Limousin365 Breeder Directory Edition, July 2024

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN LIMOUSIN FOUNDATION • JULY 2024

P BAR S RANCH

LIM-FLEX, ANGUS & RED ANGUS BULLS • FEMALES

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2024

Paul Sisemore, Owner Manager: Elgin Elmore, 918-346-2438 11720 Overlook Dr. • Sand Springs, OK 74063 elginpbars@yahoo.com • www.pbarsranch.com

Contact For Catalog R&R MARKETING Randall O. Ratliff 615-330-2735 Randy@rrmktg.com

TASF Heineken 405H

MAYC Gold Buckle 624G SSTO Guns N Roses 9408G

DHVO Deuce 132R Ratliff Jump Start 340J

People Business

With more than 50 years of seedstock production under our belt, if we have learned one thing, it’s that this is a people business. Beginning with our first registrations in 1971, our business model has revolved around two things: breed the most profitable and problem free cattle possible, while treating our customers as our most important assets. We humbly thank our long list of customers for their steadfast support of our program and our family. If you have yet to invest in a COLE-bred animal, we encourage you to contact us—we would enjoy the opportunity to partner in your long-term success.

Larry & Anita Coleman • (406) 644-2300 Trent & Melissa Coleman • (406) 644-2707 53717 Gallagher Road • Charlo, MT 59824 www.colemanlimousinranch.com

WAROUND THE INDUSTRY

by Kiley McKinna

Communication and Collaboration

elcome to the Limousin365 annual Breeder Directory Edition. In the following pages, you will discover a showcase of some of the breed’s most innovative and forward-thinking operations, as well as a collection of feature stories and industry relevant articles. In this issue, I am excited to delve into a topic that has become increasingly significant as time goes by. This concept has surfaced as a key theme in conversations with esteemed industry professionals and leading seedstock producers. Hence, I wish to underscore the critical nature of effective communication and collaboration with clients, marketers and fellow industry professionals. Furthermore, I would like to express my appreciation for the juniors, families and staff who have dedicated themselves to organizing a memorable event and upholding tradition at the National Junior Limousin Show and Congress. Their commitment has been instrumental in keeping the spirit of the event alive.

Diversified Approach To Communication

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of marketing and breeding, a diversified approach to communication is essential for success. Marketers must be able to effectively communicate with breeders to understand their goals and objectives, while also connecting with customers to identify their needs and preferences. By fostering open lines of communication between all parties involved, professionals can ensure they are aligning their strategies with market demands and current trends. Utilizing various platforms such as social media, email marketing and in-person meetings allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the industry. Furthermore, engaging in dialogue with professionals in related fields can provide valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration. Ultimately, a diversified approach to communication fosters relationships built on trust, transparency and mutual understanding, leading to greater success and growth within the industry.

Take Advantage Of Time

Attending sales and shows within the industry provides valuable opportunities to network and collaborate with other breeders and industry professionals. By actively seeking out these interactions, breeders can broaden their knowledge, gain new insights and establish important connections within the community. Engaging

in conversations with experienced breeders and industry experts can lead to valuable mentorships, partnerships, or even potential business opportunities. Sharing ideas, exchanging information and learning from others’ experiences can help breeders improve their own breeding practices, stay abreast of industry trends and innovations, and ultimately enhance the quality of their breeding programs. Therefore, taking advantage of time spent at sales and shows to collaborate with others is a strategic investment that can lead to long-term success in the competitive world of animal breeding.

Maximize Performance By Working Together

To truly improve marketing and genetic quality within the livestock industry, it is imperative for breeders to work together collaboratively. By joining forces with organizations such as the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) and your state cattle association, breeders can access valuable resources, support and insights that can help enhance their breeding programs. Additionally, collaborating with other breeders allows for the exchange of knowledge, best practices and innovative techniques that can ultimately lead to the production of higher-quality livestock. Furthermore, involving customers in this process ensures their needs are being met, ultimately improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. By fostering a culture of collaboration and teamwork, breeders can collectively work toward achieving the common goals of enhancing marketing strategies and genetic quality within the industry.

In conclusion, I would like to extend my best wishes to all the junior participants at the National Junior Limousin Show and Congress. I challenge each of you to make the most of your time together by fostering communication and collaboration. The knowledge and opportunities that can arise from spontaneous conversations are invaluable and can greatly benefit both your personal operations and the industry as a whole.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the advertisers, readers and supporters of Limousin365. Your continued support and feedback is greatly appreciated.

I look forward to crossing paths with each of you throughout the show and sale season. Remember, we are all in this together. Stay Limousin proud.

A SOLID FOUNDATION

45th Annual Production Sale

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

P.O. Box 155 • Amherst, South Dakota 57421

John: 605/880-8061 • Warren: 605/237-2127

Office: 605/448-2624 • jssymens@venturecomm.net

Check Symens Bros Limousin on f for current information.

Our Limousin journey began more than 50 years ago and though many things have changed, the dedication we bring to our customers has remained unwavered. Our reputable business operates on the solid foundation of elite cattle and superior customer service. Knowing top cattlemen across the country have our bulls and females in their herds is something we are very proud of. We invite you to come see what the SYES prefix can do for you.

Bulls With Power Bulls With Power

COLE Jackpot 38J ET

Homo Black • Homo Polled • 81% Limousin

CD: 9(60) BW: 2.7(75) WW: 80(15) YW: 130(10) MA: 25(45) CM: 5(60) SC: 1.3(10) DOC: 14(35) CW: 49(10) RE: 1.13(25) YG: -0.28(10) MB: 0.45(10) $MTI: 72.9

COLE Jackpot was the lead off lot in the 2022 Coleman Bull Sale. This burly, thickmade son of Envision adds one of the most productive cows in the breed—COLE Miss Xrated 354A, the dam of Cadillac, Genesis and Home Run. We love his balanced EPDs and know he will sire cattle with body, thickness and bone. If you want to update your program, he’s no gamble, he is the JACKPOT!

Wulfs Joint Venture G579J

Black • Homo Polled • 89% Purebred

CD: 5(90) BW: 3.0(75) WW: 78(10) YW: 123(10) MA: 31(15) CM: 2(90) SC: 0.6(35)

DOC: 12(55) CW: 21(40) RE: 0.68(95) YG: -0.23(10) MB: 0(30) $MTI: 55.5

Wulfs Joint Venture was the Supreme Champion Bull Over All Breeds at the 2023 Black Hills Stock Show and is now on the open market. If you are looking for a perfectly balanced bull in EPD profile and phenotype, Joint Venture is the one. Purebred, HOMO Polled and sound as a cat, this young, tremendous son of Wulfs Fifty brings it all to the table.

OLIM Laredo 367L

Red • Homo Polled • 84% Limousin

CD: 12(45) BW: -0.4(45) WW: 61(40) YW: 92(40) MA: 26(20) CM: 8(45) SC: 0.9(35) DOC: 12(30) CW: 34(55) RE: 1.31(3) YG: -0.44(40) MB: 0.09(80) $MTI: 55.3

OLIM Laredo is a half brother to OLIM Keystone. This outstanding young herdsire has the thickness, length of body and soundness the Limousin breed has been built on. Check out his outstanding phenotype and different red pedigree, we think Laredo combines meat and muscle with structure and style. If you are needing a bull with Limousin breed character, Laredo is your man.

AHCC Landmark 917L

Homo Black • Homo Polled • 70% Lim-Flex

CD: 15(5) BW: -0.7(15) WW: 85(10) YW: 144(3) MA: 31(10) CM: 9(15) SC: 0.95(50) DOC: 12(65) CW: 66(1) RE: 0.79(30) YG: -0.05(3) MB: 0.76(1) $MTI: 84.1

AHCC Landmark is the bull of the future. Check out the birth to yearling spread in his EPDs. Look over his flawless structure and balance. Top 1% for Marbling, $MTI and TI. Then look at the fact he has no Rulon, Envision or Credentials and realize he is available on the open market. If you are looking for the next path to the future, you need to find a Landmark.

WPRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

by Austin Hager

elcome to the Breeder’s Edition of Limousin365. It’s been a challenging but rewarding year for cattle producers. Reduced cow inventories and reductions in the nation’s beef supply has kept cattle markets strong throughout the year.

This current environment also led to a strong bull sale season for most of our Limousin members this past spring. Continued genetic improvement is forefront on your NALF Board’s agenda as we move forward. Providing adequate tools to get there is the continued job of your association to stay competitive in the seedstock business.

2024 NALF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT, Austin Hager ....................................... Karlsruhe, ND 701-626-2345 • hagercc@srt.com

VICE PRESIDENT, Joey Freund ......................................... Elizabeth, CO 303-841-7901 • freundjoe@outlook.com

SECRETARY, Ronn Cunningham ..................................... Rose, OK 918-629-9382 • colronn@yahoo.com

TREASURER, Lance Sennett .................................. Waynetown, IN 765-366-4894 • lasennett@att.net

AT-LARGE, Jerry Wulf ............................................. Hancock, MN 320-491-1390 • jerry.wulf@wulfcattle.com

EX-OFFICIO, Bruce Lawrence ................................................ Anton, TX 806-790-2535 • bll1@speednet.com

DIRECTORS

Bart Mitchell, Boscobell, WI, 608-553-8070, springcreeksbart@gmail.com

Jay Wilder, Snook, TX, 979-268-5491, jwwilder1993@gmail.com

George Hubbard, Welch, OK, 918-541-5482, georgerhubbard@gmail.com

Matt Spangler, Lincoln, NE, 402-472-6489, mspangler2@unl.edu

Troy Gulotta, Independence, LA, 985-662-1561, liveoakcattle@gmail.com

Kevin Ochsner, Kersey, CO, 970-396-5525, kevinkochsner@gmail.com

Rob Brawner, Wood Lake, NE, 402-376-4465, bulliscreek@gpcom.net

Mark Haden, Rogersville, MO, 417-838-6109, buckridgecattle@gmail.com

Trent Coleman, Charlo, MT, 406-644-2707, tmcoleman@blackfoot.net

Brian Duplaga, Grafton, OH, 440-355-6682, duplaga@windstream.net

As most of you are already aware, being in the seedstock business requires additional effort to produce superior genetics for the commercial cow operator. DNA testing, recording phenotypes, EPD analysis, recording registrations in addition to using a cattlemen’s eye are all key components of making the “right kind”.

Your NALF Board and Staff are focused on utilizing all tools available in order to stay on the right path as we move forward for the Limousin breed. After all, the cattle still have to be effectively marketed to customers in order to increase demand and remain profitable.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your NALF President this year. It is important to remember that the association works for the membership. Direction and opportunities are discussed and moved forward through NALF’s committee structure and then forwarded to the NALF Board. If you are not involved on NALF committees, we would encourage your participation as we set the path forward over the next decade.

I would also like to wish our junior members good luck at the NJLSC in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this year. I understand in conversations with Mark that we have nearly 500 head of cattle entered for this year’s event.

It is good to see growth and interest in our breed of cattle from our junior membership if we hope to grow our breed. I would also like to thank the crew from the Oklahoma Limousin Breeders Association that has put in a lot of hard work to make it a class event this summer!

NALF is actively engaged on our research project with the cattle on feed at SDSU. The cattle are scheduled to be shipped on three different harvest dates in August, September and October. Once the cattle have been harvested, NALF will have data on feed performance and carcass data from the three breed contemporary groups to conduct our thirdparty research analysis.

We will learn more about our cattle at the conclusion of this study. Most likely we will see areas that we may excel at in addition to items we need to improve upon moving forward. We will share those results later this year with membership.

The Hager family wishes all our NALF members a successful year as we all look to improve our cattle and our business models in the upcoming year. We hope your calving and breeding seasons were successful and hope you have a great summer.

BumperAnotherCrop BumperAnotherCrop

The current calf crop at Begert Limousin represents more than 50 years of breeding black, polled Purebred Limousin cattle. Our selection process over the last five decades has resulted in cattle that thrive and are profitable in the real world. When you are in the market for double homozygous, purebred Limousin cattle, come to the source that has withstood the test of time!

Large selection of breeding age bulls and females for sale private treaty. Call today.

DAM: DL Hosanna 526H 2022 Houston Stock Show Junior Champion Limousin Female Supreme Champion Heifer, Continental Supreme Champion and Champion Limousin Heifer

WEXECUTIVE SUMMARY

by Mark Anderson Executive Director North American Limousin Foundation

elcome to the Breeders Directory Edition of Limousin365. It’s been an encouraging year for successful bull sales conducted by NALF breeders in 2024. Sale averages increased for our breeders on both Limousin and Lim-Flex bull offerings. It was definitely as high of a sales season as we have experienced in the last 10 years. Congratulations

time-consuming endeavor. You can utilize all the tools available for DNA tests, genomics, recording phenotypes, and extensive advertising efforts, along with the regular expenses of running cattle, but there is no guarantee of success.

At the end of the day, the cattle business is a people business. To be

PUREBREDS

Provide A Pure Advantage

For more than 37 years, we have witnessed the true advantages purebred Limousin cattle offer this industry. Our customers have grown to expect the added growth and efficiency our purebred cattle have been bred for.

RAISING The Right Kind

After 42 years in the Limousin business, we know what works for us, but more importantly, we know what works for our customers. Jade represents the next generation of genetics to come from our program and we couldn’t be more excited about her future contribution to the breed.

LDIL Jade 122J ET

57% Lim-Flex • Homo Black • Homo Polled CJSL Creed 5042C x AUTO Callie 403D

CE: 13 BW: 0.2 WW: 59 YW: 101 MK: 19

SC: 0.5 DC: 13 RE: 0.58 MB: 0.44 $MI: 64

From a pedigree standpoint, you can’t build one any better. This 2023 Missouri State Fair Reserve Supreme Champion Female is out of our premier donor AUTO Callie 403D and the storied AI sire, CJSL Creed. If you are looking to moderate birth and improve marbling while keeping style and performance, give us a call about her progeny and genetics. Owned with Minor Limousin.

SELLING BULLS, SHOW HEIFERS AND GENETICS

Contact us for future sale dates, offerings and opportunities available private treaty.

BRENT & HANNAH BOYCE: (417) 830-2984 JACKSON DILL: (417) 241-1575

EXCLUSIVE POSITIONS—annually Association, Youth, Commercial, Events, Online-Contact for Pricing

PREMIER PROMOTION POSITIONS—annually Featured Ads, Catalogs, Breeder Directory-Contact for Pricing

FEATURED AD LISTING—$850 per 30 day-cycle

SALE CATALOG LISTING—30 day-cycle

$295 if accompanied by Featured Ad or Premier Spot • $1,000—Stand Alone

BREEDER DIRECTORY LISTING—$450 annually Business Card Ads

BULL PEN SIRE DIRECTORY—$835 Four Month Placement

eBlast SERVICES—$250 per blast

eBlast PREFERRED POSITIONS—Contact for Pricing

ONLINE SALE HOSTING Contact for Pricing

4-Time Contract Print Ad Discount - 5% Annual Contract Digital/Print Discount - 15%

NORTH REGION

Sarah Johnson

614/266-2646 sarah@limousin365.com

continued from page 14

your operations; yet, to truly excel in sales, their efforts need to be supplemented by your individual effort.

If you’re in the business of selling seedstock to the commercial cattleman, don’t be afraid to join and participate in your state’s regular cattle association or NCBA. Make relationships with cattlemen in those organizations who share a common interest with you. Engage and ask questions of cattle marketers at your local sale barn and feeder cattle buyers in your area. Sometimes getting in the pickup and making a trip to knock on doors can be surprisingly effective as well.

Higher commercial cattle markets no doubt helped contribute to a better bull sale season this year but there is still much room for improvement over the next 10 years. I know of individual members who improved their averages this year by making a personal effort to reach out to potential new buyers. It’s not easy but if persistent, it will pay off.

Switching gears, we are looking forward to the 2024 NJLSC in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We experienced preliminary entry levels as high as any we have seen in the last 10 years with 490 total cattle entries submitted for this summer’s show. It is also exciting to see the increase in entries for the Neogen Ultimate genomic show which is now on its third year. Preliminary entries for this year’s show are 150 head. The crew in Oklahoma has worked hard at preparing a top notch show for our youth this year and we are very grateful for their hard work and dedication.

I would also like to thank Kiley McKinna and the entire L365 crew for their annual efforts on the Credit For Kids Sale that helps hosting states fund the annual event for Limousin juniors. It would be very difficult to host these events in today’s costly environment without the help of the members who support this fundraiser along with the additional financial support of membership. Your efforts are truly appreciated by all.

By this fall we will have feed data performance and carcass information on the cattle on feed in the ongoing research trial being conducted with SDSU. We will relay that data and information once we have meaningful data to present to the association later this year.

Stay tuned and have a great summer!

SOUTH REGION

DeRon Heldermon 405/850-5102 deron@limousin365.com

Join us at the table where professional collaboration results in a tailormade marketing plan. Our marketing solutions cater to breeders and buyers across the continent, ensuring your program is presented in the best light possible. Pull up a chair and allow us to elevate your program to the next level.

KILEY McKINNA, Owner 402.350.3447 kiley@mcmarketingmanagement.com

WILEY FANTA, Sales & Service Associate 320.287.0751 wiley@mcmarketingmanagement.com

CLAIRE BROWN, Executive Service & Marketing Associate 765.404.8458 claire@mcmarketingmanagement.com

MEMBER AND INDUSTRY NEWS BRIEFS

NALF Office Closed July 4 & September 2

The North American Limousin Foundation office will be closed Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. The NALF office will also be closed Monday, September 2 for Labor Day. Regular office hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday will resume July 5 and September 5.

Limited Staff In Office

During the National Junior Limousin Show & Congress, June 28July 4, 2024, there will be limited staff in the office. When calling the office to contact a staff member during those days, leave your name and phone number and staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

The NALF Board of Directors will be having their annual summer meeting August 19-21, 2024. NALF staff will be out of the office and attending the meeting. Staff will answer phone calls and emails as time allows.

Nominating Committee Announced

The date for interested members to contact the nominating committee is until July 15.

The By-Law updates for the process are listed below.

10. Nominating Procedures

A. All prospective candidates must express their interest to the Nominating Committee by July 15 each year, and if the committee does not slate those interested persons, supporters then may add their candidates’ names to the ballot via the at-large nomination process. (effective beginning with the 2010-2011 election cycle)

B. To qualify as a member-at-large, the candidate must have at least 15 qualifying signatures from lifetime, founder or active annual members on either the petition style form available on the NALF website or 15 individual qualifying letters of support from lifetime, founder or active annual members, or a combination thereof to be received in the NALF office no later than September 1.

Nominating Committee: Chairman – Bruce Lawrence, Curt Wieczorek, Dan Hunt, Jerry Wulf, Troy Gulotta, Ronn Cunningham, Kevin Ochsner, Bret Begert, Gary Fuchs, Randy Corns

Is Your Contact Information Up To Date?

Members are encouraged to log in to their member site on the NALF-DigitalBeef Platform to review the contact information listed. It is a good practice from time-to-time to look this information over to make sure it is correct and complete. The tabs to review are: Addresses, Phones, Contacts and Associated Herds. Use the edit or delete buttons under the options header on the right-hand side of the screen to change or remove information. To add your website address, click on [edit] in the tan General Profile Information bar in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

Also, check out the Prefs tab. Under this tab you may edit your member preferences, such as allowing non-members to see your profile when using the Ranch Search tool, an option to store registration certificates electronically, plus more.

Who’s Who At NALF

MARK ANDERSON

Executive Director mark@nalf.org; Ext. 51

Hometown: 55-year resident of Eaton, CO.

Education: B.S. in Animal Science from Colorado State University

Mark’s responsibilities: Organizational leadership and direction; Liaison between the board of directors and staff.

TAMMY ANDERSON

DNA Processing & Accountant Assistant tammy@nalf.org, Ext. 57

Lives in: Eaton, CO

Education: Attended Colorado State University

GLENDENNING J BAR J

PRODUCTION SALE Heart of the Herd

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2024 | 1 PM At The Ranch | Lebanon, MO

Featuring 60 exclusive lots of productive spring and fall calving females, bulls, heifers and genetics.

Plan to be with us for this exciting event as we bring you the best from the heart of our herd. The get and service of these individuals will be featured throughout the offering:

Wulfs LATIGO K750L

HP/Red • 65% Lim-Flex

Wulfs Gameboy C911G x Wulfs Edwinna 7056E

CE: 9 BW: 2.4 WW: 94 YW: 149 MK: 33

SC: 0.95 DC: 19 RE: 1.05 MB: 0.23 $MI: 69 Exclusive interest in this breed-leading sire will be featured.

J Bar J KICKSTART 2149K

HP/HB • Purebred

COLE Genesis 86G x COLE Miss Zone 5110C

CE: 10 BW: 1.2 WW: 70 YW: 107 MK: 35

SC: 0.60 DC: 13 RE: 0.88 MB: 0.42 $MI: 68

J Bar J HOLLY HOCK 062H

HP/Red • 75% Lim-Flex

HUNT Credentials 37C x Wulfs Elisha 7137E

CE: 12 BW: 0.3 WW: 69 YW: 106 MK: 35

SC: 1.30 DC: 17 RE: 0.42 MB: 0.33 $MI: 66

Come spend a fun-filled weekend with us. Call with questions or to be added to our mailing list.

JACK & VICKY. • JAMYE & STUART. JOSH, KAYLA, EASTON, HUDSON & BODE. JASE, SHAWNA, KADEN & BENNETT. 24300 McDonald Dr. • Lebanon, MO 65536 www.jbarjlimousin.com • jack@jbarjlimousin.com Jack (417) 588-6121 • Josh (417) 664-0913 • Jase (417) 664-1186

Background: Northern Colorado native; 29 years experience working in the accounting and insurance business; Involved with NALF the past nine years.

Tammy’s responsibilities: Accounts receivable for NALF members; DNA sample submissions; Assist with DNA results; Assist with accounts payable.

MALLORY BLUNIER

Director of Media & Activities mallory@nalf.org or limousinmedia@gmail.com, Ext. 61

Hometown: Princeville, IL

Education: B.S. in Agriculture Communications and Leadership from Illinois State University

Background: Grew up on a farm in rural Illinois; very active in 4-H and FFA; worked for the National Western Stock Show as the open cattle show coordinator; Has worked for NALF the past eight years. Contact Mallory for: NALF communications and press releases; Marketing coordinator; NALF.org website manager and updates; Blog manager; Design services; Limousin Latest e-newsletter; Social media accounts; State association communications liaison; Sale downloads; Junior programs; NALJA Board of Directors; Summer regional shows; NALF events; American Royal; NAILE; National Western Stock Show; Junior programs; Medal of Excellence points program; Medal of Excellence shows.

BROOKLYN THOMPSON

Media & Activities Assistant brooklyn@nalf.org, Ext. 54

Hometown: Lathrop, MO

Education: B.S. in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Kansas State University

Background: Raised on a family owned-and-operated farm where she raised livestock alongside her parents and three sisters; Served on

the National Junior Hereford Association Board of Directors; Has a strong passion for the agricultural industry.

Brooklyn’s responsibilities: Assist the Director of Media & Activities; NALF communications and press releases; NALF.org website editor and updates; Blog contributor; Limousin Latest e-newsletter; Social media accounts; State association communications liaison; Sale downloads; NALF events; American Royal; NAILE; National Western Stock Show; Medal of Excellence points program.

ALISON JONES

Director of DNA Processing & Accounting Operations alison@nalf.org, Ext. 59

Location: Grew up in Vancouver, WA. Moved to Colorado in 2007

Education: B.S. in Animal Science, minor in Business Administration from Colorado State University

Background: Grew up around horses; Always loved cattle but never showed; Judged a little at CSU; Worked at the CSU vet hospital in the food animal and equine barn.

Contact Alison for: Paying your NALF bill; Membership questions; Bill discrepancies; Request statements; All DNA services; LIMS program; Herd EPD downloads; International import/export paperwork.

STEPHANIE KRAMER-BEDDO

Registry & Member Services Specialist steph@nalf.org, Ext. 27

Lives in: Highlands Ranch, CO

Education: Office Specialist Degree

Background: Grew up on family ranch in Nebraska; 30 years of experience working with breed associations and their breeders. Stephanie is your go-to person for: Registering natural and foreign animals; Recording weaning and yearling weights; Transfers of live animals and embryos; Bull and cow leases; New memberships; NALF-DigitalBeef Member Site questions; Ultrasound results and Barn sheets; Mailing certificates, supplies, and promotional material.

SUBSCRIPTION FORM

Our Focus

Wulfs Ka-Ching 0762K

Purebred • Homo Polled

• Homo Black

VL Hunker Down 003H x Wulfs Handwrote 0762H

CE: 13 BW: -0.7 WW: 77 YW: 125 MK: 22 CM: 8 SC: 1.00

DC: 17 YG: -0.62 CW: 40 RE: 1.73 MB: 0.12 $MI: 63

Owned with Wulf Cattle.

Semen not on open market.

B-Bar Serratelli 72H

Purebred • Homo Polled • Red

RPY Paynes Cracker 17E x B Bar Foxtrot 32E

CE: 7 BW: 1.8 WW: 60 YW: 93 MK: 27 CM: 2 SC: 1.20

DC: 19 YG: -0.36 CW: 17 RE: 0.68 MB: 0.07 $MI: 54

Owned with Glendenning J Bar J. Contact owners for semen.

• Curve-bending performance.

• Born small with rapid growth.

• Superior phenotype and structural soundness.

• Above average carcass traits.

• Added value from pasture to plate. Our sires possess the qualities and numbers that add performance and phenotype to add value to your crop. Impliment them in your breeding program today.

TMCK Santana 828J

Purebred • Homo Polled • Black

COLE Genesis 86G x TMCK Glitz 720G

CE: 12 BW: 0.9 WW: 70 YW: 109 MK: 25 CM: 7 SC: 0.38

DC: 14 YG: -0.22 CW: 26 RE: 0.56 MB: 0.60 $MI: 63

Semen available through Grassroots Genetics.

COLE Legend 29L

Purebred • Homo Polled • Black COLE Fortune 12F x COLE Miss Envision 1051J

CE: 15 BW: -1.2 WW: 69 YW: 113 MK: 22 CM: 10 SC: 0.66 DC: 13 YG: -0.21 CW: 42 RE: 1.00 MB: 0.14 $MI: 58

Owned with Linhart Limousin & Coleman Limousin Ranch. We are excited to own semen shares on this intriguing individual loaded with potential and proven lineage.

The Unknown

It’s the “Unknown” that Drives Us!

For more than 30 years, I have been blessed to be welcomed into many people’s homes, ranches, farms and family operations. Born and raised in a small town in Kansas, I was naive to what the world was like outside of my own. Getting to experience a variety of approaches and experiences equipped me at a very young age and helped chart my course forward in life for which I am grateful. I witnessed how some people were willing to help, willing to teach, and unselfishly pointed me in the right direction. My “unknowns” became their window of opportunity to pass on what they had learned in their own journey. The old saying, “You never know what is around the corner!” rings so true in the cattle business, and it’s why our willingness to be generous with our time, knowledge and relationships matters.

~Live as if you left the gate open~

Your platform and program—no matter what size or corner of the industry— is your opportunity to connect and give to others. When you have access to new information or a new level of business, you have the ability to close the door and keep it for yourself, or hold the door open so that people who might otherwise get left behind can be a part of that growth and change. Yes, it’s about the product, but without our relationships we would have nothing. Customer service doesn’t fluctuate with the price of cattle—cattle are just the catalyst for what truly matters most.

We must remain excited about working together to encourage growth in the right direction—keeping the breed’s best interest in mind, chasing the “unknown”, and leaving the gate open for ALL Limousin programs.

Randall O. Ratliff Ratliff & Co.

Always tell the truth. Don’t blame others. Be strong. Do your best. Try your hardest. Forgive. Stay the course.

-George H. W. Bush

Core Fundamentals Core Fundamentals

In 1882, our ancestors who immigrated here from Germany homesteaded the original tract of land. Today, our fourth generation operation is located on that same property. The same values that fueled that generation remain prominent today — family, faith and a strong work ethic.

Our number one goal has always been taking care of people and making sure they are satisfied with their purchase. In 1981, we held our first bull sale and are proud to have several customers who bought bulls at that first sale still purchasing WZRK genetics today.

Utilizing various management tools has allowed us to gain insight on different aspects within our herd—the most critical being feed data. By studying the correlation behind genetics, rations and harvest data, everyone benefits.

Each bull and female in our herd has earned their spot. We provide the resources for them to thrive and it is up to them to prove to us they can. We sell only the highest quality product to our customers and that means utilizing strict production practices and elite genetics.

HAYHOOK LIMOUSIN A Love that Lasts

by Megan Silveira

For Judy Bugher and Edna Manning, the squeak of chalk on a board or shoes on the basketball court doesn’t have the same soothing effect as the gentle moo of a mama cow out on pasture.

It might be that simple truth that allows the women to rank their achievements in the cattle industry right alongside their accomplishments in the professional field. Both grew up with a love for the outdoors and livestock as a natural personality trait, but it wasn’t until their 40s that the pair decided to start running cattle together.

Hayhook Limousin Ranch was born in 1986 with the purchase of their first Limousin bull. In those early years, the Hayhook operation relied on help from Judy’s mother, Goldie, during the weekdays, as both women balanced their ranching with their careers.

Bugher coached at both Oklahoma State University and various high schools — both boasting many titles and wins — and Manning took up a superintendency spot in Oklahoma, just 40 miles from the ranch.

“We were both in a business of trying to help young people grow and develop, and that’s transferable,” Manning explains. “We both had careers we were happy with; the ranching was a nice respite from coaching. We look back, and we’re just really grateful we’ve taken the road we have.”

Consider it a part of that competitive spirit that came from years on the court, but through it all, Bugher said failure was never an option.

“I never had a thought since we started in this that we couldn’t financially make it or didn’t want to personally keep going with it through the years,” she explains.

Meeting At A Crossroads

Sports were the backbone of a young Bugher’s life, but school and competitions still revolved around a single season: summer months spent back on home on the farm.

“I grew up with cattle, and the farming was a big part of my family,” she said, noting her great grandparents were a part of the Oklahoma land rush.

Bugher received a basketball scholarship from Wayland Baptist College after graduating high school, where she was a member of teams that built a 131-game winning streak — teams she’s happy to say were recently inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

After graduation, she began to pass wisdom on as a volleyball and basketball coach at multiple schools. Roles and titles changed, but those summer months never wavered.

“As soon as they turned me loose, I headed back to help my mom and dad,” she said.

It was a Texas school district that brought two employees together through a shared loved for livestock. When she was introduced to continued on page 28

Given their professional backgrounds, it should come as no surprise that Edna and Judy are A+ students of the Limousin breed.

continued from page 26

Bugher, Manning was the principal with responsibility for the women’s athletic program.

“My grandmother had a small farm in Texas, which is where I grew up,” she explains. “I just always loved animals and being outdoors, so I just looked for opportunities to be outdoors with animals.”

A friendship was formed quickly, built on mutual respect and admiration. Manning describes Bugher as a pioneer for not just her collegiate career but also her dedication to coaching.

Bugher shares a similar sentiment in return, noting Manning was one of the first three women to hold the title of Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the state of Oklahoma, one of the first six female superintendents in Texas and one of the first female superintendents in Oklahoma. She was also the founding president of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, a role she considers a highlight of her career.

Through it all, however, the love for agriculture remained. Together, Manning and Bugher bought 160 acres across the road from Bugher’s family farm.

“I guess neither one of us looked at anything we shouldn’t do or couldn’t do,” Manning says of the decision.

When Manning accepted a position within the state of Oklahoma, the two began to seriously focus on developing the Hayhook name.

“You’ve got a basketball coach and a doctor of mathematics who decided there was more to do than just work for someone else all the time,” Manning says of their choice to retire together to run cattle.

Their herd was built on the Charolais herd Bugher’s parents had developed, but the purchase of their first Limousin bull in the ’80s had them rethinking their breeding strategy.

“We really liked the Limousin cross with our Charolais cattle,” Bugher recalls. “We just kept going that way.”

She went to a sale with the intention of buying another Limousin bull for the operation, but when the young sires were going for the same price as proven cows, her objective changed.

“I got in trouble when I came home with those cows,” Bugher admits, laughing alongside Manning at the memory.

The crossbred calves quickly proved themselves, and Manning soon admitted that the business decision was a good one. In fact, she said the calves were so good, she disliked the fact that their calves ultimate destination was the meat counter.

continued on page 30

COLE Envision 81J (left) and COLE Envision 77J (right) head up the Hayhook bull battery.

CELL Karsyn 2087K (left) and CELL Jalyne 1499J (right) were purchased as bred heifers to join an already solid female base.

The old saying, "You never know what is around the corner" rings so true to the breeders in the cattle business. It has been an honor to consult with the breed’s top clients in creating the best product possible ... 30 plus years and counting!

ABBY LANE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

ARIN STRASBURG GRAPHIC DESIGN

AMY SHAW SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

“I got tired of taking those good-looking animals to the stockyards,” Manning said.

The cattlewomen knew transitioning into a seedstock operation would allow their herd’s genetics to leave a lasting mark on the beef industry.

As they incorporated more and more purebred genetics into their

Judy Bugher of Hayhook Limousin, Lexington, OK, was part of a special ceremony June 8, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee, to honor the players responsible for holding the all-time collegiate record for the longest winning streak.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame recently recognized the Wayland Baptist University Flying Queens of Plainview, Texas, for their contributions to the game in a display at the Hall titled “Trailblazers of the Game”.

The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens teams won a still-standing national record 131 consecutive games from 1953-58. During their run, they won four AAU championships.

Only 30 players were on the five teams responsible for the 131game win streak. Half of the 30 were named AAU All-Americans, 12 played on USA national teams and three have been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Flying Queens join the All American Red Heads, Edmonton Grads, and the Former Helms/Citizens Savings/Founders Bank as the only four groups recognized as “Trailblazers of the Game”.

breeding program, Bugher said they nearly perfected their ideal LimFlex animal.

Herd numbers grew quickly, and the women established a solid group of local commercial customers who appreciated the big, stout Haybook calves available private treaty. As demand grew, so did the ranch; Hayhook was up to 350 females grazing 2,000 acres.

As the years ticked by however, both Bugher and Manning thought retirement might be on the horizon. Hayhook Limousin hosted a dispersal sale, and all but a handful of females were sold. Manning said the original thought was that keeping a few cows wouldn’t be bad.

Those 20 cows eventually became the 120 cows the women run today — clearly, retirement wasn’t in the cards. Their black-hided, Lim-Flex bulls are still in high demand.

Hayhook calves are still known for being stout, thick and wide.

“When we got started, people were concerned with too much fat in the meat,” Manning said. “Now that we have gone to Lim-Flex, I think we have hit the right balance.”

The cows have proved to be maternal—weaning big calves— without losing body condition, and in the four decades since they got started with the Limousin breed, both women said the disposition of the cattle has proven to be the perfect fit.

In the early years, Bugher labels the cattle as “saucy,” but today calm dispositions are the norm.

“We’re old,” Manning says with a big laugh. “We like our cattle so we can go out and work them.”

continued on page 32

BUILDING BRAND A

Our seedstock brand has been built around our extensive knowledge of the cattle feeding business. In the last 20 years we have fed and marketing more than 2 million head of cattle. We know what the industry demands when it comes to cattle performing in the feedlot and on the rail. Our registered herd was created to help our customers produce cattle that fit today’s marketplace without sacrificing pedigree, phenotype or numerics.

ONLINE HEIFER SALE

November 19, 2024

ANNUAL BULL SALE March 19, 2025

While Bugher’s quick to correct her (“We’ve gotten old; we didn’t start out this way”), she admits there’s a great comfort in trusting their cattle. The pair takes great pride in confirming that they can go out and walk the pasture alone.

“I don’t find, frankly, anything about the Limousin breed I don’t like,” Manning confirms. “I know partly that’s prejudice, but overall, I just think it was the right breed for us, and obviously, a lot of people agree with us.”

Manning, at 81 herself, and Bugher at 87, says they’ve had to hire additional help at the ranch to keep going, but there’s no plans of slowing down.

“We’re still upright, and we’ll probably do this as long as we’re upright,” she said.

For the foreseeable future, Bugher promises she and Manning will continue to put the best interest of the herd first.

Their “why” is straight forward.

“They want me to get up and be with them,” Bugher said of the cattle. “They want me to as much as I need to.”

The statement makes Manning laugh.

“I don’t know that they take that kindly to me,” she admits, “but I enjoy being out with them and I enjoy seeing the cows with their babies.”

As Manning’s nieces and nephews continue to bring their own children to Hayhook, the duo hopes for just one thing.

“The Hayhook may out live us,” Manning explains, “and we hope it will.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Megan Silveira is a freelance writer originally from Denair, California. She is currently based in Saint Joseph, Missouri. She completed her graduate studies in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University in May 2021.

The Stage Is Set!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2024

Enid Livestock Auction | Enid, OK

FEATURING 60 LOTS FROM THE HEART OF OUR HERD:

45 Herd Sire Prospects & 15 Females

Black & Red | Polled | Lim-Flex

Sons and daughters of some of the breed’s leading sires will be offered.

Mark the date and plan to be with us for this event featuring some of the top genetics available.

THE COW: Should She Stay orShould She Go?

by Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension

Fed cattle and feeder calf prices are presently ranging in the vicinity of historical highs. But then, so are cull cow prices. Knowing historically the income resulting from cull cows in a beef herd has made up roughly 20% of the beef cattle farm’s annual income, today with careful management it could be even greater.

Presently at a time when cattlemen might be trying to retain any breeding female that can produce a live and marketable calf, let’s carefully consider how we might optimize the profitability of the beef herd by employing a strategic culling plan.

Typically, when discussing culling considerations it might start by simply choosing based on condition, health or pregnancy status which cows need to go versus which should stay. Instead, let’s start by carefully considering the present reality of the economics of cull cows.

While in the past culls might have resulted in 20% of the annual beef cow herd income, consider that average cow size has increased 30% over the past 30 years. In fact, USDA’s AMS recently reported the average cow live weight sold was 1500+ pounds. Early this spring, average condition cull cows were bringing $1-1.25 per pound and expectations that would increase throughout spring have become reality. When considering the cost and value of money is greater now than in recent past, it becomes apparent cull cows are a very real profit center for an operation that deserves careful marketing consideration.

As we consider the economics of cull cows and the development of a strategic culling plan, it is also important to realize that cattle inventory cycles are real and have been well documented for more than 130 years. Over those years, cycles have averaged 8-12 years in length. Accepting the fact reduced cow numbers resulting from this cycle have been exaggerated by drought in the West, today we may only be nearing the bottom of U.S. cow inventory numbers and high cattle prices could easily be with us for 2-5 more years.

The next piece of this cull cow economics puzzle is considering when during the year we cull her impacts the bottom line as much as if we cull her. Cull cow values are commonly lowest in the fall and highest in the spring. Add to this a cow that just weaned a calf in the fall is likely as pounds light as she’ll be during any given year. Using those assumptions, and again keeping it simple, speculate further on cull cow values.

What would it have cost to feed this potential cull cow four more months?

Is she sound enough to travel the pasture and wean one more calf?

Admittedly there may be times when the delay in culling a cow is not warranted. Cows at risk of becoming unmarketable or significantly

continued on page 36

Multiple Opportunities Multiple Opportunities

continued from page 34

less valuable due to health concerns such as feet and leg issues, which could cause her to go down, cancer eye, and lumpy jaw, etc. are nonnegotiable if contemplating a delay in culling a cow. Considering the current value of a cull, preg checking a cow at the conclusion of the breeding season has never been more affordable. Accepting that available feed resources may also dictate when cows need to go, today retaining an open is another nearly non-negotiable.

Additional considerations when determining if she should stay or go might include teat and udder conformation, disposition, cow condition and general health of the cow. When each cull cow pound is worth $1.00+, anything that prevents her from sustaining weight and condition is cause for economic concern.

The point made is that no single culling strategy is most profitable each year or the same for each farm. The time and place within the cow inventory cycle, the time of year, the value of the calf that might have resulted from a retained cow, and available feed resources all play a role in developing a strategic culling plan in any given year for any given farm. The check list for developing that strategy may change in priority over time, but will always include:

• Consider breeding status and/or productivity of the calf at side (or past calves).

• Current and future market expectations (where are we in THE cycle?)

• Time of year.

• Soundness (structure, teats, udder, etc.) and/or immediate health concerns.

• Condition/marketability including drug residue status.

• Age and/or temperament.

• Available feed resources and space.

• Present cow herd numbers and/or replacement female availability.

As U.S. cow numbers begin to recover and reach a peak in the coming years and we approach the next bottom of the price cycle, make plans to own the most consistently productive, small (relatively speaking) group of cows possible with plans at that time to retain heifers that will then likely be less valuable than today as feeders. In the meantime, plan to produce as many calves as possible while capturing maximum value for those cows that need to go.

For those cows with health or performance concerns, and knowing her value as a cull is significantly greater than the calf she might raise next year, today, is it worth the financial risk of trying to squeeze one more calf out of her?

Making His Mark

We are excited about the mark this promising young herd sire will make on our program and the breed for years to come. We selected him from the 2024 Hager Cattle Co. Bull Sale based on his faultfree conformation, blend of calving ease and total performance. His numerical profile was another factor in our decision—top 1% rankings for $MI & CW, top 2% for ADG, TM & MB, top 3% for YW & MK and top 5% for CE. Utilize this unique individual in your breeding plans—his calves will score positive marks.

Gary & Susan Fuchs • Stephen, Nathan & Emily P.O. Box 81 • Cameron, Texas 76520 254/482-0611 • garyfuchs53@yahoo.com Stephen Fuchs, manager • 254/482-0052 fuchslimousin@gmail.com • www.fuchslimousin.com

We welcome your call or inquiries.

AHCC

Landmark 917L

Homo Black • Homo Polled • 70% Lim-Flex

HBRL Gateway 9511G x AHCC Miss Earning Power 917G

CE: 15 BW: -0.9 WW: 85 YW: 143 MK: 33 CM: 9 SC: 0.95

DC: 12 YG: -0.03 CW: 66 RE: 0.73 MB: 0.75 $MI: 84

Act. BW: 73 • Adj. WW: 773 • Adj. YW: 1,407 Adj. SC: 37.0 • Adj. REA: 15.00 • Adj. FAT: 0.43 • Adj. IMF: 5.490 Limited semen available. Contact Grassroots Genetics, 515-965-1458.

by Dr. Jeff Lehmkulher, PhD, PAS

Extension

Professor

University of Kentucky

As the summer weather hits full stride, take some time to focus on factors that impact animal performance during these months. Stocker calf performance reflects changes in the environment, plane of nutrition, and overall health of calves. Be mindful of the how summer weather can impact these three overarching factors and consider what you might alter or maintain to minimize the impact of these elements.

Heat stress is the first environmental factor that will impact animal performance during the summer months. Animals compensate during heat stress with increased respiration rate, increased skin vaporization (sweating), increased peripheral blood flow, decreased appetite to reduce metabolic heat production, and more time seeking relief by standing in the shade, congregating in water or grouped up in areas where urine and feces create a wallow. Increased respiration rate leads to greater energy expended for contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm. This doesn’t seem like it would be a big loss, but sit there and double your breaths per minute for five minutes and see how you feel. Now consider doubling your respiration for several hours a day and the impact this would have on energy expended.

Previous research has shown that cattle at thermoneutral conditions had respiration rates of about 23 breaths per minute while under heat stress this increased to 54 breaths per minute. This increased respiration rate is a key response to heat stress as well as increasing blood flow to periphery.

Compensation of heat stress can also occur through increased sweating or evaporative heat loss as periphery blood flow increases. Skin evaporative energy loss was observed to be 50% greater under heat stress than thermoneutral. Accumulated heat load by animals can be dissipated later into the night when ambient temperatures decline. However, during periods of high humidity and lack of nighttime temperatures falling, animals do not have significant reductions in core body temperature before the next day begins. Successive days of heat stress and minimal dissipation of accumulated heat load leads to severe health concerns for cattle. All these factors combine to increase animal maintenance requirements by 7-25%. If maintenance energy requirements represent 65% of normal daily intake, a 15% increase in maintenance requirements as a result of heat stress would reduce gains significantly.

Providing shade is the first management strategy to help mitigate heat stress during the summer months. Shade helps reduce heat loading from solar radiation. Additionally, ground surface temperatures under shade have been shown to be greatly reduced compared to unshaded areas. Shade can be natural such as wooded areas or man-made. Cattle will stand more during heat stress to allow more convection heat loss as air moves around the body. Shade should ideally provide sufficient room for cattle to stand in the shade without being crowded.

Often the question is how much shade should be provided. Consider the length from tip of nose to tail and width across the ribs of a mature cow. These measurements may be near 7’ x 3’ or 21 square feet and these measurements will vary. Spacing between animals is important so the actual shade provided will be greater than the size of the animal. Actual allocated area under shade of 3040 square feet per cow may be necessary. The University of Nebraska recommends 20-25 square feet per animal for voluntary shade use

in feed yards and 25-30 square feet for high-risk feeders on arrival. For man-made structures, ensure there is sufficient distance between the back of the animal while standing and the bottom of the shade structure to facilitate air movement through the structure. When possible, having shade structures that are portable will minimize wallows which can lead to high humidity under the shade from excessive urine and feces deposition.

Consider developing shade areas during periods of higher temperatures and humidity to maintain the performance of grazing cattle if wooded areas are not readily available. Temporary electric fencing can be helpful in allocating different areas of wooded areas to minimize soil disturbance under trees and preventing development of wallows. Shade placed on ridges that have greater wind speeds will aid in moving air through the structures and cooling cattle. Ensure cattle have access to fresh, clean water as losses from sweating and increased respiration rates increase water requirements.

A Mountaintop Experience

We were extremely grateful for the interest expressed in our inaugural Pasture To Plate Performance Sale. When the final gavel sounded, 25 bulls and 10 heifers found new homes in 10 different states. We extend our heartfelt thanks for the confidence expressed in our breeding program and wish all of our buyers much success with their purchases.

HIGH-SELLING BULL

OLIM KOLT 45 • 37% Lim-Flex • Homo Polled • Sire: DB Iconic G95

CE: 8 BW: 2.4 WW: 103 YW: 172 MK: 24 CM: 3 SC: 1.40 DC: 19 YG: 0.01 CW: 68 RE: 0.90

0.88 $MI: 93 Lawrence Family Limousin, Anton, TX

HIGH-SELLING FEMALE

OLIM LATTE 373L • 80% Limousin • Homo Polled • Sire: ROMN Floyd Mudhenkey 101F

CE: 8 BW: 2.1 WW: 68 YW: 105 MK: 21 CM: 4 SC: 0.11 DC: 16 YG: -0.27 CW: 29 RE: 0.86 MB: 0.07 $MI: 55 Kyle Ruehle, Dodge City, KS

OLIM LAREDO 367L • 84% Limousin • Homo Polled • Sire: OLIM Jackpot 209J

CE: 12 BW: -0.3 WW: 60 YW: 92 MK: 26 CM: 9 SC: 0.90 DC: 12 YG: -0.44 CW: 33 RE: 1.32 MB: 0.09 $MI: 55 Brackman Limousin Ranch, Concordia, MO (possession) Walnut Ridge Limousin, Anderson, MO and Duff Limousin, Hampton, MN (semen interests)

OLIM LATIGO 320L • 84% Limousin • Homo Polled • Sire: OLIM Jackpot 209J

CE: 7 BW: 0.5 WW: 68 YW: 112 MK: 21 CM: 4 SC: 1.10 DC: 15 YG: -0.25 CW: 36 RE: 0.98 MB: 0.10 $MI: 57 Kelly Blake, St. George, UT

Monitor our website and Facebook page for details on our next production sale in March, 2025.

KEVIN, JULIE, CAITLYN, ASHLYN & COLLIN OCHSNER

30300 CR 388 • Kersey, CO 80644

Kevin: 970-396-5525, KevinKOchsner@gmail.com

Stratton Wotowey (Herdsman): 970-222-1984 Follow us on • www.ochsnercattle.com

BCV Farms Two Families United by Friendship and Limousin Cattle

by Sarah Anne Johnson

Ben Petre and his wife,

have five children, Kayla, Sawyer, Sophia, Elle and Evan.

BCV Farms is a joint partnership between two long-time friends, Ben Petre and Caleb Miller in Somerset, Ohio. Together, Ben and Caleb operate a purebred Limousin and Lim-Flex cow herd that spans across 400 acres in a small rural community an hour east of Columbus in Perry County.

Ben and his family moved to the Somerset area in 2001 and since then, Caleb and he have been friends and business partners. The Petre family consists of Ben and his wife, Josephine, along with their five children, Sophia, Kayla, Evan, Sawyer and Elle. Ben grew up on a dairy farm in Tennessee and in November of 2001 moved to Ohio. “I was very familiar with cattle and I enjoyed them, so that is the reason I took an interest in the veal industry,” Ben explained.

The Miller family includes Caleb Miller and his wife, Dorcas, their twin sons, Carter and Colton, and their youngest son Cayson.

In addition to their partnership of BCV Farms, Caleb and Ben both have other pursuits. Ben owns Petre Enterprises, a general construction contractor that is 80% residential and 20% commercial. Caleb is the Vice President of MQS Structures, a custom pole barn and post frame building business.

The partnership of BCV Farms began in 2003 when Ben and Caleb built a barn together to raise veal. The letters in BCV stand for Ben and Caleb Veal. In 2015, they sold the barn and sold out of the veal business to explore the purebred cow-calf side of the cattle business.

Josephine,

The Miller family includes Caleb Miller, his wife, Dorcas, their twin sons, Colton and Carter, and their youngest son, Cayson.

“When the veal industry tanked, Caleb and I looked for an alternative way to stay in the cattle business and our love for the Limousin breed led us to where we are today,” Ben remarked.

Today, Ben and Caleb have grown their Limousin cow herd to 120 Limousin females where they calve out 100 cows and approximately 20 heifers each year. BCV Farms makes 90% of their own hay and they lease land to grow corn and soybeans. They utilize the corn they grow to feed the cattle.

The history of Limousin cattle at BCV Farms dates back to 1989 when Caleb Miller’s late father, John, purchased 15 Limousin cows and a Limousin bull in Missouri. John had seen Limousin cattle in Kentucky and appreciated their thickness and muscling compared to the Angus of the day. That’s when Limousin cattle first arrived in Somerset, Ohio.

Throughout the years, John always made sure to have a Limousin bull on hand for his Limousin-based cow herd as well as his commercial cow herd.

In 2015, BCV Farms transitioned to all registered Limousin cattle. At the time, Ben had a handful of registered Limousin cattle of his own and Caleb needed a new Limousin bull for his cow herd. It had always been a desire of Ben’s to purchase a bull from Wulf Cattle at their sale in Minnesota.

Together Ben and Caleb drove their truck and trailer from Ohio to Minnesota with the goal of purchasing a Limousin bull at Wulf Cattle’s 2015 Opportunity Sale. Ben and Caleb purchased two bulls from that sale, one for a connection of theirs in Tennessee, and one for their venture together. Later that summer, Ben and Caleb purchased a third bull from Wulf Cattle.

In 2016, they purchased Wulfs Cartwheel 5209C, who later became BCV Farms’ leading donor female. At that point, Ben and Caleb knew about the cooperator program Wulf Cattle offered. Ben had asked Casey Fanta if they could send a handful of bulls out to Wulfs, Casey agreed and the following year, in the fall of 2017, BCV Farms sent their first group of bulls to Wulf Cattle.

In the same year (2017), BCV Farms purchased Wulfs Conversion 3970C from Wulf Cattle. “Wulfs Cartwheel 5209C and Wulfs Conversion 3970C were our two, big name individuals at the time for

Wulfs Joint Venture G579J was raised by BCV Farms and went out to Wulf Cattle. He won the 2023 Black Hills Stock Show Supreme Champion Bull Over All Breeds. He was also the Reserve Champion Limousin Bull at the 2023 National Western Stock Show.

COLE Miss Xrated 354A, is the donor that truly put BCV Farms on the path to success. She is the dam of COLE Cadillac 05C, COLE Genesis 86G and COLE Homerun 51H. Ben and Caleb purchased flush rights on COLE Miss Xrated 354A from Coleman Limousin Ranch. continued on page 42

our program. We still use eggs from Cartwheel today, she’s still alive and producing—she is visually the most impressive cow on the farm yet today,” Ben explained.

The donor that truly put BCV Farms on the path to success was COLE Miss Xrated 354A, the dam of COLE Cadillac 05C, COLE Genesis 86G and COLE Homerun 51H. Ben and Caleb purchased flush rights on COLE Miss Xrated 354A from Coleman Limousin Ranch at their fall female sale.

The next January, Coleman’s took a pen of three purebred bulls to Denver and won the 2020 National Western Stock Show Grand Champion Limousin Pen of Three Bulls. The lead bull was COLE Genesis 86G and that win was what catapulted COLE Miss Xrated 354A’s notoriety as a donor female.

Wulfs Genius 5293A is currently in production at BCV Farms and has outsold their Wulfs Conversion 3970C bull on semen sales.

“He’s our biggest name bull and he’s been very popular,” Ben remarked. BCV Farms also acquired Wulfs Envision G012K last year to add to their herd.

Another bull that helped put BCV Farms on the map is Wulfs Joint Venture G579J. He was raised by BCV Farms and went out to Wulfs. He then went on to win the 2023 Black Hills Stock Show Supreme Champion Bull Over All Breeds. He was also the Reserve Champion Limousin Bull at the 2023 National Western Stock Show.

This past spring, BCV Farms held their Inaugural Online Bull Sale with Limousin365 and offered 14 of their top bulls. “The most valuable thing from the sale has been getting our name out there and people continuing to call us even a month after the sale and throughout the spring in need of a Limousin bull,” Ben explained.

continued on page 44

Celebrating 55 Years In The Limousin Breed

Think LIMOUSIN

Docility & Calving Ease

Feed Efficiency & Carcass Merit

Improved Marbling

“Docility and calving ease are the two number-one things for a commercial rancher. And the docility of the Lim-Flex is really great. But calving ease is top of the line. She has to be able to produce a calf without a lot of problems.” - Shane Whiting, Commercial Cow/Calf Producer

“Using a Continental breed such as Limousin or Lim-Flex on a British-based cow herd gives you the best of both worlds –the maximum combination of a balance between gain, feed efficiency and carcass quality.” - Dr. Kee Jim, CEO of Feedlot Health Management Services

“Genomic testing, breeder focus and the heritability of carcass traits have enabled all of us as seedstock producers to make rapid genetic gain in carcass quality. In fact, the marbling EPD value in our breed reflects an improvement of 0.25 to 0.35 for both Limousin and Lim-Flex, making them very comparable to other Continental breeds.” - Dan Hunt, Commercial Cow/Calf Producer

continued from page 42

From Ben’s perspective, the honesty and transparency BCV Farms has with their customers is what sets them apart. “We strive to produce the kind of bull we would be comfortable turning out in our own herd to breed cows. We always take care of our customers if they have a complaint and find a way to correct it so they’re satisfied. We also try to be at the forefront of the breed, use the most progressive genetics available, as well as not get too far away from the tried and true and proven,” Ben explained.

“Our goals right now are to grow our online bull sale and our customer base in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana and West Virginia,” Ben said. “We want to produce the kind of bull that the customer wants.”

Ben and Caleb have several generations of individuals that have guided them throughout the years of partnership owning and operating BCV Farms.

The late John Miller, Caleb’s father, “was very influential and helpful for us from the beginning,” Ben said. “Casey Fanta has always been very straightforward with me and supportive of BCV.

continued on page 44

Best Of Luck Juniors... Welcome To Oklahoma!

We are proud of the year we’ve had and the success we’ve enjoyed. It is a family affair with everyone playing a role to make it all possible. If you are in the market for your next show project, watch for our spring-born heifers and steers selling this fall on SC Online Sales.

KMHS Jemma 1942J ET

3rd Overall Owned Lim-Flex Female, 2023 National Junior Limousin Show & Congress

www.hanza.co Bret Hanza

580.704.7287

bret@hanza.co

LFL Kassandra 2069 K

Grand Champion Female, 2023 Tulsa State Fair Open Show

KMHS Jemma 1942J ET

Reserve Champion Female, 2023 Tulsa State Fair Open Show

Look us up at the show… we always enjoy talking cattle and visiting about our industry changing Microbiota+.

KMHS Larger Than Life 403L

Grand Champion Bred & Owned Female, 2024 Oklahoma Youth Expo

Rebalance the biome of your livestock and pets with live microbes and enzymes that are 100% organic and natural. This probiotic supplement is generally used to support gastrointestinal and digestive function.

• All Species

• Enhanced Immunity

• Improved Digestion

• Reduce Overall Cost

“Ben and Caleb have always been great to work with,” says Casey Fanta of Wulf Cattle. “My relationship began with them sourcing females and key herd sires to grow their herd. It then developed into them being satellite bull providers for Wulf Cattle for several years with them providing very marketable seedstock. They have since developed their own marketing plan and I would encourage buyers to take advantage of the quality genetics they have available. They have always selected popular pedigreed genetics with exceptional performance and EPD profiles and strive to create the same in their own program.”

Ben continued, “I bounce ideas off Trent Coleman a lot when it comes to asking about what he sees and utilizes in his program. I’ve knocked heads with Josh VanHorn more than anybody, but I’ve also learned a lot from him over the years. Kiley McKinna always provides support with advice for our business and marketing strategy.”

Kiley McKinna of MC Marketing Mangement said, “The principals at BCV have a progressive breeding approach, centered around problem-free cattle that perform. It’s that “Industry First” mentality, along with their dedication to customer care, that keeps their program at the forefront of the industry.”

Trent Coleman of Coleman Limousin Ranch in Charlo, Montana said, “we have always enjoyed working with Ben Petre of BCV Farms in Ohio. Ben and Caleb have bought donor cows, bred heifers, embryos and bulls from us. They buy cattle for their program that are

Congratulations Juniors with the success you are having with MINO heifers. Genetics for Sale. Contact us Today.

structurally sound and have great EPDs. The bulls in their online bull sale reflected the quality of their program.”

“If we as breeders continue to work with and grow our customer bases, the future should be great for Limousin cattle. The Limousin breed gives commercial cattlemen an excellent breed to use with their Angus-based cattle. If we address some of the issues with scrotal size and continue to look at sires that will increase marbling, we can stay competitive in the future to keep the Limousin breed relevant,” Ben said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sarah Anne Johnson raises registered Limousin & Lim-Flex cattle with her family and Coulton West in Ohio. She is a sixth-generation beef cattle producer, works as a District Sales Manager for Syngenta and is the Northern Region Sales Representative for Limousin365. She has also exhibited Limousin cattle on the state and national levels since the age of four and she served as a NALJA Board Member during her junior show career. Connect with her at 614-266-2646 or sarah@limousin365.com.

Tara: (443) 605-6127

minorfarms930@gmail.com

www.minorlimousin.com www.facebook.com/minorlimousin

Caleb, Tara, Gabriel & Reagan Minor

Farm Succession:

DON’T NEGLECT THE VALUE OF PLANNING

by Katie Humphreys

Do you want to know the costliest mistake a farmer can make when it comes to safeguarding the future of their operation? It’s neglecting to plan or having an overly simple plan, says Jim Angell, an attorney with Kennedy Berkley.

There are all sorts of reasons farmers are lax about succession planning. Maybe the patriarch doesn’t want to give up control or face mortality. Maybe some of the kids don’t get along or the parents are stymied by the thought they need to treat all their kids equally.

“Farmers have spent 35 years in survival mode, and succession planning has barely registered,” he says. “The past five or six years they have gone from surviving to thriving, but it’s still hard for them to believe a sophisticated plan is necessary.”

That sophistication comes into play when deciding how to treat farm and non-farm siblings.

“Fair and equal are not the same,” Angell says. “The farming child(ren) needs to be provided with some advantages in order for the farm to survive. They need more value to keep the farm going, but there’s a difference between value and cash.”

Angell advises farmers separate the operational (business) side of the farm from the legacy (land). Equipment has to stay with the operational side, for example.

When it comes to the land, if it’s important for each child to own land, divide it up in tracts and don’t put multiple kids on a tract, he adds.

A succession plan often includes several documents, one of which should be a buy-sell agreement, Angell advises. If you are in business with someone, you should know how to exit the arrangement. A buysell agreement is a legally binding document between co-owners of a business that spells out how a business should be transferred if a coowner leaves the business willingly or is terminated.

Legal vs. Relationship Pieces

Speaking specifically to the next generation, Angell says don’t hesitate to push for communication. In his practice, he usually sees the next generation first to work on their estate plan, and then they bring in the senior generation.

For the senior generation, don’t believe the same philosophy your dad used: You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.

“Please communicate,” Angell says. ”Currently, my firm is involved in 10 to 15 disputes where land was distributed equally and kids can’t get along or an LLC was set up but there is no way out.”

The good news is there are legal devices to do whatever a farmer wants to do. The key is using the right mechanisms for the relationship pieces.

“Is it worth it to jeopardize your children’s relationship for any reason?” he asks.

Your Colorado Source For Elite Genetics

PLAN TO ATTEND: ANNUAL BULL SALE

April 2025 • Lajunta, CO

Never before in the history of our industry has an elite herd bull battery made a larger impact on your bottom line than today. Bulls that have the pedigree and genomics to add value from the pasture to the plate have never been more important. Study how our bulls can make a positive difference in your bottom line.

WULFS JOINT VENTURE G579J

PB • 9/1/21 • Homo Pld • Blk

Owned with Wulf Cattle.

Wulfs Fifty T804F x DHIL TMG 5795C

CE: 7 BW: 1.9 WW: 70 YW: 112 MK: 33 CM: 3 SC: 0.60

DC: 12 YG: -0.22 CW: 20 RE: 0.65 MB: -0.02 $MI: 52

WZRK KING JAMES 5042K

75% Lim-Flex • 3/1/22 • Homo Pld • Blk

Contact owners for semen availability.

MAGS Federal Reserve x WZRK Chocolate Chip 5042C

CE: 13 BW: 0.9 WW: 74 YW: 111 MK: 22 CM: 10 SC: 1.10

DC: 15 YG: -0.09 CW: 36 RE: 0.52 MB: 0.42 $MI: 68

Stay tuned for more information. Give us a call for semen on any of these outstanding young sires. They have the tools to put your program on the front side of genetic improvement.

HUNT KILLIN ME SMALLS 147K

68% LF • 3/3/22 • Homo Pld • Homo Blk

Owned with Hunt Limousin Ranch.

Wulfs Desmond G261D x HUNT VALH54C

CE: 6 BW: 1.5 WW: 71 YW: 105 MK: 26 CM: 6 SC: 0.60

DC: 12 YG: -0.18 CW: 40 RE: 0.80 MB: 0.31 $MI: 64

WZRK KRYPTONITE 5022K

PB • 1/20/22 • Homo Pld • Homo Blk

Owned with Wieczorek Limousin.

CELL Envision 7023E x WZRK Miss Atomic 5022C

CE: 6 BW: 0.4 WW: 83 YW: 130 MK: 24 CM: 4 SC: 1.40

DC: 17 YG: -0.31 CW: 52 RE: 1.11 MB: 0.15 $MI: 63

FILLMORE

719-947-4132 (H) • 719-569-1312 (C) Brent@FillmoreRanch.com

FILLMORE

719-947-3464 (H) • 719-248-0536 (C) 1738 Boone Rd., Boone, CO 81025

WULFS JOINT VENTURE G579J

WZRK KING JAMES 5042K

HUNT KILLIN ME SMALLS 147K

WZRK KRYPTONITE 5022K

LIMS:

Whole Herd Reporting

Want to save money on registrations, transfers and genomic profile testing? Looking to spend less time on the computer and more time outside? Tired of handwritten forms and paperwork? Want more reliable EPDs? Then the LIMS program is for you!

The Limousin Inventory Management System (LIMS) is an optional, web-based, whole herd reporting program for active members (Founder, Lifetime, Junior and Annual members) of the North American Limousin Foundation. The program was first launched in 2006. The current LIMS program is a culmulation of many years of trials, breeder feedback and the addition of new tools available in the DigitalBeef registry platform.

The LIMS program is mutually beneficial for both members and NALF. There are incentives to capture unbiased, complete performance and reproductive data for more accurate EPDs. Members benefit from a simplified and lower cost way of conducting business. One question we are often asked is, “Isn’t my herd too small for LIMS?” The short answer: absolutely not. There is no herd too big or small for the LIMS program. Small- to medium-sized herds can see a cost benefit from moving to the LIMS program almost immediately. If you are curious to the exact dollar figure for your herd, reach out to the staff and we can break down the program for you in a way that makes sense and is not overwhelming. We can determine if the LIMS program is right for you.

Cost Savings

Among the many benefits LIMS has to offer, what stands out most among members is the cost saving aspect of the program. LIMS

members are required to enroll 100% of their females, at a rate of $32 per active cow each year. The $32 cost to enroll each cow each year includes the free registration and transfer (up to 30 months of age) for that year’s calf crop. With NALF’s current pricing structure, the least costly registration and transfer is $65 per animal. But with LIMS, it’s all covered in one fee of $32, which is at least a $30 savings for members.

Efficiency

Work smarter, not harder! Time is one thing we all wish we had more of, especially during calving and breeding season. Enrollment in the LIMS program breaks your herd out into spring and fall calving cows, with each set having their own data tab. This concentrates all calving records to one place in DigitalBeef, allowing you to see exactly what calves have been registered to which cows, and who is missing data. Each cow enrolled in LIMS will need to have a calf recorded or a reason for no calf (example, calf died before weaning) for each calendar year, and each calf will need a weaning weight recorded or a reason for no weaning weight. The LIMS tab will help you identify these females or calves that are missing records. Complete performance and reproductive information required for inventory-based recording is submitted online. The more specific you are with recording this data, the easier and quicker your registrations will be later on. In addition, managing your herd through the many tools on the NALF-DigitalBeef platform will also be easier and more comprehensive. DigitalBeef has

continued on page 52

The vision for our family and operation share the same core values. For three generations, our focus has remained steady: raising the highest quality cattle possible for ourselves, our customers and the consumer. Give us a call when you are looking for elite genetics from grass to plate.

continued from page 50

the capacity to keep all these records for members, so you can look back on historical calf crops, not having to worry about losing data.

More Reliable EPDs

This total herd reporting program contributes more complete and comprehensive production information, helping to position breeders and the Limousin breed as a whole for future improvements. By reporting all your animals, you allow your top animals to stand out. The combination of performance data, genomic testing and NALF’s partnership with International Genetic Solutions has allowed for the most up-to-date EPDs on animals. As an IGS partner, these EPDs are comparable across 16 other breeds. These tools have helped Limousin identify areas of improvement and become more competitive in the seedstock industry.

Be Certified

LIMS members have access to the LIMS certified seal. This seal signifies commitment to providing whole herd performance data. This means that 100% of the registered cows in your program are enrolled in LIMS and requires you to report complete and comprehensive data on all your cows and calves. This total herd reporting program signifies to other members and commercial producers that you are committed to providing more and better information on the genetic merit of your cattle.

The certified LIMS seal appears on your member site and on the animal view screen of every animal in your herd. It is also available to all LIMS members and can be used to further promote their herd in sale catalogs, advertisements, etc.

With the ever-changing cattle industry, NALF strives to maximize profit for its members. LIMS members have seen more precise EPDs and have saved time and money from being a LIMS member. You are encouraged to look into the program and see how it can benefit your cattle operation.

If you want to enroll in the LIMS program, contact Alison Jones, alison@nalf.org, or Tammy Anderson, tammy@nalf.org.

LIMS CALENDAR

December 1 - February 15

• Enroll Spring inventory

• Designate any animals that need to be moved to Fall season

• Enter disposal codes for females no longer in herd

• Mark any foreign, recipient females and donor dams appropriately

• All calving data due for previous year’s Spring enrollment

• No progeny code required if no calf was born

• All weaning data due (weight/docility) for previous year’s Spring enrollment

February 23

• Late deadline for any add/removal to your Spring inventory

• No late period allowed for weaning and calving data

February 25

• First half SPRING cow assessment and second half FALL cow assessment invoices mailed out

May 1 - July 15

• Enroll Fall inventory

• Designate any animals that need to be moved to Spring season

• Enter disposal codes for females no longer in herd

• Mark any foreign, recipient females, and donor dams appropriately

• All calving data due for previous year’s Fall enrollment

• No progeny code required if no calf was born

• All weaning data due (weight/docility) for previous year’s Fall enrollment

Spring Season: January 1 through June 30

Fall Season: July 1 through December 31

continued on page 54

Family First & First Class Genetics

It truly is a family affair at ATAK Limousin spanning over three generations. Day in and day out, we work together to breed the best cattle possible while supplying our customers with top notch genetics. When you are in the market for bulls, females or genetics, come to the family focused on producing first class genetics.

FWLY LHC CAPITAL

62%

AUTO CHAPERALL 406C

37% Lim-Flex • Homo Polled • Homo Black SAV Brand Name 9115 x AUTO Rebeca 292S CE: 11 BW: 1.6 WW: 74 YW: 109 MK: 17 CM: 8 SC: 1.20 DC: 12 YG: -0.06 CW: 18 RE: 0.16 MB: 0.18 $MI: 59

CELL JAW DROPPER

57% Lim-Flex • Homo Polled • Homo Black CJSL Creed 5042C x AUTO Callie 403D CE: 14 BW: 0.7 WW: 64 YW: 109 MK: 20 CM: 11 SC: 0.55 DC: 10 YG: -0.06 CW: 22 RE: 0.72 MB: 0.36 $MI: 63

Andy & Tammy Schmalshof Adam, Jonelle, Peyton, Carrina & Dixon Schmalshof • Karen, Griffin & Drake Reese 436 140th St. • Avon, IL 61415 • Andy, cell: 309/333-0029 • Adam, cell: 309/333-3044 • adam.atak@gmail.com Follow us on ATAK Limousin

CELL JAZZY 1572J

50% Lim-FLex • Double Polled • Homo Black SCC SCH 24 Karat 838 x Riverstone Charmed

continued from page 52

ONE VISION Two Families

We have carefully selected genetics from across the country that embody the power, maternal traits and strong EPD profiles we desire. We are excited about the genetic combinations we’re able to create with our carefully assembled battery of sires and donors.

COLE MISS XRATED 354A

75% LF • HP/Blk • MRL X-Rated 014X x COLE Miss Production 874U

CE: 10 BW: 1.5 WW: 67 YW: 104 MK: 36

SC: -0.50 DC: 8 RE: 0.72 MB: 0.59 $MI: 73

Our lead donor and the dam of COLE Cadillac 05C, COLE

86G and COLE

WULFS JOINT VENTURE G579J

PB • HP/Blk • Wulfs Fifty T804F x DHIL TMG 5795C

CE: 7 BW: 1.9 WW: 70 YW: 113 MK: 33

SC: 0.60 DC: 12 RE: 0.64 MB: -0.02 $MI: 52

We are proud to have raised this elite herd sire. Supreme Champion Bull Over All Breeds — 2023 Black Hills Stock Show Reserve Champion Limousin Bull — 2023 National Western Stock Show

FEMALES FOR SALE PRIVATE TREATY

Annual Bull Sale, March 25, 2025

Call or stop by to see what we have to offer.

The North American Limousin Foundation would like to recognize the following breeders for their commitment to whole herd reporting through LIMS participation during the past year:

Actis Ranch

Bar JZ Ranches

Beckman Farming & Livestock

Beus Cattle Co.

Blaydes & Sons Limousin

Bosch Farms

Boyer Family Farms

Boyer Limousin

Brehm Farms

Buck Ridge Cattle Co.

Buck’s Limousin Farm

Bullis Creek Ranch

CAF Cattle

Clanton Creek Limousin

Coleman Limousin Ranch

Conley Cattle

Coyote Hills Ranch

DEBV

DeRungs Farms

DMW Cattle Co.

Drew Abbas

Duckett Limousin

Duff Limousin

Easterly Romanov Ranch

Eggbar Limousin

Excel Ranches

Fawley Farms

Ferrat Ranch

Fuchs Limousin

Gates Limousin Ranch

Glen Odglen

Gregory Rechberger

Gulotta’s Live Oak Limousin

GV Limousin

Hager Cattle Co.

Hanzi Cattle Co.

Hunt Limousin Ranch

Inman Limousin

J&J Cattle Co.

Jerome Rosenquist

Ken Krom & Family

Lawrence Family Limousin

Lazy Brook Limousin

Leishman Family Limousin

Lenape Limousin

Leonard Limousin

Lewis Limousin Farms

Linhart Limousin

Little’s Limousin

Locust Lane Limousin

Lonely Valley Limousin

Long & Sons Limousin

Lura Limousin

Lyon River Front Farm

Magness Land & Cattle

McCann Farms

Meckley Family Farms

Middleton Limousin

Mill Road Limousin

Misty Morning Limousin

Mitchell Farms

Ochsner Limousin

Parkinson Cattle Co.

Peterson’s L7 Bar Limousin

Reid Cattle Co.

Ridgeway Family Farm

Rops Limousin

Running Creek Ranch

Schock Limousin

Schott Limousin Ranch

Shari Holloway

Sleiter Limousin

Spade Limousin

Steve Thompson

Super C Limousin

Symens Bros Limousin

T. Hart Cattle

T4 Livestock

Torgerson Farms

Trails End Cattle

Treftz Limousin

Tubmill Creek Farms

Tyler Landreth

Van Horn Limousin Farm

Vaughn Farms Limousin

Venner Family Limousin

Voigt Cattle

Vorthmann Limousin

Waddle Limousin Ranch

Wieczorek Limousin

Willow Brook Cattle

Willow Creek Farm

Wulf Cattle

Genesis

Homerun 51H.

CORNERPOST REVERSE RAFFLE

This year’s raffle is a REVERSE raffle; meaning the LAST ticket drawn will win $20,000. The drawing will take place at the Genetics on Ice Auction. Every 25th ticket drawn will be a winner with a total of 18 winners.

JANUARY 6, 2025

CATTLEMEN’S CONGRESS

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

CONTACT A JUNIOR BOARD MEMBER TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET

$200/TICKET

$20,000 GRAND PRIZE nalf.org/juniors/board-of-directors mallory@nalf.org, brooklyn@nalf.org

Official Publication of the North American Limousin Foundation

2005 Ruhl Drive • Guthrie, OK 73044 405/260-3775 • Fax: 405/260-3766 www.Limousin365.com

BREEDER ADVERTISING RATES

FULL PAGE

2/3 PAGE

1/2 PAGE

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All advertisements are 4-color process

ISSUE

MATERIALS PUBLISHED

January - Spring Sale Edition Dec. 1 Dec. 23

April - Herd Bull Edition Mar. 1 Mar. 25

July - Breeder Directory Edition June 1 June 25

October - Fall Sale Edition Sept. 1 Sept. 25

Advertising materials to Kyle Haley 405/260-3775 • kbhaley2@gmail.com

CLOSING DATES

Refer to listing above.

ADVERTISING SKETCHES

Requests for advertising layouts must be in the L365 office 10 days before copy deadline.

TERMS

All accounts are due and payable as billed. Interest charges of 1-1/2% per month (18% APR) will be assessed to 30-day unpaid accounts. Customers with overdue accounts will be put on a prepay basis for subsequent advertising business.

CONTRACT DISCOUNT

L365 contracts for 4-time print and annual digital/print combinations are available at substantial discounts. Contact the L365 field representative in your area or call the L365 office at 405/260-3775.

DIFFICULT ADS

Ads requiring substantial extra production work will be assessed extra charges at standard shop rates. If you prefer no extra charges, request us to simplify the ad at our discretion if necessary.

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Advertising reprints are available. Requests for reprints must be made at the time the order for the ad is placed.

All other questions, contact the L365 office.

Fed Beef Production Steady; Non-Fed Beef Production Down In 2024

Total cow slaughter is down 14.1 percent year over year through the first 21 weeks of the year.

Total beef production thus far in 2024 is 10.6 billion pounds, down 2.0 percent year over year. This follows a 4.7 percent year over year reduction in beef production in 2023 from record levels in 2022. Cattle slaughter in the first 21 weeks of 2024 is down 4.5 percent year over year but cattle carcass weights have averaged 21.8 pounds higher than last year thus far. Beef production will be down year over year in 2024 but by less than previously forecast. There are also some interesting dynamics across types of beef production.

Total Beef Production

Steer slaughter is down 2.1 percent in the first 21 weeks of the year compared to one year ago. Heifer slaughter is down 1.6 percent year over year thus far in 2024. Total fed (steer plus heifer) slaughter is down 1.9 percent from last year. However, steer carcass weights have averaged 920 pounds, up 20.4 pounds this year and heifer carcasses are averaging 843 pounds, 15.9 pounds heavier year over year.

Carcass weights have not shown the typical seasonal decline in the first half of the year resulting in even greater year over year discrepancies in recent weeks. Weekly data from late May shows steer carcass weights 37 pounds (heifers, 29 pounds) heavier than last year. Total fed beef production for the year to date is 8.92 billion pounds, up 0.2 percent from one year ago. Increased steer and heifer carcass weights are offsetting decreased slaughter to result in a fractional increase in fed beef production for the year to date with significant increases in recent weeks.

By contrast, non-fed beef production is down sharply in 2024. Nonfed beef makes up 20 percent of total beef production on average. Total cow slaughter is down 14.1 percent year over year through the first 21 weeks of the year, with dairy cow slaughter down 13.4 percent and beef cow slaughter down 14.8 percent from last year. Cow carcass weights are averaging 646.8 pounds, up 10 pounds over one year ago. Bull slaughter is down 7.0 percent year over year, with bull carcass weights up 28.7 pounds over year over year and averaging 892 pounds. Total non-fed slaughter through May is down 13.6 percent and total non-fed beef production is 1.69 billion pounds, down 12.0 percent compared to last year.

Declines in Second Half of Year

Fed beef will likely decline in the second half of the year. Fed slaughter is expected to decrease more in late 2024, though carcass weights will likely remain elevated. Heifer retention may be starting which would lead to a larger decline in heifer slaughter by the end of the year. Beef cow slaughter may also drop more sharply in the last part of the year. Herd rebuilding typically results in decreased heifer and beef cow slaughter. Moisture conditions through the summer and into the fall will be critical to determine if, and how much, herd rebuilding gets started and the impact on 2024 beef production.

A Living Legacy

Since 1979, Hunt Limousin Ranch has been guided by faith, family, honesty and integrity. From the registered herd, to locker beef, to row crops, and everything in between, the Hunt family pours their heart and soul into all aspects of the business. If you are looking for moderate-framed, easy calving, fast growing bulls and replacement females with calm dispositions and high end carcass quality, come to the source. HUNT genetics are proven to work in any environment.

Private Treaty Cattle For Sale Year Around • Annual Online Bull Sale - January 2025 Call Today.

HUNT LIMOUSIN RANCH

Charles & Nancy Hunt

Dan, Melinda, Jenna, Adeline & Houston Hunt 10329 Hwy. 136 • Oxford, Nebraska 68967 308/991-3373 (Dan) • 308/920-1120 (Charlie) huntlimo@huntlimousin.com WWW.HUNTLIMOUSIN.COM

5 Conversations Every Family Should Have Before A Farm Transition

by Clinton Griffiths

Before you handover the keys or step aside for the next generation, make sure you and your family are properly prepared for what comes next. Elaine Froese is a farm family transition expert, speaker and host of the Farm Family Harmony Podcast. She says we’re in the middle of agriculture’s “great wealth transfer” but there’s a serious lack of communication between generations.

“Often there are so many plans to be started that farmers are stymied, overwhelmed and anxious,” Froese says. “I’ve said many times that procrastination and conflict avoidance are killing agriculture.”

For those ready to be proactive in preparing for a farm transition, she recommends these five steps.

1. Calculate Your Income Stream.

Froese says farmers need to determine how they’ll maintain and secure a stream of personal income. Is that coming from their personal wealth or a combination of personal wealth and income from the farm. Once that’s sorted, farmers need to figure out what their living expenses really are apart from the farm.

“They have to figure out their own lifestyle costs first, where they’re going to live and what their lifestyle is going to be,” Froese advises.

2. Define Your Role.

Retiring farmers need to clearly define how they’ll show up for the operation after “retirement” from running the day-to-day. Does that mean fully stepping away, serving as a manager or simply as labor when needed, Froese asks.

“Many farmers who are male have their identity tied up in what they do,” she adds. “They have no capacity or understanding of how their roles are going to shift as they age in place at the farm.”

3. Talk To Your Spouse.

Retirement isn’t a singular decision. Froese says it’s important to discuss the transition to retirement with a spouse or significant other. He or she might have their own ideas of what will or should happen in retirement.

“They need to embrace a vision with their spouse because if the older farmer does not want the same thing as the older farmer’s spouse in regard to what their future role is then that transition plan is essentially stalled and not going anywhere,” Froese adds.

4. Build A Business Plan.

During a transition there will be differing opinions and passionate feelings about the direction of the farm. Froese says that’s expected and farmers need to remember different isn’t wrong, it’s just different. She recommends next-generation farmers bring a business or enterprise plan to the table that explains their intent for future growth.

“When you bring somebody back to the farm you need to generate additional gross income to support that new family,” Froese says. “People often do not pay attention to how many families a farm business can support and the level of support expected.”

5. Discuss Future Debt.

As a farmer transitions out of the principal operator role and focuses on retirement, often their risk tolerance for debt decreases. Taking out loans against the farm’s assets for expansion or technology upgrades might feel risky or even irresponsible. Froese says debt loads should be discussed and decided upon early in the transition.

“Many older farmers don’t want anymore debt, and they have it in mind they don’t want to pass debt on to the next generation,” she says. “But where is it written that the younger generations can’t manage the debt?”

Gby Alison Jones NALF Director of DNA Processing & Accounting Operations

reetings! As I write this, I assume many of you are wrapping up breeding season and turning cows out to summer pasture. Here in Colorado, we could use some rain. I’ve been lucky enough to help some local ranchers get through breeding season, and I have enjoyed every step of the process.

As seedstock producers, the role of your breed association is very important, as it helps provide you with tools and resources to help your operation succeed. This is not a role NALF takes lightly. We want to help you reach your goals. Whether you’d like to bring in a new bull customer, raise the marbling number on your herd, or bring more pounds of product to the table, we are here to help you. When you meet your goals as a producer, NALF succeeds too. We are all in this for the good of the breed, and want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

With your yearly association dues, you are granted access to the DigitalBeef registry platform. Though some may only utilize DigitalBeef as a registry software, I encourage you to explore all the tools that are available to you. Perhaps my favorite feature of DigitalBeef is the mating calculator. This tool takes individual EPDs of each female in your herd, and compares the EPDs of two different bulls at a time to predict an average EPD for the resulting progeny of a particular cow when mated to a particular bull. The mating calculator can be found by navigating to Herd Mgmt > Tools > Prog Calc > Bull. This page will list every active female in your herd, from which you can select all, or pick groups or individual females. Add each bull’s registration number, click “Retrieve this

continued on page 64

No Replacement For Quality

Jalyne 1499J

Karsyn 2087K

Karsyn 2087K

We selected these two high-end bred females from Linhart’s 2023 fall sale to help freshen our genetic base. They will join our productive set of brood matrons as we continue to produce seedstock quality black and polled bulls and females for discriminating cattlemen.

THE DRIVE NEVER STOPS

The drive to produce the best possible seedstock never stops around here. Our studious selection of AI sires ensures us the highest quality calf crop possible. The sires we incorporate into our breeding program possess superior bloodlines, cutting edge genetics and impressive numerics. We appreciate the business of our fellow cattlemen and look forward to serving your genetic needs far into the future.

AHCC Landshark 9624L

52% LF • Homo Polled • Homo Black

S: Wulfs Gameboy C911G ET

D: AHCC Miss Eagle 9624G

BW: 3.6 WW: 96 YW: 156 MK: 31 RE: 0.91 MB: 0.50 $MI: 78

AHCC Landmark 917L

70% LF • Homo Polled • Homo Black

S: HBRL Gateway 9511G

D: AHCC Miss Earning Power 917G

BW: -0.9 WW: 85 YW: 144 MK: 33 RE: 0.81 MB: 0.75 $MI: 84 Owned with Fuchs Limousin. WZRK Liberty Bell 9040L

PB • Homo Polled • Black S: CELL History Buff 0245H D: WZRK 9040G

COLE Jackpot 38J ET

Mark Your Calendar 19TH ANNUAL BULL SALE

Official Publication of the North American Limousin Foundation

2005 Ruhl Drive • Guthrie, OK 73044

405/260-3775 • Fax: 405/260-3766 www.Limousin365.com Publisher: L365

PUBLISHER EMERITUS—Dan Wedman

PUBLISHER EMERITUS—Dale F. Runnion

EDITOR—Kyle Haley

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Bull’s Information,” and then click “Calculate Progeny EPDs based on these bulls.” A graph for predictions of the resulting offspring will appear, as well as percentile ranks for each individual EPD, the Limousin percentage, and the coefficient of inbreeding. Keep in mind, the mating calculator does not take genomic enhancements into consideration. I encourage you to try it out on a whole range of bulls to allow yourself to see the direction your herd can move. By utilizing the calculator, this can help you make an informed decision for your program.

Another DigitalBeef tool I use regularly is the EPD section of the animal search. Under Search/Find > Animal, you can change your tab to “EPD Parameters”. In this area, you have the ability to set your search parameters in order to focus on a trait or set of traits. You can further narrow your search by sex, AI qualified (if you’re searching for bulls), classification (Purebred, Fullblood, Lim-Flex), polled status, color, and even age of the bull. If you’re not sure where to start, on the left-hand side of the DigitalBeef page under Cattle Evaluation, there is a “Percentile Ranks” link. This chart breaks down animals by sex and classification to give you an average EPD number. For example, if I’m searching for a Lim-Flex bull above the 50th percentile, the Percentile Ranks chart for Active Lim-Flex sires tells me that the 50th percentile for weaning weight is 68, yearling weight is 107, and marbling is 0.27. If I go back to the EPD parameters of the animal search, I can set my minimum for WW to 68, YW to 107, and MB to 0.27. The search results will only return Lim-Flex bulls that meet my set criteria. You never know what you may find out there that you may have overlooked in the past.

As seedstock producers, we know there is so much more that goes into selection of superior animals that falls outside the realm of EPDs. Phenotype, performance, and genomics are all important aspects when it comes to determining which genetics to propagate. You are best qualified to make these decisions for your herd and your customer base. NALF is not telling you how to breed your cattle or what to market, but instead providing as many selection tools as possible to help make your job easier. When I see a bull I like in a sale catalog, on a video, or in the Yards in Denver, the first thing I do is run him in the mating calculator to get a general idea of what he will produce numerically for my herd. This is not the be-all-end-all, but with input costs as high as they are, I want as much predictability as I can get. Though the mating calculator and EPD parameters search may seem overwhelming, I encourage you to give me a call anytime. I am happy to go over ideas with you. We are here to help you, and want to see your operation succeed at its highest level.

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2024

SELLING FOUR IVF HEIFER EMBRYOS

SIRE: DL Let Us Pray 087L

DAM: AUTO Fly Girl 252F

84.5% Limousin | Double Polled | Homozygous Black

FOURTH OVERALL LIM-FLEX HEIFER SOUTHEAST SUMMER CLASSIC

CELL Leni 3139L

65% Lim-Flex | Homozygous Polled | Homozygous Black

Daughter of ELCX Kings Landing

JUNIOR SCENE

by Nikki Keeton NALJA Vice President

Striving For Honor In The Pursuit Of Excellence

This May, I graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in animal science. In my three years at Tech, I was blessed to meet many mentors who helped me grow both professionally and personally. One of the mission statements at TTU that my professors referenced time and time again is this: strive for honor in the pursuit of excellence. Growing up in Lubbock, I heard this quote repeatedly, not ever really knowing what it meant. However, over the last few years, I have come to understand its importance. So, let’s break it down.

2023-2024 NALJA BOARD

PRESIDENT, Landry Kleman ............................................ Nazareth, TX ltkleman@hotmail.com

VICE PRESIDENT, Nikki Keeton Wolfforth, TX nkeeton@ttu.edu

SECRETARY, Eliza Truel ................................................... Skiatook, OK entruel@gmail.com

TREASURER, Ryleigh Morris ......................................... Ash Grove, MO ryleighmorris04@gmail.com

DIRECTOR, Mikayla Askey Queen Creek, AZ mimaas2003@gmail.com

DIRECTOR, Lily Mitchell ................................................... Boscobel, WI springcreeks@icloud.com

DIRECTOR, Jacey Smith Decatur, AR jacey.smith12@gmail.com

DIRECTOR, Shane Kendall Magnolia, NC skendall3795@mail.sampsoncc.edu

DIRECTOR, Ross Turner .................................................... Oologah, OK rossturnerroping@gmail.com

DIRECTOR, Boone Begert Allison, TX boonebegert23@gmail.com

Strive For Honor. Striving for honor means doing what is right. Acting with integrity in all endeavors. Working for the greater good. Doing right by others as well as yourself. Winning with humility and losing with grace. Celebrating the success of those around you, even when you yourself have lost.

Pursue Excellence. Pursuing excellence means setting goals; BIG goals. Working diligently to achieve them. Performing the best that you can. Bettering the people around you. Bettering yourself. Not giving up, even in the face of adversity.

Put the two phrases together, and I would say it’s a pretty great mantra to live by, whether you’re a Red Raider or not. The stock show world is incredibly competitive. Some know how it feels to win, but everyone knows how it feels to lose. Losing is not an invitation to stop chasing the goals you have set for yourself; it is motivation to overcome your battles and keep pushing forward. In the same token, winning does not make a person better than somebody else. We were all created equally by the same Creator. The real win in life is not winning yourself, but pushing those around you to succeed.

So, how do we strive for honor in the pursuit of excellence? Start by acknowledging that no one is perfect, and we all fall short. Speaking from experience, it takes a lot of effort to lay down your pride and support the successes of others when you yourself have failed. But at the end of the day, when the dust in the show ring has settled, the important things are the lessons learned and friendships formed. So, if you ask me, if you do what is right, do the best you can and support those around you, you can never really lose.

L7 KOKO 2064K

Homo Polled | Homo Black ’24 People’s Choice Supreme Champion Bull & High Selling Supreme Row Bull

SALES & EVENTS

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Where The Bulls Are

Bulls Available Private Treaty Year Around. Call Today.

MARK & SHERYL LEONARD 1362 Hwy. 59, Holstein, IA 51025 712-368-2611 work • 712-830-9032 cell • mark@agcomfinancial.com Al Morales, herdsman, 712-304-2035 www.LeonardLimousin.com

Leonard Limousin and Angus bulls are the beating pulse of profitability. Our commitment to providing top-quality livestock is rooted in our rich history and dedication to breeding excellence. From our family to yours, we guarantee the finest genetics and exceptional customer service for all of your cattle needs. Join the ranks of satisfied cattlemen who have experienced firsthand how Leonard bulls have increased their profitability.

• Purebred Limousin and Angus Beef Cattle

• Bred For Performance and Function For Generations

• All With Feed Efficiency, EPD & Pedigree Data

• All Tested, All Guaranteed

1969

Sarah, Riley, Peyton, Emmet & Maria Long 2251 Kingfisher Avenue • Afton, Iowa 50830 Phone: 641-782-3770 or 641-340-1676 Website: longandsonscattle.com • Facebook: Long and Sons Limousin Email: longandsonslimousin@gmail.com

Part Of Something Special

Best of luck to all junior exhibitors! We hope you will cherish these memories forever.

Bruce, Paula & Lee Roy Lawrence P.O. Box 299 • Anton, TX 79313

Bruce: 806/790-2535 • Lee Roy: 806/778-0548 email: bll1@speednet.com • www.lawrencefamilylimousin.com

Our summers have long been about preparing for field day and junior nationals while balancing time for our farming and ranching operation. During the busy daily grind and long hours it is easy to lose sight of the fact we are all participating in something special. Though it is the cattle that bring us together, it is the time we spend with family, friends and the lifetime of memories we create what makes it truly special.

Jonny, Amber & Colt Parkinson

3206 W St Road 114 Levelland, TX 79336 parkinsoncattle@gmail.com

Amber: 806/773-6043 • Jonny: 806/632-6859 www.parkinsoncattleco.com