trade strong in face of tariffs Doing the right thing for your herd and your consumers

ON THE COVER In this year’s bull buyers guide, CCA staff and contributors share insight on obtaining the best genetics to service your herd as well as an extensive amount of pressing industry news. This month’s cover photo was taken by photographer Candice O’Neill.

6 California Cattleman August 2025

28

SPECIAL FEATURES

60 64 32 JETTING ACROSS THE INDUSTRY 68 38 86 48 28 EPDS IN THE REAL WORLD

How EPD science translates to your herd and operation

Young Cattlemen’s Conference takes CCA staffer on the road

HERE TO HELP How the CAHFS Lab can serve you

REPORTING CHANGES State Water Board makes changes to water reporting system

52

SUPPORTING OUR SUPPORTERS Cattle-PAC benefits ranchers longterm ASSOCIATION LOSES ALLY AND FRIEND A tribute to Ken Tate, Ph.D. MID-STATE FAIR HONOREES Cattlemen and CattleWomen of the year named in Paso Robles BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL President Trump follows through on promise to protect farms and ranches

HETEROSIS: HYPE OR LEGIT? Seeing the advantages up close and personal

54 GROWING THREAT

New World Screwworm inches closer to the U.S.

56

FARM SECURITY EQUALS NATIONAL SECURITY

Administration works to protect homeland

64

READER SERVICES

92 RANCH FAMILY ROUNDUP 96 FALL 2025 PRODUCTION SALES BUYERS’ S’ GUIDE 98 BUYER 102 ADVERTISING INDEX

86 August 2025 California Cattleman

7

D U N I PA C E 4076

4195

AAA 21004300 DOB: 1/26/2024 Poss Ratified x G A R Greater Good WW

YW

M MARB RE

4028

AAA 21005069 DOB: 3/4/2024 Basin Jameson 1076 x G A R Home Town $M

$B

CED

BW

$C

CED

BW

8

2.4 93 156 33 1.34 1.19 96 230 394

4

2.8 110 188 26 1.73 0.98 70 242 384

4150 BW

WW

YW

M MARB RE

$M

$B

YW

M MARB RE

$M

$B

$C

4089

AAA 21009737 DOB: 2/19/2024 RSA True Balance 1311 x Connealy Confidence Plus CED

WW

AAA 20967406 DOB: 1/9/2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x G A R Reliant

$C

CED

BW

WW

-1

5

98 180 33 1.21 1.45 33 266 378

4037

4063

WW

YW

M MARB RE

$M

$M

$B

$C

WW

YW

M MARB RE

$M

YW

M MARB RE

$M

$B

$C

CED

BW

WW

YW

M MARB RE

$M

$B

$C

14 0.3 81 153 30 1.44 1.4 58 222 346

4070

AAA 20967422 DOB: 1/21/2024 Basin Jameson 1076 x Basin Payweight 1682 $B

WW

AAA 20967402 DOB: 1/7/2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x G A R Sunrise

14 -2.3 64 119 34 1.49 1.29 81 224 372

AAA 20970536 DOB: 1/12/2024 Virginia Tech Statesman x PCC Horizon 025

M MARB RE

BW

11 1.8 93 165 18 1.2 1.21 58 237 365

4020

AAA 20967429 DOB: 1/29/2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x KB-Full Measure C40 YW

CED

AAA 20967424 DOB: 1/25/2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x Connealy Clarity

CED

BW

$C

CED

BW

$C

CED

BW

4

2.7 96 178 28 1.39 0.74 56 242 370

1

2.9 104 160 28 0.99 1.03 97 199 355

$B

8

1.7 84 156 28 1.19 1.36 34 247 354

WW

YW

M MARB RE

AN ANGUS LEGACY

WATCH AND BID ONLINE AT:

8 California Cattleman August 2025

SALE MANAGEMENT:

JOHN DICKINSON 916-806-1919 JAKE PARNELL 916-662-1298 info@parnelldickinson.com LUKE PARNELL 805-431-1267

$M

$B

$C

Dunipace Angus was established in 1968 by Jack and Susan Parnell in Auburn, CA. Travelling the country and marketing Angus cattle was Jack’s passion and he was instrumental in creating demand for Angus nationwide when they were not necessarily the breed of choice. In 1986, Jack was asked to enter public service and chose to go to work FOR ranchers and farmers and the herd was dispersed. Over the past few years the Dunipace herd has been reestablished and the next generation of Parnell’s are excited to relaunch the Dunipace brand. The foundation of the a Dunipace Angus was built on the principals of quality and integrity and the goals today remain the same today. We invite you to join us for our inaugural event and look forward to earning your business.

Inaugural Bull Sale

Dunipace Angus Ranch with Bar KJ Angus

Saturday, September 6, 2025 12:00 Noon

Sale will be held at the EZ Angus Sale Barn located just south of Milton, California

4034

4043

AAA 20987570 DOB: 3/18/2024 SG Salvation x Connealy Clarity WW

YW

M MARB RE

AAA 21014671 DOB: 3/24/2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x G A R Ashland

CED

BW

9

0.7 83 133 28 1.51 1.07 102 217 383

$M

$B

$C

CED

BW

WW

YW

M MARB RE

Basin Jameson 1076 EZAR Step Up 9178 VAR Conclusion 0324 S S Voyage Virginia Tech Statesman

dunipace A N G U S

L E G A C Y

AAA 21014668 DOB: 3/22/2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x G A R Home Town $C

CED

BW

11 0.5 86 156 22 1.24 1.1 66 210 338

9

0.1 76 137 30 1.52 0.92 71 229 368

Offering 140 performance-tested bulls sired by:

A N

4050

RSA True Balance 1311 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 SG Salvation Poss Ratified G A R Freedom

Jake Parnell

jake@parnelldickinson.com 916-662-1298

$M

$B

WW

YW

M MARB RE

$M

$B

To be added to the mailing list, either text 916-806-1919, or scan this code with your phone.

Debbie Wise

dwise@barkjangus.com 661-293-0656 August 2025 California Cattleman

9

$C

CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN GOOD TIMES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

PLANNING FOR WHAT’S AHEAD IN THE MIDST OF OPPORUNITIES FOR THE BEEF BUSINESS

by CCA Second Vice President John Austel I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. While trying to figure out what to write about for this month’s officer column, several topics came to mind. It was tough to narrow it down to just a couple, to be honest.

I agree with our President Rick Roberti and First Vice President Mike Williams that our industry is experiencing some exciting things right now. Even with current challenges, we are slowly turning a corner where the many science- based solutions are supporting our industry instead of tearing it down. It’s exciting to watch and be a part of this much needed and welcome change.

As I have been serving you as a second vice president over the last year and a half, I have seen an overwhelming understatement in the fact that involvement is critically essential to cultivating changes and or improvements needed in our industry. This fact has been proven time and again as our membership drives change within the beef industry on the West Coast and beyond.

With the cattle market being high over the last couple of years and the passing of positive movements like the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” most of us are feeling pretty good and optimistic about what the future holds. As a result — which, I’m reminding myself of as well —it is easy to be a little complacent on the daunting issues that lie ahead.

It is easy to get lost in the celebration of good times while important issues are still going on in our state. Predator management, land use, herd health, water issues, wildfire disasters and many more issues need to continue to be monitored in order to benefit and protect our way of life.

Some of these issues need to be addressed

10 California Cattleman August 2025

very quickly as our staff in Sacramento are well aware.

Our Executive Vice President Billy Gatlin and Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur along with other CCA staff are on top of the above issues and keeping the officer team updated along with sending out alerts when needed to the membership. I do know for a fact that behind the scenes, the officer team takes the issues along with member comments and concerns to heart and tries to resolve them to benefit all producers.

We have a couple big events coming up in August that are super important for our industry and I want to encourage you to attend. Our Midyear CCA Meeting and Cattle-PAC event will be held later this month in Paso Robles. Keeping up to date on our current issues at the Midyear Meeting is important for driving the direction of the association as a whole.

The Cattle-PAC Dinner, Dance and Auction will aim to raise funds for us to continue to cultivate our current Important relationships in the legislature. These two events being held together enables us to conveniently join forces in not just working to address important topics now but also preparing to address them in the future by supporting the politicians who support us. I hope I will see all of you there!

ENOA LIVESTOCK

“a BaLanced approach to performance hereford Genetics”

Bull Sale

13th annua1

SELLING 50 BALANCED-TRAIT GENOA BULLS

2 P.M. | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 At the ranch in Minden, Nevada Po lled

Po lled

BW

2.9

BW

WW 64 YW

BW

1.8

106

YW

REA 0.72

REA 0.93

CHB 161

CHB 169

GENOA 0065 KEY WEST 24026 ET REG# 44539469

Hor

BW

1.8

YW

111

GENOA H086 HOUSTON 24037 ET REG# 44539459

˙Ho

ned

3.7

WW 67 105

Marb 0.23

Marb 0.16

132

Marb 0.45 REA 0.86 CHB 189

GENOA 9985 HARVESTER 23259 ET REG# 44499660

Poll ed

YW

YW

109

Marb 0.39

WW 73

4.8

WW 76

WW 62

Marb 0.37

BW

Poll ed

BW

4.2

WW 68 YW

115

Marb 0.26

REA 0.91

REA 0.80

REA 0.99

CHB 165

CHB 158

CHB 170

GENOA H086 HOUSTON 24048 REG# 44544125

GENOA 8339 HIGH NOON 24132 ET REG# 44553143

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Noon: Live viewing of sale cattle and buffet lunch 2 PM: Live Auction Video Sale Rick Machado, Auctioneer Online bidding available at CCI.LIVE 4:30 PM: Dinner & Live Entertainment Sale cattle delivered within 500 miles Cattle can remain at GL for 60 days, no charge

rned

GENOA 8339 HIGH NOON 24059 REG# 44544126

G enoa L ivestock

640 Genoa Lane, Minden, NV Office 775-782-3336 Bob Coker 916-539-1987 Chris Beck 618-367-5397 info@genoalivestock.com Find us on Facebook!

WWW.GENOALIVESTOCK.COM August 2025 California Cattleman

11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 GALT, CALIFORNIA – 12:30 PM WITH O’CONNELL RANCH

Angus Bull Sale Two like-minded programs have joined forces and are working hard to make sure the genetics behind your calves create a large premium over the market for you on your sale day.

Breed-leading performance and carcass quality and a large selection of heifer bulls.

STERLING DEADWOOD 421

STERLING ROI 4517

STERLING PLUS 4546

AAA 20974504 BD: 04-09-2024

AAA 21170330 BD: 04-17-2024

AAA 21170411 BD: 05-23-2024

Poss Deadwood x baldridge Xpand x743

Sterling R O I x Connealy Gary

Sterling Plus 1127 x G A R Ashland

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 10 -.6 73 144 29 62 1.21 1.09 50 196 304 25% 15% 40% 15% 30% 35% 15% 15% 85% 15% 20%

CED BW WW YW 9 .5 79 145 30% 35% 25% 15%

M CW MB RE $M $B $C 37 62 1.48 .60 86 207 354 3% 35% 5% 65% 15% 10% 4%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 5 1.6 93 167 30 84 1.46 .84 76 226 369 65% 60% 3% 2% 25% 4% 10% 35% 30% 3% 2%

O’CONNELL BREAKTRHOUGH 4037

O’CONNELL DOC RYAN 4002

O’CONNELL MAGNITUDE 4010

AAA 21274853 BD: 06-07-2024

AAA 21211800 BD: 06-21-2024

AAA 21207119 BD: 05-28-2024

MG Magnitude x Mill Brae Identified 4031

Beal Breakthrough x G A R Ashland

T/D Doc Ryan 049 x Deer Valley Growth Fund

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 12 -.4 80 139 23 76 1.42 1.37 86 232 387 15% 20% 20% 25% 75% 10% 10% 2% 15% 2% 1%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 12 2.3 94 163 23 81 1.48 1.36 84 222 372 15% 75% 3% 3% 75% 5% 5% 2% 15% 4% 2%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 7 2.3 89 160 26 75 .89 .82 68 190 314 45% 75% 10% 4% 50% 15% 35% 35% 45% 15% 15%

110 ANGUS BULLS SELL

AT CATTLEMEN’S LIVESTOCK MARKET Performance, Fertility, DNA and Soundness Evaluated

ALSO SELLING select group of Commercial Females.

O’CONNELL RANCH IS OFFERING 35 SUMMER YEARLINGS

Sires include: O’Connell Sunpower – T/D Doc Ryan 049 Connealy Craftsman – VAR Conclusion 0234 Virginia Tech Statesman

12 California Cattleman August 2025

DIXIE VALLEY IS OFFERING 25 SPRING YEARLING AND 50 YEARLINGS Sires include: Sterling Pacific 904 – Sterling R O I Sterling Plus 1127 – Yon Chatooga G246 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 – 44 Cavalry Charge 0155 Poss Deadwood – Basin Jameson 1076 – K A Kindred

STERLING GETTYSBURG 404

AAA 20980349 BD: 03-24-2024 EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x DB Iconic G95 CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 12 .7 76 143 31 70 1.51 1.08 65 211 339 15% 40% 30% 20% 20% 20% 5% 15% 55% 10% 10%

A sure fire herd-bull prospect that combines quality phenotype and genetic power as well as any bull you will see. Elite cow family backed by the multi-million dollar producing RB Lady Denver 167-453. His flushmate brother “412” is featured below.

STERLING PACIFIC 422

STERLING CHARGE 416

STERLING DEADWOOD 4534

AAA 20974505 BD: 04-12-2024

AAA 20974501 BD: 04-02-2024

AAA 21170388 BD: 04-30-2024

Sterling Pacific 904 x V A R Power Play 7018

44 Cavalry Charge 0155 x Connealy Confidence Plus

Poss Deadwood x S S Enforcer E812

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 2 2.9 95 170 15 74 1.27 1.07 40 208 310 85% 85% 3% 2% 95% 15% 15% 15% 95% 10% 20%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 3 4.0 79 142 20 67 .79 1.03 72 180 305 75% 95% 25% 20% 90% 25% 45% 15% 35% 25% 20%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 7 1.1 76 140 29 66 1.57 1.66 76 237 383 45% 45% 30% 20% 30% 25% 4% 1% 30% 2% 1%

STERLING GETTYSBURG 412

STERLING CLARITY 423

STERLING DEADWOOD 4538

AAA 20980350 BD: 03-29-2024

AAA 20980403 BD: 04-15-2024

AAA 21170396 BD: 05-03-2024

EZAR Gettysburg 1061 x DB Iconic G95

Connealy Clarity x G A R Prophet

Poss Deadwood x Baldridge Alternative E125

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 8 1.5 96 176 35 100 1.68 .88 55 255 386 40% 55% 2% 1% 10% 1% 2% 30% 75% 1% 1%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 4 2.7 99 175 22 76 1.14 .86 83 187 326 70% 80% 1% 1% 80% 10% 20% 30% 15% 20% 15%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 13 .7 82 142 22 63 1.84 .72 84 227 378 10% 40% 15% 20% 80% 35% 1% 50% 15% 3% 2%

DIXIEVALLEY.COM BULL VIDEOS AND LIVE BIDDING SALE DAY

CONTACT THE SALE MANAGER TO REQUEST A SALE BOOK: Matt Macfarlane 916-803-3113 (cell) m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com AUCTIONEER: Jake Parnell 916-662-1298

O’CONNELL RANCH

Dan & Barbara O’Connell Colusa, CA oconnellranch.com Daniel O’Connell: 530-632-3902 daniel@pacificlandandenergy.com

Lee Nobmann , Owner 707-206-4115 Hunter Wheeler, Manager 530-520-8362

August 2025 California Cattleman

13

BUNKHOUSE THEY LIKE YOU. THEY REALLY LIKE YOU!

MOST PEOPLE ENJOY BEEF AND ARE FOND OF RANCHERS

by CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur There is a common belief in agriculture that farmers and ranchers are eternal optimists. They are always certain it’s going to rain eventually.

They know that a bad year for cattle prices won’t last forever and that the sun will always rise after a rough night of calving.

While I appreciate the sentiment that I work for some very positive people, I on the otherhand tend toward pessimism. Now, I know that claim might be undercut by the goofy smile in the staff photo to the right of this column, or by my general jovial attitude when you see me at tour meetings or the annual CCA Convention or talk to me on the phone. But it’s true. An inordinate amount of my time is spent dwelling on my dissatisfaction with the state of things or forecasting worst-case scenarios.

To some extent that’s an asset in a government affairs representative. You want someone ready for whatever comes their way, someone who won’t be surprised when legislative, regulatory, media or activist threats come out of left field.

Pessimism is also a natural hazard of the job. I spend my days fending off industry attacks from radical animal rights activists, antigrazing environmentalists, Silicon Valley venture capitalists trying to make a quick buck from

14 California Cattleman August 2025

alternative protein fads and even the occasional well-intentioned-butmisinformed advocate or lawmaker. Hell, as I write this, the association is up against the powerful influence of California labor, with both the Teamsters Union and the California Federation of Labor Unions opposing CCA-sponsored AB 411 (if you’re wondering why labor is opposing a bill about livestock carcass composting, join the club; I’ll unpack that in a future edition of California Cattleman once the ink has dried on the legislative year).

When I come up for air, those around me help to remind me that people like ranchers. They like cows on the landscape, they like beef and they like the work you do for the people of California (and maybe that means they appreciate the support that I try to give you in Sacramento).

Katie Roberti, CCA’s Director of Communications, recently reminded me of a trip I took in October to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where I sat on a panel discussing wolves in California. And sure, I got heckled by a loud few wearing wolf tee-shirts, including a woman who branded me the “evil rancher guy” (I really liked that, actually).

But my co-panelists from CDFW and the California Wolf Project extolled the habitat-stewardship work of California ranchers, and several residents of the second-most populous city in America came up to me afterward to tell me they’d appreciated getting to understanding ranchers’ perspective on wolves. One gentleman ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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August 2025 California Cattleman

15

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 noted that the NHM Grill in the Museum’s basement serves a hamburger, and several wolf advocates in the audience had doubtless eaten beef for lunch.

I recently attended a celebration in Davis to mark the occasion of my girlfriend earning her doctorate in computational linguistics (yes, I am also aware that I’m dating out of my league).

When her fellow doctoral graduate learned what I do for work, he answered with something to the effect of, “that must be easy – everyone loves ranchers!” The rest of us at the table disabused him of that notion, but it was refreshing to hear from someone for whom animosity toward ranchers was somewhat unthinkable.

As I recently sought to commiserate about the challenges of lobbying with CCA’s contract lobbyist, Jason Bryant, he offered some helpful perspective. “What’s the most popular show on TV?” he asked me, apparently unaware that Yellowstone aired its final episode in December of last year. “People love ranching. It’s part of the backbone of America.” It was just after the Fourth of July, so perhaps natural that he was feeling particularly patriotic about the work that we do.

Finally, I took an Uber to the Capitol Swing Sp (Papan), the mortality composting bill. My driver asked why I was heading to the Capitol, and I told him I advocate for cattle ranchers. It turns out he had grown up in Sonoma County, and while his family wasn’t engaged in agriculture, he had immense nostalgia and adoration for the ranches, farms and dairies of his hometown, and he spent the entirety of the brief ride chatting to me about them.

These aren’t folks in the State of Jefferson – these are people in Los Angeles and Sacramento who idly remind me that they appreciate beef.

They appreciate ranching. And they appreciate ranchers.

I’m going to continue being a pessimist, of course, at least until Governor Newsom finishes signing and vetoing bills on October 12. But in the meantime, these little reassurances from everyday Californians who recognize the value of ranching will help me get through my day-to-day in the Capitol.

And by time you see me at convention in early December, I’m sure a jolly smile will replace the nervous doomerism.

Common Sense Cattle Breeding Cattle breeding is not that difficult if you just use some good, old common sense. It has been proven over time that the functional ability of livestock is tied very closely to how they are phenotypically designed. In our herds, the cattle must have an adequate amount of body depth or volume, an adequate degree of muscle, they must be structurally sound, and they must be fertile. If they don’t meet these basic criteria, they are culled regardless of how good they are in terms of their EPD or genomic profile.

We also place emphasis on the basic traits of eyes, udders, feet and disposition. These traits are described by many as

Annual Bull Sale

“convenience traits”. If our cattle are not problem free in these areas, we limit their genetic influence in our herds.

Our opinion is that the most profitable beef cattle in any production system are those that can function with very little need for additional labor or supplemental feeding inputs.

Our ultimate goal is to create a moderate framed, low maintenance cow that can wean a big stout calf and do it without any other inputs from us. That goal is the same in both our Angus and Charolais herds. herds.

We would like to extend a special thank you to all of the buyers and bidders in our Internet-based Private Treaty Bull Sale as well as the other ranches and individuals who have supported our program during the past year!

This year’s sale will be held August 16 - 30.

30. Please contact us for more information or watch our website. You can scan the QR Code below with your phone’s Camera, and it will link you directly to our Bull Sale Website: https://jcast.fresnostate.edu/beef/bull-sale

FRESNO SAGRICULTURAL TA T E FO U N DA T I O N 16 California Cattleman August 2025

2025 Student Assistants

David Leon Benenci Rivas Kadin Wheeless

Gabby Velasquez Megan Huster Eli Lockwood

Izaiah Perez Morgan Jackson Benjamin Placencia

Our bulls and developed and cared for with the help of Fresno State students who put into practice the applicable, real world production methods that they learn in the classroom. Not only do we produce outstanding bulls, we also turn out top quality students who are ready to enter the agriculture industry, better for the experience they’ve gained in our program!

RYAN PERSON (559) 326-8354

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17

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19

YOUR DUES DOLLARS AT WORK CCA POLICIES ADVANCED WITHIN CALIFORNIA’S REVISED BUDGET

by CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur California lawmakers have a powerful incentive to meet the state’s Constitutional deadline to approve a budget bill no later than midnight on June 15: Under 2010’s Proposition 25, legislators can’t draw a salary or seek reimbursement for costs so long as a budget bill is delinquent, nor may they retroactively get paid once they have submitted a late budget.

Legislators are clever, though, so in recent years they’ve found a simple work-around to safeguard their paychecks: Pass a pro forma budget bill by June 15, continue negotiating the details of the budget ahead of the fiscal year turnover on July 1 (and in some circumstances, even after the fiscal year has begun) and pass a revised budget once negotiations have been settled.

So when the Legislature passed SB 101, the Budget Act of 2025, on June 13, few expected it to be the final word on the state’s fiscal plan.

SB 101 had relatively few provisions for cattle producers to get excited over. Some evergreen CCA priorities like wildfire resilience funding were present in the initial budget bill – including, for instance, $221 million to transition 3,000 seasonal firefighting positions to full-time in recognition of the year-round reality of wildfire danger – but few discrete ranching priorities were advanced by the legislation.

Perhaps most noteworthy in SB 101 was an action the Legislature had elected not to take: lawmakers rejected Governor Newsom’s request to streamline permitting and review of a proposed tunnel to reroute water to Southern California through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in the Budget Act, though legislators left the door open to addressing the policy later this legislative session.

As expected, leaders in the Assembly and Senate continued hammering out the finer details of the Budget with the Newsom Administration throughout the latter half of June, and on June 27 the Legislature passed AB 102, a revised budget bill. That same day, Governor Newsom announced that he had signed 16 bills related to the budget: SB 101 (the initial Budget Act); AB 102 (the revised Budget Act); another bill which made revisions to the budget acts of 2022, 2023 and 2024; and 13 budget trailer bills (policy bills implementing provisions of the Budget).

20 California Cattleman August 2025

Most notably, the revised Budget Act contains two major wins for CCA members not included in the June 13 Budget Act: it leveraged the entirety of the state Budget to force reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and it renewed funding for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program.

Revised Budget Leveraged to Secure CEQA Amendments On June 27, just two business days before the beginning of the state’s 2025-26 Fiscal Year, the Legislature passed – and the Governor signed into law – a revised Budget Act. But tucked deep within that Budget Act was some unusual language: “Notwithstanding any other law, if the Governor does not sign one of Assembly Bill 131 or Senate Bill 131 on June 30, 2025, the provisions of the Budget Act of 2025, as enacted in Senate Bill 101 and as amended in this act, and any associated bills providing for appropriations related to the budget identified in Section 39.00 of this act that are enacted on or before June 30, 2025, shall be inoperative and repealed in their entirety on June 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.”

Translation: ‘If the Legislature doesn’t immediately send me a bill exempting some urban housing development and other projects from CEQA, no Budget Act will take effect and the state will suddenly find itself in a Budget crisis.’

The Governor’s gambit was successful in strong-arming legislators to send him Senate Bill 131 three days later, which he immediately signed into law. SB 131 streamlines CEQA permitting for housing projects that narrowly miss an existing CEQA exemption because of failure to satisfy single conditions in those exemptions and establishes new CEQA exemptions for projects related to childcare centers, advanced manufacturing facilities, food banks, clean water, broadband or public parks.

(Another bill signed on June 30, AB 130 (Wicks), exempted from CEQA certain infill housing projects.)

Of greatest interest to California’s ranching community, the legislation also exempts from CEQA a variety of small wildfire risk reduction ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

August 2025 California Cattleman

21

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 projects, including the establishment of fuel breaks extending up to 200 feet from structures and prescribed fires and other fuels reduction projects under 50 acres undertaken within a half mile “of a subdivision of 30 or more dwelling units.”

Projects to construct or repair certain farmworker housing projects are also exempted from CEQA under the legislation, as are projects related to the construction of rural health clinics.

CCA has clear policy promoting CEQA exemptions for wildfire resilience projects.

The Association is pleased that lawmakers in Sacramento are taking steps to reduce red tape that too often stymies responsible wildfire mitigation efforts, but further progress is needed. Fortunately, in light of the state’s dual wildfire and affordability crises, legislators are actively exploring whether further exemptions from CEQA are prudent.

Legislature Allocates $2 Million for Wolf Compensation In addition to CEQA reform, there was another major win for ranchers tucked away in the revised Budget Act: $2 million earmarked for CDFW’s Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program.

After the Compensation Program ran out of funds in March of 2024, renewed funding for the Program became CCA’s primary policy objective in the 2024 legislative year. CCA lobbied the issue aggressively last year, initially requesting $15 million over five years for the program but ultimately securing just $600,000 in hardfought funding – nevertheless a significant achievement in the state’s second consecutive budget deficit cycle.

Given the limited funding, CDFW announced in October that the agency would only be compensating producers for direct losses of livestock from wolves, temporarily discontinuing the Department’s non-lethal deterrence assistance and ‘pay for presence’ programs given limited funds.

Because the direct loss compensation program had secured funding, and due to a third consecutive budget deficit cycle presenting an even more challenging landscape to secure renewed compensation funding, CCA did not actively pursue renewed Wolf-Livestock Compensation Funding in the Fiscal Year 202526 Budget.

But neither did CCA allow the issue to fade into the background. The threat posed by gray wolves has been a centerpiece of CCA’s advocacy around AB 411 (Papan), CCA-sponsored

22 California Cattleman August 2025

legislation to legalize on-ranch composting of routine livestock mortalities and intended to give producers an alternative to bone piles which can attract wolves and other predators to the ranch.

CCA – and CCA President Rick Roberti, Loyalton – were also all over the media landscape emphasizing the impacts of gray wolves over the past year, with feature stories in major publications like the Los Angeles Times and East Bay Times and in major television outlets like KTLA in Los Angeles, features which doubtless reached legislators and Capitol staff.

Assemblymember Heather Hadwick issued a budget request letter seeking $100 million for the Program, and numerous northeastern counties called attention to the challenges posed by wolves by declaring public safety emergencies. Drs. Ken Tate and Tina Saitone released details of a study which quantified the direct and indirect impacts – including financial impacts – of gray wolf presence upon cattle production in northeastern California.

Finally, CCA’s government affairs team continued to quietly highlight the necessity of renewed Wolf-Livestock Compensation Funding in high-level discussions with legislators and appropriators, most significantly with staff in Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ offers.

The attention and behind-the-scenes legislative advocacy clearly bore fruit, with an additional $2 million now available for the Program.

As of press time, it was not yet clear whether the Department would reinitiate compensation under the non-lethal deterrence assistance or pay for presence prongs of its Compensation Programs. CCA will inform members of further developments concerning the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program in this publication and the California Cattleman Weekly e-newsletter.

The Modern Budget Cycle Never Truly Ends Now in the second month of the 2025-26 Fiscal Year, we likely still haven’t heard the final word on the state’s budget. Jason Sisney, the Budget Director for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, posted to his Substack in mid-July that “Additional budget-related action focused on unresolved matters in the natural resources budget…is expected in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session in August and September.” After returning from Summer Recess on August 18, the Legislature is also likely to take actions responsive to the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” according to Sisney.

CCA will continue to keep members apprised of any future budget actions with significant implications for cattle producers.

11

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CED BW WW YW MILK DOC CLAW ANGLE +13 -2.3 +71 +142 +32 +12 +.51 +.47 10% 3% 45% 20% 15% 85% 60% 50% CW MARB RE $M $W $F $G $B $C +72 +1.66 +.75 +41 +71 +127 +103 +230 +339 15% 3% 45% 95% 35% 10% 3% 3% 10%

CED BW WW YW MILK DOC CLAW ANGLE +9 +1.1 +80 +135 +25 +25 +.60 +.43 30% 45% 20% 30% 60% 25% 90% 30% CW MARB RE $M $W $F $G $B $C +58 +1.10 +.81 +84 +84 +94 +73 +168 +302 45% 20% 35% 15% 15% 50% 20% 35% 25%

4249 AAA 21233663 BD: 07-17-2024

4411 AAA 21233728 BD: 08-03-2024

4248 AAA 21233870 BD: 07-16-2024

K C F Bennett Exponential x G A R Prophet

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CED BW WW YW MILK DOC CLAW ANGLE +14 -2.0 +70 +125 +32 +24 +.37 +.40 4% 4% 45% 45% 15% 30% 15% 20% CW MARB RE $M $W $F $G $B $C +67 +1.10 +1.59 +106 +86 +125 +87 +212 +381 25% 20% 1% 1% 10% 10% 10% 10% 1%

CED BW WW YW MILK DOC CLAW ANGLE +10 +2.5 +90 +159 +31 +13 +.34 +.35 25% 80% 5% 5% 20% 80% 10% 10% CW MARB RE $M $W $F $G $B $C +76 +1.23 +1.22 +84 +90 +117 +93 +211 +358 10% 15% 5% 15% 10% 15% 10% 10% 4%

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Our customers’ calves continue to bring a premium – The only reason we do this is for our commercial customers to be profitable.

A LARGE SELECTION OF CALVING EASE BULLS, AS ALWAYS! CONTACT THE SALE MANAGER TO REQUEST A SALE BOOK: Matt Macfarlane 916-803-3113 (cell) m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com AUCTIONEER: Rick Machado 805-501-3210

Bulls were developed at Joe Clarot’s in Modesto, CA. Call Joe at (209) 678-5030 to come and visit and walk through the bulls.

Donati Angus Ranch Tom & Sally Donati, Oroville, CA 530-693-1634 donatiranch.com Rocky Donati: 530-693-1640

BULL VIDEOS AND LIVE BIDDING SALE DAY

August 2025 California Cattleman

23

WORKING RINGSIDE MARKETING SEASON LOOKING GOOD AS PRODUCT FOR BUYERS LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER

by Matt Macfarlane for the California Cattleman Welcome to the 2025 California Cattleman Bull Buyer’s Guide. This issue is filled with relevant industry issues as well as the local and regional bull merchandising events that you will see me at this fall in terms of bull sales and female and feeder/stocker cattle marketing.

As I type this, I have just returned from what is unarguably the largest marketing event in the West, the signature July Western Video Sale in Reno, Nev., and it was an amazing spectacle of record prices never seen before. All classes were up $50-$75 per hundredweight over last year with some bringing over $100 more per cwt than the previous year. That is really saying something because consignors have left happy with prices over the last couple of years.

As expected, program cattle that were weaned were still top of the market and current vaccinations and mineral programs were given extra attention as well. Over 170,000 head were marketed with optimism and enthusiasm being at an all time high. I cannot imagine Ellington Peek and Col. John Rodgers would have foreseen such a site when they had their first video sale in 1989. What they built over 35 years ago has become a mainstay for cattle marketing in the West and to see the smiles and laughter around the Silver Legacy was heartwarming and infectious to say the least.

It was evident that high quality genetics still play a major role in higher purchase prices as well in this unprecedented market. Feeders, stockers and breeding cattle that had reputation genetics from proven programs are still commanding higher premiums.

I have said it before, as a commercial producer it is essential to add genetics to your program that will be sought after and recognizable by the buying public along with current health and nutrition programs. Simply put, cattle sired by bulls that are featured from programs like the ones throughout the advertisers in this special issue, were bringing substantially more money.

Seedstock breeders in this region are as progressive and current as anywhere in the country. Seeing the progeny of bulls from these programs create value and demand on a national

24 California Cattleman August 2025

level excites me even more going into the fall. We have as good of availability of bulls as anywhere in the country and I encourage you to take a strong look at what is available throughout this issue and the sales I will be attending.

The editorial in this issue is also as industry relevant as we can get and will keep you updated on the major issues affecting our readership.

With no shortage of major things happening across the industry impacting you and your bottom line, I hope you will take the time to browse through and see where the association is on multitude of issues that they are working diligently on to help continue the prosperity we are experiencing right now.

My good friend and our CCA president, Rick Roberti, as well as the other officers and tremendous staff at CCA, have been extremely busy representing our interests on a state and national stage. I recently talked with him in Reno and I feel that we as producers are in very good hands. Please reach out to him, he is extremely user friendly to not only our membership, but anyone who wants to discuss an issue they are having. He is hitting the road hard and doing all he can to ensure we are out in front of those issues that are hitting us hard.

I encourage those that happen to read this that are not members to get involved with CCA ASAP. If you are not doing your part in the payment of dues, you are still experiencing the benefits as a cattle producer. We are combatting in so many arenas right now to continue producing and profiting in the cattle industry, that every dollar will be of tremendous assistance.

As always, I am a phone call away if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions for us to improve any part of this great publication. I look forward to seeing you on the road this fall and if you need any assistance please feel free to call.

TEIXEIRA CATTLE CO. 31ST ANNUAL

SALE BY SEPT. 10, 2025 • Pismo Beach, CA • 1:00 PM (PDT) elling50 BULLS & 75+ BRED FEMALES & PAIRS S THE SEA

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TEX ABLE 4241 AAA *20999525

TEX COMMERCE 4180 AAA *21059505

TEX EXPONENTIAL 4126 AAA *21058198

TEX ARMSTRONG 4148 AAA *21059582

RE

0.75

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303

TEX BLACKCAP 3483 AAA *21003041

Marb

1.15

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0.84

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TEX LUCY 3480 AAA *21071773

bulls average: BW EPD .647 • YW EPD 125 • $C EPD 300 • All Bulls tested for bovine congestive heart failure • All females are Igenity Beef tested

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www.teixeiracattleco.com • cattle@thousandhillsranch.com • 855 Thousand Hills Ranch, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

P RO G R ES S I V E V I S I O N. F U N CT I O N A L A N G U S CAT T L E. August 2025 California Cattleman

25

Bull 100 Performance-Tested Angus Bulls

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Sell Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Galt, CA :: 12:30 p.m.

BRAVO CONCLUSION 4034 3-8-2024

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MILK MARB RE $M $B $C 23 1.18 1.00 61 203 324

BRAVO HOMETOWN 4114 5-20-2024

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WW 103

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MILK MARB RE $M $B $C 24 0.97 1.24 64 212 339

BRAVO CONCLUSION 4046 4-6-2024

BRAVO CONCLUSION 4416 6-15-2024

V A R Conclusion 0234 x EXAR Mounmental 605B

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MILK MARB RE $M $B $C 31 1.03 1.13 60 202 322

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WW 93

YW 161

MILK MARB RE $M $B $C 31 1.15 0.82 70 198 327

BW 0.7

WW 78

YW 146

MILK MARB RE $M $B $C 25 1.16 1.64 67 224 358

BRAVO CLARITY 4400 4-7-2024

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V A R Doc Ryan 2493 x V A R Power Play 7018

V A R Conclusion 0234 x G A R Home Town

CED 13

Connealy Clarity x E W A Teamwork 821 BW -1.1

WW 79

YW 150

MILK MARB RE $M $B $C 22 0.83 0.57 73 198 330

s e r i S d e r u t a e F

:: V A R Conclusion 0234 :: EXAR Cover The Bases 0819B :: EZAR Gettysburg 1061

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THE ARELLANO FAMILY: ADHEMAR, ADHEMAR JR., RAFAEL AND TIM 26 California Cattleman August 2025

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NUMBERS IN THE REAL WORLD

by Managing Editor Stevie ipsen

UNDERSTANDING EPDS AND APPLYING THE DATA

Like all fields of science and technology, the science of breeding beef cattle has exploded over the past three decades. While many producers are still looking for the best way to understand and utilize the data available to them, the great news is that the science works and is getting better!

For David Dal Porto, an Angus seedstock producers with purebred and commercial operations in California and Nebraska, the technology of EPDs makes it an exciting time to be in the bull business.

“We have tools today that we once only dreamed about. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the scientists who have utilized our data to create these tools,” Dal Porto said. “But it’s up to all of us to learn to use the data and teach our customers how to take advantage of it.”

A Basic Understanding There seems to be a misconception among some cattle producers that because Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are merely just “expected” means they are disputable or less likely to accurately predict a breeding outcome, but as more and more data becomes available, it’s becoming increasingly clear that EPDs work and translate to the next generation just like they are supposed to.

The basic idea is that as producers select parentage based on cattle EPDs, the genetic value for a given trait will increase in the subsequent calf crop. As EPDs become more widely relied upon, perhaps an easier way to consider the term “expected” is to instead consider the term “average.” When making a prediction about the future, we are describing the average performance of the progeny from a mating. It’s important to note that an individual’s performance and its EPD for a trait can vary significantly because that is not the purpose of an EPD. According to Darrh Bullock, Ph.D, with the University of Kentucky, EPDs are powerful tools to

28 California Cattleman August 2025

make genetic change.

“The ability to change the performance of the herd through selection has never been greater,” said Bullock, “but with these improvements in selection practices comes greater responsibility for producers to make the right choices.”

An EPD predicts the average performance of an individual’s calf crop and EPDs are used to measure differences. A single EPD by itself doesn’t mean much. But comparing an EPD trait of two animals is beneficial as is comparing an EPD trait to a breed average.

Consider this example. There are two bulls — A and B. Bull A has a Weaning Weight EPD of 65 and Bull B has a Weaning Weight EPD of 75.

A Weaning Weight EPD of 65 does not tell much about the weaning weight of calves from Bull A. But we can see a weaning weight difference of about 10 pounds. If you were to produce calves out of Bull A and the same number of calves out of the Bull B and management in the same conditions and environment, you should EXPECT the calves from Bull B to wean 10 pounds heavier on AVERAGE than the calves from a mating to Bull A. That is not to say that some of Bull A’s calves won’t wean heavier than Bull B’s calves, but on average that should be the expected result because that is how EPDs work.

For Dal Porto, when a bull buyer contacts him about his sale offering it is common for them to ask questions about the data behind the bulls.

“My job isn’t to tell bull buyers how to breed their cattle, my job is to understand their operation and their goals and help them find bulls that will help meet those goals,” Dal Porto said.

“Where you are located? What is the environment? Do you want to raise replacement females or just terminal cattle that need to perform in the feedlot?” are questions Dal Porto said he commonly asks. “Those factors will determine which numbers the buyer will want to focus on. For most of them, they are looking for a combination that will help their cattle on the rail

and make good replacement females.”

Over the years, Dal Porto has had success feeding calves at a variety of feedyards across the country. This experience helps him educate his bull buyers on how EPDs can be used to get the results they are seeking in their commercial operations.

“In addition to having the EPDs themselves, we now also have accuracy numbers that show how accurate an EPD is,” Dal Porto said. “The longer a sire is around and the more calves he sires, the more accurate those numbers will be.”

However, because EPDs have a specific purpose, deviating from their intended use can keep them from being as accurate. Multi-trait selection, selecting for one extreme trait and environmental factors are extra issues to be mindful of.

“We didn’t get here by accident.

We got here by using the data that was available to us.

— David Dal Porto Dal Porto Livestock

advises. Cows with high Milk EPDs may fail to meet their maximum genetic potential. Further, Decker adds that experts have proven high Milk potential leads to larger internal organ size, which increases the overall physical requirements of such females. So, not only would these kinds of cows fail to reach their potential, Deckers says they may also underachieve compared to females with more moderate Milk numbers.

Mature cow size can also require more maintenance. Cows that are too big obviously require extra resources and may struggle to become pregnant if those maintenance needs are not met. It is also problematic to have cows that are too small and sacrifice the growth potential of their calves. These things considered, one of the most under-utilized traits is the Mature Weight EPD. Just as it’s crucial to breed cattle that bend the beginning of the growth curve from birth to weaning, similarly, producers also need cattle that bend the end of the growth curve from yearling weight to mature weight.

Birth Weight is another trait that some producers are tempted to place emphasis on.

Obviously, birth weight has a direct correlation to calving ease in many cows, but placing too much focus on birth weight can lead to calves that are born too small. Though all producers want calves that are born without assistance, there is such things as being board so small that they fail to thrive. One way to avoid this is to select on Calving Ease Direct for bulls and Calving Ease Maternal for females, and not solely use actual birth weight and Selecting for Extremes Birth Weight EPDs in selection decisions.

When utilizing EPDs, a common error is Dal Porto cautions that by focusing too selecting for extremes. We’ve all seen those much on one trait a producer could pigeon-hole bulls with a freakishly good $B or an occasional themselves into less progress in their herd than astronomical Ribeye number. Selecting bulls for breeding based on those individual numbers alone they could be getting. can spell trouble. For many traits, it won’t lead to a “When you focus too much on one trait, you problem, but there are a couple potential problems might get the result you are looking for but you are to be mindful of. leaving a lot of tools on the table that could help Jared Decker, Ph.D., with the University of you get a much more well-rounded result in your Missouri uses the example of the EPD for Milk. calf crop,” Dal Porto warns.

This can especially be relevant in environments with limited forage, like desert regions, Decker ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 Multiple Trait Selection One challenge for commercial producers is narrowing down which trait(s) they are focusing on to improve their calf crop or cowherd. When commercial traits to improve on are identified, placing proper emphasis on other traits is also important. Many producers have experienced ways that selecting for single traits can present problems. So which traits should you emphasize and how much weight should you put on other traits?

Because profit is one thing all producers agree on, in recent years, breed associations have developed a multitude of economic selection indexes – EPDs for profitability. Selection indexes measure each EPD trait by its economic significance and compute them into one number.

Selection indexes allow breeders to use multi-trait selection, putting emphasis on their economic value. Selection indexes also simplify decisions because they combine information into one number on which to rank cattle.

Dal Porto said that as producers are becoming more familiar with dollar indexes, it is getting easier for them to weed out bulls they may or may not want to use.

“For example, more producers are paying attention to the $M index, as more data comes in on functional longevity, foot scores and teat and udder, $M will be one of the more valuable indexes,” Dal Porto said.

August 2025 California Cattleman

29

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Environmental Factors Commercial cattle performance can suffer when it comes to genetics in different environments. According to Advanced Breeding Systems, “You can have the best genetics for profitability in your system, but if those genetics are in a poor environment, you will not maximize the genetic potential of that animal.”

A bull who produces the best calves in one environment may not be the best bull to sire calves in a different environment. Cattle in challenging environments may see discrepancies compared to what is anticipated by EPDs. Such environments may include those with heat and humidity, heat and limited feed, regions that grow toxic plants or are higher altitude. Until selection tools that consider these environmental stresses are refined, producers in these regions may want to purchase genetics raised in a similar environment to theirs to avoid unexpected problems.

Traits Without EPDs Another issue to be aware of it what while there is a growing list of traits for which there are EPDs available, not all important traits have EPDs. Structural soundness is one example. For decades beef producers have used visual appraisal when selecting for structural soundness. In order to develop an EPD for structural soundness vast amounts of data must be collected and analyzed to produce various soundness EPDs. For example, the American Angus Association has published research Foot Score EPDs. Other breed associations have conducted research projects related to structural soundness. Some breed associations now have EPDs for Heifer Pregnancy and Stayability/Reproductive Success.

For most traits that are economically important, but lacking EPDs, more data collection is needed by is almost certainly going to be available in the future.

Until then, it is a great reminder that while EPDs work and are a necessary tool for genetic selection, they can’t entirely replace good old fashioned phenotype.

“No matter how great some of the numbers are, you still need a bull that can travel a lot of miles across vast country. No amount of time you put into researching numbers on the computer will make up for seeing a bull for yourself or having a trusted sale representative look him over for you.” Dal Porto says. “You want to like to look at the bulls you buy. Phenotype and EPDs still go hand in hand and I don’t

30 California Cattleman August 2025

think that will ever change.”

As ranchers who manage beef operations work to educate themselves on the use of EPDs, it is important to remember you are not alone.

When it comes to sifting through the deep array of materials and data available to you, there are limitless resources to help you understand how to apply the reliable science of EPDs to your purchasing decisions.

Dal Porto says with over 20 EPD numbers to now consider, the average cattle producer is getting more educated on what the numbers mean.

“Many guys used to only look at Birth Weight.

Then they started to focus more on Calving Ease Direct, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, Marbling and Ribeye numbers,” Dal Porto recalls.

“Now we see a lot of appreciation for Docility, Claw and Angle foot EPDs and economic indexes.”

Even with the industry evolving at a rapid pace, Dal Porto emphasizes the need for breeders to turn in their data. New EPDs are being formulated all the time and it’s always to the advantage of the breeder and the commercial producer to use those numbers as a selection tool, he said.

“The science is evolving and the more data that gets turned in, the more accurate the EPDs will get. Good seedstock suppliers can help their customers understand the numbers and point them in the direction of a bull that will work for them and the goals they have for their operations,” Dal Porto says. “With this modern technology available, there is no reason not to use it to our advantage.”

Something else Dal Porto said he is proud to see in the beef industry can also be attributed largely to science. The industry is becoming increasingly sustainable and profitable.

“Look at the number of pounds we are producing today with less cattle. And look at the quality of the beef we are raising, even with a smaller herdsize than ever. We didn’t get here by accident. We got here by using the data that was available to us,” Dal Porto said.

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JOY IN THE

JOURNEY

by CCA Director of Communications Katie Roberti

A MEMORABLE WEEK JETTSETTING ACROSS THE U.S. BEEF INDUSTRY

experience. I am grateful that the cattle industry I was always the kid who loved summer invests in providing continued education and camp. For me, camp was a time to meet different experiences that foster personal growth for people, have adventures and absorb more about young professionals. I recognize it as a strength the world. The excitement and happiness I felt and believe these investments will reap great while packing for camp, during camp, and after rewards for our industry in the years to come. I returning home with new friends and stories want to thank CCA for nominating me for YCC to tell were something I cherished for many and providing me with this opportunity, as well summers. as the NCBA staff for organizing this outstanding That girl grew into the college freshman educational program. Additionally, I have a great who, for many of those same reasons, loved appreciation for the sponsors that made the trip living in Fremont Hall, the agriculture dorm at possible—John Deere, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Being immersed in an Tyson Foods and Farm Credit. experience with a group of like-minded people The first few days of our YCC journey began in brought me a joy similar to the kind camp Colorado, with a large portion of our time spent did—and it still does. Although my camper and at NCBA’s office headquarters. On the morning college days are farther in the review mirror now of our first full day, as we got to start knowing our than I can believe, the feeling returned earlier classmates (all nominated by a NCBA-affiliated this summer as I had the honor to participate state or breed association) and gather a feel for in the 2025 Young Cattlemen’s Conference what the next week had in store for us, one of the (YCC) alongside 62 cattle industry leaders from first people to speak to our class was a Virginia throughout the country. cattleman and NCBA President-Elect Gene The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Copenhaver. Gene will be the first Virginian to (NCBA) started YCC in 1980 as a leadership serve as president of NCBA. He was also one of program designed to cultivate the next our classmates, as it is standard for the incoming generation of leaders for the beef industry. YCC NCBA president to participate in the trip. has evolved into an eight-day trip with a packed Having one of NCBA’s highest-ranking itinerary. I don’t know if I have ever learned volunteer leaders on our trip brought an so much, laughed so hard, slept so little, and incredible amount of value to our class. Gene enjoyed so many days in a row full of fun and brought critical insights on how and who conversations about the beef industry as much runs NCBA, offered perspectives on industry as I did on this trip as we traveled Colorado, challenges, answered questions with knowledge, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio and Washington, D.C together as a class.

As NCBA describes, YCC is an immersive experience, offering participants unparalleled networking opportunities, connecting attendees with top industry professionals, policymakers, and fellow emerging leaders.

I was inspired, humbled, encouraged, energized (which is saying a lot, considering the lack of sleep) and rejuvenated by this program.

It is my classmates and new friends from across the country who truly made it an experience of a lifetime. I also learned a great deal more about the entire beef supply chain and gained new perspectives on what it takes to get our product from pasture to plate.

I imagine some of you YCC graduates It was a pleasure to visit the NCBA office headquarters reading this will smile as you recall your in Centennial, Colo.

32 California Cattleman August 2025

and took the time (even over some line dancing and bowling) to get to know his classmates.

He was incredibly generous with his time and wisdom, and getting to know him on the trip was a highlight of my experience. I know that many of my classmates and I look forward to supporting Gene and cheering him on in February when he takes office as NCBA President.

On the first day of the trip, we also heard from NCBA Chief Executive Officer Colin Woodall. After welcoming and congratulating us on making the class, Woodall told about the history of NCBA and hot topics in the beef business. Taxes, trade, transportation and animal welfare were all key issues at the start of NCBA, and all remain significant areas of focus today. One issue we heard about from Colin and throughout the trip was the threat of New World screwworm, as it is a matter of when, not if, the flies make it into the United States again after being eradicated in the 1960s.

Colin explained why he believes the future is bright for the beef industry, proudly sharing how beef demand is through the roof because people love our product. People don’t have fun with a boneless, skinless chicken breast. They have fun with burgers, briskets and steaks—and this is why beef owns summer, Colin said.

Next, we were presented with a detailed overview of NCBA, where we learned about the differences between the policy division, which exists to improve the business climate for beef, and the federation division, focused on growing beef demand. This presentation also provided a necessary opportunity for us to learn about the Beef Checkoff and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, as well as how NCBA operates as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.

The rest of our time at NCBA’s headquarters over the first few days included incredible meals prepared by NCBA Executive Chef Dagan Lynn, an overview of checkoff programs, spokesperson training and time spent working on leadership development. Cattle Fax’s Randy Blach also provided a market outlook, during which he explained why economics work in the cattle market, why cattle numbers in the U.S. are at an all-time low, and why the U.S. imports lean ground beef, among other topics related to the market.

While in Colorado, we also visited Greeley Hat Works Company, where we had a private reception and good time shopping with renowned hatmaker Trent Johnson. We danced and had some fun one evening at the Grizzly Rose Dance Hall in Denver. Additionally, we toured Five River Cattle Feeding’s Kuner Yard in Kersey.

Five Rivers Cattle Feeding is the largest cattle feeder in the world with 11 feedyards. The Kuner Yard has a capacity of 98,000 head, and cattle spend between 150 and 180 days on feed. During our visit, 63,000 head of cattle were onsite, and

the yard was making 1.8 million pounds of fresh feed daily. While there, I also learned that a significant portion of the cattle they purchase comes from sale barns in California.

The time we spent at the yard learning about operations and touring the facilities was one of my favorite experiences on the trip. Many of my family’s calves have been fed at the Kuner Yard. It was a unique chance for me to see the processing barn they go through and hear about the level of expertise watching over each animal. The yard’s staff includes full-time veterinarians and cattle nutritionists, and all 65 of their employees are Beef Quality Assurance certified, including those who never come into contact with cattle.

As we left Colorado on Sunday afternoon, having arrived there on Thursday, the hours and days of the trip began to pass very quickly. Our first flight was from Denver to Sioux City, Iowa.

After landing, we had a fun evening of bonding over bowling and dinner. The next morning, the group traveled across the river to Dakota City, Nebraska, to tour two plants.

My first stop of the day was the Empirical Foods facility. It was fascinating to walk the plant and see firsthand how this plant adds value to beef with lower-quality grades and beef trimmings that otherwise would be wasted. Meeting consumer demand for beef is dependent on so many people and incredible technology (including robotics) at this point in the supply chain.

Shortly after removing my hard hat and hair net worn at the Empirical Plant, less than half a mile down the road, I geared up again to walk through the Tyson Foods Beef Packing Plant in Dakota City. This visit to one of the world’s largest beef-packing plants was the most anticipated part of the trip for me, as the harvesting and processing side of the cattle industry is the segment I am least educated on and have spent the least time learning about. Although I took a meat science class in college and have been around smaller plants, I left this plant with a much greater understanding of what takes place ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Our visit to the feedlot was a top stop for me.

August 2025 California Cattleman

33

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 on the processing floor and fabrication side. I also saw for myself and understand now why the labor shortages during the pandemic caused such a crisis—this plant alone employs 4,200 people. I left both plants feeling much more educated on the processing side of the beef business and with continued confidence in the safety and quality assurance of American beef.

Following our tours, we flew to a small airport in Ohio in the afternoon. We were then bused to the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) headquarters in Wooster, Ohio, where we were treated to a dinner and welcome reception at CAB’s Culinary Center.

The next day, we got to walk through the rest of the campus and learn more about the history of the Brand.

We spent a portion of the morning on campus in a cooler examining a carcass to learn the 10 carcass specifications that predominantly black hide cattle must meet to qualify for the CAB Brand. We were reminded just how much marbling matters. It is the primary reason cattle are not certified.

The CAB team also spent time breaking down the value of a beef carcass for us. I enjoyed the opportunity to see the value distribution of a carcass and compare the size of the primal cuts.

We wrapped up our time in Ohio with visits to two grocery stores to look at the meat shelves and gain a better understanding of the wide variety of CAB products available. CAB-branded beef kabobs, smashable beef sliders, ready-to-cook meatballs (with an air fryer-compatible sticker on the packaging), and Beef Shank Thor’s Hammers were the most unique CAB products I saw in the meat cases during the retail visits.

Tuesday evening, we boarded our plane to the last destination on our trip, Washington, D.C. On the Bluetooth speaker that kept us from napping each flight, someone played Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” and our class belted out the lyrics as we made our final descent. We may have

Learning about CAB with my roommate, Ivy, from West Virginia.

34 California Cattleman August 2025

been a little tired at this point, but that didn’t impact our patriotism and excitement to be in the Nation’s Capital.

For our first full day in D.C., we spent time preparing for lobbying on Capitol Hill. We had the privilege of spending most of the day at the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill, blocks away from the U.S. Capitol. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson was one of the many members of Congress who stopped by the Capitol Hill Club to speak to our class.

The U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania discussed how there is no typical Farm Bill process and the current focus to put the “farm” back into the Farm Bill, as nutrition has made up a significant portion of recent Farm Bills. He also complimented the work ethic of Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins and spoke to a few issues, including the New World screwworm.

NCBA’s Washington, D.C. office staff also spent the morning with our class teaching us the ins and outs of lobbying on Capitol Hill, explaining the issues they work on, and highlighting a few hot topics to bring to the attention of our representatives the next day, with supporting the tax provisions in the reconciliation bill (specifically increasing the Death Tax exemption) and communicating how important it is to eradicate new world screwworm at the top of the list.

Below are a few reminders we received from NCBA staff regarding lobbying on Capitol Hill and representing the industry in D.C. • Make sure they know there are cowboy hats outside of Texas.

• Remember that you are an expert on the cattle industry.

• Staff members on Capitol Hill get value from ranchers, even if they don’t eat beef.

• Be sure the requests you make to your representatives are absolutely clear.

After some lobbying practice with current staffers who work on the Hill, the rest of the

I was extremely excited to visit the White House.

...CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

The 2025 Class of the NCBA Young Cattlemen’s Conference.

This high-selling sire from the 2025 Poss production sale combines balanced trait selection, proven cow family and phenotype in one package. At +123 $M and +340 $C, PURSUIT hits all the high points producers demand with modest CE, extra growth, fertility, foot quality, and carcass quality.

CED BW WN

YW RADG DMI YH

SC

DOC CLAW ANGLE HS

PAP

HP CEM MILK MW MH $EN CW MARB RE

FAT

$M $W $F $G $B $C

EPD

11 0.5 93 159 0.29 1.9 0.7 1.65 20 0.27 0.42 0.12 0.94 16.2 10 34 73 0.7 -26 71 0.85 0.80 0.035 123 108 104 63 167 340

Acc

0.36 0.6 0.48 0.43 0.31 0.31 0.52 0.48 0.45 0.34 0.35 0.31 0.26 0.18 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.40

% Rank 15 35

3

3

25

90

35 10

50

1

25

5

45

2

30 10 50

30

0.39 0.37 0.36 0.34 70 20

40

40

70

1

1

35 35 35 10

Poss Angus, NE

CORNHUSKER offers extra frame, power and performance in a Calving Ease package with a +13 CE and +140 YW. He offers exceptional depth and added power without sacrificing structural integrity. CORNHUSKER also offers mating flexibility on many of today’s most popular pedigrees.

CED BW

WN

YW RADG DMI YH

SC DOC CLAW ANGLE HS

PAP

HP

CEM MILK MW MH $EN CW MARB RE

EPD

13 -1.2 78 140 0.29 1.46 0.8 1.25 20 0.44 0.52 0.37 -1.39 13.6

Acc

0.36 0.55 0.47 0.43 0.30 0.30 0.47 0.48 0.45 0.35 0.35 0.32 0.25 0.2 0.29 0.32 0.38 0.40

% Rank 10

10

25

Connealy Angus, NE

20

25 65

25

30

50

35

75

30

10

20

8 65

36 4

FAT $M $W $F $G $B $C

87 0.7 -34 86 1.22 1.32 0.091 80 90 153 83 237 388 35

30 85

0.38 0.37 0.36 0.33 3

3

3

95

20 5

1 15 2

1

EPDs as of 7/8/2025

August 2025 California Cattleman

35

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 afternoon and evening, we were free to take in as much of the District as we could. A group of 17 of us scootered through Capitol Mall and across D.C. for hours, looking at monuments, stopping to view the White House, and getting some good laughs from other tourists about the cowboy hat-wearing group riding scooters. A dozen of my classmates and I walked the steps up to the Lincoln Memorial after dinner, and I soaked in the moment, thinking about how incredible the history of our country is and admiring how quickly friendships can be made within our industry.

Thursday, the final day of our YCC journey, arrived, and it was time for us to meet with members on Capitol Hill. I visited the offices of representatives on both the Senate and House sides, requesting their help with funding to combat screwworm, raising awareness about the wolves terrorizing cattle in California, and answering questions on other ranching-related subjects throughout the day. Thanks to the help of Congressman LaMalfa and Congressman Kiley, I was also fortunate to receive tours of the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House.

To cap off our time as a group, we spent the final evening raising funds for the NCBA Political Action Committee (PAC) while taking in incredible views of the city from the top of the NCBA office on Pennsylvania Ave. Each year, YCC concludes

with an auction to support the PAC, and it was exciting that our class broke the alltime donation record that night.

The people in the cattle business truly make it special. While all 62 of us in my class came from different small towns, ranches, and regions of the country, we all could find something in common. I am so excited and look forward to seeing where these friendships take us and how this group will lead the best industry I know in the decades ahead.

As Gene (NCBA President-Elect) put it on day one of the tour: “Different landscapes. Same people.”

Butte Bull Sale OCTOBER 18 • OROVILLE FEATURING 70 HEREFORD, ANGUS & SIMANGUS LONG YEARLING BULLS

The Lambert Family Steve Lambert (530) 624-5256

slambert5256@gmail.com lambertranchherefords.com

Oroville • Alturas

36 California Cattleman August 2025

ALSO FEATURING BULLS FROM REPUTABLE CONSIGNORS WESTWIND ANGUS, SUNBRIGHT ANGUS AND DIAMOND S ANGUS!

TKC 2018 FINAL BARON 4036 (Reg. #P44596858)

Dam: H B/R ADDISON 2018 ET • Sire: CHURCHILL RED BARON 8300F ET BD: 3/17/24 • RATIOS: BW 117 • WW 110 • YW 97 • REA 116 CE BW WW YW SC MM MCE CW FAT REA MARB BMI$ BII$ CHB$ 0.5 4.0 68 117 1.4 20 2.5 79 0.012 0.33 0.12 369 455 134

TKC 2044 ADVANCE K BARON 4069 (Reg. #P44591858)

Dam: TKC 8018 LADY BARONESS 2044 ET • Sire: HH ADVANCE 2116K BD: 3/30/24 • Ratios: BW 79 • WW 110 • YW 106 • REA 84 CE BW WW YW SC MM MCE CW FAT REA MARB BMI$ BII$ CHB$ 9.5 -1.0 63 99 1.5 27 9.7 77 0.052 0.48 0.29 360 452 130

These bulls were turned out at our foothill ranch with native feed from December to mid-May.

These bulls will be featured in the Vintage Angus Carcass Maker Bull Sale.

20 Bulls will be offered in the

Vintage Angus Carcass Maker Bull Sale

SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 | NOON at our foothill location in La Grange, CA

Progeny offered by these bulls:

CHURCHILL RED BARON 8300F ET HH ADVANCE 2116K SR 5139R DOMINO 883F 1005 ET BR GKB TRENDING 0104

Tim & Kara Coleman, Owners Tyler & Kathryn Coleman

Tim 209-968-7232 • tim@sierraranches.net Kara 209-613-6062 • kara@sierraranches.net Tyler 209-613-5872 P.O. Box 577980, Modesto, CA 95357 www.sierraranches.net • Find us on

TKC ADD A FEW DOLLARS 4105 (Reg. #P44575515)

Dam: TKC 2018 ADDISON 0344 ET • Sire: SR 5139R DOMINO 883F 1005 ET BD: 4/20/24 • Ratios: BW 110 • WW 128 • YW 100 • REA 100 CE BW WW YW SC MM MCE CW FAT REA MARB BMI$ BII$ CHB$ 3.2 3.5 69 112 1.5 31 -0.2 89 0.032 0.50 0.25 271 361 148

TKC 1111 RED WINE 4028 (Reg. #P44583856) Dam: TKC 2018 ADDISON 1111 ET • Sire: SR FEW DOLLARS MORE F112 ET BD: 2/28/24 • Ratios: BW 121 • WW 114 • YW 114 • REA 127 CE BW WW YW SC MM MCE CW FAT REA MARB BMI$ BII$ CHB$ -3.4 4.6 70 122 0.9 26 1.5 90 0.022 0.84 0.03 344 422 139 August 2025 California Cattleman

37

HERE TO

HELP

by Gabriele Maier, Katherine Watson, Omar Gonzales-Viera and Ashley Hill

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE CALIFORNIA ANIMAL HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY LAB

California is in the fortunate position of having a network of diagnostic laboratories known as the California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) lab system with four locations: Davis, Turlock, Tulare and San Bernadino. The function of these labs is to safeguard public health and to protect the health of California’s livestock and poultry by detecting and diagnosing animal diseases.

Personnel at CAHFS are proficient at recognizing many regulatory and foreign animal diseases (e.g. bovine tuberculosis or virulent Newcastle disease in poultry). Early detection of these diseases limits their impact locally and globally. CAHFS partners with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), UC Davis, veterinarians, and producers to do active disease surveillance (e.g. live bird market avian influenza sampling) and testing necessary for interstate movement or change of ownership in cattle (e.g. Brucella and trichomonosis).

Apart from regulatory testing, the lab offers many other services that researchers, veterinarians, and producers can take advantage of. It is always best to work with your veterinarian when faced with a herd problem or sudden death, but sometimes producers need to submit samples or carcasses themselves.

A word from the new director at CAHFS, Dr. Ashley Hill Our mission is to lead diagnostics globally, and protect California locally. To do that, CAHFS

38 California Cattleman August 2025

provides quality services that protect animal health and performance, public health and the food supply.

After 10 years as CAHFS’ Epidemiologist and section head for the Immunology section, I’m excited to take on the responsibility of directing the laboratory system. One of my goals is to build stronger connections with California’s livestock industries to ensure that we are meeting your needs. I’ve enjoyed the past two CCA statewide meetings and look forward to many more.

We at CAHFS are here to keep California’s livestock and poultry healthy and productive. If you are experiencing either ongoing or sudden issues affecting the health or productivity of your cattle, we want to help. We can accept whole carcasses as well as samples of blood, animal tissue, or feeds.

Our pathologists are experts at examining animal tissues for evidence of diseases or abnormalities. We can test for a wide range of infectious and toxic substances using state of the art equipment – but most importantly, we have friendly, knowledgeable people who are happy to talk to you and your veterinarian. We can help you and your vet figure out what to submit as well as explain what we’ve found. Our goal is to provide information that you can use. Once you know what you’re dealing with, whether it’s nutritional, infectious or toxic, you and your veterinarian can figure out how to respond. ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

5th 5 th annual annual

Performance Performance Adv Advantage antage Bull Bull Sale Sale

Po w e r. Pe r f o r m a n c e . P h e n o t y p e .

P o w e r. P e r f o r m a n c e . P h e n o t y p e .

September 16, 2025 | Overland Stock Yard | Hanford, CA | 5 p.m.

September 16, 2025 | Overland Stock Yard | Hanford, CA | 5 p.m.

Selling 50+ registered Angus bulls including...

Selling 50+ registered Angus bulls including...

OSA Veracious 3305 AAA: 20812703

OSA Veracious 3317 AAA: 20812708

OSA Hollywood 3289 AAA: 20804502

OSA Veracious 3305

OSA Veracious 3317

OSA Hollywood 3289

AAA: 20812703

AAA: 20812708

AAA: 20804502

Old Stage Angus

Old Stage Angus

Myron Schotanus (559) 804-4997

oldstageangus.com

oldstageangus.com

Veenendaal Angus

Veenendaal Angus

Eddie Veenendaal (559) 259-5631

Myron Schotanus

Eddie Veenendaal

(559) 804-4997

(559) 259-5631

Request a print sale book by emailing Serena at serena@oldstageangus.com August 2025 California Cattleman 39

Request a print sale book by emailing Serena at serena@oldstageangus.com

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 Submitting the right samples Pathologists at CAHFS perform necropsies on deceased animals, but staff and veterinary pathologists will also perform humane euthanasia on some live animals submitted for necropsies (not for horses, camelids and adult swine). It is extremely important to submit a fresh carcass in order to get meaningful results back.

Although there is a minimum set of samples that should be submitted with every necropsy, it is best to communicate with the lab prior to sample collection so that the appropriate tissues are submitted for your particular case. As an example, establishing a definitive cause of bovine abortion is a challenging problem faced by veterinary practitioners and diagnosticians.

The infectious agent is identified in less than 50 percent of cases and declines even more when complete placentas, dam blood and high-quality carcasses are not included in the submission. Even though the placenta is very valuable for diagnosing the cause of abortion, it is understood that it cannot always be retrieved.

If found, handle the fetal membranes with gloves to avoid spreading zoonotic pathogens.

Questions? Phone a friend – a pathologist is on call to answer your questions!

Importance of a good history A thorough history can also guide the diagnostic process. The history on the submission form should include the age and breed of the animal, observations about the animal’s health prior to death, and any treatments (including vaccinations) the animal may have received.

Sometimes deaths are sudden with no signs that anything was wrong, while other times an animal has been coughing, weak, disinterested in feed, lame or down, has discharge from the eyes, nose or vulva, or diarrhea. When submitting aborted fetuses, information about the expected calving date, history of diagnosed abortions in the herd, changes in management (e.g. switch or cessation of mineral supplementation), alterations in the health of the dam prior to abortion, recent treatments given to the dam, as well as the types and dates of dam vaccinations could all be helpful.

Testing for toxins While infectious agents are perhaps the most frequently thought of cause of abortion, there are other factors which may cause a proportion of pregnancies to terminate with an abortion including genetic abnormalities, heat

40 California Cattleman August 2025

stress, toxic agents (e.g. nitrates/nitrites), and ergot alkaloids. When infectious causes have been ruled out, these additional avenues can be explored by submitting water, pasture, or feed samples.

Again, this is where communication with the pathologist on the case, as well as with your veterinarian and extension advisor, can be very helpful. When it comes to toxins, it is important to understand that there is not one toxin test or panel to detect all possible toxins. Each suspected toxin has to be tested for individually, and those tests tend to be expensive.

Some toxicology testing is included in the capped fee for a necropsy, i.e. testing for alkaloids, nitrates, trace minerals, and selenium.

However, testing for substances such as oleander toxin, blue-green algae toxin and many others has to be done individually. Testing should be based on some suspicion or evidence of exposure to avoid spending a lot of money on tests that may not yield positive results.

Sampling and testing logistics Upon receiving a dead animal, pathologists will start by reading the clinical history, then proceed to opening the carcass to examine all of the organs in detail for evidence of disease that may have contributed to the animal’s death. They will also take samples of tissues to be preserved in formalin and examined under the microscope for changes that are not detectable by the naked eye.

The pathologist may submit fresh tissues for bacterial culture, molecular tests, or serology that seem relevant to the case or important for herd surveillance. The in-state necropsy fee for any bovine carcass over 3 months old is $140 plus $50 carcass disposal fee if the submitter is from within California. A group of three calves less than three months old can be submitted for $135. ....CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

S A M E F A M I LY � S A M E P R O G R A M � N E W S A L E O P P O R T U N I T Y

O’CONNELL RANCH Over 30 years of High Quality Angus Bulls in Northern California O’CONNELL RANCH IS OFFERING 35 SUMMER YEARLINGS AT THE DIXIE VALLEY BULL SALE AT CATTLEMEN’S LIVESTOCK MARKET

Friday, September 19, 2025 – Galt, California – 12:30 pm O’CONNELL MAGNITUDE 4010

O’CONNELL BREAKTRHOUGH 4037

O’CONNELL DOC RYAN 4002

AAA 21274853 BD: 06-07-2024

AAA 21211800 BD: 06-21-2024

AAA 21207119 BD: 05-28-2024

MG Magnitude x Mill Brae Identified 4031

Beal Breakthrough x G A R Ashland

T/D Doc Ryan 049 x Deer Valley Growth Fund

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 12 -.4 80 139 23 76 1.42 1.37 86 232 387 15% 20% 20% 25% 75% 10% 10% 2% 15% 2% 1%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 12 2.3 94 163 23 81 1.48 1.36 84 222 372 15% 75% 3% 3% 75% 5% 5% 2% 15% 4% 2%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 7 2.3 89 160 26 75 .89 .82 68 190 314 45% 75% 10% 4% 50% 15% 35% 35% 45% 15% 15%

O’CONNELL STATESMAN 4036

O’CONNELL CONCLUSION 4012

O’CONNELL SUNPOWER 4048

AAA 21194378 BD: 06-21-2024

AAA 21251605 BD: 06-08-2024

AAA 21194265 BD: 07-06-2024

Virginia Tech Statesman x Baldridge Alternative E125

V A R Conclusion 0234 x MGR Treasure

O’Connell Sunpower x Basin Payweight 1682

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 5 3.3 97 177 16 88 1.04 .93 51 209 322 65% 90% 2% 1% 95% 2% 25% 25% 85% 10% 15%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 14 -1.1 80 142 32 54 .84 .28 74 145 262 4% 10% 20% 20% 15% 55% 40% 95% 30% 60% 55%

CED BW WW YW M CW MB RE $M $B $C 12 -1.1 83 144 32 63 .65 .79 75 157 279 15% 10% 15% 15% 15% 35% 60% 40% 30% 45% 40%

SIRES INCLUDE: O’Connell Sunpower – T/D Doc Ryan 049 – Connealy Craftsman VAR Conclusion 0234 – Virginia Tech Statesman

DNA Tested • Anaplaz Vaccinated • Full Performance Evaluated BULL VIDEOS AND LIVE BIDDING SALE DAY AUCTIONEER: Jake Parnell 916-662-1298

CONTACT THE SALE MANAGER TO REQUEST A SALE BOOK: Matt Macfarlane 916-803-3113 (cell) m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com

O’CONNELL RANCH

Dan & Barbara O’Connell Colusa, CA oconnellranch.com Daniel O’Connell: 530-632-3902 daniel@pacificlandandenergy.com August 2025 California Cattleman 41

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40 The lab prefers submission of whole carcasses, but for producers who live far away or cannot drive to the lab, shipping of fresh samples is another option. The CAHFS lab has detailed instructions on how to ship samples on their webpage (check out “Packaging Guidelines,” “Specimen Delivery” and “Submission Forms” under “Submit Specimens” on the CAHFS webpage for details).

Overnight shipping with Fedex is preferred.

The lab can provide a Fedex account number for discounted overnight shipping to facilitate the process. Your veterinarian may perform the necropsy and submit the samples for you. Before attempting to perform your own collection of samples, make sure you familiarize yourself with the technique. UC ANR, in collaboration with the CAHFS lab, is working on video resources that show how to perform a field necropsy and collect samples. These resources are in production but may be posted on youtube by the time this article is published. The videos will be posted on the Beef cattle herd health and production website in the “How to” section which can be found at: ucanr.edu/sites/BeefCattle.

Another useful tool for aiding in a diagnosis is your cell phone! Become a citizen scientist by taking pictures of where you found the dead animal(s). Sometimes the location or the way an animal was found can give clues to the cause of death. If you suspect toxic plant involvement, take a close-up picture of those plants. If you perform your own necropsy, take a picture of the chest and abdomen after you open the carcass before you start sampling anything. If you have a high suspicion for a toxin involvement, submit a sample of pasture, suspected toxic plant(s), water or feed.

Routine herd health testing The CAHFS lab can also help you with preventative herd health. One important tool is testing for trace mineral status by submitting representative blood samples from members of your herd. Copper and selenium deficiencies are common in California cattle due to low levels in California’s soil. Deficiencies can have a big impact on cattle fertility and immunity.

The gold standard for trace mineral assessment is a liver biopsy collected by your veterinarian. The liver will reflect the true status of stored minerals such as copper because the body tries to maintain certain concentrations of copper in the blood despite low tissue stores; however, low blood copper values are an indicator of a true deficiency. For selenium, both blood and liver levels are an accurate representation of the selenium levels. Different types of blood tubes are required for submission of trace mineral panels 42 California Cattleman August 2025

and selenium status.

Testing new additions to your herd for infectious diseases is another service you may consider. Diseases like Johne’s, bovine leukemia, and leptospirosis can have asymptomatic carriers that transmit difficult to eliminate pathogens.

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) persistently infected (PI) animals are another type of “Trojan horse” that you want to identify. Vaccination for BVD has greatly reduced the occurrence of these animals, but one PI sheds so much virus that it may overcome immunity of well-vaccinated cattle.

Ear notches can be submitted to the lab to rule out BVD PIs. If you live in an area that is endemic for Anaplasma marginale infections, introducing naïve cattle may result in massive losses. If you add any replacements or bulls that test negative, vaccination is an option to reduce the number of cattle getting sick from anaplasmosis. Your veterinarian can help you weigh the costs and benefits of testing versus the risk of introducing disease into your herd.

This article only scratches the surface of possible services that your diagnostic laboratory has to offer.

For details on sample type and costs refer to the CAHFS lab testing page: cahfs.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/lab-tests-fees or call the lab: Davis (530) 752-8700; Turlock (only for poultry at this time) (209) 634-5837; Tulare (559) 688-7543; San Bernardino (909) 383-4287.

SPANISH RANCH BULLS Range-ready, service-aged Brangus and Ultrablack bulls are available private treaty at the ranch and at select sales.

FOLLOW US FOR BULL DETAILS @spanishranchcuyama

AJ DOIRON PAMELA DOIRON 805-245-0434

doiron@spanishranch.net www.spanishranch.net NEW CUYAMA, CALIFORNIA

YOUR COMPLETE MARKETING SERVICE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 31st annual

CATTLEMEN'S SELECT BULL & FEMALE SALE LUNCH AT NOON | FEMALES & BULLS TO FOLLOW AT 12:30 P.M.

120 TOP QUALITY, HAND-SELECTED LONG YEARLING AND COMING 2 YEAR OLDS

THESE FEATURED CONSIGNMENTS SELL! FROM STEPASIDE FARM

FROM DIAMOND OAK ANGUS

...PLUS A SELECT GROUP OF FEMALES AND COLTS! OPEN LONG YEARLING HEIFERS READY TO BREED FULL VACCINATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING FOOTHILL AND ANAPLAZ

EARLY FALL PAIRS AND CLOSE UP CALVERS WELL BRED RANCH RAISED COLTS ( STARTED AND PROSPECTS)

VIEW ON LMAAUCTIONS.COM WATCH AND BID ONLINE AT CCI.LIVE

AAA# 20844044

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CED BW WW YW MILK RE MARB $B $C 7 0.9 79 143 31 1.59 1.17 227 364

CED BW WW YW MILK 6 3.2 99 173 28

RE MARB $B $C 0.6 1.35 199 325

75 ANGUS • 35 RED ANGUS • 5 HEREFORD FROM THESE REPUTABLE BREEDERS!

STEPASIDE FARM BAR KJ ANGUS GUDEL CATTLE CO. HERTLEIN CATTLE CO.

EAGLE GRIP CATTLE CO. GARONE RANCHES FURTADO ANGUS

SALES EVERY WEDNESDAY! 733 North Ben Maddox Way | Visalia, CA

All bull buyers are entered to win a custom-tooled Cactus saddle courtesy of

RHOADES ANGUS DIAMOND OAK LIVESTOCK LUDVIGSON STOCK FARMS SONOMA MOUNTAIN HEREFORDS

CONSIGNMENT INFORMATION: RANDY BAXLEY, (559) 906-9760

August 2025 Cattleman 43 WHETHER PREFER TO MARKET YOUR THROUGH THECalifornia AUCTION MARKET, OM WWW.VISALIALIVESTOCK.C ATCATTLE AVAILABLE CATALOG SALEYOU BULL

CHIMES 2025-2026 CALIFORNIA BEEF AMBASSADORS YOUNG BEEF PROMOTERS NAMED FOLLOWING STATE COMPETTION from California CattleWomen, Inc. California CattleWomen, Inc., named Laura Gregory from Shasta County as the 2025 Beef Ambassador and Collette Hansen from San Joaquin County as the 2025 Junior Beef Ambassador. The annual contest was held virtually in mid-May. Their term as official ambassadors started June 1, 2025, and ends in May 2026.

The contest focused on the merits of the applicant’s essay questions, an online interview about their knowledge of cattle issues, and a 10-minute online presentation about some aspects of the cattle industry. Each applicant submitted letters of recommendation from a CattleWomen and someone who knew their passion to become an ambassador. Contestants’ responses reflected their involvement and experience in agriculture/beef projects and organizations, which ultimately determined the award placement of the contestants. Cash prizes were awarded to the winners: the senior winner receives $1,000 and the junior winner receives $500, along with lesser monetary awards for the second to fourth place winners.

Gregory is a high school senior, and she spoke about various cattle identification methods, including nose prints. Hansen is a high school junior and gave her presentation on the many uses of beef by-products and their effect on consumers’ daily lives.

There were four awards given in the Ambassador category: second place, Madysson Cervelli from Siskiyou County; third place, Liliana Standen from Madera County; and fourth place, Layla Tommey from Butte County. In the Junior Ambassador category, only three awards were given; second place was Curtis Hansen from San Joaquin County, and third place was Ellie Moiola

44 California Cattleman August 2025

from San Diego County.

We encourage the ambassadors to engage in local events and opportunities to educate and promote beef and the cattle industry. Most of the contestants completed the online Master’s of Beef Advocacy certification program, and are eager to showcase their knowledge.

California CattleWomen has about 1,800 members. The organization began in 1951 as an auxiliary of the California Cattlemen’s Association.

Laura Gregory (left) and Collette Hansen (right) won the senior and junior beef ambassador contests, respectively, this spring.

Our bulls will climb mountains for you!

WATCH FOR STANDOUTS LIKE THESE AT TOP CALIFORNIA CONSIGNMENT SALES THIS FALL!

| SEPTEMBER 14 VISALIA

FAMOSO | OCTOBER 18

TURLOCK OCTOBER 4

OFFERING BOTH LONG YEARLINGS & TWO YEAR OLDS SF Culmination 3100

CED

7

CED

8

BW

0.9

BW

1.5

WW 79 YW 143 CW 83 RE 1.59 MB 1.17 $C 364

WW 85 YW 159 CW 52 RE 0.73 MB 1.31 $C 299

AAA # 20844044

12

BW

0.2

WW 88 YW 161 CW 74 RE 1.16 MB 1.06 $C 331

AAA # 20904102

AAA # 20896744

CED

7

BW

2.1

WW 83 YW 146 CW 76 RE 1.48 MB 1.37 $C 348

CED

9

CED

9

BW

0.1

BW

2.1

WW 74 YW 129 CW 50 RE 0.80 MB 1.58 $C 334

AAA # 20975497

AAA # 20897876

SF Fireback 4063

SF Top Cut 4052

SF Fireback 4036

CED

SF Fireball 4032

SF Hollywood 4029

WW 93 YW 174 CW 83 RE 1.07 MB 1.21 $C 330

AAA # 20972020

“performance is our stock in trade” StepasideFarm.com • Sanger, CA •

Declan Jackson and Melanie Schow | Herd Manager, Lalo Camarena (928) 941-9419 August 2025 California Cattleman

45

PROGRESS NOT COMPLACENCY Any endeavor with measurable goals provides opportunity for reflection on progress and satisfaction for achievement. Cattlemen and women have many achievements to be proud of, with significant improvements in food safety, animal welfare, production efficiency and consumer satisfaction. There are several metrics within each of these areas, and others not mentioned, that have seen rapid enhancement in the last few decades.

It’s all too evident that progress potentially leads to complacency. For the beef sector to remain relevant and continue to increase sustainability we must not stop to congratulate ourselves for long.

We should often recognize tremendous progress, but then reassess and adjust goals to align with the evolving future.

Applying this specifically to the quality and eating satisfaction of our beef products provides a prime example. In the history of modern carcass grading, the USDA quality grade and premium branded beef mix has never been richer in quality.

We’ve taken a few opportunities to highlight alltime highs in U.S. average carcass quality in the first six months of this year. If not for record marbling in fed steer and heifer carcasses, our downstream customers would have faced unfulfilled demand for premium quality beef cuts.

Current market values for corn, fed cattle and boxed beef have collaborated to incentivize even greater marbling achievement than genetic advancement alone would have realized under different economic circumstances. The latest national USDA Prime grade percentages have topped 12 percent and for the past 12 weeks, CAB

46 California Cattleman August 2025

by Certified Angus Beef’s Paul Dykstra

certification rates have been above 39 percent. Both are astoundingly good measures.

As far as quality grade is concerned, these measures have led some in the industry to suggest that we’ve arrived at the destination.. Perhaps, it could even reaffirm an ideology that carcass quality is just “fed on” rather than “bred on.” While indeed exceptional, there may be a bit of a misleading narrative resulting from recent trends.

The record-wide gap between cost of gain versus fed cattle price is a significant factor in elongating feedyard stays for cattle. The unintended, negative consequences of these conditions are record-large proprotions of yield grade 4 and 5 carcasses. In the likely event that future feed costs or carcass cutout values shift, shrinking incremental cost of gain at heavier weights, potential exists that feeding days shorten and average total carcass fat content declines. This adjustment can’t be predicted, but given that markets are ever-changing, we should guide decisions on the probability that carcass quality will not always be artificially propped up on extremes.

This is where the free will of cattlemen to breed and raise cattle as preferred will continue to present value differentiation. The fact that some choose to apply some (or a lot) of focus on genetics for carcass traits, while others do not, will persist as a significant margin opportunity.

Beef demand has been exceptional because of dramatic increases in consumer satisfaction for a few decades. Since taste ranks at the top of the list when it comes to what drives consumers to choose beef, we know where our figurative “bread is buttered.” Packers continue to share a decent portion of their cutout premiums upstream to the cattle feeder, despite a growing proportion of higherquality carcasses. Once the health and feed conversion components are accounted for, what else shall a cattlemen do to add value to their product? Nichè markets and verified production claims are viable margin drivers.

But the differences in carcass value between the poorest and the best carcass outcomes are so tremendous, that even a half-hearted try toward excellence provides one of the largest payoff opportunities in the business.

Your ONE AND ONLY chance to buy a

Diamond Oak BULL

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, VISALIA, CA Visalia Livestock Market’s Cattlemen’s Select Bull & Female Sale

Selling 14 powerhouse bulls developed with the California commercial producer in mind -

SOUND - STOUT - FUNCTIONAL - EXCEPTIONAL DATA

AAA 21266200 BD: 02-19-2024

Dmnd Oak 44 Conquest 33-24 44 Victory x SydGen Enhance CED

+9 30% MARB

+1.06 25%

BW

-1.0 10% RE

+.94 25%

WW

+91 5% $M

+90 10%

YW

+160 4% $W

+100 2%

MILK

+33 10% $F

+95 50%

DOC

+30 10% $G

CLAW

+.34 10% $B

ANGLE

+.42 25% $C

+76 20%

+171 30%

+312 20%

DOC

CLAW

ANGLE

AAA 21271226 BD: 03-10-2024

Dmnd Oak Confidence 716-24 De-Su Certainty E349 x Basin Yuma 4286 CED

+7 45% MARB

+1.69 2%

BW

+1.7 60% RE

+.93 25%

WW

+81 20% $M

+72 35%

YW

+146 15% $W

+78 25%

MILK

+26 50% $F

+118 15%

DOC

+17 65% $G

+105 2%

CLAW

+.47 45% $B

+224 4%

ANGLE

+.48 60% $C

+363 3%

AAA 21267710 BD: 02-17-2024

Dmnd Oak Commander 883-24 Yon Flagship x Basin Bonus 4345 CED

+11 15% MARB

+1.49 5%

BW

+0 25% RE

+.82 35%

WW

+79 25% $M

+76 30%

YW

+134 30% $W

+88 10%

MILK

+32 15% $F

+102 35%

+21 45% $G

+95 5%

+.42 25% $B

+198 15%

+.38 15% $C

+333 10%

AAA 21267705 BD: 02-25-2024

Dmnd Oak Superliner 83-24 Yon Flagship x Baldridge 38 Special CED

+6 55% MARB

+1.36 10%

BW

+3.2 90% RE

+.60 65%

WW

+99 1% $M

+66 50%

YW

+173 1% $W

+92 5%

MILK

+28 35% $F

+113 20%

DOC

+36 1% $G

+86 10%

CLAW

+.60 90% $B

+200 10%

ANGLE

+.49 65% $C

+325 15%

Diamond Oak Steve & Jean Obad 209-777-1551 - cell Merced, CA

Cattle

Matt Macfarlane 916-803-3113 m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com VIEW THE BULLS AT THE JOE CLAROT FEEDLOT BEFORE m3cattlemarketing.com THE SALE IN MODESTO - CALL JOE AT 209-678-5030 August 2025 California Cattleman 47

STATE WATER BOARD

CHANGES

COURSE

by Jack Rice and Noah Lopez for the Rancher Technical Assistance Program

NEW WATER RIGHTS REPORTING PLATFORM: WHAT’S NEW AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

When water diversion and use reporting begins this October, it will be a very different experience for anyone familiar with the old “eWRIMS RMS” system.

On June 8, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) shut down eWRIMS RMS to be replaced by CalWATRS, a newer, more comprehensive system intended to “make reporting water rights easier and more efficient.”

The transition to a modern water accounting system has been in the works since 2021 when the state budget included an allocation to update California’s water rights data system. With these funds, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) implemented UPWARD, a multiyear project to “modernize the way the state collects and manages its water rights data and information.”

While ultimately CalWATRS likely will be easier and more efficient, we know that transitioning to any new system is a burden. The purpose of this article is to help you get ready for the change and let you know that RTAP is here to be a resource for you.

What’s Changing and Why? While the most obvious difference between eWRIMS RMS and CalWATRS is the user interface, CalWATRS is actually a comprehensive modernization of the way the state collects and manages water rights information and data.

In an era of artificial intelligence, self-driving

taxis, and robot bartenders, not to mention RFID tags and virtual fencing, data management modernization like CalWATRS should be expected. While the merits of such evolution can be debated, its inevitability cannot.

Water rights information and data is the basis for water management in California. Ownership information, geographic descriptions, and diversion records, are all part of the complex water rights system used by the SWRCB to administer and enforce water rights, track and account for water use, manage annual reporting requirements, and even collect fees.

Given the long and complex history of California water, the information and data establishing the water rights system is a massive collection of digital files, paper files in Sacramento, and even county recorder offices.

Clearly, managing such a large and diversified data set is a challenging mandate.

Since 2006, eWRIMS (Electronic Water Rights Information Management System) has been the main water rights database for the SWRCB. However, eWRIMS wasn’t originally designed for today’s demands. It was built primarily to manage fee collection, and over time it was pushed to support much more including everything from geographic information in its built-in GIS (geospatial information system) to annual reporting. But the system lacked modern data standards, having limited mapping and GIS integration, and not being equipped to interface easily with other datasets or support real-time data reporting. This means that the data stored ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

48 California Cattleman August 2025

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August 2025 California Cattleman

49

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 and submitted on eWRIMS isn’t able to be used easily. Not only was the system dated and not user-friendly, but it wasn’t useful for analyzing data and making decisions based on that analysis. On top of this, many water rights records never even made it into eWRIMS and are still stored on paper in file cabinets in Sacramento.

As mentioned above, UPWARD is the State’s response to this problem. This $30 million project had the ambitious goal of completely overhauling how California manages water rights data. The State contracted with top firms like Gartner, Deloitte, ESRI and Salesforce to develop the product that came from UPWARD: CalWATRS. CalWATRS is the new data platform that replaces eWRIMS. The new platform promises to address the issues and gaps faced by eWRIMs,

starting with user-friendliness. The platform allows comprehensive management of water rights data integrated with geospatial data and accessible for analysis.

How Do These Changes Affect Ranchers?

Ranchers will primarily interface with CalWATRS when completing annual reporting for water rights (commonly referred to as SB 88 reporting). The goal of the new reporting platform is twofold: to simplify the reporting process while also making the data reported useful to the SWRCB. As noted above, although widespread annual reporting has been required since 2016 the limitations of eWRIMS has meant that the data reported has been less useful than it could be, especially for large scale analysis.

The new platform aims to address these issues.

Annual reporting through eWRIMS has often been a difficult and confusing process. The new platform should allow easier reporting, not only through a simplified user interface but also through clarified instructions (something lacking in eWRIMS).

Ranchers may also interface with the new platform when doing other water rights management such as registering stockponds.

Many of the management actions that used to only be available through filling out paper or PDF forms can now be completed within CalWATRS. For example, change of ownership petitions used to require filling out a paper or PDF form and mailing or emailing to Board staff. Now, water right owners can complete this petition in CalWATRS. While CalWATRS should make it easier to report water diversion and use, we must recognize that the SWRCB intends to use this system to “help the state manage water data better and make it easier for the public to access important information.” On one hand, a better system with more reliable data is essential to defending the water rights system against those who want to dismantle it. On the other hand, this change may mean that non-compliance, such as failure to report properly, may be easier to detect and enforce. These advancements in technology make compliance all the more important.

RTAP is Here to Help The Rancher Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) is here to help you navigate the new CalWATRS platform. RTAP is funded by the California Cattle Council and provided at no cost to all California ranchers through the California Cattlemen’s Foundation. If you would like help logging into, reporting on or understanding the new CalWATRS system, please reach out to RTAP at rtap@wrstrat.com or (916) 409-6902. RTAP will also be presenting on CalWATRS at the California Cattlemen’s Association’s Midyear Meeting in Paso Robles on August 14-15.

50 California Cattleman August 2025

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August 2025 California Cattleman

51

HETEROSIS HYPE OR LEGIT?

by Robert Wells, Ph.D., for the Noble Institute

The added advantage in performance of a crossbred over the average of its purebred parents

made through the bull’s EPDs. In the Foundation For as long as the beef industry has existed, crossbred commercial cattle operations have made publication Crossbreeding Beef Cattle for Western up the lion’s share of the beef cattle population, Range Environments, Don Kress and Michael and those “in the know” were telling producers MacNeil stated that an average F1 crossbred cow to “clean up their acts.” Now, it seems every returns up to $70 more per cow per year than the publication you read or every expert you hear is average straight-bred cow. To arrive at this number, talking about heterosis. So, you ask, “What’s this they looked at the various traits (Table 1) that cross fancy word ‘heterosis,’ and can I capitalize on it breeding affects and the advantage that hybrid in my herd?” Well, simply put, heterosis is hybrid vigor afforded to or detracted from the calf. vigor. At the Noble Research Institute’s recent Beef After studying the table, it becomes obvious Cattle Female Selection School, livestock specialist that a well-thought-out terminal crossbreeding Clay Wright defined hybrid vigor as “the added program can work for many beef producers. advantage in performance of a crossbred over the Breeding a pure-blood bull to a crossbred cow is average of its purebred parents.” So, you say, “Hey, one way to maximize hybrid vigor (total heterosis in I’ve been doing things right all along and didn’t right-hand column of table). Research has shown, even know it, right?” Well, not so fast… though, that taking crossbred bulls and breeding There is more to hybrid vigor than just taking a them with crossbred cows reduces the amount crossbred cow and breeding her with any old bull. of hybrid vigor that can be expected. This is the Numerous studies have been conducted over the reason the Foundation’s livestock discipline is years to look at this very subject. If you want to take recommending an F1-type cow bred to a straightfull advantage of this phenomenon, there has to be bred bull of known performance data (EPDs) and some thought put into the process. ancestry.

Hybrid vigor is most fully expressed when It does not matter if you are selling your calves you use bulls and cows of known ancestry – not at weaning, as yearlings or retaining ownership just breeding any bull to a cow you pick up from through the feedlot; you cannot afford to give up Joe down the road or you bought at the sale barn the advantages that hybrid vigor will convey to because the price was right. Work conducted at your bottom line.

Texas A&M University by Dr. Jim Sanders has shown a 10 to 20 percentage point increase in calf crop TABLE 1 born to F1 cows (a cow which is a first-generation INDIVIDUAL MATERNAL TOTAL TRAIT cross between two breeds) when compared HETEROSIS % HETEROSIA % HETEROSIS % to straight-bred cows. The advantage will fall CALVING RATE 0 6 6 dramatically when F2 (F1 x F1 bred cows) or greater WEANING RATE 0 8 8 cows are used.

WEANING WEIGHT 5 6 11 One of the most effective and simplest ways YEARLING WEIGHT 4 4 for calves to exhibit hybrid vigor is to use an F1 cow % REACHING PUBERTY @ 15 MO 15 15 and a pure-blood bull of known performance and COW LONGEVITY 38 ancestry; this is what the Foundation livestock USDA CARCASS GRADE 2 2 specialists have been suggesting to certain DAYS ON FEED -4 -4 cooperators. Use of a pure-blood bull allows the INDIVIDUAL HETEROSIS = SINGLE CROSSBRED (A X B); MATERNAL HETEROSIS = producer to have some predictability of how CROSSBRED COW X PUREBRED BULL (AB X C); TOTAL HETEROSIS = THE ADDITIVE the bull’s progeny will perform. The prediction is EFFECT OF BOTH SYSTEMS A

A

52 California Cattleman August 2025

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53

SCREWWORM

MOVES NORTHWARD

from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

ROLLINS ORDERS CLOSURE OF BORDER IN RESPONSE On June 8, Mexico’s National Service of AgroAlimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) reported a new case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz in Mexico, which is approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile fly dispersal grid, on the eastern side of the country and 370 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border. This new northward detection comes approximately two months after northern detections were reported in Oaxaca and Veracruz, less than 700 miles away from the U.S. border, which triggered the closure of our ports to Mexican cattle, bison and horses on May 11.

While USDA announced a risk-based phased port re-opening strategy for cattle, bison and equine from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, this newly reported NWS case raises significant concern about the previously reported information shared by Mexican officials and severely compromises the outlined port reopening schedule of five ports from July 7 to Sept. 15.

Therefore, in order to protect American livestock and our nation’s food supply, Secretary Rollins has ordered the closure of livestock trade through southern ports of entry effective immediately.

“The United States has promised to be vigilant — and after detecting this new NWS case, we are pausing the planned port reopening’s to further quarantine and target this deadly pest in Mexico.

We must see additional progress combatting NWS in Veracruz and other nearby Mexican states in order to reopen livestock ports along the Southern border,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Thanks to the aggressive monitoring by USDA staff in the U.S. and in Mexico, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest.”

To ensure the protection of U.S. livestock herds, USDA is holding Mexico accountable by ensuring proactive measures are being taken to maintain a NWS free barrier. This is maintained with stringent animal movement

54 California Cattleman August 2025

controls, surveillance, trapping, and following the proven science to push the NWS barrier south in phases as quickly as possible.

In June, Secretary Rollins launched a Bold Plan to combat New World Screwworm (PDF, 434 KB) by protecting our border at all costs, increasing eradication efforts in Mexico, and increasing readiness. USDA also announced the groundbreaking of a sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. This facility will provide a critical contingency capability to disperse sterile flies should a NWS detection be made in the southern United States. Simultaneously, USDA is moving forward with the design process to build a domestic sterile fly production facility to ensure it has the resources to push NWS back to the Darien Gap. USDA is working on these efforts in lockstep with border states – Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas – as it will take a coordinated approach with federal, state, and local partners to keep this pest at bay and out of the U.S. USDA will continue to have personnel perform site visits throughout Mexico to ensure the Mexican government has adequate protocols and surveillance in place to combat this pest effectively and efficiently.

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August 2025 California Cattleman

55

FARM SECURITY IS

NATIONAL

SECURITY

by CCA Director of Communications Katie Roberti

Bold action plan released by USDA

Just days after celebrating our country’s have attacked agriculture supply chains, conducted malicious cyberoperations against food independence, the United States Department processors, imported illicit food products, created of Agriculture (USDA) took action to protect the unfair trade practices, purchased our farmland, nation’s agricultural lands and food supply with stolen our intellectual property, forced technology the unveiling of the National Farm Security Action transfers, smuggled potential bioterrorism agents, Plan. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. developed potential tools for agroterrorism, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Secretary and monopolized agricultural markets—in turn of Homeland Security Kristi Noem joined U.S. transforming our nation’s growing reliance on key Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on the foreign food and agricultural inputs into an urgent front steps of the USDA building in Washington, strategic vulnerability.”

D.C. to unpack the plan’s objectives and proclaim In the press release announcing the plan, a clear message that “farm security is national USDA highlighted how just weeks ago, “the U.S. security.”

Department of Justice charged foreign nationals, “We feed the world. We lead the world. And including a Chinese Communist Party member, we’ll never let foreign adversaries control our land, with smuggling a noxious fungus into the our labs, or our livelihoods,” said Secretary Rollins.

United States—a potential agroterrorism weapon “This Action Plan puts America’s farmers, families, responsible for billions in global crop losses.” and future first—exactly where they belong.

Under President Trump’s leadership, American The intended actions of this plan are condensed agriculture will be strong, secure, and resilient. He in the following three points: will never stop fighting for our farmers and our • Promote Agricultural and Economic Prosperity ranchers.” through securing our nation’s farmland, The 12-page document for the National Farm ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 58 Security Action Plan starts with the sentence “Agriculture is foundational to our nation.” It goes on to share how our founders viewed agriculture and explain that today, the numerous threats to American agriculture that exist are threats to our country.

“Defending access to American abundance and preserving the American experiment is the essence of agriculture security. And it is why farm security is national security.”

USDA’s plan outlines that the threats to our nation’s food supply are many. “Countries around the world, including our adversaries, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins shares natinal security action plan on the steps

56 California Cattleman August 2025

of the USDA in Washington, D.C.

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August 2025 California Cattleman

57

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56 identifying gaps in the supply chain and other security vulnerabilities.

• Defend the Foundations of Agriculture and Food by enhancing research security and evaluating all USDA programs to ensure they put America First.

• Strengthen Domestic Agricultural Productivity through safeguarding plant and animal health, protecting critical infrastructure, and promoting American agricultural products in the U.S. and abroad.

Quickly following the announcement, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein gave his support for the plan.

“America is blessed to have hundreds of thousands of family farms and ranches producing beef right here at home,” Wehrbein said. “NCBA strongly agrees with Secretary Rollins that farm security is national security. We are pleased that USDA is protecting our family farms and ranches, scrutinizing foreign acquisitions to ensure they don’t threaten American agriculture, protecting U.S. agricultural research from foreign adversaries, and bolstering animal health programs to prevent a foreign animal disease outbreak. Secretary Rollins and President Trump are true friends of American agriculture.”

The California Cattlemen’s Association has policy that directly outlines the importance of protection from foreign diseases and supports those actions in this new plan. Specifically, CCA policy states that the Association will “urge the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture to continue to provide special surveillance and protection to prevent the importation of foreign disease into California and the United States by international visitors.”

“Secretary Rollin’s plan is a smart, proactive step to protect our farms and ranches while strengthening the security of America’s food supply,” CCA President and Plumas County rancher Rick Roberti said. “This action from USDA puts critical tools in place to help prevent major disruptions in our supply chains—an essential move to ensure cattle producers can continue delivering the safest, highest-quality beef to families nationwide. Addressing these risks head-on gives ranchers and farmers like me a greater peace of mind and a stronger foundation for the future.”

7 critical areas for aggressive action in the plan: 1. Secure and Protect American Farmland – Address U.S. foreign farmland ownership from adversaries head on. Total transparency. Tougher penalties.

2. Enhance Agricultural Supply Chain

58 California Cattleman August 2025

Resilience – Refocus domestic investment into key manufacturing sectors and identify non-adversarial partners to work with when domestic production is not available. Plan for contingencies.

3. Protect U.S. Nutrition Safety Net from Fraud and Foreign Exploitation – Billions have been stolen by foreign crime rings. That ends now.

4. Defend Agricultural Research and Innovation – No more sweetheart deals or secret pacts with hostile nations. American ideas stay in America.

5. Put America First in Every USDA Program – From farm loans to food safety, every program will reflect the America First agenda.

6. Safeguard Plant and Animal Health – Crack down on bio-threats before they ever reach our soil.

7. Protect Critical Infrastructure – Farms, food, and supply chains are national security assets—and will be treated as such.

CCA will provide updates on the progress of this plan in future publications as USDA works in “further unison with governors, state legislators, and federal partners to further integrate agriculture into the broader national security efforts over the coming months and years reaffirming the critical nature of agriculture and the need for a cross governmental approach.”

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59

LEGISLATIVE

ADVOCACY

by Maureen LaGrande for the California Cattleman

CCA CATTLE-PAC HELPS AID INFLUENCE AT STATE CAPITOL AND BEYOND

California Cattlemen’s Association members serve as the voice for the state’s cattle industry.

With their input, CCA staff can execute the members’ wishes through lobbying, legislation, education and advocacy. To ensure the most favorable political environment for ranchers at the state level, CCA has a Political Action Committee.

The CCA Cattle-PAC is a voluntary political action committee that works to support political campaigns and candidates to promote a favorable political landscape for ranchers in California. Those who choose to obtain a Cattle-PAC membership and donate help to promote the political interests of ranchers.

In order to raise the funds necessary to support political figures aligned with ranchers’ priorities, the Association holds a Cattle-PAC Dinner Dance and Auction every other year. This year’s event coincides with the Midyear Meeting and take place Aug. 14 – Aug. 15, at the Paso Robles Event Center. The Cattle-PAC Dinner will occur on Friday night upon the conclusion of Midyear. The event brings ample conversation, plenty of dancing and the support of a good cause. Jack Lavers, Glennville serves as the chairman of the Cattle-PAC. This year marks Laver’s first year as chairman, but he has been involved with the committee for a long time.

Lavers shared that the Cattle-PAC’s early formation came from the driving force of John Harris, Coalinga, and John Lacey, Paso Robles.

The two recognized that the Association needed another mechanism to aid staff and members in obtaining meetings with the state’s legislators, which in the past had been difficult to secure.

Alongside Lavers, the committee consists of other CCA and Cattle-PAC members who help to identify current and future impacts the industry may face and coordinate where their focus should be when it comes to meeting with and

60 California Cattleman August 2025

supporting legislators. “We aren’t just planning for right now, but for two to four years down the road, to build that relationship,” said Lavers. “We work on it now, so that we can have protection later on.”

With the 2025 event happening in the coming weeks, continue reading below to hear from Lavers about Cattle-PAC and its importance to the Association and its members.

Q: How does Cattle-PAC benefit the membership?

A:

While our Cattle-PAC is financially small in comparison to other PACs in the state, combining our story of cattle ranching and the funds we have through the PAC packs a huge punch when it comes to meeting with political figures. When we go into meetings, most of those we meet with like to hear our story, and it takes all parties participating to make change happen. Our CattlePAC wouldn’t be successful if we didn’t have the membership driving it.

Q:

What are some of the ways Cattle-PAC has helped the Association and its members?

A:

Through Cattle-PAC, we have been able to kill countless bills and educate policymakers on the importance of ranching. For example, there was a point in time when a legislator had a bill that was pushing to eliminate beef in school lunches. With our PAC dollars, we scheduled a meeting with that legislator, and we were able to share with them the importance of beef in a diet and all that ranchers do to ensure that nutritious beef reaches the table. The result of this meeting led to the legislator ultimately pulling the bill and allowing for beef to continue to be present in school lunches. ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 62

TENTATIVE MEETING SCHEDULE The schedule below is tentative and subject to change.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14TH 8 - 10 am 9:30 am - 10:30 am 10 - 11 am 10:30 am - 11:30 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 pm 12 - 1 pm 1 - 4 pm 4 - 6 pm

California Cattlemen’s Foundation Board Mtg. A CA Cattlewomen Heritage Foundation, Inc. CCA Officer Meeting CCW Executive Board Meeting Cattle-PAC Registration Open Lunch General Session #1 Closing Reception

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH 7 am 7 - 8 am 7 - 8 am 8 - 10 am 10:15 - 11:15 am 10:15 am - 12:15 pm 11:15 am - 12:15 pm 4 pm 5 pm

Registration Open Breakfast CCA Nominating Committee Mtg. General Session #2/Policy Mtgs.

CCA Board Meeting CCW Board Meeting Local Presidents Meeting Cattle-PAC Reception Cattle-PAC Dinner/Dance/Auction

REGISTRATION Includes access to all meetings, lunch Thursday, an evening reception Thursday and breakfast Friday morning. Cattle-PAC tickets are NOT included with registration and must be purchased separately.

Full Registration: $150 Young Cattlemen’s (YCC): $100 Cattle-PAC Tickets: $85/ticket or $150/couple FINAL DAY TO REGISTER ONLINE IS FRIDAY, AUG. 8.

REGISTRATION PRICES WILL INCREASE ONSITE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER VISIT CALCATTLEMEN.ORG!

August 2025 California Cattleman

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 60 Sitting on the other side of the aisle, we need someone on our side; we need an ally. Even though we don’t all think the same, we need those who aren’t familiar with our industry to understand that we are doing everything we can for the beef industry. Over time, we have continued to form relationships with political figures, including Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma.

“In the state of California and our political climate, we need every dollar we can get and assist our membership with issues they need help with.”

Q:

-Jack Lavers

What do you look forward to about the upcoming Cattle-PAC event and why should CCA members consider attending?

California Cattle-PAC Chairman

A: First off, it’s a party and it’s fun. Some of the

donors that I have invited this year are not the typical people you would see at our Cattle-PAC event. It is always good to reach outside of the industry and bring in others who are friendly, believe in the industry, and want to help. I look forward to watching them participate at the event and hearing their thoughts.

Coming to the Cattle-PAC event allows you to visit with members from all over the state, drink some whiskey or wine, and eat a delicious meal provided by Claude and Bonnie Loftus. The money raised will be spent judiciously to support and fight for our industry. Those PAC dollars are at work for you.

CATTLE-PAC RETURNS IN THE PAST YEAR: • Killing legislation which would have required onerous inspections and repairs of any gates over 50 pounds and either wider than two feet or taller than seven feet – which would

have included numerous agricultural gates inaccessible to the public; •

Reviving California’s Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program by securing additional funds for the Program in the 2024-25 Budget and successfully shutting down efforts to subsidize “alternative protein” in the Budget or the 2024 Climate Bond;

•

Unanimous, bipartisan support in the Assembly for pending CCA-sponsored legislation which seeks to legalize on-ranch composting of livestock carcasses and save ranchers time and money by retaining an agricultural vehicle exemption from CHP’s Basic Inspection of Vehicles program.

CURRENT PRIORITIES: • Advancing bills to legalize on-ranch composting of routine livestock mortalities and to extend an agricultural vehicle exemption from CHP’s Basic Inspection of Terminals program •

Spearheading livestock producers’ opposition to a proposal before the California Fish & Game Commission which would curtail ranchers’ and hunters’ ability to manage coyote populations within the state

•

Increasing the use of prescribed fire and livestock grazing as a fire-fuels treatment on state-owned land

•

Promoting state policies that recognize rangelands’ potential for groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration and other environmental benefits

California Cattlemen’s Association Political Action Committee (Cattle-PAC, FPPC #760980) Donations are voluntary, not tax-deductible and cannot exceed $6,500 from a person or company within a calendar year.

62 California Cattleman August 2025

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63

RESEARCH

Relationships

& RANGELANDS

© Andy Barron

Paying homage to the legacy of Ken Tate and the research that forever benefits California cattle ranchers

by University of California Ag and Natural Resources Advisor Tracy Schohr for the California Cattleman

California’s cattle industry depends on steadfast partners who bring science, engage in public policy, and offer support when and where it matters most. These individuals don’t just advise from afar, they ride alongside ranchers guiding them in management, conducting practical research, and helping them navigate complex government regulations.

For 30 years the California Cattlemen’s Association had Kenneth W. Tate, Ph.D., as a steadfast partner. He was a professor at the University of California (UC), Davis Department of Plant Sciences and a UC Cooperative Extension specialist who helped shape California’s cattle and ranching industry. Tate unexpectedly passed away on June 5 at age 58, leaving behind a saddened ranching community forever indebted to the service he provided and the friendships he fostered.

Tate grew up in Norman, Okla., and attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a doctorate in water resources, a master’s degree in range ecology and management, and a bachelor’s degree in in range ecology and management. In 1995, he moved to California to start his career as a rangeland watershed Cooperative Extension specialist.

Tate was a leader in grazing mangement and policy, working on a cross section of issues facing California’s 34.1 million acres of grazed rangelands. Over the years, he worked directly with CCA and ranchers to tackle tough problems with grazing. When approached with a challenge, he knew the existing research and would build on it to make it practical and

64 California Cattleman August 2025

relevant for California’s unique landscapes.

Tate would figure out whether cattle were actually causing a problem, and if they were, he was known to work with ranchers to find management solutions.

One of Tate’s first extension talks was in 1995 at Parsons Creek during the “Ranch Water Quality Planning Short Course” at UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. There, he met Lake County rancher and CCA member, Russ Rustici. A series of tough questions to Tate in the creek that day laid the foundation for long-term collaboration. Years later, Tate and many others worked with Russ to establish the Russell L. Rustici Rangeland & Cattle Research Endowment, along with two endowed chairs at UC Davis. These initiatives provide lasting support for research and extension programs focused on California livestock and rangelands, ensuring that UC remains strongly committed to range science well into the future.

Jumping Right in with Science In 1995, when Tate started at the university, fresh out of grad school, he jumped right in and helped complete the Rangeland Water Quality Management Plan that was adopted by the State

Water Resources Control Board, reflected past CCA staffer George Gough.

“This was the beginning of water quality and grazing discussions, from there it just became more and more of a thing. Ken has always been there conducting research, speaking at CCA Conventions, and presenting to agencies,” stated Gough.

In 1998, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) announced plans to eliminate livestock grazing on a 40,000-acre watershed that supplies drinking water to 2.6 million consumers. The proposed elimination of grazing followed a water contamination outbreak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. Parvum), that was suspected to be from manure shed from cattle on dairy farms.

“Ken mobilized a team across UC to conduct water sampling of tributary streams and stored water reservoirs. Wildlife inventories were identified, fecal sampling of local and contiguous cattle herds was completed as well as from suspected C. parvum host wildlife species - feral pigs, ground squirrels, blacktail deer and Tule Elk,” shared Tim Koopmann, rancher and past rangeland resource manager for SFPUC. When Gough, UC researchers and ranchers traveled to downtown San Francisco for a hearing on the future of grazing on SFPUC managed lands, the outlook was grim. Resistance was high with AIDS and public health advocacy groups fearing C. parvum in SFPUC drinking water, a death sentence for immune compromised citizens.

“Ken’s solution-orientated approached prevailed,” recalls Gough. “He worked with UC colleagues to get the science to share that cattle were not the source of the problem and outlined a path forward for SFPUC that allowed grazing to continue.”

This was just the start of Ken’s data-driven approach to grazing management. He also started early in his career bringing diverse stakeholders (e.g. ranchers, land management agencies, regulators, conservation entities) together to help navigate difficult topics through conversations.

It was the late 1990s, and the EPA and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board were going through a TMDL [Total Maximum Daily Load] process.

“I clearly remember, we had little trust as ranchers. Ken was there as an invaluable neutral buffer with the regulatory agencies, bringing science into the equation and helping us ranchers understand the regulatory parameters,” recalls Dina Moore, a scientific-minded Humboldt County rancher. “The visionary efforts of Ken, along with colleagues helped us form the Yager Van Duzen watershed group that has served as a backstop to additional regulations in the region.” ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 66

“Through Ken’s genuine kind nature, he gained the trust of ranchers to allow him on their ranches to participate in his research and collect data. He helped us share our story and science.”

-Carol Dobbas

Rancher and former executive director of the Feather River Watershed Group

© Andy Barron

In May 2025, Tina Saitone and Tate’s study of wolf impacts on cattle was featured in the Los Angeles Times.

Ken Tate, Ph.D., (second from left) with research colleagues and friends: DJ Eastburn, Leslie Roche and Tracy Schohr.

August 2025 California Cattleman

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 Regulations, Recreation, and Food Contamination In the early 2000s, spinach and leafy greens were associated with numerous outbreaks due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7. These outbreaks lead to illnesses and deaths, and market impacts. Ranchers across the central coast feared losing their leases and access to grazing lands, as concerns grew about cattle feces potentially contaminating nearby spinach fields.

Tate’s approach was to work with ranchers to scientifically fill those knowledge gaps. He coalesced colleagues across UC Davis and graduate students. The outcomes were research papers and presentations across the Central Coast on rangeland management practices to protect clean water.

In 2007, Justin Oldfield joined the team at the CCA and immediately started working with Tate on public lands grazing issues. The challenges at the time were grazing allotment monitoring compliance, water quality and threatened and endangered species.

“Ken was always the first person to call when challenges arose regarding grazing and water quality,” recalls Oldfield. “Ken would share what research had been done, tell you about the pitfalls in that research, and was honest about the gaps in knowledge.”

During this time, Tate’s engagement on issues on the Stanislaus National Forest helped ranchers navigate challenging conversations with agency staff tasked with balancing ranching, recreation, water quality and threatened and endangered species.

“Ken brought science to the table,” stated Oldfield. “When discussions reached a standstill, Ken would set out to collect more data so conversations could remain grounded in science leading to good grazing mangement on the ground.”

During this time, Ken worked with former post-doctoral student Leslie Roche, Ph.D.—who is now a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist in Rangeland Science and Management—to collect data. The summers collecting water samples and monitoring wildlife and habitat found today’s grazing levels to be compatible with U.S. Forest Service multiple use objectives. These research findings informed public land grazing policies.

GRAP and shifting the tides In 2013, the State Water Resources Control Board put a microscope on grazing lands. At the time, regulators believed grazing operations on open rangelands in California discharge or have the potential to discharge waste into surface waters, and therefore should have government oversight. This was the beginning of the Grazing 66 California Cattleman August 2025

Ken and his wife were a great team. Tina, a Professor of Extension Agricultural and Resource Economics, often accompanied Ken in his research.

© Leslie Roche

The Society for Range Management presented Tate an award for exceptional accomplishments and contributions to the art and science of range management through rangeland stewardship in 2022.

Regulatory Action Project (GRAP).

“During GRAP, CCA once again looked to Ken for science and solutions,” recalled Oldfield. “Ken asked the hard questions of ranchers, Ken got ranchers to the table with the water board, and Ken facilitated many conservations.”

Tate and Cooperative Extension advisors across the state came together to share information on working rangelands and the technical assistance they provide to ranchers to improve water quality, while ensuring economic viability of working ranches. In the end, there were no additional regulations and the historic efforts that created the 1995 Rangeland Water Quality Management Plan continue to be recognized.

With acknowledgement that grazing management can be compatible with water quality, the regulatory world began to shift. In the early 2000s, Tate was an instrumental part of the creation of “Coalitions” in response to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) Irrigated Lands Regulatory

Program. Tate worked with coalitions, including the Upper Feather River Watershed, to come together for watershed monitoring versus individual ranch reporting. This resulted in years of data demonstrating grazing and water quality objectives can coexist.

“Ken has been part of the conversation and the science since our very first rancher meeting in Vinton, back in the early 2000s,” said Carol Dobbas, rancher and former executive director of the Feather River Watershed Group. “From that day all the way to the Regional Board’s decision in 2023 to exempt our watershed from the regulation, Ken and UC Cooperative Extension was there every step of the way. Through Ken’s genuine kind nature, he gained the trust of ranchers to allow him on their ranches to participate in his research and collect data. He helped us share our story and science.”

The CVRWQCB has voted to exempt two predominantly ranching coalitions from the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program - Goose Lake (Aug. 13, 2021) and Upper Feather River (Feb. 23, 2023). The Upper Pit will be considered for exemption at the August 2025 meeting. These exemptions have translated into reductions in regulatory burdens and assessments for ranchers previously regulated under the program, while preserving and protecting water quality.

Water to Wolves During the past few years, many CCA members have come to recognize and appreciate Dr. Tate and his wife, Tina Saitone, Ph.D., UC Cooperative Extension Livestock and Rangeland Economics Specialist, for their work on ranching with wolves. With growing wolf populations in the state, they set out to understand the indirect impacts on cattle production and what that meant for ranchers on the ground. Their multi-year study looked closely at how the presence of wolves affected grazing behavior, stress levels and overall cattle performance. They translated these impacts into economic terms, offering a clearer picture of the hidden costs ranchers face even when no calf is taken – finding one wolf can cause between $69,000 and $162,000 in losses. Ken and Tina’s study provided important data to inform policy discussions on wolf compensation and management in California.

A Lasting Legacy Tate’s career as a cooperative extension

specialist exemplified the mission of extension – delivering practical, research-based education to help individuals, families, businesses, and communities solve problems and improve lives.

Ken’s research and role in ranching communities across California has influenced grazing management practices, brought forth sciencebased decision-making, and built bridges to find common ground on many difficult, emotional and economic challenges.

“Ken provided practical science to reach applicable solutions. He was respected and appreciated by resource management professionals and ranchers throughout the state of California,” said Koopmann.

Across California, Tate worked alongside ranchers, researchers, state and federal agencies, local governments, nonprofits and policymakers.

He brought these diverse stakeholders together in conversations focused on science, helping build a deeper understanding of rangeland management and the vital role ranchers play in stewarding these working landscapes.

“We have learned so much from Ken,” reflects Sierra Valley-based CCA President Rick Roberti, who started working with him over 20 years ago on the Sierra Nevada Framework. “He has been a calming force for ranchers, helping them tackle challenges from public lands grazing to water quality and wolves.”

Tate has left a legacy of leadership, collaboration, and science-driven action. His commitment to science and sustainable grazing management— rooted in research— strengthened ranching operations across the state.

“Ken was one of the single best advocates California ranchers had and was usually my first phone call when I needed an expert for nearly any regulatory issue - Yosemite toad; Forest Service grazing standards; water quality; or, more recently, wolves. As good a scientist and advocate as he was, though, Ken was even better company. I’m sure most CCA members share my warm memories of chatting with him at the sidelines of CCA conventions, Rustici symposia or regulatory hearings, having a good laugh over beers or steaks,” said Kirk Wilbur, CCA Vice President of Government Affairs.

When challenges arise, we will reflect on Ken’s legacy, to unite people with good beef, ranch tours and sound science to build bridges to help support the future of California ranchers.

August 2025 California Cattleman

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MIDSTATE FAIR HONORS LOCAL RANCHERS from the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau

68 California Cattleman August 2025

During her tenure as CFO for various Tenet Health facilities, then National Medical Enterprises, she received two national awards as CFO of the Year within the company.

After a successful career in health care administration, Jill stepped into ranch management during the untimely passing of her beloved father, Buster Twisselman, in 1999. With the skills he taught her, and the mentoring from various friends and family, Jill then developed and improved the ranching operation known today as Lazy JT Land and Cattle. Those mentors included John Lacey, Billy Roden, Larry Brooks, Gerald and Ann Davis, and the Tom Twisselman family. With encouragement from one of her mentors, Jill furthered her education in agriculture management by attending a Ranching for Profit School in 2001 which gave her a better understanding of techniques to increase financial sustainability.

Heely now serves as President/CEO and Partner of this family held ranching operation encompassing 30,000 acres in both San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties. Depending on conditions, the ranch operation runs 400-600 head of mother cows.

Over the years, Heely and Robert have improved the “working ranch” infrastructure by adding over 50 water troughs and miles and miles of pipeline and new fencing. Other ranch improvements included new corrals, scales and equipment needed for a progressive cow-calf ranching operation. Heely has also integrated innovative ranch management methods such as rotational grazing,and extensive water distribution.

What Heely takes the greatest pride in is her Angus herd where she has devoted much time and research into improved genetics resulting in some top performing Angus calves in today’s local beef market. As stated by John Rodgers, co-founder of Western Video Market, “her cow herd is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Lazy JT calves have always topped the market and gone to many repeat buyers, from Oregon to Texas, and all points in between.” ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 70

©TOM MEINHOLD PHOTOGRAPHY

There is a saying that says sometimes the best man for the job is a woman. When it comes to beef production, women in every part of they state have proven they can keep up with their mail counterparts. Jill Twisselman Heely has long been one of those women.

Heely was recently selected as the 2025 Cattleman of the year by the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association and honored July 17 at the annual Cattlemen’s Day barbecue at the Mid-State Fair.

Born in Paso Robles in 1960, Jill is the daughter of James “Buster” and Loretta Twisselman. She was raised on the family’s cattle ranch located in Bitterwater. Jill is married to Robert Heely and they have two girls Kaitlin de Jong and Madison Heely. Jill’s family, along with her mother Loretta Twisselman, sister Sheree Davis and her twins Justin and Ashley, have all contributed to the success of the family cattle business called Lazy JT Land and Cattle.

Jill Heely is part of the large Twisselman pioneer ranching family with deep roots in San Luis Obispo County dating back to the late 1880’s. She attended Choice Valley School, a one room school in Bitterwater Valley with 17 students grades 1-6.

She was then bused to Shandon for her Junior and Senior High School years. During this time she exhibited keen athleticism as a basketball player.

She also began her affiliation with both 4-H and FFA by raising and showing steers at the California Mid-State Fair. After graduating from Shandon High School, she attended the University of Southern California, where she practiced with USC’s women’s basketball team, then transferring to Fresno State University where she earned a Business Administration degree with a concentration in health care administration.

Jill’s first jobs were indicative or her strong work ethic, even as a child, building fence and driving water trucks, bulk trucks, tractors and harvesters for her father on the family ranch. She did it all. Her preferred ranch jobs were riding horses, roping and branding calves. Much like her father, she enjoyed cattle ranching more than farming. While she worked hard during her childhood, her first paid jobs were in health care where she served for many years as the Assistant Controller, then Chief Financial Officer, for both Twin Cities Community Hospital and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center.

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 68 Heely is an advocate for the cattle industry and is currently serving leadership roles on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo Country Cattlemen’s Association (past Treasurer), San Luis Obispo County’s Cattlemen’s PAC (Secretary/ Treasurer), and the California Cattlemen’s Foundation (Secretary). She has been actively involved in the San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s Association events such as Playdays, Art Shows, and San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s PAC. As an industry cattleman, she has graded bulls at the Cal Poly’s Bull Sale, sifted bulls at the Famoso Western Livestock Market and judged replacement heifers for the State Fair in Sacramento.

Outside of her industry leadership, Heely served on the Board of Directors for Twin Cities Community Hospital (2002 through 2007). She and Robert were also Founding Board Members for the Cancer Support Community, Central Coast where they were recently recognized as the Philanthropists of the Year.

Jill Heely is passionate about the cattle industry and optimistic about its future. She applauds the camaraderie she sees at local calf brandings where “neighbors are helping neighbors getting the job done.” Heely credits local ranching families who are bringing up some amazing, hardworking ranch kids such as the Twisselmans, Renterias, Reeves, Stornettas, Rodens, Scribners and Loftuses. Heely states, “They are the next generation of advocates for our industry’s future…and, as I see it, the future is bright.” And, to all future cattlemen, Heely urges “bring on your work ethic, your innovative sustainability strategies, but along the way, don’t forget to have some FUN!” The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association, local cattle ranchers and producers, and the agricultural community at large, salute Jill and her family for their contributions to the beef industry and to the County of San Luis Obispo.

©TOM MEINHOLD PHOTOGRAPHY

Debbie Arnold has been selected as the 2025 CattleWoman of the year by the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association. Debbie was born in Walnut Creek, California in 1955, and raised near Fremont where her father worked as an air traffic controller.

After graduating from high school, Debbie moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly as an Animal Science major where she lived with her aunt, fellow cattlewoman Susan Jones at her home in Pozo. In 1975, Debbie married Steve Arnold, whose family had ranched

70 California Cattleman August 2025

in the Pozo Valley for several generations. Debbie describes her life with Steve as an amazing adventure as they had the opportunity to live and work on some of the largest and most beautiful cattle ranches in San Luis Obispo County, where they made lifelong friendships and wonderful memories. In 1978 Steve and Debbie welcomed their son Joey into the world, and in 1980 their daughter Michelle. Today, Joey and daughter-inlaw Jessica Arnold, and daughter Michelle and son-in-law Ryan Pascoe live locally and help with ranch operations.

In 1980 Debbie began taking classes at Cuesta College and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, then opened Small Wonders Preschool in Atascadero where she continued to provide much needed preschool opportunities for local families for seventeen years.

In 2000 Debbie went to work for County Supervisor Mike Ryan as a legislative assistant, and in 2005 for Assemblyman and later Senator Sam Blakeslee as a field representative where she advocated for agriculture and helped to promote policies that would protect the agriculture industry locally and statewide.

Debbie became a member of the San Luis Obispo County Cattlewomen’s Association in 1980 and participated for many years helping with scholarship fundraising and educational activities promoting beef, including displays at the Great AgVenture, Cattlewomen’s fashion shows, Casino night, and Ag Day at the the Fair. Debbie was also active on the Ag Task Force, and served as a bus captain for years for the Paso Robles Agriculture Business Tour Committee.

In 2012 Debbie was elected to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District where she used her decades of experience living on working ranches to help educate policymakers and the public about the issues affecting agriculture. Debbie considers it a great honor to have served the citizens of San Luis Obispo County on the Board.

In January 2025 Debbie retired from public office and today stays busy helping her family with their cattle, farming, and Vintage Cowboy Winery business. She especially enjoys spending time with her four teenage granddaughters Laney and Josie Arnold, and Reagan and Emery Pascoe.

The San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association, local cattle ranchers and producers, and the agricultural community at large, salute Debbie and her family for their contributions to the beef industry, the agricultural community at large, and to the County of San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen and CattleWomen have given these awards annually since 1965, making making Heely and Arnold the 60th recipients to receive the honors.

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August 2025 California Cattleman

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YOUNG PRODUCER FINDING THE PERFECT FIT

CCA helping youth find space in ever-evolving industry

by Lilly Fernandez; California State University, Fresno, Young Cattlemen’s Association

Growing up, I wasn’t raised deeply in the a psychology major with a plan to go to medical livestock world, but being involved in 4-H school. At first, I felt a little out of place, like I and helping with my family’s small cow-calf had to prove I belonged. But instead of that operation sparked a curiosity that quickly turned holding me back, it became one of my biggest into a passion. The more I learned about the motivators. My passion for the beef industry was beef industry, the more it started to feel like real, and being surrounded by others who shared something I didn’t just enjoy, but I wanted to be that same dedication only strengthened it. part of it.

One day during the convention, I had a After graduating from high school, I set out meaningful conversation with someone about on a completely different path. I enrolled at UC my career goals. It was the kind of conversation Santa Barbara to pursue a career in medicine. that really makes you take a step back and think I had always been fascinated by science and about where you’re headed and whether it aligns wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. But with what truly fulfills you. That moment sparked no matter how far I was from home or how busy a shift in my mindset. I realized I had been school got, I found myself constantly thinking holding on to a path that no longer reflected who about the ranch, livestock and the cattlewomen I was or who I wanted to become. who inspired me. I’d often travel back to Shasta I spent the next several weeks doing a lot of County whenever I could to stay involved with ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 74 the Shasta County CattleWomen. I even remember juggling midterms and outreach events because I just couldn’t let that part of my life go.

In 2023, I was honored to represent the Shasta County CattleWomen and the Shasta County Cattlemen’s Association as the Beef Princess. This opportunity was so much more than wearing a crown; it allowed me to step into a leadership role in my community, promote beef to consumers and youth, and represent an industry I’d grown to love. It was during this time that I applied for and was accepted as a CCA Convention Intern, a moment that completely changed the direction of my career.

As a 2023 CCA Convention Intern, I got a hands-on look at what goes into producing one of the most important events in our industry. From registration duties and helping with merchandise to guiding attendees and attending general sessions, I was immersed in the event’s behind-the-scenes workings.

More importantly, I had the chance to meet and network with professionals across the state, and for the first time, peers my age who shared the same passion for the beef industry.

What stood out to me most during that 2023 internship was the fact that I was the only intern who Young cattlemen’s member Lilly Fernandez finds joy in young cattlemen’s wasn’t majoring in agriculture. I was

72 California Cattleman August 2025

opportunities across the state and as a CCA Convention intern.

August 2025 California Cattleman

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72 soul-searching. I was entering what should have been my senior year, and I’d worked hard to earn my place at UC Santa Barbara. But something just didn’t feel right. I realized I wasn’t excited about the path I was on, and I didn’t see myself in that career long-term. I wanted to be where my heart was in the beef industry. So, after a lot of reflection and more than a few tough conversations, I made the decision I would transfer to Fresno State and change my major to Animal Science. A lot of people thought I was crazy for transferring. But honestly? I’ve never felt more confident in a decision.

Now, after just one year at Fresno State, I know I made the right call. I’m surrounded by people who understand my passion, professors who challenge me in the best ways, and a campus community that supports my growth. I’ve had the chance to take hands-on classes, work with livestock directly, and build relationships that are helping shape my future.

I even got the opportunity to return as a CCA Convention Intern in 2024, something I didn’t take for granted. Coming back felt like a fullcircle moment. I got to reconnect with the CCA team, contribute even more, and continue to build my network. The CCA staff has been incredibly supportive, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am without them. I also owe a huge thank you to Maureen LaGrande.

From day one, she’s believed in me writing letters of recommendation, offering advice, and being a consistent voice of encouragement when I’ve needed it most. Having someone like her in my corner has made all the difference. I’ve learned that the people you surround yourself with can truly help shape your path.

Outside of class, I’ve gotten super involved on campus. I serve as an Agricultural Ambassador for the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, where I get to help prospective students learn more about Fresno State and what ag education can offer. It’s been a great way to meet people, build confidence, and give back to the program that’s given me so much.

Another big part of my experience has been joining Fresno State’s Young Cattlemen’s Association (YCA). Through YCA, I’ve had some of the best opportunities so far, like traveling to the Cal Poly Bull Sale, touring Standard Cattle, and visiting the Fresno Livestock Commission. These experiences have helped me understand more of the industry outside the classroom. Seeing different operations, hearing from professionals

74 California Cattleman August 2025

Fernandez takes great pride in representing her local Shasta County CattleWomen’s unit.

in the field, and learning how everything ties together has given me a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the beef industry and how much opportunity there is within it. What I love most about YCA is the sense of community.

Being around other students who are just as passionate as I am has made me feel seen, supported, and inspired. It’s comforting to know there’s a whole network of young producers out there, learning and growing together, all with a shared mission of keeping this industry strong.

One thing this journey has made clear is that passion and purpose need to align. You can have the skills and credentials, but if you’re not genuinely invested, it’s tough to stay fulfilled.

I used to think success was about chasing the most prestigious path. Now I realize it’s about choosing the one that feels right, one that makes you want to show up every day. For me, that path led back to agriculture. It’s funny how a single internship, a meaningful conversation, and a bold decision to transfer schools could change so much. But I’m glad they did. I’ve found my place, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead To any student or young producer who’s unsure about what comes next, just know that it’s okay to pivot. It’s okay to change your mind. And it’s okay to follow your heart, even if it doesn’t make sense to everyone else. This industry needs people who are passionate, driven, and ready to step up. I’m proud to be one of them.

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August 2025 California Cattleman

75

CENTRAL COAST TOWN MOURNS THE LOSS OF LOCAL FEED MILL July 5 is typically a day to wake up to a plethora of social media recaps from the previous day’s celebration—pictures of kids wearing red, white and blue, videos of fireworks lighting up the sky, and scenes of small-town parades full of patriotism. Sadly, on the morning of July 5, 2025, Independence Day posts were eclipsed on social media feeds for the community of Templeton and San Luis Obispo County, as the news spread that the silos at Templeton Grain and Feed had caught fire the night before. Illegal fireworks led to the destruction of the silos and the end of a landmark for this small Central Coast town. Many people and local businesses posted their reactions to the news, with some sharing memories about the feedstore, such as visiting it as a kid, and others describing what this “iconic” and “historical” building meant to the town of Templeton.

June Kester, Parkfield, is one local rancher who shared her condolences on Facebook the morning after the fire, writing in part, “From the Kester Family and especially the cattle/horses on our ranch we loved the feed you mixed up fresh….

Templeton Feed was a historic icon, and I have no words this morning, just tears.”

Tempelton Grain and Feed began in 1946 when the Jermin family purchased the building.

Today, the business is still owned and operated by the Jermins.

In an update almost two weeks after the fire, Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce CEO Gina Fitzpatrick told The Paso Robles Daily Press, “The devastating fire at Templeton Feed & Grain struck at the heart of our community — erasing not only a historic landmark, but a place filled with personal memories for so many of us. I still remember riding in the old cattle truck with my grandpa, pulling up to the weigh scale, and feeling the deep connection to our town’s agricultural roots.

This loss affects each of us in different ways, touching both our hearts and our Main Street businesses. As we grieve, we also look to the Jermin family with admiration for their strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment during such a challenging time. Templeton’s spirit is strong, and together, we’ll continue to support one another as we rebuild.”

The article for the Press also detailed that the Jermin family is “navigating a complex path to recovery, balancing practical rebuilding plans with the emotional weight of community

76 California Cattleman August 2025

expectations.” Sadly, the decision has been made not to rebuild the silos.

“Everybody is really hurt about the silos being burnt down, but we can’t rebuild them,” Templeton Grain and Feed owner Rick Jermin told The Paso Robles Daily Press. “There’s not enough grain grown here to justify that structure anymore, and even if we wanted to, it would cost millions due to the wood and engineering required.”

The silo towers were a “a proud landmark that had anchored the heart of downtown for more than 70 years,” The San Luis Obispo Tribune published in a feature dedicated to the granary’s history 10 days after the fire. “The silos were built from layers of Douglas fir 2-by-6s in 1952 and 1954, requiring some 50 tons of nails and a whole lot of community elbow grease to assemble.”

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COUNCIL COMMUNICATOR CHECKING IN ON YOUR BEEF CHECKOFF

SUMMER GRILLING EASES INTO BACK-TO-SCHOOL FOR KEY MARKETING CAMPAIGNS from the California Beef Council Whether you call it grilling, a cookout, or a backyard barbecue, cooking outdoors is as much a part of summer as sunshine and ice cream. And when it comes to the sound of the sizzle and the aroma of meat over fire, most people associate summer grilling with beef.

“Summer starts and ends with major holiday grilling events,” said Annette Kassis, the California Beef Council’s (CBC) director of consumer and brand marketing. “Memorial Day and Labor Day are like bookends; in between are Father’s Day and the 4th of July. Those four holidays tend to be big for beef, and the numbers bear that out.”

A recent Summer Grilling Insights Survey noted that 96 percent of consumers plan to grill this summer. So what is America grilling?

According to the survey, 89 percent plan to grill beef burgers, with 74 percent cooking beef hot dogs, 66 percent putting beef sausages or brats over the flame, 64 percent going for ribeye steak on their grill, and 62 percent preparing beef ribs outdoors.

But the survey also showed some concerns this grilling season. “When consumers cited their concerns, the top three were the cost of meat, the overall cost of groceries, and the cost of grilling fuels like propane, wood pellets or chips,” Kassis said.

And that makes summer the perfect time to help consumers save money on beef.

The CBC’s Sizzled in California summer grilling campaign ran eight weeks from May 18 through July 12, covering three of those four major summer grilling holidays. The campaign targeted adults 18-49 in seven key broadcast markets: Bakersfield; FresnoVisalia; Los Angeles; Monterey-Salinas; Sacramento-Stockton; San Diego; and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose.

Campaign media included the Smart Audio broadcast on iHeartRadio and geo-targeted location-based display ads.

Smart Audio uses artificial intelligence to determine optimum spot placement for the target audience based on listening data in the target markets. The geo-targeted location-

78 California Cattleman August 2025

based display ads went to consumers who were on any one of more than 100,000 sites across the iHeartMEDIA App network and who came within a 1-mile radius of a California grocery retailer.

Both the radio and display ads drove consumers to the SizzledInCalifornia.com landing page for the money-saving beef offer, mouthwatering beef recipes, and beef-centric video content.

For campaign creative, the CBC signed TV, radio, and podcast host Mario Lopez to be the voice of the Sizzled in California radio spots.

“We tapped into Mario’s known love of beef and grilling, with each of the three different commercials he recorded naming two different cuts he would grill,” Kassis said. In each commercial, Lopez directed listeners to the campaign landing page, SizzledInCalifornia.com, for beef savings, grilling tips, and recipes.

When consumers went to the SizzledInCalifornia.com landing page, they found an opportunity to save $2 on a $10 or more purchase of delicious Beef for the grill through the Checkout 51 mobile app, or online at Checkout51. com. Other landing page features included a ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 80

August 2025 California Cattleman

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 78 vibrant photo carousel of summer grilling recipes linked to BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, as well as three chef and grill-master how-to videos: Garlic & Herb Steak Salad, Tri-Tip, and Ribeye Beef Kebabs.

As Mario Lopez said at the end of each CBC summer grilling radio spot, “Summer is Beef season…let’s grill!”

AS SUMMER ENDS, A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS With a new school year just around the corner, the CBC is launching a new Back-to-School campaign in partnership with the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The campaign, which launched July 23 and runs through September 9, puts the focus on the importance of high-quality nutrition to fuel the school day.

“This is an incredibly busy time of year for parents of school-aged children,” said Christie Van Egmond, the CBC’s director of retail and foodservice marketing. “We want to remind parents that fueling up for school is easier than they think when they focus on nutrient-dense foods like protein-packed lean beef and dairy products made with Real California Milk.”

For the Back-to-School campaign, the CBC is working with veteran NFL reporter, podcast host, and mother Erin Andrews to give listeners their “Fuel-up Back-to-School Play-By-Play.”

Campaign media features Smart Audio

80 California Cattleman August 2025

radio as well as geo-targeted location-based display, all driving to the landing page at BackToSchoolCalifornia.com. There, consumers will find cash-back beef savings through Checkout 51, as well as content from Real California Milk. The page will also feature backto-school breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner recipes, as well as video content. A social media influencer component leverages reels created by three California food & culinary influencers and four California ag influencers featuring beef meals to drive beef purchases. Combined influencer audience is 2.55M followers on Instagram.

In addition to the media and influencer elements, the campaign includes in-store and athome clickable digital, mobile, and display ads as well as social media ads on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest that highlight beef for families with a click-through to beefitswhatsfordinner.com recipe content as well as the CBC’s Checkout 51 beef offer. In addition, five key retailer groups— Stater Bros., Ralphs, Save Mart companies, Safeway and Andronico’s, and Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions—are partnering with additional promotion ranging from shoppable recipe and in-store signage, to in-store radio and social media content on the stores’ platforms.

Results for both Sizzled in California and Fuel Up for Back to School are expected later in the year.

IT’S THE GOOD COWS THAT KEEP PRODUCERS IN BUSINESS LONG TERM

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www.9peaksranch.com August 2025 California Cattleman

81

BEEF ABROAD AS CHINA OBSTACLES PERSIST, PROMOTIONS MOVE MORE U.S. BEEF IN KOREA from the U.S. Meat Export Federation of U.S. short International demand is critical for U.S. beef short plate, about 95 percent of which is plate fell 20 exported. Major destinations include Japan, percent in the China, South Korea and Taiwan, where short plate middle of April is typically sliced thin, marinated and served in and further hot pot and Korean barbecue-style meals. declines were U.S. short plate commands a significant expected,” said premium in these key Asian markets compared Junil Park, U.S. to being utilized domestically. But short plate is Meat Export just one of the U.S. beef cuts entangled in the Federation current trade impasse with China. When China (USMEF) imposed its countermeasures in response to director in U.S. “reciprocal” tariffs announced in early April, Korea. “To the total tariff rate on U.S. beef soared as high help support pricing for U.S. short plate, we as 147 percent. While the two sides agreed to a implemented a unique promotional campaign de-escalation in May that temporarily lowered with one of Korea’s major hypermart retailers.”

China’s tariff rate on U.S. beef to 32 percent, this While the popularity of U.S. short plate is is still far higher than the 12 percent rate imposed well-established in Korea’s restaurant sector, Park on most suppliers. Australian beef, which is the explains that USMEF is also working to promote U.S. industry’s primary competitor in China, short plate as an everyday meal option that currently enters the market at zero duty. consumers can prepare at home.

USMEF partnered with Lotte Mart on a “Korean demand is strong for U.S. short seven-week promotion for U.S. short plate, which plate in foodservice and in recent years, USMEF ended June 18. (Pictured, the 600-gram packs of has worked with importers to utilize short thin-sliced U.S. short plate fill the right-hand side plate in home-meal replacement products and of the special, stand-alone meat case.) meal kits. We also believe that short plate has Inspired by the phonetic similarity of “May demand potential with retail consumers as a 3” and “Woo Samgyeop” (short plate), USMEF versatile option for meals prepared at home. This kicked off the promotion by proclaiming May 3 as promotion helped demonstrate that potential for “Short Plate Day.” retailers,” says Park.

Beyond this tariff disadvantage, U.S. beef faces an additional obstacle: China’s General ...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 84 Administration of Customs has failed to renew registrations for U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities, a large number of which expired in midMarch when the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement reached its five-year anniversary.

As a result, the majority of U.S. beef production is currently ineligible for China, making it imperative that the U.S. industry find alternative buyers for product originally destined for China.

USMEF partnered with Lotte Mart on a seven-week promotion for U.S. Short Plate.

“In Korea, the price

82 California Cattleman August 2025

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Photo: Jaime Lee Photography

In May, USMEF launched a seven-week promotion at 105 outlets of hypermart retailer Lotte Mart. Under a “day marketing” strategy in which a specific product is promoted annually on that same day, USMEF designated May 3 as “Short Plate Day,” supporting the promotion through a digital marketing campaign. The campaign then shifted toward positioning short plate with consumers as an ideal “everyday” meal option.

Lotte Mart provided additional points of sale in its stores and featured U.S. short plate in its weekly printed leaflets. USMEF support included a digital marketing campaign utilizing paid placement, influencers and USMEF’s social media channels. Funding support for the Lotte Mart promotion was provided by the Beef Checkoff Program.

With Lotte Mart’s sales of U.S. short plate increasing an average of 75 percent, the promotion captured the attention of other Korean retail chains. Major retailers now running similar promotions include E-Mart Traders,

84 California Cattleman August 2025

E-Mart and GS Super.

The latest export data, as released by USDA and compiled by USMEF, underscore the urgent need for restoration of market access in China.

April beef exports to China plunged by nearly 70 percent compared to a year ago, reaching just 5,326 metric tons (mt).

“We expected beef shipments to China to hit a wall in April, due to the one-two punch of higher tariffs and expired plant registrations,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.

“We are hopeful that these issues will be resolved soon and are encouraged by the recent resumption of trade negotiations with China.

In the meantime, USMEF remains committed to market diversification and to developing alternative destinations for beef cuts normally shipped to China.”

Despite the heightened uncertainty surrounding tariffs and other trade barriers, global demand for U.S. beef has held up well in 2025. For January through April, U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports were 3 percent below last year’s pace at 411,027 mt. Export value was down just 1 percent to $3.35 billion.

david gill (559) 647-5619 jim wheatley (209) 613-1135 Joe Murray (209)613-6310

August 2025 California Cattleman

85

ONE BIG

beautiful

BILL

from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Trump Mega Bill Secures Wins for Farmers and Ranchers

Following President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill into law, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today highlighted key provisions in the bill that deliver wins for America’s family farmers and ranchers.

“Since day one, NCBA has been working with Congress to make sure the One Big Beautiful Bill includes policy priorities for America’s hardworking family farmers and ranchers,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “I’m proud that this legislation protects farms and ranches from being split up and sold off to pay a high Death Tax bill. I’m also glad the One Big Beautiful Bill protects pro-business tax deductions for cattle producers, lowers our taxes overall, and funds programs like the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, voluntary conservation programs, and invests in keeping foreign animal diseases out of the United States.”

All of NCBA’s tax priorities are included in the One Big Beautiful Bill along with numerous Farm Bill provisions.

Tax Provisions for American Cattle Producers Death Tax: The bill increases the Death Tax exemption to $15 million per individual or $30 million per couple, adjusted annually for inflation.

This means if the value of your farm or ranch plus equipment, cattle, and other assets are less than $15 million individually or $30 million as a couple, you will pay no Death Tax. The Death Tax has

86 California Cattleman August 2025

forced many farmers and ranchers to sell off land, equipment, or cattle to pay the high tax. NCBA supports fully eliminating the Death Tax, but until then, this increased threshold is a huge victory for protecting more family farms and ranches than ever before.

Section 199A: The Section 199A Small Business tax deduction is made permanent at 20 percent by this bill. Section 199A allows small businesses, like family farms and ranches, to deduct 20 percent of their business income, helping them save more of their hard-earned money.

Section 179: Section 179 allows small businesses to deduct the cost of equipment.

Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, farmers and ranchers will now be able to deduct up to $2.5 million in qualified equipment expenses. The phaseout threshold for this deduction is increased to $4 million and these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Bonus Depreciation: Bonus depreciation allows small business owners to deduct the cost of equipment upfront, rather than deduct depreciation over several years. Under this bill, 100 percent bonus depreciation is made permanent.

Disaster-Related Casualty Loss: The Big Beautiful Bill permanently extends itemized deductions for personal casualty losses resulting

from federally declared disasters. This is an extension of the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act that was previously supported by NCBA and enacted in December 2024.

Farm Bill Provisions for American Cattle Producers Livestock Forage Disaster Program: The Big Beautiful Bill increases to two monthly payments for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and expands the program by allowing it to kick in after 4 consecutive weeks of drought, rather than the previous 8 consecutive weeks.

Livestock Indemnity Former CCA and NCBA President Kevin Kester, Parkfield (bottom left) was Program: The bill funds present when President Trump introduced “One Big Beautiful Bill” just prior to the Fourth of July holiday. indemnity payments at 100 percent of the market value for congressional leaders for passing this legislation livestock losses due to predation and 75 percent of market value for losses due to adverse weather. and we thank President Trump for signing it into law, showing he is a true friend to America’s Additionally, there will be payments made for the cattlemen and cattlewomen,” Wehrbein added. loss of unborn livestock.

Former CCA and NCBA President Kevin Voluntary Conservation Programs: The Big Kester, a rancher from the small Central Coast Beautiful Bill funds several voluntary conservation community of Parkfield, was present at the White programs for six years, including: House when President Trump introduced the bill.

• $18.5 billion for the Environmental Quality Kester said it was a monumental honor to be in Incentives Program. attendance for the bill’s announcement.

• $8.1 billion for the Conservation Stewardship “By introducing this bill and seeing it through, Program.

President Trump has shown that he follows • $4.1 billion for the Agricultural Conservation through on his promises and he demonstrated he Easement Program. genuinely cares for the farmers and ranchers of • $2.7 billion for the Regional Conservation our nation,” said Kester.

Partnership Program.

Animal Disease Prevention: The bill increases annual funding for animal disease prevention and cattle health to $233 million per year. This funding goes towards the “three-legged stool” programs that NCBA supports, including: • $153 million per year for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), which houses the foot-andmouth disease vaccine and test kits.

• $70 million for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

• $10 million per year for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP).

Additionally, the One Big Beautiful Bill does not include controversial provisions to sell public lands or expand eminent domain.

“NCBA thanks our state affiliates and

“President Trump has shown that he follows through on his promises and he demonstrated he genuinely cares for the farmers and ranchers of our nation.”

-Kevin Kester

August 2025 California Cattleman

87

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE DOING WHAT’S RIGHT

by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Executive Officer Colin Woodall Animal activists continue their attacks against cattle production and our way of life. A group called Animal Partisan has committed itself to harassing everyone involved in animal agriculture because they believe “animal agriculture is without question the single largest cause of animal suffering in the United States.” While we are familiar with some of the outrageous actions and claims by PETA, ASPCA and Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS), there are other groups like Animal Partisan you rarely hear about.

They keep a low profile and utilize legal and regulatory challenges to force change in animal agriculture. Like many of these groups, they have connections to the larger activist network through the tangled web they collectively weave to try and destroy what we do.

Rather than protesting and pouring fake blood on people, they are trying to use our own words and programs against us. In the most recent instance, they tried to impugn the Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance Program, or BQA. Last year, I wrote an article about BQA’s tremendous success in improving animal health, welfare and the resulting quality of our beef. This is a program I am proud to stand behind and be certified in.

BQA’s success and effectiveness is also due to support from many of our friends and partners in the beef supply chain.

Certified Angus Beef (CAB) is one of those partners constantly promoting BQA to their retail and foodservice customers while also urging producers to get certified. CAB’s

88 California Cattleman August 2025

push for producer certifications through efforts such as their “Cut the Bull” and “Raised with Respect” campaigns have been successful in driving up the number of BQA certified producers.

Animal Partisan took exception with CAB’s promotion of Beef Quality Assurance and challenged them via a case filed with the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) National Advertising Division.

They claimed that CAB’s website, social media and marketing materials promoting BQA as representing “best practices” and the “highest standards” were unsupported. They claimed other standards for cattle care such as Humane Farm Animal Care and Global Animal Partnership started by Whole Foods were more rigorous than BQA. The CAB team mounted a fierce defense to the activist challenge and ensured the BBB knew everything about BQA. Decades of work by hundreds of producers, animal scientists, veterinarians, nutritionists, meat scientists and others built a program whose results are quantified by the Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Audit. The results clearly show the improvements we have made in cattle care and the quality of our beef. These educational ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 90

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SALE DETAILS: www.traynhamranch.com August 2025 California Cattleman

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...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 88 resources don’t remain static. BQA evolves and improves each year in order to stay ahead of industry changes and challenges.

Most recently, BQA has published an updated National Manual, added Spanishlanguage training, and introduced new continuing education modules to increase its reach and effectiveness.

BQA also has an impact on the consumer. Not only do they enjoy the highquality beef we are producing, but they respond positively when shown details of the program. We have had Checkoff-funded Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. advertising built around how cattle are raised, and BQA has been foundational to those campaigns.

These particular ads have been some of the most popular among our audience and confirm they really are interested in how we care for our cattle.

As our team works to create these ads, they utilize focus groups of consumers to gauge how our message resonates with them. We polled them about their confidence in what we do on cattle operations before showing them the ads.

Once we showed them the ads, we found that their confidence in cattle producers and beef production increased by double digits.

That positive change in confidence was due to informing them about BQA and the great results this program has achieved. BQA is a tool we must all use, support and defend.

My thanks to the entire CAB team for their willingness to jump into the fight, correct the misinformation, and give BBB the information they needed to rule in support of BQA. That’s right, the cattle industry prevailed over the activists because we were able to substantiate everything that built BQA. In their decision summary, BBB’s National Advertising Division found the “best practices” and “highest standards” claims for the Beef Quality Assurance program were supported. They went on to state that “best practices generally refer to techniques developed through a structured process to represent a trusted standard” and “the advertising conveys that BQA is a high standard recognized by the industry.”

The activists will continue their attacks on us, but it is nice to know we can continue to beat them back, especially with the help of strong and committed partners. In the meantime, we will continue to promote BQA’s work to make all of us better. Do your part by getting BQA certified, and staying certified, at BQA.org.

90 California Cattleman August 2025

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August 2025 California Cattleman

91

IN MEMORY JOHN C. HARRIS

The Harris family was deeply saddened to announce the passing of John C. Harris, a beloved husband, visionary businessman, and one of California’s most respected leaders in agriculture and thoroughbred breeding. He passed away peacefully on July 2, at the age of 81.

Born on July 14, 1943, John was a lifelong resident of Fresno County. He attended local elementary and high schools before earning his degree from UC Davis. He proudly served his country in the United States Army.

John was a passionate farmer, rancher and businessman who dedicated his life to stewarding the land and advancing California agriculture. As the driving force behind Harris Farms, one of the state’s most prominent and diversified agricultural operations, he championed innovation, quality and sustainability in every endeavor.

For nearly 50 years, and continuing with his father’s legacy, Harris Ranch Beef Company experienced tremendous growth, delivering superior quality grain-fed beef worldwide.

He was also a nationally recognized figure in thoroughbred horse racing, known for breeding and racing many distinguished champions. His

92 California Cattleman August 2025

deep love for horses and the sport was matched by his leadership and advocacy within the industry, where he served as a mentor and ambassador for generations.

Beyond his professional achievements, John had an unwavering passion for helping people and supporting his local community. Whether through philanthropy, mentorship, or quiet acts of kindness, he consistently uplifted others and believed in giving back to the region and industry that shaped him. His humility, generosity, and integrity were hallmarks of his life.

John was precedented in death by wife, Carole, of nearly 50 years. John was recently married in June to his beloved wife, Cookie Harris, with whom he shared deep joy, admiration, and companionship. He is survived by Cookie, extended family, and countless friends and colleagues whose lives were enriched by his strength of character and enduring compassion.

A private burial ceremony will be held. A public celebration of life is being scheduled and will be announced soon.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Jack A. Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund, continuing John’s commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.

John C. Harris leaves behind a profound legacy—one defined by hard work, vision, and a lifelong dedication to community, service, and the values he held dear.

To share your family news, obituaries, weddings and birth announcements, please contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845 or e-mail: magazine@calcattlemen.org.

WALLY RONEY Wallace Clark Roney, known to friends and family as Wally, rode off into the sunset for the last time to be with his Heavenly Father on July 6.

Wally was born on March 16, 1946 to Elwin Archibald Roney and Emily Uhl Roney in Chico, at Enloe Hospital.

A graduate of Cal Poly in Ag business, he had numerous awards and recognition over the years. He was an industry leader whose focus was always on how to do things better and make the seemingly impossible work.

Wally’s passing signals the end of an era that will never be matched. He was a mountain of a man with a heart to match. A fifth-generation cattle rancher, he was a cowboy’s cowboy and also a rancher with a rare and sharp business insight. Wally’s early life included not only school but the responsibilities of an adult. While some today would likely consider it child abuse, Wally was outside working alongside the men on the ranch at a very young age. Sometimes school got in the way when it came time to trail cattle to the mountains, but Wally was completely committed as a youngster, a dedication that only strengthened with time.

Wally honed lifetime skills training phenomenal horses and also as a rodeo cowboy while at Cal Poly. He spent time training the cattle so that gathering and working them went smoothly for us and “the girls.”

Wally had many firsts to be proud of in the industry covering a wide range of topics from genetics, nutrition and feeding, range management by grazing and breed selection to mining, timber and water issues. He notably decided it was time to go to Washington DC back in the late 80’s to warn the Department of the Interior that our forests would someday burn to the ground if changes weren’t made in their management. As with so many issues, his insights were uncanny.

Wally’s work ethic was second to none. Even as his health betrayed him, he studied the markets daily and would climb on his four-wheeler to check “the girls” right until he could no longer move. He was always grateful for the opportunity he had been given to take care of and improve the land and the cattle. Nothing was impossible for Wally. His innate curiosity led him to so many revelations. He always said he learned something new every day. There are so many “Wallyisms” but the most profound was “You have to know what you don’t know”. Never a pushover for armchair quarterbacks, Wally treasured those who “knew”

what they didn’t know and wanted to learn.

He is survived by his wife Billie Jean, sister Catherine Jane Oviedo, son Jaret, daughter Sally Roney, and grandchildren Eric, Tyler, Gigi and Joy Roney, and Austin, George and Ani Knox and great- granddaughter London.

Graveside services were held July 31 in North Butte County.

In Wally’’s memory, please consider a donation to Butte Home Health Hospice or any of the many programs supporting youth in agriculture.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brusie Funeral Home in Chico.

NEW ARRIVALS JOAN NIESEN Justin and Alicia Niesen, Corning, welcomed “7.5 pounds of goodness” on June 27 when Joan Benita Niesen joined their family. Joan, the couple’s third child was also welcomed by brother Jim and sister Mary.

SONNIE FENDER

Sonnie Ysabella Fender, daughter of Bryce and Alli Fender, Julian. Sonnie was born June 27 and was 7 pounds 6 ounces and 18 inches long. She joins very proud big brothers Warren and Wells.

WEDDING BELLS AGUILAR & GENASCI

Wendy Aguilar and Angelo Genasci were wed on June 21 on the Genasci Ranch in Loyalton. The bride works as a media and communications specialist for the Sacramento Fire Department. The groom, the son of Jim and Mary Genasci, Loyalton, is a realtor for California Outdoor Properties.

MICKELSON & MOODY

Jamie Mickelson and Steven Moody were married in a ceremony surrounded by family and friends on June 28 in Bodega Bay. The bride is the daughter of Jim and Marcia Mickelson of Sonoma Mountain Herefords in Santa Rosa. The groom is the son of Steve and Jeannie Moody of Valley Ford.

August 2025 California Cattleman

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CCA SCHOLARSHIP, INTERSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE WITH OCTOBER DEADLINE The application period for the 2025 California Interns help CCA staff with convention duties such as Cattlemen’s Associate Scholarships is now open, and running CCA’s tradeshow booth, onsite registration, CCA encourages you to apply! In 2024, over $51,000 and other various jobs throughout the event. Interns was awarded to students studying agriculture. The have the opportunity to attend select meetings, scholarships aid students in their current studies general sessions and access to the tradeshow with and future careers helping them to stay active in the complimentary registration. Interns will be able to industry. interact with beef industry leaders and connect with “The Grimmius Scholarship has alleviated some other young cattlemen members attending the of the financial burden of a college education and meeting. allows me to fully engage in campus activities and To apply to be a convention intern send a be successful at the highest academic level,” said resume and cover letter explaining why you would Teagan Wunschel, a sophomore at Chico State like to serve as an intern to Katie Roberti at katier@ University. “Being a scholarship recipient has allowed calcattlemen.org. Internship applications are due by me to continue to pursue a rigorous academic Friday, Oct. 10, at 11:59 p.m. PST. program while also becoming an active member of Any young, regular, or feeder member is eligible my college’s clubs and organizations such as Chico to apply for the scholarships and internship. Past State Young Cattlemen's Association where I now scholarship recipients and interns are eligible to serve as the club's reporter!” reapply. If you are not currently a CCA member and Scholarship recipients have pursued continued would like to join visit https://calcattlemen.org/join. education opportunities and work in various facets of the industry APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 ranging from veterinary practices, CCA SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BEING education, animal health and ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH much more. Scholarship interviews OCTOBER 1, 2025. APPLY TODAY! will take place at the 109th CCA and CCW Annual Convention and California Cattle Industry Tradeshow on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nev. “I would encourage someone looking to apply to the CCA scholarships to remain persistent and not be discouraged,” said Livestock Memorial Research Fund Scholarship • CCA Allied Industry Scholarship • Tom Grimmius Memorial Scholarship • Hank Stone Mia Jess, an incoming Senior at Memorial California Beef Cattle Improvement Association Scholarship Texas Tech University. “My first year in college I applied and did Completed applications can be submitted to Katie Roberti at not receive a scholarship, and katier@calcattlemen.org. Learn more about the 2025 requirements instead of convincing myself it was for applying & download the CCA Scholarship application something I would not ever be able at calcattlemen.org/scholarship. to receive, I put my head down and applied with even more purpose the following year, which paid off as I am now writing this as a scholarship recipient!”

Applications for the scholarship must be typed and returned in full to Katie Roberti at katier@ calcattlemen.org Scholarship applications are due by Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PST. CCA’s annual convention serves as a chance for college students to participate in hands-on experiences, gain knowledge and connect with st others involved in the industry by serving as a convention intern.

In 2025, CCA awarded over $51,000 in scholarships to students studying agriculture.

APPLY BY OCT. 1

94 California Cattleman August 2025

Announcing the new vaccine from Hygieia Labs:

Your Foothold Against Foothill Abortion.

Costing the industry more than $10 million annually, Foothill Abortion — formally known as Epizootic Bovine Abortion, or EBA — has robbed profits from ranchers for almost 100 years as the leading cause of calf loss in affected areas of the Western United States.

Until now.

Contact Jenna Chandler at Hygieia Labs for additional information.

Jenna Chandler, EBA Product Manager 916-769-2442 | jenna@hygieialabs.com

After years in development and testing, the new Foothill Abortion Vaccine is available from Hygieia Biological Laboratories. The Foothill Abortion Vaccine has been shown to protect more than 95% of animals from the disease when administered as directed. Administration is safe, simple and proven to give your heifers a strong start for greater productivity.

Protect your investment and promote your profitability. Ask your local veterinarian if the Foothill Abortion Vaccine is right for your herd, or contact Hygieia Labs to learn more.

HYGIEIA BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES P.O. Box 8300, Woodland, California 95776 USA T: 530-661-1442 | F: 530-661-1661 | hygieialabs.com

August 2025 California Cattleman

95

2025 CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Fall Production Sale CALENDAR

8/16-31 Fresno State Ag Foundation Online Bull Sale 9/4 Vintage Angus Ranch Bull Sale, La Grange

9/20 9/21

Ward Ranches Angus Bull Sale, Gardnerville Stegall Cattle Company Red Angus Production Sale, Colusa

9/5 9/6 9/6 9/8 9/9 9/10 9/11 9/12 9/13 9/14

Byrd Cattle Company, Los Molinos Dunipace Angus Bull Sale, Farmington Rhoades Ranch Production Sale, Cambria Genoa Livestock Bull Sale, Minden, Nev. O’Neals Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Madera Teixeira Cattle Co. Bull Sale, Pismo Beach Donati Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Oroville Tehama Angus Ranch Bull Sale, Gerber Arellano Bravo Angus Bull Sale, Galt Visalia Livestock Range Bull Sale, Visalia

9/23 9/25

Thomas Angus Ranch Bull Sale, Galt Beef Solutions Bull Sale, Bruin Ranch and Circle Ranch, Ione McPhee Red Angus Production Sale, Ione Traynham Ranches Production Sale, Fort Klamath

9/16

Old Stage Angus & Vendendaal Angus Bull Sale, Hanford Bullseye Breeders Bull Sale, Modesto Rancho Casino & Dal Porto Livestock Angus Bull Sale, Denair Dixie Valley Angus Bull Sale, Galt

with Sierra Ranch Hereford bulls

9/17 9/18 9/19 9/20

Featuring bulls from Bar KJ Angus, Diamond Oak Cattle, Rhoades Angus, S onoma Mountain Herefords & Stepaside Farm

with O’Connell Ranch

Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks Production Sale, Springfield, Mo.

96 California Cattleman August 2025

9/27 9/26 10/3 10/4

Elwood Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Red Bluff Turlock Livestock’s California Breeders Bull Sale,

10/5 10/14 10/11

Cal Poly Bull Test Sale, San Luis Obispo 9 Peaks Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Fort Rock, Ore. Vintage Angus Ranch’s 38th Annual Production Sale, Modesto Western Stockman’s Market Bull Sale,

10/18 10/18 11/1

Featuring Stepaside Farm Angus bulls and Brangus bulls form Spanish Ranch

with bulls from Stepaside Farm & Spanish Ranch

Lambert Ranches Butte Bull Sale, Oroville 57th annual Central California World of Bulls Bull Sale, Galt

This list includes operations and production sale events that have advertised in this special issue.

2025 CCA AND CCW ANNUAL CONVENTION + C A L I F O R N I A C AT T L E I N D U S T R Y T R A D E S H O W

SCAN FOR EVENT DETAILS

DEC. 3- 5 • ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA RENO

MAKE YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND

HOTEL BLOCK & EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION NOW OPEN AT CALCATTLEMEN.ORG/EVENTS August 2025 California Cattleman

97

CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Buyer's Guide

SERVICES FOR ALL YOUR ON-THE-RANCH NEEDS

ANGUS

Ranch

=D Home of Quality Calving Ease and Growth Bulls

Dal Porto Livestock & Rancho Casino

BULL & FEMALE SALE

ED & CARLENE JOSH, TIFFANY & FAMILY

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

AMADORANGUSFARMS@GMAIL.COM

BULL SALE

Sept. 18, 2025 | Denair, CA

925-250-5304

Anselmo, Nebraska

Buchanan Angus

CALL US FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PRIVATE TREATY CATTLE OR OUR ANNUAL BULL SALE!

DIAMOND OAK CATTLE — MERCED, CA — LOOK FOR OUR BULLS AT THE 31ST VISALIA CATTLEMAN’S SELECT BULL SALE SEPT. 14

STEVE & JEAN OBAD

209-777-1551 OR 209-777-1550 buchananangus120@gmail.com

Call us anytime about bulls or females available private treaty!

DONATI

RANCH

1908 HIGHWAY 70 • OROVILLE CA 95964 TOM (530) 693-1634 ROCKY (530) 693-1640

“PERFORMANCE, GROWTH & CARCASS GENETICS”

VISIT US AT WWW.DONATIRANCH.COM!

916.712.3696 • 916.803.2685 jj@barrangus.com

98 California Cattleman August 2025

Join us Sept. 11, 2025 for our annual bull sale!

BULLS, FEMALES, EMBRYOS AND SEMEN FOR SALE AT THE RANCH IN MONTAGUE

Lee Nobmann, owner Hunter Wheeler, manager (530) 520-8362 • hunter@dixievalley.com

Noah’s Angus Ranch Offering bulls at California’s top consignment sales!

LOOK FOR US AT LEADING SALES IN 2025!

Call today about private treaty offerings!

Nathan, Melissa & Kate Noah (208) 257-3686 • (208) 550-0531

Gerber, CA

RED RIVER FARMS 13750 West 10th Avenue Blythe, CA 92225 Office: 760-922-2617 Bob Mullion: 760-861-8366 Michael Mullion: 760-464-3906

Simmental – SimAngus™ – Angus

O’Connell ranch

• Calving Ease with Growth •

JOIN US SEPT. 19 IN GALT FOR A GREAT SELECTION OF ANGUS BULLS!

O’Connell Aviator 7727

Hoffman Bomber 8743

VDAR PF Churchhill 2825

VDAR Mirror Image 6207

CONTACT US ABOUT SEMEN FROM THESE IMPRESSIVE SIRES...

SIRE: Musgrave Aviator MGS: R B Tour Of Duty 177

SIRE: VDAR Churchill 1063 MGS: VDAR Really Windy 4189

Registered Angus Cattle Call to see what we have to offer you!

H

Scott & Shaleen Hogan

R (530) 200-1467 • (530) 227-8882

SIRE: Casino Bomber N33 MGS: S A V Final Answer 0035 SIRE: W R A Mirror Image T10 MGS: BCC Bushwacker 41-93

CONTACT US YEAR-ROUND TO LEARN ABOUT CATTLE AVAILABLE PRIVATE TREATY.

DAN & BARBARA O’CONNELL

Joe Sammis • (530) 397-3456

3590 Brown Rd, Colusa CA (530) 632-4492

122 Angus Rd., Dorris, CA 96023

O’NEAL RANCH You can take to the bank!

PERFORMANCE-TESTED EFFICIENT, QUALITY ANGUS BULLS NOW AVAILABLE!

h

— Since 1878—

JOIN US TUESDAY, 9 FOR2023 OUR ANNUAL THANKSSEPT. TO OUR BULL SALE AT THE RANCH NEAR MADERA! “PERFORMANCE PLUS” BULL BUYERS!

O’NEAL RANCH BULLS OFFER THE COMPLETE PACKAGE GROWTH • PERFORMANCE ADAPTABILITY • CARCASS Gary & Betsy Cardoza

(775) 691-1838 • honeranch@frontier.com HONERANCH.COM

PO Box 40 • O’Neals, CA 93645 (559) 999-9510

Offering top-performing bulls at California’s most premier consignment sales!

“Performance is our stock in trade” SANGER, CA|(928) 941-9419

STEPASIDEFARM.COM

SPLIT CREEK

ANGUS

Contact us about cattle available private treaty

old stage angus Registered and Commercial Genetics Semen and Embryo Sales | Meat Sales Myron Schotanus | (559) 804-4997 oldstageangus.com

and watch for us at the West’s best consignment events!

JEREMY & CATHY STRAND TEHAMA COUNTY, CA JEREMY: (530) 200-6146 | CATHY: 916-768-5019

WWW.SPLITCREEKANGUS.COM

August 2025 California Cattleman

99

51ST ANNUAL “GENERATIONS OF PERFORMANCE” BULL SALE

SEPT. 12, 2025 IN GERBER!

RED ANGUS MCPHEE RED ANGUS "As good as the best, better than the rest!"

Annual Production Sale Sept. 27, 2025 in Lodi

(530) 385-1570

E-mail................................tehamaranch@gmail.com

Call us today for information on private treaty bulls or females.

14298 N. Atkins Rd • Lodi, CA 95240 Rita 209-607-9719 and Royce 209-712-8116 website: www.mcpheeredangus.com

HEREFORD

MORRELL RANCHES

HEREFORD

GENETICS

“THE BRAND YOU CAN COUNT ON” Call us about our upcoming consignments or private treaty cattle available off the ranch.

BARRY, CARRIE & BAILEY MORRELL Barry: (530) 682-5808 • Carrie: (530) 218-5507 Bailey (530) 519-5189 morrellranches@yahoo.com 5640 County Road 65 | Willows, CA

Top performance Hereford genetics —Horned and Polled—

A FAMILY TRADITION Angus and SimAngus Cattle John Teixeira: (805) 448-3859 Allan Teixeira: (805) 310-3353 Tom Hill: (541) 990-5479 www.teixeiracattleco.com | cattle@thousandhillsranch.com

JOIN US AT OUR ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE SEPT. 8, 2025!

Chris Beck, Manager • 618-367-5397 Bob Coker • 916-539-1987 visit us online at: www.genoalivestock.com

SEEDSTOCK PRODUCER SINCE 1978 Registered Hereford Cattle, Angus Cattle & Quarter Horses Leading Angus & Ultrablack© Genetics Bulls and females available private treaty!

TUMBLEWEED RANCHES Greeley Hill, CA • La Grange, CA Stephen Dunckel • (209) 591-0630 www.tumbleweedranch.net twd@tumbleweedranch.net

ANNUAL BULL SALE: 9/4/2025 IN LAGRANGE FEMALE SALE: 10/11/2025 IN MODESTO

Annual Sale First Monday in March

42500 Salmon Creek Rd Baker City, OR 97814

Ranch: (541) 523-4401 Bob Harrell, Jr.: (541) 523-4322

OFFERING HEREFORD BULLS BUILT FOR THE COMMERCIAL CATTLEMAN Jim Mickelson (707) 481-3440

Bobby Mickelson (707) 396-7364

marciamick3@gmail.com www.sonomamountainherefords.com

P.W. GILLIBRAND Cattle Co.

Horned and Polled Hereford Genetics

Private treaty bulls available or watch for our consignments at Cal Poly!

OFFICE@VINTAGEANGUSRANCH.COM WWW.VINTAGEANGUSRANCH.COM

100 California Cattleman August 2025

Dwight Joos Ranch Manager P.O. Box 1019 • Simi Valley, CA 93062 805-520-8731 x1115 • Mobile 805-428-9781 dwight.joos@pwgcoinc.com Simi Valley, CA

pwgillibrandcattle.com

To lean more about AHA, contact Western Regional Field Representative Emilee Holt at 208-965-3130 11500 N Ambassador Drive, Suite 410 | Kansas City, MO 64153 | (816) 842-3757 | aha@hereford.org

BRANGUS

NUTRITION

California’s Leading Producers for Brangus, Ultrablack & Brangus Optimizers

Premium Livestock Feeds “PERFORMANCE THROUGH WWW.BARALEINC.COM ADVANCED (888) 258-3333NUTRITION” • Williams, CA MattMixes Zappetini 526-0106 • Mineral with(530) Ranch Delivery • mzappetini@baraleinc.com • Hi Mag - Fly Control - Rumensin - Custom Mixes • Performance Through • Complete Feeds and Finish Mixes • Advanced Nutrition

Call a breeder near you today for more information!

BALD MOUNTAIN BRANGUS, SONORA (209) 768-1712

DEER CREEK RANCH, LOS MOLINOS (541) 817-2335

RUNNING STAR RANCH, LINCOLN (916) 257-5517

THE SPANISH RANCH, NEW CUYAMA (805) 245-0434

SUNSET RANCH, OROVILLE (530) 990-2580

GLASGOW BRANGUS, SANTA YSABEL (760) 789-2488

www.baraleinc.com • (888) 258-3333

Williams, CA Matt Zappetini (530) 526-0106 mzappetini@baraleinc.com

TUMBLEWEED RANCHES, GREELEY HILL (209) 591-0630

Ranch Deliveries Available with our Truck and Forklift!

ANIMAL HEALTH SPANISH RANCH Your Source for Brangus and Ultrablack Genetics in the West!

LAND COMPANY EST 1944

NEAR YELLOWSTONE PARK ASHTON, ID 2,119± acres with creeks, springs, cabin, great hunting, and recreation.

Now $8,500,000, or part $4,250,000

Reliable products you are looking for with the dependable service you need.

Vaccines Mineral Medicines Supplements ...and more!

Daniel & Pamela Doiron 805-245-0434 Cell doiron@spanishranch.net www.spanishranch.net

Antonia Old • (209) 769-7663

SALE MANAGEMENT

OWYHEE ANGUS RANCH - NEW 563± acres with pivot irrigation, a large shop, updated home, and borders public land. $5,755,000

antonia.old@animalhealthinternational.com

THE DOIRON FAMILY THD ©

MULTI BREED

(208) 345-3163 knipeland.com

M3 MARKETING

Rebecca Ross, DVM

Large Animal Veterinary Services

Purebred Angus & Red Angus Cattle EXTENSIVELY UTILIZING ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AND EMBRYO TRANSFER

Dr. Kasey DeAtley 530-898-5112 Travis Heffner Livestock Technician 530-898-6026

REAL ESTATE KNIPE

We also offer custom formulations to meet your

We offer blends that contai Molasses - Zinpro® Performance Minerals - Availa® 4 - Added S

EAGER AND EQUIPPED TO TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR HERD HEALTH NEEDS!

SALE MANAGEMENT & MARKETING PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY ORDER BUYING PRIVATE TREATY SALES PRODUCTION SALE RING SERVICE ADVERTISING

• PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS • • BREEDING SOUNDESS • • PROTOCOL CONSULTATION • • EMERGENCIES AND MORE! •

M3CATTLEMARKETING@GMAIL.COM (916) 803-3113

PROUDLY SERVING NORTHERN & CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

(916) 605-6021 REBECCAROSSDVM@GMAIL.COM

Your operation could be listed here!

Agriculture Foundation Contact Ryan Person at (559) 326-8354 or by e-mail at rperson@csufresno.edu

Reach CCA members and magazine readers each month with this ad space!

Contact Matt Macfarlane at (916) 803-3113 to learn more.

August 2025 California Cattleman

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Advertisers’ Index

9 Peaks Ranch..............................................................................................81 Amador Angus Ranch...........................................................................98 American Hereford Association ���������������������������������������������������100 Animal Health International ������������������������������������������������������������ 101 Arellano Bravo..................................................................................... 26, 27 Bar Ale Premium Livestock Feeds ���������������������������������������������� 101 Bar KD Ranch..............................................................................................98 Bar R Angus..................................................................................................98 Beef Solutions Bull Sale ����������������������������������������������������������������������� 63 Bruin Ranch..................................................................................................64 Buchanan Angus......................................................................................98 Byrd Cattle Company........................................................................5, 98 Cal Poly Bull Test Sale............................................................................ 77 Cattlemen’s Livestock Market ���������������������������������������������������������� 31 Chico State College of Agriculture ���������������������������������������������� 101 Circle Ranch..................................................................................................64 Conlin Supply Co., Inc.............................................................................. 17 Dal Porto Livestock..........................................................................49, 98 Diamond Oak Cattle....................................................................... 47, 98 Dixie Valley Angus...................................................................... 12, 13, 98 Donati Ranch....................................................................................... 23, 98 Dunipace Angus..................................................................................... 8, 9 Elwood Ranch......................................................................................73, 75 Freitas Rangeland Improvements �����������������������������������������������58 Fresno State Ag Foundation ���������������������������������������������������� 16, 101 Genoa Livestock.................................................................................11, 100 Gonsalves Ranch.......................................................................................79 Harrell Hereford Ranch.......................................................................100 HAVE Angus..................................................................................................99 Hogan Ranch...............................................................................................99 Hone Ranch..................................................................................................99 Hygieia Laboratories............................................................................... 95 Kern Cattle.....................................................................................................83 Kessler Angus..............................................................................................99 Knipe Land Company........................................................................... 101 Lambert Ranch........................................................................................... 36 M3 Marketing.............................................................................................. 101 Macfarlane Livestock Reproductive Services.........................75

102 California Cattleman August 2025

McPhee Red Angus........................................................................71, 100 Morrell Ranches.......................................................................................100 Noahs Angus Ranch...............................................................................99 O’Connell Ranch.................................................................................41, 99 O’Neal Ranch......................................................................................... 15, 99 Old Stage Angus................................................................................38, 99 P.W. Gillibrand Cattle Co. ������������������������������������������������������������������100 Pedretti Ranches........................................................................................ 51 Ranch & Performance Horse Production Sale 84 Rancho Casino Angus............................................................................49 Red Bluff Bull Sale..................................................................................... 91 Red River Farms.........................................................................................99 Rhoades Ranch........................................................................................... 21 Sammis Ranch............................................................................................99 Scales Northwest.......................................................................................90 Select Sires Cooperative ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 35 Sierra Ranches.................................................................................. 37, 100 Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks ��������������������������������������������������������������85 Sonoma Mountain Herefords ������������������������������������������������ 53, 100 Spanish Ranch................................................................................... 42, 101 Split Creek Angus.....................................................................................99 Stegall Cattle................................................................................................ 57 Stepaside Farm...................................................................................45, 99 Tehama Angus Ranch....................................................................3, 100 Teixeira Cattle Co............................................................................. 25, 100 Thomas Angus Ranch............................................................................ 59 Traynham Ranches..................................................................................89 Tumbleweed Ranches.........................................................................100 Turlock Livestock Auction Yard ������������������������������������������������ 18, 19 Veenendaal Angus...................................................................................38 Vintage Angus Ranch................................................................100, 104 Visalia Livestock Market �����������������������������������������������������������������������43 Ward Ranches............................................................................................. 55 West Coast Brangus Breeders ������������������������������������������������������� 101 Western Poly Pipe....................................................................................90 Western Stockman’s Market ������������������������������������������������������������69 Western Video Market �����������������������������������������������������������������������������2 WSR Insurance......................................................................................... 103

7

PROPERTY & LIABILITY CONCERNS FOR RANCHERS

Schedule a FREE consultation to see how WSR can help you protect your business.

Phone: (877) 920-8500 Email: info@wsrins.com Website: www.wsrins.com

SE R

ERS RM FA

WHAT’S GOING ON?

RANCHERS A ND NG VI

1) Rising Costs from Natural Disasters: Increased frequency of wildfires, hurricanes, and floods is raising claims costs, leading insurers to hike premiums or exit high-risk markets.

2) Inflation and Supply Chain Issues: Higher construction material and labor costs, along with supply chain disruptions, are straining insurers' profitability.

3) Reinsurance Market Struggles Reinsurers are raising rates or reducing coverage, leaving primary insurers with higher costs to pass on to consumers.

4) Coverage Gaps in High-Risk Areas Insurers are withdrawing from regions prone to disasters, limiting homeowners' options and pushing them towards costly state-backed plans or self-insurance.

5) Regulatory Pressure Governments are scrutinizing insurers' rate hikes and coverage withdrawals, complicating efforts for financial stability.

6) Technological Challenges Integrating AI and data analytics to assess risk and streamline claims is difficult and costly.

7) Litigation and Fraud Increased claims disputes and fraud in disaster areas are inflating costs and complicating underwriting.

“WSR’s knowledge and service is exceptional. These have been very valuable tools for our operation in these new times, to help mitigate risk.

Highly recommend to anyone.” -Donald D. (WSR Client)

Learn More About Agri-Business Insurance on Our New Website

IS THE EXCLUSIVE INSURANCE BROKER OF CCA LIC #0B48084 WSR Insurance is an equal opportunity employer

August 2025 California Cattleman

103

SELLING 250 BULLS • THURSDAY, SEPT. 4 • 12 NOON • LA GRANGE, CA

VINTAGE ANGUS RANCH

32ND ANNUAL “CARCASS MAKER” BULL SALE PRODUCING SIRES WITH “MULTI-TRAIT” EXCELLENCE!

V A R TRUE WEST 4009

SIRE: RSA TRUE BALANCE DAM: PAF RITA 7096 CED

BW

WW YW

10

-0.1

88

BREED RANKING

SC CW MARB

154 0.75 90

10% 10%

2%

REG NO. 20863564

RE

Claw Angle HP

$M

$W

$F

$G

$B

$C

0.51

0.43

13.2

86

104

149

91

241

399

15%

1%

15%

1%

1%

10%

2%

1%

1.19

CED

11

15%

BW

-0.1

15%

WW

85

15%

YW

156

10%

SC

0.92

CW

87

3%

MARB

1.42

10%

RE

0.94

$M

84

15%

$B

230

2%

$C

382

1%

V A R LANDMAN 4194

REG. NO. 20895251 SIRE: BA7 OAKS BOLD RULER DAM: VINTAGE BLACKCAP 1084

CALL OR E-MAIL TO GET ON OUR SALE BOOK MAILING LIST!

104 California Cattleman August 2025

1.58

SELLING A GROUP OF NEW!FALL YEARLING ANGUS FEMALES READY TO BREED.

JIM COLEMAN, OWNER DOUG WORTHINGTON, MANAGER BRAD WORTHINGTON, OPERATIONS MIKE HALL, BULL SERVICES (805) 748-4717 2702 SCENIC BEND, MODESTO, CA 95355 (209) 521-0537 WWW.VINTAGEANGUSRANCH.COM OFFICE@VINTAGEANGUSRANCH.COM