A Judd Ranch Thank You to Willard Olson, Olson Scanning Services For more than 25 years, Olson Scanning Services—Willard Olson— performed the ultrasound work at Judd Ranch. But this past fall signaled a change of guard as Willard hung up his scanning hat and retired from the business. “I scanned a lot of bulls at Judd Ranch,” Willard stated. “Gosh I’d hate to count how many animals went through that chute. But last fall was time for Dave to find someone else to handle this work so I could retire. “What I liked about scanning at Judd Ranch was the fact that I worked with really good animals and good people. I’ve been at a lot of ranches and some people used the ultrasound measures as a new gimmick or toy. Not so at Judd Ranch. They grasped ultrasound measurements from the start at a valuable tool and have used the information as a tool to advance their herd and help people with their buying decisions. “And you won’t find better people than those at Judd Ranch. They are special.” Willard became involved in ultrasounding beef cattle while employed with Kansas State University in 1968. His first scanning work was for the Kansas Hog Improvement Association, using a single probe machine and taking 13 readings at various angles down the side of a hog. When ultrasound work moved to the beef industry and advanced to real time, Willard was there and Judd Ranch was among his first customers. While Willard has closed the doors on Olson Scanning Services, he hasn’t closed the doors on the beef industry. He and his son Casey have two farms where they have a commercial cowherd and a purebred Hereford herd. “I’m going back to my roots that involved Herefords,” Willard related. “We’re just getting wound up in the purebred thing so the fun is just beginning.” Judd Ranch salutes Willard Olson and says “thank you” for the many, many years of scanning. This was indeed a win-win relationship.
Cottonwood Animal Hospital LARRY E. MAGES, D.V.M. TRENT A. LANCASTER, D.V.M.
3161 Hwy. K-68 OTTAWA, KANSAS 66067 PHONE: (785) 242-7822 Fax: (785) 242-0216
Dear Cattleman, This is the 25th year that I have had the opportunity to work with the health and medical treatment of the Judd Ranch herd. All of the bulls offered for sale have had a BSE (Breeding Soundness Examination) based on the following criteria: scrotal circumference, sperm morphology, motility and sperm concentration. Pelvic palpations are performed to check for any abnormalities or medical problems in the reproductive glands, testicles are palpated, measured and examined for any medical disorder or abnormalities. Electro-ejaculation is used to collect semen and examine the penis for breeding soundness. Approximately 101 spring bulls (12-14 months) and 142 fall bulls (16-18months) will be offered for sale. The spring bulls were checked December 2012, and averaged 38.1cm on the scrotal measurements and the fall bulls were checked January 2013, and averaged 42 cm. Twelve spring bulls and seven fall bulls will be rechecked in February. All bulls have been tested for BVD-PI and are negative. This is the 7th year all calves at Judd Ranch have been negative for Persistently Infected BVD. The herd is in the Johne’s Disease Program (Paratuberculosis) and is negative to date and has been tested annually for Brucellosis, and is a designated brucellosis free herd. Trichomonas foetus, commonly known as Trich has become a major problem in a few mid-western and western states. This is a reproductive disease that is spread from infected bulls to cows and causes early abortions. Several states have now made it mandatory to have all bulls over 12 months old to be tested negative for Trich before entering the state. Presently those states are Texas, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico. All bulls offered for sale are virgin bulls and Trich free. Judd Ranch will not test any of these bulls before the sale date. If your state requires the testing, it will be done after the sale and the bulls will be delivered to you or you can pick them up after the testing results are completed. If you have any questions about the health requirements of bulls entering your state, please contact your local veterinarian before making transportation arrangements the day of the sale. Cattlemen, rarely do you have a chance to improve your profits and genetics at the same time. Without a doubt, one bull from this sale will improve your herd for years to come. These bulls will impact your herd in more ways than any other decisions you will make and will make your herd more profitable. Dave and I feel very strongly about the sale of healthy and sound bulls. We realize that by selling any bull that may be a questionable breeder, we not only put the Judd Ranch reputation on the line, we may be destroying a calf crop. Therefore only sound bulls passing the BSE will be offered for sale. I strongly recommend that although these bulls have been examined and passed a BSE, they should be re-examined prior to actual breeding season. If you have any questions regarding the health and vaccination or testing status of these bulls, please call me prior to the sale. Sincerely,
Larry E. Mages, DVM
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