KEETON LIMOUSIN

When asked what to caption this photo, Leonard simply said, “The one time it rained.” He is not far off, given Lubbock County, Texas, averages 19 inches of rain per year, with summer temperatures averaging 91 degrees.

by Megan Silveira

Many ranchers first discover their passion for the cattle industry while watching a cow bring a new calf into the world or when they lead their first heifer into the showring as a young 4-Her. Lyle Keeton, however, is not like most cattle ranchers.

“I participated in the calf scramble at Houston,” Lyle said with a hint of laughter. “I caught a calf in that scramble and knew I wanted to start showing cattle.”

Leonard Keeton, Lyle’s father, said he jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the cattle industry with his son. Leonard grew up in the cattle and swine industry, but had raised Lyle solely around hogs. His son’s sudden interest in the cattle industry felt like coming home, Leonard said.

“I have always liked the cattle better,” Leonard admits. “When Lyle caught the calf in the scramble, he wanted to get involved and it really triggered my interest in cattle.”

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TO ONE OF THE BREED’S HOTTEST HOMOZYGOUS POLLED RED SIRES

Come see his calves and our herd any time.

Chad McReynolds PO Box 1658 • Sallisaw, OK 74955 (918) 616-5671 • chad.7oaks@yahoo.com

TRMSRED DIRT COWBOY Homo Polled • 43% Lim-Flex PIE The Cowboy Kind 343 x ENGD Zenana 2074Z CE: 7 BW: 1.3 WW: 65 YW: 104 MK: 16 DC: 16 MB: -.01 $MTI: 52

The popularity of red cattle continues to grow nationwide giving us even more reason to be excited about our leading herd sire. His first calves were born this past Fall and Spring and we couldn’t be more pleased. We really like the conformation, disposition and performance of his oldest calves.

If you’re looking for a red bull with a different pedigree that will make them all polled, SADDLE UP to RED DIRT COWBOY. SEMEN $40 - Contact Grassroots Genetics 866.305.9600 • APRIL 2020 43

Today, Leonard and Lyle run the Keeton Limousin Ranch in Wolfforth, Texas. The cow-calf operation is home to close to 230 cows, 80 of which are purebred Limousin females. The semi-arid Texas panhandle is not known for its abundant rainfall, meaning both registered and commercial cows must learn to cope with Mother Nature’s extremes.

“Our cattle at the ranch sometimes have to walk a mile to water,” Leonard points out. “It doesn’t take long for structure or doability problems to show up in our herd.” The Keeton’s love for the Limousin breed can be traced back to Lyle’s first show heifer, purchased in 1984 from Stewman Ranches when Lyle was a sophomore in high school. Leonard said he was advised by family friends to invest in the Limousin breed for his son, a piece of advice he is still grateful for.

“We were drawn to the cattle, but also the people,” Leonard said. “We started out and made some good friends. It was just a good group of people that we really enjoyed being around. In fact, our longtime family friends, the Begerts, helped us pick out that first show calf.” “The people we’ve gotten to know are the best. The love for cattle is the common ground we all have.”

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Beginning with the purchase of an open show heifer in 1984 from Stewman Ranches, the Keeton operation on Wolfforth, TX, has blossomed into 230 cows, 80 of which are purebred Limousin females. Another portion of the herd is designated to supply club calves to their long list of satisfied customers.

499A HOLLAND RD., JAVA VILLAGE, NY 14083 KYLE SMITH • 716.560.8682 KYLE@KSLIMOUSIN.COM

JYF FORMAT

9/5/18 • Homo Polled • Purebred JYF Chunk 35C x SY Xtra Far 355X CE: 8 BW: 3.2 WW: 71 YW: 109 MK: 22 SC: 1.2 DC: 13 YG: -.89 RE: 1.5 MB: -.43 $MI: 43

Format was our pick from the 2020 J Yorga Farms’ Bull Sale based on his impressive muscle, conformation and outcross pedigree. He had a 110 index for weaning and yearling. Format had a ribeye index of 112 while sporting a marbling index of 107. He also has the distinction of the biggest scrotal in the JYF fall group with a yearling scrotal of 42 cm. He promises to infuse growth, milk, scrotal, yield grade and ribeye into a calf crop while maintaining depth of body, eye appeal and an easy going disposition. If you are looking for the next generation of red, homozygous polled, high percentage genetics, contact us today to order semen.

CHECKING all the BOXES

ROMN Floyd Mudhenkey 101F Homo Polled/ Black • Purebred AUTO Lucky Guy 140D x ROMN Aretha 50A CD: 16 BW: 0.0 WW: 65 YW: 99 MK: 24 CM: 10 SC: 0.6 DC: 13 YG: -.56 CW: 30 RE: 1.04 MB: -.35 $MTI: 42 Ranks in the top 15% or better for CD, MK, CM & CW

Judging by our first calves and the reports we’ve gotten from other breeders, this purebred bull is checking all the boxes. He is proving to be a calving-ease sire with calves that are coming small (ranging from 65 to 73 lbs. out of heifers) with the conformation and build we are looking for. We are excited about what we are seeing and hearing about his calves and we will be increasing his work load in our herd.

If you’re looking for a purebred bull that can check all the boxes, add Floyd Mudhenkey to the top of your list. SEMEN $40. CONTACT GRASSROOTS GENETICS 866.305.9600 If you’re looking for a purebred bull that can check all the boxes, add Floyd Mudhenkey to the top of your list. SEMEN $40. CONTACT GRASSROOTS GENETICS 866.305.9600

RANDY, NANCY, RANDEE & ASHLEE CORNS Randy: 620/750-0924 • Nancy: 620/432-5056 • Randee: 620/583-2959 • Ashlee: 620/953-2210 11535 Thomas Rd. • Altoona, KS 66710 We welcome your call or visit anytime. • APRIL 2020 45

S Top-Shelf Top-Shelf GENETICS We are excited with the caliber of genetics forming the foundation of our program.

TMCK Flashback 605F HomoP/HomoB 46% - Lim-Flex TMCK Cash Flow x PBRS Alena 3115A CD: 8 BW: 2.9 WW: 92 YW: 151 MK: 14 CEM: 4 SC: 1.2 DC: 19 YG: -.01 CW: 60 RE: .76 MB: .25 $MTI: 67 Ranks in top 1% for WW, YW, CW • Ranks in top 4% or better for DC & $MTI

SEMEN $40 - Contact Grassroots Genetics 866.305.9600 He is joined by our other top-shelf herd sires: MAGS EVEREST 528E and MAGS SUMMIT 284D.

Lyle said he and his family traveled to shows across the state of Texas with that original heifer and each show they attended further cemented their devotion to the Limousin breed.

As time passed, Lyle said they began to grow their operation organically. While the Keetons used a variety of bulls for breeding, Leonard said they chose to purchase very few females. The Keeton ranch was built on the foundation of Lyle’s first heifer, Leonard said. In fact, 1993 was the last time an outside female was added to the Keeton operation.

The Keeton’s desire to serve grew alongside their herd numbers. Leonard, his wife, Betty, and Lyle have all spent time giving back to the Limousin breed at the state and national level.

“It was a real honor to be involved,” Leonard said. “We were able to help keep the direction of the breed going in a positive manner so other people could enjoy the same things we were enjoying.”

Lyle served on the national junior board of directors and then followed in his father’s footsteps by spending six years on the Texas Limousin Association Board of Directors. Lyle said both he and Leonard try to involve themselves on the national level as much as possible. The pair finds themselves driven by the aim of keeping the breed headed in the right direction, he added.

Leonard said it is the passion of the cattlemen behind the livestock that keeps the Limousin breed progressing. He said he greatly respects the families and ranchers helping promote Limousin cattle. It is the people of the breed that kindled his love for the industry and keep him involved.

“It’s the people we meet and the work ethic of those we already know,” he said. “The people we’ve gotten to know are the best. The love for cattle is the common ground we all have.”

Lyle said he has watched this same passion spread to his children. Lyle and his wife, Shana, have three children, Nikki, Jacob and Cole. All three are currently involved as junior members and proudly exhibit the Keeton cattle in show rings across the nation, Lyle said.

MAGS Daystar

MAGS Zodiac x MAGS Action Move Premier donor who is currently being flushed to Apple Jack and Federal Reserve.

We welcome your call or visit anytime.

46 TRAVIS & LISA GLENN 37437 Hwy. ZZ ~ Ionia, MO 65335 ~ 660.281.5127 hillbilly.tg@gmail.com

Private treaty bull sales as well as club calf sales round out the diversified Keeton operation

The Keetons take pride in the fact every animal they exhibit is home raised and purebred Limousin. Case in point is LLKT Yvonne and LLKT Arizona, a mother daughter duo shown here at various stages of their show careers. Their accomplishments include Arizona being named Supreme Champion Female over all breeds at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.

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“We don’t have to hit all the shows to be happy with what we’ve done,” he added. Leonard said he and his wife, Betty, love watching their three grandchildren’s involvement in the operation. Their participation brings back fond memories of Lyle as a youth, Leonard said.

LFLC Checking Account Homo Black • Homo Polled • Purebred Wulfs Ziplock N922Z x LFLC 701X Xtra Good CE: 16 BW: -0.7 WW: 77 YW: 108 MK: 19 SC: 0.9 DC: 8 YG: -.87 RE: 1.43 MB: -.41 $MI: 45 Owned with Ludens Family Limousin SEMEN $40 - LIMIGene & Grassroots Genetics

SYES Easy Going 77E Black • Homo Polled • Purebred COLE Businessman 104B x Miss SYES Ransom 76X CE: 17 BW: -1.2 WW: 68 YW: 112 MK: 22 SC: 1.25 DC: 14 YG: -.81 RE: 1.53 MB: -.45 $MI: 41 Owned with Fillmore Ranch SEMEN $40 - Grassroots Genetics

SYES Encore 315E Homo Black • Homo Polled • Purebred LFLC Checking Account 701C x Miss SYES Roscoe 316DX CE: 21 BW: -1.2 WW: 82 YW: 125 MK: 19 SC: 0.6 DC: 13 YG: -.98 RE: 1.72 MB: -.47 $MI: 46 Owned with Fillmore Ranch SEMEN $40 - Grassroots Genetics

JYF Xtra Chunk 518E Homo Polled • Purebred JYF Chunk 35C x TMF Miss 118W CE: 8 BW: 1.9 WW: 62 YW: 92 MK: 25 SC: 1.0 DC: 16 YG: -.88 RE: 1.32 MB: -.34 $MI: 44 SEMEN $40 - Grassroots Genetics

Your Program

Wulf Devils Lake K118D Homo Polled • Purebred WUlfs Billy The Kid K234B x Wulfs Your Choice 1419Y CE: 3 BW: 5.2 WW: 76 YW: 120 MK: 18 SC: 0.7 DC: 19 YG: -.74 RE: 1.15 MB: -.04 $MI: 58 SEMEN $40 - Grassroots Genetics

SYES Brothers Your Guarantee of Predictable Genetics Symens

P.O. Box 155 Amherst, South Dakota 57421 John: 605/880-8061 • Warren: 605/237-2127 Office: 605/448-2624 • Fax: 605/448-5786 jssymens@venturecomm.net

Sires With

Substance These bulls have the substance it takes to become breed leaders and produce progeny capable of setting a new standard. We plan to use them aggressively in our progressive program and invite you to do the same.

CWCL Ludens First Dakota 018F B/HomoP • 75% Lim-Flex LFLC Bank Account 701B x CWCL Gangnam Style 135A CE: 12 BW: 0.0 WW: 57 YW: 85 MK: 16 SC: 0.6 DC: 10 RE: 1.07 MB: -.21 $MI: 45 The Supreme Champion Bull at the 2020 Black Hills Stock Show matches an impeccable phenotype with the unique combination of easy calving genetics and big ribeye. Owned with Ludens Family Limousin SEMEN $40 - Call LIMIGene or Grassroots Genetics

AHCC Ypsilanti 264G HetB/HomoP • 75% Lim-Flex EBFL Ypsilanti 420Y x AHCC Miss While Z266 CE: 8 BW: 3.0 WW: 83 YW: 125 MK: 16 SC: 1.3 DC: 18 RE: 1.03 MB: -.01 $MI: 59 A popular lot in the Best of the Yards sale, 264G combines industry-leading amounts of growth with elite genetics from SC, DC, CW, RE and $MI. Owned with Hager Cattle Co. SEMEN - Contact owners.

LVLS Fortnite 798F HetB/HomoP • 50% Lim-Flex LVLS Bank Account 8116B x LFLS Bare Assets 798B CE: 11 BW: 0.4 WW: 72 YW: 116 MK: 28 SC: 0.9 DC: 14 RE: 1.15 MB: .33 $MI: 67 A product of the venerable Lonely Valley program, this herd sire keeps birth weight in check while infusing leading genetics for growth, milk, docility, ribeye, marbling and mainstream terminal index. SEMEN $40 - Call Grassroots Genetics

SOUTH FORK RANCH

JAY LANGDEAU FAMILY FORT PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA horseman.1972@hotmail.com (605) 223-2361

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PROVEN PERFORMANCE EQUALS PROFITABILITY

TMCK CASH FLOW 247C HomoP/HomoB • 43% Lim-Flex • MAGS Ali x TMCK Nina 17X BW: 92 lbs. • Adj. WW: 987 lbs. • Adj. YW: 1,608 lbs. • SC: 42 cm. CE BW WW YW MK SC DC YG CW RE MB $MTI EPDs 7 3.1 104 176 13 1.6 21 0.03 64 0.92 0.31 73 % Rank 1 1 10 1 1 25 10 1 Owned with Tubmill Creek Farms, New Florence, PA SEMEN $40 - through Grassroots Genetics, 866/305-9600 With more than 500 progeny registered with NALF, Cash Flow has proven the ability to sire fast-growing, performance type cattle with pleasing phenotype. What’s more, his EPD profile is off the charts, offering elite percentile rankings in 8 traits. For a Lim-Flex sire who has proven to do it all, inject a some Cash Flow into your breeding program.

TMCK FOXTROT 569F Daughter of Cash Flow

TMCK FLASHBACK 605F Son of Cash Flow

Steve Revell 146 Coppinger Place - St. Johns, FL 32259 (c) 904.482.7197 - srevell57@msn.com Farm Location: Jacksonville, Georgia

Our Business is the BEEF BUSINESS For 49 years, the beef business has been our primary business. Breeding cattle that work best in the feedlot and for our custom meat company has been our primary focus so our cattle have a proven track record for feed efficiency and added value on the rail. Our Latest Herd Sire Addition... WZRK GOOD VIBRATIONS Purebred / Homo Polled HUNT Credentials 37C x WZRK Miss Tuffenuff 4010B CED: 13 BW: -0.2 WW: 75 YW: 114 MK: 13 TM: 50 CM: 7 SC: 1.0 DC: 16 YG: -.52 CW: 38 RE: .82 MB: -.19 $MTI: 50 • This outcross, homozygous polled bull ranks in the top 10% for six traits.

— FOR SALE PRIVATELY — Yearling & 2-yr.-old Bulls, Bred Females & Pairs Red & Black. Many Homo Polled. Lim-Flex & Purebreds. Call Today!

“Where function meets quality.” FRANK & DON PHELPS cell: 937/539-1442 8807 Township Rd. 98 Belle Center, Ohio 43310-9551 email: frankph@watchtv.net “Home of the OCNR Prefix” Breeding Performance Limousin Genetics Since 1971

CWCL Ludens First Dakota 018F HomoP/B • 75% Lim-Flex LFLC Bank Account x CWCL Gangnam Style 135A BW: 0.0 WW: 58 YW: 86 MK: 16 SC: 0.6 DC 10 YG: -.61 YW: 19 RE: 1.08 MB: -.22 $MTI: 44 Thank you to Jay Langdeau of South Fork Ranch of Fort Pierre, SD, for purchasing First Dakota!

SEMEN AVAILABLE CONTACT LIMIGene or Grassroots Genetics

LUDENS

LIMOUSIN PRODUCTION SALE PRIDE of the DAKOTAS APRIL 4, 2020 • 1 PM at the farm, Viborg, SD

Gordy & Pam Ludens • Mike & Sarah Ludens 28716 459th Avenue Viborg, South Dakota 57070 Gordy 605.661.6470 Mike 605.360.1191

2 show heifers • embryos 30 BULLS Selling Progeny from these bulls sell LFLC Bank Account • LFLC Denver LFLC Dollar Bill • Greenwood Canadian Made

LIVE ONLINE BIDDING

LFLC General 857G PB • HP/B • 4/12/19 LFLC Big Country x LFLC Annabelle 857A BW: 0.2 WW: 72 YW: 112 MK: 22 SC: 0.8

LFLC Game Changer 158G PB • DP/B • 4/13/19 LFLC Big Country x LFLC Debra 158D BW: 2.2 WW: 84 YW: 126 MK: 21 SC: 0.8

• APRIL 2020 LFLC Green Light 123G PB • DP/B • 4/14/19 SYES Easy Going x LFLC Candyland 123C BW: -0.2 WW: 70 YW: 107 MK: 22 SC: 1.2 51

by Wes Ishmael

If the value of a commercial breeding bull is an extension of the price commercial producers receive for their calves, then bulls should be worth more to those producers for the next few years.

At least that’s what market fundamentals suggest, with fewer cattle numbers over time, coupled with domestic beef demand strength and growing international demand. What follows is just that, a fundamental summary and outlook, which cannot account for drought, packing plant fires, the potential impact of novel coronavirus, or other unpredictable events.

First, some price perspective

At this year’s Industry Outlook, during February’s annual Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, CattleFax forecast steer calf prices (550 lbs.) this year $6 higher than last year at an average of $170/cwt., across a range of $155-$180.

CattleFax also projected feeder steer prices (750 lbs.) to increase an average of $6 year over year to an average of $150/cwt., across a range of $140-$160.

By way of comparison, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) forecasts feeder steers prices (basis Oklahoma City) at $145 in the first and second quarters, at $148 in the third quarter and at $146 in the fourth quarter. That’s from the February Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook.

Calf and feeder prices set to move cyclically higher.

Further, CattleFax pegged fed steer prices at $120/cwt., which would be $3 more than last year. Analysts noted downside risk at $108 and resistance at $130.

That’s more bullish than ERS, in the February USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), which forecast the annual fed steer price at $117, ranging from $112-$123.

Moreover, CattleFax projected utility cow prices this year to average $65/cwt., ranging from the low $70s to a fall low near $55.

The increased supply of utility cows spawned by several years of aggressive herd expansion will likely challenge the cull cow market, But Kevin Good, CattleFax Vice President of Industry Relations and Analysis noted, “Increased demand for lean trim and a decline in the availability of imported grass-fed trim from Australia and New Zealand will be supportive of cow prices.”

Broadly speaking, drought-forced herd liquidation in Australia and increased exports to China, in the wake of African Swine Fever, is boosting the value of domestic lean trim.

On the input side of the equation, Mike Murphy, CattleFax Vice President of Research and Risk Management Services, estimated acres planted to corn to be 4 million acres more this year at 94 million acres. He pegged spot corn prices at $3.50-$4.00/bu., which would be 15¢ to 20¢/bu. less than last year, notwithstanding significant weather pressure. Murphy’s corn acreage forecast mirrors the one USDA shared at February’s Agricultural Outlook Forum.

“The U.S. corn outlook for 2020-21 is for record production and domestic use, increased exports, and higher ending stocks,” according to USDA’s Grains and Oilseeds Outlook. “The corn crop is projected at 15.5 billion bu., 13% above a year ago with an increase in area from last year’s weather-reduced plantings and a return to trend yields. The yield projection of 178.5 bu./acre is based on a weather-adjusted trend assuming normal planting progress and summer growing season weather. Despite beginning stocks forecast down from a year ago, total corn supplies at 17.4 billion bu. are forecast to be record high.” A record corn crop could add lift to calf prices this fall. “Feed prices during 2020 are likely to be slightly lower than 2019,” says Shayle Shagam, livestock analyst with the World Agricultural Outlook Board, in the Outlook for Livestock and Poultry in 2020. “Corn prices in the first part of 2020 are expected to be above a year ago, reflecting a forecast 2019-20 crop year average of $3.85/ bu. However, prices later in the year are expected be below 2019, reflecting a decline in the season average price to $3.60/bu.”