9 minute read
TREFTZ LIMOUSIN
The excitement for the Limousin breed was palpable at Glenn Treftz’s annual bull sale, where repeat buyers and new Limousin enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada gathered.
Held at the Treftz Limousin ranch near Wetonka, South Dakota, cattlemen and women appraised the bulls in the lots before the auction began.
Treftz’s well-known slogan, “Where muscle still matters,” was evident in the soggy, heavy-muscled, powerful and docile set of bulls offered on the sale, and the auction results proved that commercial buyers are seeking exactly what Treftz has worked a lifetime to achieve— real deal Limousin that will complement the predominantly Angus commercial cowherd in the countryside. Auction results from the 2020 Treftz Limousin Annual Production Sale included an impressive average of $4,206 on 63 lots of bulls, open and bred heifers.
“Limousin muscle is in vogue again, and it’s really exciting to see,” said Treftz. “I’m listening to my customers and responding to what they want, and what they are telling me is they want the heavy muscling that our breed has to offer.” Treftz said his bull sale has become a big reunion of sorts, and he enjoys spending time on the phone with his customers, who have become great friends over the years. In addition to visiting with his customers about breeding and calving season, Treftz also helps many of his clients register new calves on NALF’s Digital Beef, and he also offers free semen on any bull in his battery to breed new heifer purchases.
“I’m seeing the younger generation becoming more and more interested in the Limousin breed,” said Treftz. “Some of these older producers maybe had a bad experience with disposition way back in the day, and they don’t want to give the breed another chance. Yet, these younger ones are tired of the same old Angus on Angus on Angus, and they are realizing the Limousin breed is the perfect cross to add some hybrid vigor and growth to their calves. They are willing to take a chance, but it requires some education on our part.”
A huge promoter of the breed, Treftz is passionate about Limousin cattle and sharing his story on his website as well as Facebook.
An active leader and voice for Limousin cattle, Treftz served nine years on the South Dakota Limousin Association (SDLA) board, with four years as the SDLA president. He also served for six years on the Heartland Limousin Association (HLA) board, and he was recently recognized for his leadership efforts at the Symens Brothers Limousin Sale in Amherst, where HLA Executive Secretary Dean Summerbell presented him with a plaque for his time and dedication.
Treftz is a first-generation Limousin breeder. He purchased his first bull and 13 three-eighths-blood Limousin cows in 1983.
“It took a job in town for 27 years to help support ‘my hobby,’” said Treftz. “In 2013, I figured this hobby needs to sustain itself. I never dreamt when I bought that first bull that I would be a full-time seedstock producer.”
Treftz recalled his start in the breed and said, “When we brought that first Limousin bull home and put him in the pen with those traditional Angus and Hereford bulls we had been using on our commercial cows, he did look pretty exotic. He was like a whole different animal species. But those first calves were an amazing cross; they were everything I had hoped they would be. I’ve been hooked on the breed ever since.” by Amanda Radke
continued on page 30
LVLS GATEWAY 84G HomoP/HomoB / 50% LF MAGS Cable x RRDC Adele 84A BW: 0.6 WW: 74 YW: 118 MK: 21 MB: .29 $MTI: 65 owned with Mike Hammel 2020 LVLS Top-Selling Bull
LVLS FULL DUTY 2201F HomoP/HomoB / 25% LF AUTO Heavy Duty 174A x LVLS Darla 2206D BW: 0.5 WW: 70 YW: 117 MK: 31 MB: .58 $MTI: 73 owned with Linhart Limousin
CELL HERCULES 6120D HomoP/HetB / 50% LF S A V Hesston 2217 x AUTO Tootsie Pop 2272T BW: 1.0 WW: 65 YW: 97 MK: 23 MB: .10 $MTI: 54
LVLS DON JULIO 2149D HomoP/HomoB / 56% LF MAGS Zodiac x LVLS Aqua 2148A BW: 0.6 WW: 66 YW: 113 MK: 23 MB: -.02 $MTI: 52
LVLS BANK ACCOUNT 8116B HetP/HomoB / 75% LF MAGS Wazowski x LVLS Wilma 8116W BW: 2.8 WW: 84 YW: 135 MK: 24 MB: .06 $MTI: 61
Put one of these proven Lim-Flex sires to work in your herd today!
Thank you to everyone who supported our annual Keepin’ Kind Bull Sale.
CHAD SETTJE - 402.910.5504 270 5TH ST. - CRESTON, NE 68631 CHAD@LONELYVALLEY.COM WWW.LONELYVALLEY.COM
In addition to raising purebred seedstock cattle, Treftz has been experimenting on purchased commercial black-baldie heifers and crossing them back to Limousin bulls, which reminds him of his start in the breed. These baldie cows now are recipients carrying embryos.
“It brings me back to the beginning, and is really a strong testament to show my customers about what these bulls can offer their commercial cattle,” said Treftz. “People have kind of heard what I’m doing and want to come check out these calves, and it really piques their interest. We bred 20 baldies to Limousin and the demand for them last fall was incredible!”
From the very beginning, Treftz has always placed heavy selection pressure on muscling. Sires like ROMN Justice, Jim Dandie, JYF Yieldmaster, Richmond Xander, TREF Zeus, ROMN Tow Truck and TREF Done Right have helped him achieve his breeding goals.
“Justice was a breed changing bull,” said Treftz. “We were all used to the frame seven and eight bulls in the 1990s, and along came this frame five-and-a-half bull with this incredible volume and disposition. Herman Symens agreed he was right for the times, and with his promotion of the bull through LimiGene, my $3,000 purchase of Justice returned six digits in semen sales.” In addition to the bulls that helped build Treftz Limousin, the majority of his herd of 150 registered Limousin females goes back to his original group of females that he purchased in the 1980s. With the TZ brand on their hip, Treftz is proud of his cow families and has recently begun doing some embryo transfer work on one of his favorite females including TREF Yakira 766Y.
“We run our registered cows like a commercial herd, and we always keep the commercial cattleman in mind,” said Treftz. “As producers, we often find ourselves talking about the carcass traits and feed efficiency of the Limousin breed, but where I really think we shine is in our cows’ longevity and fertility. A good Limousin female is maternal, docile, good milking with an easy-fleshing ability, and I think she can compete with any other breed!”
While you won’t find Treftz Limousin competing at shows, Treftz does enjoy entering his cow-calf pairs, straight from the pasture, in the Brown County Fair Commercial Cow-Calf Show, where he competes against all other breeds.
“I want people to see the Limousin breed in action, and this is a great way to do that each year,” he said. “I also love hosting ranch tours and letting people see our pairs in the pasture. Once they see continued from page 28
Glenn Treftz is supported in his efforts by his family including Lori, Dustin, Courtney and Reece.
continued on page 32
SALE MANAGEMENT:
Randall O. Ratliff, 615.330.2735 Randy@RRMktg.com www.RRMktg.com (L#2845)
Tues., APRIL 14 KLS SPRING ONLINE SALE hosted on L365Auctions.com
Featuring genetic opportunities from one of the South’s leading breeders. Elite Females • Embryo Flushes • Frozen Embryos
Save the date!
Watch for more details about the buying opportunities available in this sale.
for themselves the muscling in these cattle and they see that disposition isn’t a problem, they can start exploring what the Limousin breed can do for them as commercial operators. Marketing and education is so important for all of us to spread the word about our breed.”
Perhaps that’s why Treftz is seeing such demand for his bulls. He’s a proud advocate and a strong proponent of maintaining the Limousin traits that make the breed so great. His bulls are a reflection of that philosophy, and Treftz is excited for the future.
“At a time where all breeds of cattle are starting to look alike, my slogan, ‘where muscle still matters,’ has even more meaning to me now,” said Treftz. “I’m going to keep doing what works and continue to respond to what my customers are telling me they want, and what they want is Limousin muscle.”
Treftz is supported in his efforts by his family including Lori, a registered nurse at HCR Manor Care; Dustin, a plant operator at Glacial Lake Energy; Courtney, a lead family services specialist for the State of South Dakota; and Reece, a freshman at NSU majoring in History. In an effort to show the Limousin breed in action, Glenn hosts ranch tours which allows people to see his females in their natural environment. “Once they see for themselves the muscling in these cattle and they see that disposition isn’t a problem, they can start exploring what the Limousin breed can do for them as commercial operators,” he says.
When asked what advice he would offer to other Limousin breeders, Treftz shared a motto he came up with while driving the tractor: “Develop a product you are passionate about. Commit to your product. Market your product. Stand behind your product. And most important, believe in your product.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amanda Radke raises Limousin cattle with her family at NOLZ Limousin in Mitchell, SD. She is also a blogger for BEEF Magazine and the author of ranch-themed children’s books, “Levi’s Lost Calf” and “Can-Do Cowkids.” Connect with her at www.amandaradke.com.
C H I S H O L M T R A I L F U L L B L O O D S HEADED TO THE
If you love Fullblood cattle, then you’re going to love our offering! These two females proudly represent our program and what you can expect MAY 30.
SAT., MAY 30 Lebanon, MO
OFFERING… 2 BULLS (one HomoP) 4 BREDS (one HomoP) 2 PAIRS (one HomoP)
KEN GLAZIER • 17502 E 810 RD. • KINGFISHER, OK 73750 • (405) 368-5556 Proud member of the Fullblood Limousin Alliance
615.330.2735 Randy@rrmktg.com www.RRMktg.com
