he<Bste< A>gus fA<ms is > by Clinton Laflin for Best of the West, January-February 2015
Some may think the long hours of homework are over after graduation, but that is not the case at Herbster Angus Farms; homework is associated with every aspect of the operation. No sire or female is purchased or cow is bred without doing the proper homework to help make the best possible decisions. “Our philosophy has always been to acquire the best genetics available and then breed our Angus cattle to improve any weakness they possess,” says owner Charles W. Herbster. heidi anderson ©
heidi anderson ©
A Look BAck
Herbster Angus Farms, located near Falls City, Neb., was homesteaded in 1847 by Charles’ great-great-grandfather, William McKendry Maddox. In addition to 300 head of Angus cattle, the Herbsters raise corn, soybeans, wheat and dairy-quality alfalfa hay. Charles got his start in the Angus business at the age of 11 when his grandmother, Leta Meyers Carico, bought him 65 registered Angus cows. Having worked hard all of her life in the dairy industry, she realized the importance of responsibility, decisionmaking and business lessons that owning cattle would provide her grandson. She had no idea her initial investment would serve as the foundation of a worldrecognized Angus herd. Charles and Judy Herbster established Herbster Angus Farms 20 years ago with the goal of owning and breeding elite registered Angus cattle. Ed and Mandy Raithel were hired as general managers to help the Herbsters accomplish this goal. They have worked on the farm, along with their daughter, Miranda, for the past 16 years. The Raithels share the same passion and love for cattle as the Herbsters, and together they have forged Herbster Angus
Farms into a powerful operation. A truly diverse operation, the Herbsters market genetics to Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen from around the world. The ranch currently has 15 bulls at North American Breeders, Inc., a bull stud located in Berryville, Va. Four of the 15 bulls carry the Herbster prefix, including Sportsman, Huntsman, Republic and Tabasco. An annual bull and female sale is held each March, where superior Angus cattle and good people come together. The Herbsters’ 2015 production sale will be held Sat., March 28, at Marysville Livestock Auction, Marysville, Kan. The offering will include 45 Angus bulls, 2 SimAngus bulls and 40 commercial females. The sale will feature cattle sired by SAV Harvestor, SAV International, SAV Pursuit, SAV Revere, SAV Property, SAV Fieldmaster, SAV Recruit, SAV Ringmaster, SAV Merit, as well as their own ranchraised herdsires.
the roAd to success
“If you don’t have a road map, producing great cattle and making them excel is a challenge,” says Ed Raithel. “Once you know the type of cattle you want to base your program on, then you have a place to start.” The operation has developed a strict herd-management program that centers around practicality, longevity and profitability. Cows, calves, bulls and replacement heifers alike, must excel in defined Function Categories to be retained, sold or purchased by the Herbster program. These Function Categories include, but are not limited to: Feet and leg structure; fertility; udder quality; rib shape and overall body capacity; muscularity; longevity of the cow and her lineage;