Form, Function, and Balance

by B. Lynn Gordon, photos courtesy Wilks Ranches.

From the headquarters ranch in Eastland, Texas to their other ranch sites in Texas, Montana, Oregon, and Idaho, the philosophy for the Wilks Ranches breeding program remains consistent - form, function, and balance. These three parameters shape the selection and breeding decisions to produce unmatched quality Black Angus genetics. Registered Black Angus genetics were selected to be the cornerstone of the beef cattle program. “In our belief, Angus cattle correct problems in other breeds through cross-breeding,” says Aaron Kiser, Wilks Ranches Seedstock Manager. “Angus cattle grow fast and feed more economically than other breeds, yet, still have high carcass merit.”

The north-central Texas-based ranch, runs approximately 1,000 head of registered Angus cattle, selected, and managed for good phenotype, performance, and carcass merit with added maternal traits included in the mix to produce cattle that add value to commercial cattlemen’s herds.

Starting in the cattle business near their home of Cisco, TX, Dan and Farris Wilks decided to expand their small family farm of a few head of Angus cattle and began to develop Wilks Ranches in 2013. They purchased two ranches in Texas, located about an hour west of Dallas/Ft. Worth. One would be home to a seedstock operation (Wilks Ranch) the other a commercial herd (Sabana Ranch).

The land had been in peanut production for many years. As the peanut industry moved west to New Mexico and other states, much of the area was transitioned to cattle ranches. The irrigation and wells established on the ranch during its time as a peanut farm allowed for the continuation of irrigation now on the lush fields of coastal Bermuda grass, a grass that thrives in Texas’s hot summer heat. The Wilks’ cattle have access to productive and consistent forage as a result. The Bermuda grass and native pastures are cut as both dry and wet hay. “We use the wet hay at the bull facility to develop bulls with high roughage rations, and the dry hay is used for cows through the winter,” says Kiser. Prolific winter wheat fields provide additional feed in the winter months along with wild rye that grows under the ever-present and pesky Mesquite trees. This Angus operation is fortunate that all these resources together provide a sustainable ranch for cattle and wildlife.

Kiser is responsible for the decisions associated with the seedstock operation and the genetic influence and mating decisions across all ranches. Kevin Reed, Asset Manager, is a lifetime friend of the Wilks family and manages all the Wilks ranch holdings including oversight of the management teams on the Oregon, Idaho, and Texas ranches, making regular visits to each site.

Over the past 10 years, the acquisition of several ranches has dramatically increased the influence of the Wilks Ranch and their Angus genetic base. The addition of commercial focused ranches in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon provides Wilks Angus with the confidence in knowing their progeny’s ability to perform regardless of climate, in addition to improving structural soundness and adding value with each calf crop. “We not only utilize our direct genetics and influence the performance on the cowherds across our commercial ranches, but it allows us to breed for cattle and progeny of similar like and kind,” says Kiser. Building on their initial goal to raise bulls inhouse for their commercial ranches, Kiser, comments they can now also focus on raising bulls for any commercial operation knowing they have tested the capability of their Angus genetics in vast and diverse environments.

Well-known to Angus breeders the N Bar Ranch was the first ranch outside of Texas to be purchased. Located in central Montana, this 200,000-acre ranch is one of the West’s premier ranches. The N Bar Ranch still preserves several old homesteads, their remnants, barns, corrals, and Native American tipi rings and arrowheads. It supports over 4,500 animal units and cattle have always been a mainstay at this ranch. As the home of the notable N Bar Emulation EXT, an Angus sire that revolutionized the breed with his unmatched maternal influence and carcass values, along with being well-known for his female offspring, producing performance-based real-world cattle in this environment is proven.

The Flying H Ranch is nestled near Cottonwood, Idaho, along the majestic Snake and Salmon Rivers. The ranch dating back to 1911, spans an impressive 40,000 acres, with an average elevation of 3,900 ft ranging from 800 – 4,800 ft. Approximately 600 cow-calf pairs run on this ranch rotated from the lower to higher elevations based on the season. Unlike their other ranches, cattle are not supplemented with hay in the winter months as they can run along the river bottom of the Snake River and access adequate forages.

The Pine Mountain Ranch stands as a symbol as one of south-central Oregon’s premier, self-sustaining ranches, bordering adjacent state forest lands. The ranch boasts 16,000 acres which actively runs approximately 1,100

head of commercial Black Angus cow/calf pairs, and the environment has proven to be successful in weaning off pounds-heavy calves. The area’s natural hot springs keep the waterways from freezing. In its early days, the ranch land was used for timber. The ranch also produces hay for the cattle allowing the ranch to be self-sustaining.

“What separates Wilks Ranches genetics from other Angus seedstock producers is our ability to test our genetics by using our registered bulls in vast climates and terrain in different parts of the U.S. on our supplemental ranches.” The diversity of ranch locations helps Wilks Angus measure what genetics are working and why, providing fruitful information to help better understand what their customers’ need at the end of the day.

“Wilks Ranches is able to supply the country with cattle whose traits showcase the forefront of breeding and genetic superiority,” says Kiser, “Our genetics can be accessed through our annual sales, AI, embryo transfer, or in-vitro fertilization.”

Two sales are hosted annually at their beautiful, functional sale facility on their Texas seedstock ranch, which has seating for more than 300 people inside. It has not been uncommon for the ranch sales to have over 600 guests in attendance. The February sale

features 100–150 fall-born bulls which have gained a strong following by commercial buyers. The October sale includes 140-180 spring-born, 16-18 month-old bulls and nearly 140 registered Angus females. Additional cattle are sold via private treaty throughout the year. The majority of these genetics marketed make their way back into other registered Angus breeders’ herds nationwide.

Continually striving for balance from phenotypic and genotypic traits, they also seek genetics that will influence the end-product and produce a superior product for consumers to eat. As genetics are selected to influence the herd, Kiser looks for moderately framed cattle with traits in the upper end of the scale to influence performance, EPDs, and quality grading scores.

Wilks Ranches purchased HA Cowboy Up 5405 jointly with Express Ranches four years ago to add more body, power, and performance into their program. Cowboy Up is charting his course in the breed, ranking #1 sire for registrations in 2019. Cowboy Up’s tenderness is unmatched, scoring in the top 1% of the breed for tenderness. “Like any seedstock producer, we are always trying to find something different, something that raises the bar,” says Kiser.

Young bulls born on the ranch are grown in their bull development facility and starting to make their way into leading AI bull stud inventories. Wilks Regiment 9035, a WAR Cavalry son sold in the 2020 Denver National Western Sale for $85,000 offered through Select Sires, and a half-brother, Wilks Gaucho sold for $22,000. An Enhance son, Wilks Enrich sold for $55,000 and is co-owned with ST Genetics.

A sister-mate to Wilks Gaucho sold for $70,000 and is demonstrating the demand that is also building for their females. An elite group of donor females also helps to power the Wilks Ranches program and expand their genetic base more prolifically.

Wilks-influenced genetics steer and heifer groups from the operation’s commercial ranches are marketed through Superior Livestock and Northern Video Market and they have most recently aligned themselves with a progressive feedlot in western Nebraska to track their cattle ranch to rail.

As forward-thinking producers, the ability to utilize their commercial ranches as an outlet to do a tried-and-true test of their genetics sets them apart in the industry. Keeping a close eye on how the genetics produced in their seedstock operation are working at the commercial level and fine-tuning ways to improve on key factors such as increased production, higher quality performance, and consumer-focused traits drive the Wilks Ranches team. In the end, they are striving to assist their customers’ herds to advance in form, function, and balance.