The Stockman | October 2025 by The Stockman

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us! We are a free, premier livestock publication featuring and serving seedstock and commercial beef producers nationwide. Raising cattle is so much more than a hobby; it is our livelihood and our passion. We understand that, and in every issue want you to see not only incredible cattle, but also relatable, entertaining, and informative editorial features for the producer with 5 or 500 head.

To us, you are more than reader or advertiser; you are a beef producer. We are committed to doing our best for you, every day. Please feel free to communicate with us, your input is appreciated.

BILL SCHERMER, Owner/Herd Consultant

641.425.2641 | bill@stockmanmag.com

Bill and his wife, Nancy, have made their living in the cattle industry. He has provided marketing services for purebred and commercial breeders since 1970. Schermer Angus Cattle continues to be active in the NJAA and raises quality cattle near Clarion, IA. As owner of The Stockman, Bill leads by example providing producers with the highest level of customer service.

CHERYL KEPES, Assistant Editor

417.766.0990

cheryl@stockmanmag.com

Working for The Stockman is the perfect combination of two of Cheryl’s favorite things: writing and cattle. Cheryl has decades of experience as a professional writer. She finds great joy in sharing stories about people in the agricultural industry. Cheryl’s family raises registered Angus, Red Angus, and Simmental cattle in Fair Grove, MO.

KIM BANKS, Graphics

507.530.0914

kkbanks@frontiernet.net

Makayla serves as editor, graphic designer, and manager of The Stockman. Her focus and passion continues to provide high quality service and original promotional materials to cattlemen. She and her husband, Jared, raise their four kids, and together they run their family operation, JMF Herefords and SimAngus, near Morris in west central MN.

SARAH HILL, Editorial Writer

307.274.0419

sarahhill1007@yahoo.com

Kim is a graphic designer with many years of design experience. Producing creative marketing materials to help others look their best is what she loves doing the most. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their son, raise grain and have a small commercial cow/calf and feeder operation on the family farm near Lynd, MN.

MARIA OPHEIM, Social Media Manager

507.828.1374 riawbr@gmail.com

Maria, her husband Cade, and daughter Tawnee, of Mound City, S.D. currently reside on their fifth

generation commercial & Limousin cattle and grain operation. Maria also works as a R.N. She is excited to promote producers through The Stockman’s social media platforms!

Sarah lives on a small hobby farm near Arlington, SD, with her husband, Braeton, and their three daughters: Harper, 8, Vayentha, 5, and Aurora, 1. She grew up on a Missouri dairy farm and has an Agricultural Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. Sarah enjoys baking, reading, and gardening.

SAWYER STYLES, Social Media Intern

605-290-6887

sawyer.styles@outlook.com

Sawyer Styles, originally from Brentford, South Dakota, grew up on her family’s registered Angus operation, where she developed a deep connection to agriculture and rural life. She attends SDSU and is just wrapping up a semester studying at Oklahoma State University.

715.573.0153

tcreds@gmail.com

Ty works alongside his family in their purebred operations, Country Lane Farm and TC Reds near Ringle, WI. An advocate for youth programs and dedicated cow/calf man, he is excited to help producers merchandise their cattle. TY BAYER

JAN FORD

800.693.8048

jford17879@aol.com

With her passion for agriculture, Jan brings over 35+ years of advertising sales experience in the beef industry. She and her late husband Norm had a commercial Angus cow herd and grain operation near Tipton, IA, which her sons still manage today.

BRIGHAM AND MEGAN STEWART

785.747.8028

megancollisondvm@gmail.com

Brigham works alongside his parents at Mid Continent Farms, their large, multi-breed cow/calf operation in Kansas. Megan graduated from ISU as a DVM in the spring of 2021 and is a big part of her family’s Angus herd and Veterinary Clinic in Iowa.

CHAD AND BRANDI CLAUSSEN

563.349.5089

chad.claussen@yahoo.com

Chad Claussen and his wife, Brandi, along with their two sons, operate purebred and commercial cow herds in Stockton, Iowa. The Claussen family also enjoys showing cattle, goats, and sheep. Off the farm, Chad works in the HVAC industry and Brandi works as an inventory and harvest coordinator.

RON HINRICHSEN

785.770.0222

rlangus@bluevalley.net

For the past 30 years, Ron, his wife, Lynne, and their two children have owned and operated Hinrichsen Ranch, a registered Angus ranch in Westmoreland, KS. He has an extensive background in the agricultural industry and is excited to put it to work for each of his customers.

CARTER WARD

carterward79@gmail.com

816.261.0891

Carter resides in Plattsburg, MO, with his girlfriend, Mandi, where they help run Ward Brothers Livestock with Carter’s family - their primary focus is Angus show cattle. Carter is also a partner in Campbell/Ward show cattle that specializes in the Hereford breed.

970.596.4965

creamer b 150@hotmail.com

Brandon owns Lazy JB Angus with his parents and sister in Montrose, CO. Raised in the cattle industry, he has a true passion for it and loves marketing quality cattle throughout the US. BRANDON CREAMER

LORA HUTCHINS

615.293.3695

loralea1172@gmail.com

Lora owns and operates Destiny Angus Farm with husband Brian and daughter Morgan in Charleston, IL. They have raised and shown cattle successfully on the national level for several years. They also have owned a production herd with as many as 200 registered cows.

STEVE WOLFF

701.710.1574

swolff318@yahoo.com

Steve is a third generation Hereford breeder - his family has been raising Herefords since 1951. He offers bulls by private treaty every year and has a heifer sale every fall. Steve also enjoys traveling to sales and shows whenever possible and likes camping as well.

For

Sisco Brothers Cattle

Sunnybrook

Do any other households have a battle over the thermostat? I feel like my husband and I are always sneaking over to adjust the temperature while the other is not looking. I prefer to be warm and am very comfortable at a nice 74 degrees. Jared, on the other hand, could have the thermostat set at a steady 64 degrees year-round. There’s no way I can do anything below 70! Thankfully, Jared is willing to work with me, and we meet in the middle at 73 degrees (most of the time), ha! Fall is definitely in the air. We’ve had some cooler days already up here in west central Minnesota, and my crew has been digging out their sweatshirts. To-go cups of coffee and Crockpot soups will be our new staples as we move into fall. Make sure to take some time and study the sales happening this fall. Lots of opportunities to expand in a business that is currently booming and doing so well! Wishing everyone a safe harvest season. too

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COLEMAN DONNA 8146

AAA#19248244

2025 sale features include six females out of the most powerful Connealy Thunder daughter to be found, sired by Coleman Glacier 041, Coleman Rock 7200, Hummel South America, and ZWT Blue Blood 1508. They typify the quality in the 2025 ZWT Fully Loaded Sale! Maternal Power at its best!

BLAIRSWEST ERICA 77J AAA#20978237

Your first opportunity to purchase offspring in the U.S. out of the 2023 Canadian Western Agribition Champion Angus Female. Her sensational son by SAV Renovation 6822 will be featured as Lot 1! Selling daughters by SAV Renovation 6822 and ZWT Blue Blood 1508 as well as a flush to the bull of your choice! Get in on the ground floor of the most unique power cow in America!

85 Registered Angus Females

> 25 Featured Spring Heifer Calves

> 25 Fall Yearling Heifers

> 10 Fall Bred Heifers

> 20 Spring Bred Heifers

> 5 Select Donor Cows

70 Registered Angus Bulls

The Deepest set of Herd Sires ever offered from ZWT

> 20 coming 2 year olds

> 50 Spring 18-20 month old bulls

50 Commercial Females

> Including bred cows and heifers

ZWT ORTIZ 3524

AAA#21054061

ZWT RANGER 3508

AAA# 21063059

A powerful and incredibly well balanced son of SAV Rainfall 6846 out of the now-deceased Pine Coulee Patsy A13. His full sister was a featured high selling female in the 2023 ZWT Fully Loaded Sale to Rust Mountain View Ranch.

ZWT PROMINENT 4036

AAA#21053716

A stout made, attractive son of SAV Renovation 6822 out of Coleman Donna 8146, the female chosen by Tony Mayes to carry on the Donna 386/714 lineage at ZWT Ranch. This bull has Power-Maternal written all over him!

This son of the outcross sire, Hummel South America, is powerfully constructed, as one would expect from his dam, Pine Coulee Patsy A13. He is very wide-based and deep-sided. As stout as you will find! >

ZWT SUPREME 3645

AAA#21054058

One of three outstanding full brothers sired by Coleman Glacier 041 out of Mill Brae Joanie 3063. This deep-sided, long bodied individual is typical of the quality and uniformity of these flush brothers. Power-Maternal at its best!

WB Thumbs Up

Res Champ - OKC & NWSS!

Good Times Ultra Hot 24 Karat x Style x Phyllis! Silveiras Forbes ‘21 Cattlemen’s Congress Champion!

Rooted in Cattle, Trust

Kepes

Grown Through

For more than a century, Gerloff Farms has focused on raising quality cattle and building lasting relationships.

Charlie Gerloff tells friends and strangers alike that he’s never had a job a day in his life. The 80-yearold’s unequivocal love for cattle and agriculture is such that running a large cattle operation for decades never seemed like work but instead pure joy.

Charlie’s family looks at his years of devotion to managing Gerloff Farms as simply his life calling. “When it comes to my dad, cattle are his life. It’s all he has ever known,” Charlie’s daughter, Kim Huebler explained.

Gerloff Farms, located in the rolling hills and valleys near Bland, Missouri, is a century farm specializing in Angus, Simmental, and SimAngus seedstock. Established in 1906 by Charlie’s grandparents, Richard and Lena Gerloff, the farming roots have had 119 years to establish.

Cheryl

photos courtesy Gerloff Farms

CENTURY FARM BEGINNINGS

Though today’s operation is thriving, the century farm endured difficult circumstances in its early years. Twenty years after Richard and Lena started their farm consisting of cattle, horses, and grain, Richard contracted tuberculosis. He passed away during the 1920s, leaving Lena and their seven children to run the farm during the Great Depression.

Only one of the seven children, Alfred, chose to eventually take over the operation. Alfred and his wife, Esther, are credited with introducing Angus cattle to Gerloff Farms. In 1957, they purchased five heifers at the East Central Angus Sale. The Angus cattle herd grew through the years, especially when their youngest child, Charlie, took an interest in showing Angus cattle through 4-H.

Charlie’s love for the farm started in childhood and has intensified through the decades. His wife, Rena, along with their children and grandchildren share a passion for raising quality seedstock for commercial cattle producers.

The Gerloff family manages 500 head of Angus, Simmental, and

SimAngus cattle stretched over 2,000 acres of pasture and crop ground. Gerloff Farms sells 120 bulls each year, as well as markets 100-plus females.

FAMILY OPERATION

Gerloff Farms is family owned and operated through and through. Currently, the younger generation of Gerloffs run the day-to-day operations of Gerloff Farms under Charlie’s thoughtful and wise guidance.

Charlie and Rena have three children Lance, Mindi, and Kim, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren with one more on the way. Each member of the family takes on different responsibilities to keep the cattle operation growing and evolving.

Lance along with this wife Becky, as well as their son Dakota and his wife Mackenzie, play an essential role in the business. Additionally, Lance and Becky’s daughter, Olivia, has made a name for herself in the show ring with several champion Angus females.

Charlie and Rena’s daughter, Kim (Huebler) and her husband Scott work daily in the operation. Their children, Grant and Emilee, are actively involved with the farm chores, data entry, and showing cattle at local competitions.

above Charlie and Dakota.

below Dakota leading a bull calf.

Charlie and Rena’s daughter, Mindi and her children Bryce, Ariana, and Charlie may not be around for the day-to-day operation, but they lend a helping hand when needed and are an integral part of the family.

INNOVATIVE THINKING

From his earliest days, Charlie has been an innovative thinker, constantly seeking ways to improve the herd’s performance. “He’s always wanted whatever’s going to improve the operation. He’s always

above The Gerloff family. below Dakota, Levi, Grant, and Baxliegh at Farm Fest.

looked to see what’s the next thing coming,” Kim shared.

When difficulties arose through the decades, Charle was quick to adapt. “In the ‘70s, the exotic breeds became popular, and Angus bulls were a little hard to sell. So, in the ‘70s, he expanded his hog operation to help with the farming. And then in the ‘80s, he did some club calf sales,” Kim recalled.

In the ‘90s, he stepped up his focus on the Angus herd. Then in 2014, Charlie added Simmental cattle to the operation. Today the makeup of the herd is split even between Angus and SimAngus genetics.

HERD MANAGEMENT

The Gerloffs utilize AI to infuse fresh genetics into their program. The entire seedstock cow herd is bred via AI and then cleaned up with topnotch herd sires. Gerloff Farms purchases industry leading herd sires to round out their genetic prowess.

Some of the herd sires making the biggest impact on Gerloff Farms’ genetics through the years include Lemmon Newsline, Connealy Power Surge, Hook’s Brillance 37B, and American Eagle 938G (Hook’s Eagle Son). The Gerloffs are excited about the progeny from one of their most recent bull acquisitions, C-3 Next Up J939, as he is one of the leading herd sires in his breed.

A couple of years ago, the Gerloff family started to incorporate ET work into their program. They select donor females from proven cows in their herd. “We figure out which cows do the best in our environment. They are females that have done their job time in and time out, always stuck AI, and are problem-free cows,” Charlie’s grandson, Dakota Gerloff, stated.

below Sire used by Gerloff Farms, J-J American Eagle 938G.

Gerloff Farms places an emphasis on fertility and longevity. To make it in the Gerloffs’ herd, cattle must have slick hair, really good feet, and thrive on fescue. It’s taken the Gerloffs years and lots of tough decisions to get their herd to meet a problem-free standard, but they are making big strides. For example, a recent preg check of their spring cows revealed a 95 percent conception rate.

“That’s another reason why customers come back to us. I have had customers who have bought bulls in our sale call me later and say, ‘This is the first time I have ever had 100 percent conception in my cow herd.’ And it is things like that, that make all we do worthwhile,” Dakota shared.

In addition to the registered herd, the Gerloffs run a commercial herd of 100 to 150 head. The calves from the commercial herd are sold at the sale barn, fed out, or sold in the Gerloffs’ annual sale. Some of the commercial cows serve as recips for the Gerloffs’ ET program. Gerloff Farms implants 50 embryos a year.

FRIENDS NOT CUSTOMERS

Charlie’s customers and acquaintances through the years grew to expect Charlie to remember them by name and always greet them with a warm smile coupled with a hug or hearty handshake. “We consider all of our customers friends. That’s been my dad’s motto all his life. He doesn’t ever meet

a stranger,” Kim shared. Through all his years, Charlie has modeled the epitome of customer service by the way he treats others and his guarantee on cattle purchases. “Grandpa told me more than once, the cattle that you sell are only as good as how you treat people. We try to help out as much as we can. We stand by our cattle

100 percent. If there is a problem, we try our darnedest to fix it. Customer satisfaction is one the highest priorities in our business,” Dakota said.

Gerloff Farms hosts an annual bull fest and female sale every October. The Gerloffs sell more than 80 bulls, ranging in age from yearlings to 2-year-olds. Their annual sale also includes as many as a hundred female lots, including open and bred heifers as well as bred spring and fall cows.

BULL DEVELOPMENT

The family strives to breed balanced seedstock – animals developed for optimum production in challenging environments. Close to 95 percent of the bulls the Gerloffs

sell each year, go to cattle producers within a 100-mile radius of Gerloff Farms.

“Our bulls have to be pretty darn tough. If they can survive our environment with fescue and rough terrain, I feel like they can thrive anywhere. For that reason, that is why we have repeat customers who are satisfied with the bulls they purchase from us,” Dakota explained.

The Gerloffs aim to produce bulls that cover all the bases – calving ease, good maternal background, and growth. They take a balanced approach in their breeding program for their bulls and females.

FARM MANAGEMENT

In addition to the cattle operation, the Gerloffs raise and bale their own hay. The crops part of the business focuses on raising feed for their cattle operation. They grow corn and beans, keeping the corn for feed and selling the beans for cash flow. The Gerloffs also produce wheat to bale for hay for their bulls and weaned calves.

LOOKING AHEAD

Charlie’s love for cattle and passion for people emanates brightly through his children and grandchildren. And through good times

and tough times, they will lean on Charlie’s words of encouragement. “Grandpa tells us to always have the mentality of if things aren’t going right just have a positive mindset, things are going to be okay. Keep your head up and things will work out,” Dakota said.

The sixth generation of the Gerloff family is now growing up in the family business. The current generations of Gerloffs stand proudly rooted in their agriculture heritage and they are determined to carry Gerloff Farms through another century of success.

learn more gerloff-cattle.com

18 TH ANNUAL SALE:

Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 1:00 PM Gerloff Farms Forum Center, Bland, Mo.

below Grant with Reserve Champion Carcass Steer, Mo. State Fair.

Champion Hereford Female 2025 SD Summer Spotlight Exhibited by Kyla Peskey

Reserve Champion Horned Female 2025 JNHE Exhibited by Maddie Jenkins

Exhibited by Kendall McAreavey

HORSE

Extension Education

Shannon Sand, Nebraska Extension Educator University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef beef.unl.edu

University research you can use.

ANNUAL FORAGE INSURANCE AS A RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL

Planting annual forages can be a smart way to supplement feed for livestock whether through grazing, hay, or silage.

However, unpredictable rainfall often puts forage production at risk. To help producers manage that uncertainty, the Annual Forage (AF) Insurance Program provides protection tied directly to precipitation during key growth periods.

Annual Forage insurance is designed specifically for crops planted annually and used as livestock feed. It works much like Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance, using a rainfall index instead of individual farm yield data.

This means indemnity payments are triggered by rainfall amounts measured within a producer’s grid, not by actual harvested production.

HOW ANNUAL FORAGE (AF) INSURANCE WORKS

• Coverage Levels: Producers can select coverage between 70% and 90% of expected rainfall.

• Intervals: Coverage is based on two-month intervals that you choose according to the most critical growth stages of your forage crop.

• Premium Subsidies: AF insurance is subsidized, helping reduce the cost of premiums and making it an affordable risk management tool.

WHY IT MATTERS

Weather risk is one of the biggest challenges livestock producers faces. A dry spring or summer can mean less forage, higher feed costs, and tough management decisions. Annual Forage insurance provides an added layer of financial stability, ensuring that your feed strategy remains reliable even when rainfall doesn’t cooperate.

SUMMARY

In short, AF insurance helps producers better manage risk, protect their bottom line, and maintain consistent forage supplies for their livestock no matter what the weather brings.

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef

Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at: www.go.unl.edu/podcast.

• Indemnity Payments: If rainfall during the insured interval falls below your selected coverage level, an indemnity payment is issued, helping offset the financial hit from lost forage production.

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SIMANGUS BY NO APOLOGIES

SIMMENTAL BY RELENTLESS

SIMANGUS BY NO APOLOGIES

SIMMENTAL BY RELENTLESS

SIMANGUS BY BANKROLL

ANGUS BY 24K

ROV

By Sarah Hill

photos courtesy Sisco family

Small Scale. BIG Impact.

Sisco

Brothers Cattle Company, a Nebraska-based cattle operation, is modest in size but high in quality.

Two brothers in Nebraska have been committed to the Angus breed for 40 years, and the payoff has been in spades. Sisco Brothers Cattle Company, Syracuse, Neb., started as a 4-H project in the late 1970s by Jason and Greg Sisco.

“We were born into it and worked up from there,” Greg said. “Jason is the blood and guts of the operation.”

Jason and Greg’s father, Gene,

was an auctioneer farmer and early adopter of Chianina cattle. In the 1980s, a good friend helped the family transition to Angus cattle. As both brothers graduated from high school, each joined the cattle operation.

Gene passed in 2017, leaving his two sons to run the operation on the 375-acre home place where their mother, Bonnie, still resides. Jason

manages the day-to-day functions, while Greg has a full-time job managing an agronomy center in Iowa, making it back to the ranch whenever he can.

The next generation is also on the horizon. Greg has two daughters. Jason’s two kids, Karyn and Tristan, are still in high school. Greg and Jason are hoping Tristan will take over the operation one day.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

The herd today is only 40 head, but those 40 Angus-Simmental cross cows are high in quality. Greg said that their breeding philosophy is to breed cattle that are sound, symmetrical, and maternally strong.

“We don’t chase fads or big numbers, but we do chase quality,” he said.

The current senior herd sire for Sisco Brothers Cattle Company is No Apologies, but according to Greg, the family uses AI and a lot of embryo transfer calves, so they don’t have many herd bulls. The brothers work together on breeding decisions. Calving is predominantly from January to March, with a handful also calving in October or November.

“We’re pretty diversified,” Greg said.

The Sisco brothers aim for their herd to be efficient on limited grass sources. The cattle graze on cornstalks and pasture even in the winter. Turn out is in May. During calving season, momma cows receive alfalfa and grass hay as needed and free choice mineral.

Calves are weaned on July 1, and 25 to 30 calves are sold in their annual sale, “Friends in Low Places” in conjunction with a few other families.

This year, the Sisco brothers will participate in their twelfth annual sale. Their sale is always the fifth Saturday of the new year, and they also consign the extreme top bulls to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic annually in February. Although the family has sold cattle to California, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and all points in between, their main presence is locally. The majority of the cattle they sell end up on other ranches within a 120-mile radius.

“We try to sell replacement quality seedstock and registered progeny,” Greg said. “Anything that’s not the top end goes to the sale barn.”

SHINING IN THE SHOW RING

The family does hit the show circuit quite a bit, with stops including the Nebraska State Fair, American Royal, and National Western Stock Show in Denver. They’ve also brought home champion honors from many of those shows.

“The Nebraska State Fair is typically kick off for fall sale prep, and then it’s all hands-on deck,” Greg said.

learn more facebook.com @SiscoBrothersCattleCompany

UPCOMING ONLINE HEIFER SALE: Sunday, October 19, 2025 Hosted on SC Online Sales

STOP WASTE

Seeds in Season

Functional forage and pasture.

contributed article by Justin Fruechte, Product Expert - Ag Renovo Seed, Brookings, S.D. renovoseed.com

FALL GRAZING OPPORTUNITIES

Two of my favorite times of year are getting pairs on pasture in the spring and turning cows on cornstalks in the fall. As cattlemen, the seasons dictate our actions, and these turnouts are like mile markers of the year.

Few things bring more satisfaction than watching cows roll a corn

cob in their mouth for the first time - it’s a scene that signals the changing of the seasons. Grazing stalks remains the most popular fall and winter feed strategy, but let’s look at a few other, often overlooked, opportunities that can stretch the grazing season and reduce feed costs.

FALL PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Thanks to timely fall rains across much of the Midwest, many forage fields are seeing new flushes of growth. This is both a blessing and a challenge. While cattlemen are experts at managing cows, we sometimes forget that managing the plants those cows consume is just as important.

Fresh fall grass can test nearly as high in protein as spring pasture. Since calves are nearly knocking over their mommas while nursing, this nutritional boost is needed. The downfall to that lush grass is that it is extremely digestible, with little lignin to satisfy a rumen. So, the combination of offering rough hay or an adjacent crop residue to the lush pasture can satisfy that rumen flow.

If you planted a diverse cover crop blend - think turnips, radishes, rapeseed, and cereal grainsyou’ve created what is essentially a “TMR” for your herd. These forages can test 18 to 25 percent crude protein, rivaling many high-dollar supplements. First-calf heifers or freshly weaned calves will abso -

lutely thrive here, gaining well before winter sets in.

However, just like the lush fall growing grass, brassicas can be up to 80 percent water. Imagine eating nothing but lettuce all day - you’d feel full, but you wouldn’t get enough calories. That’s exactly what happens to cattle. To balance things out, provide access to corn stalks or unroll a bale of hay nearby. This adds fiber and dry matter, helping animals fully utilize that high-protein growth without digestive upsets.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR WARM-SEASON ANNUALS

Another fall grazing opportunity comes from warm-season annuals like forage sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass, and millets. If these were cut earlier in the summer,

they often bounce back with valuable regrowth. But here’s where management is critical.

• Nitrates: Millets are notorious for nitrate accumulation, especially after drought stress. High nitrate levels can interfere with oxygen transport in the blood, essentially starving cattle of oxygen.

• Prussic Acid: Sorghums are the bigger concern here. After a frost, cell walls rupture and release cyanide compounds (prussic acid). A lethal dose can occur in minutes if animals graze too soon.

The good news? Both problems are manageable. Don’t graze until regrowth is at least 24 inches tall, and always wait 10 to 14 days after a frost before turning cattle in. Fun fact: prussic acid is a gas and naturally dissipates over time, which means patience is your best tool. For peace of mind, quick forage tests are available to measure both nitrates and prussic acid levels.

The big picture is that every extra week of grazing can save hundreds of dollars in feed costs. By matching livestock class to the right forage - heifers on high-protein covers, cows on stalks or lower-quality forages - you extend the grazing season while keeping cattle performance on track. The more carefully you manage plants in the fall, the fewer days you’ll spend hauling feed in January.

Photos courtesy Renovo Seed learn more renovoseed.com

Renovo Seed, Brookings, S.D.

The team of folks at Renovo Seed have roots that run deep in farming, agriculture, and in the overall respect for the landscape. They opened their doors in 1987 and continue to walk alongside farmers, ranchers, and landowners across thousands of acres throughout the Midwest.

RR Rovena

Luck

and a Lot of A Little Passion

Sunnybrook Farms focuses on developing high-quality Belted Galloway cattle for customers across the country.

hen Terry and Julie Willis lead their cattle off a trailer to an event, heads turn. The stocky, immensely fluffy cattle with their signature white ring of hair encircling their

mid-section regularly receive double and triple takes.

Belted Galloways, called Belties by people familiar with the breed, were introduced to the United States from Scotland in 1939. The animals’

distinctive white belt contrasting against their black, red, or dun hair color regularly sparks attention and impromptu conversations.

The Willises were first drawn to the Belted Galloway breed due to the animals’ phenotype. However, after more than 20 years of producing Belted Galloways, Terry and

By Cheryl Kepes

photos courtesy Willis family

Julie have developed a deep appreciation for the longevity, meat quality, and disposition inherent in the breed.

As owners of Sunnybrook Farms in Belvidere, Illinois, the couple has accumulated decades of experience in the cattle industry. From the days the Willises’ twin sons, Chris and Steve, competed nationally with Sunnybrook Farms’ Angus herd, to raising and marketing steers of various breeds, to their 24-years of leading the Belted Galloway breed, the Willises are quick to express their gratitude for the path they have forged in the industry.

NEW DIRECTION

Terry and Julie Willis explain their foray into the Belted Galloway breed simply as fate. The longtime Angus breeders first fell in love with Belties while following behind a young, Belted Galloway bull, Uphill Cabot, on the way to tie-outs at the World Beef Expo. “He was the chunkiest little thing and square, sound, and meaty and he just caught our attention. The Belties are just really interesting,” Julie Willis explained.

Upon returning to the Expo the following year, Terry and Julie found themselves in the exact same

below Sunnybrook Jade

scenario. “As fate would have it, the next year, we were following them to tie-outs again. And this time, when we got the tie-outs done and I headed back to the barn, I looked up and Julie is standing there talking to Jerry Stephens with Uphill Farm about the Belted Galloways. And the next thing I know, we’re getting into the breed,” Terry Willis recalled.

That was 2001, and their devo -

tion to the breed has directed them to national status ever since. Sunnybrook Farms has built a reputation of producing top Belted Galloway genetics. “Our motto is, ‘We don’t breed show cattle, we show breeding cattle.’ And that’s really the crux of our whole program. Our cattle have to perform in the pasture as well as the show ring. A heifer is only a show heifer for one year. And she’s a cow the rest of her life,” Terry stated.

above Countyline Connor

BUILDING A BELTIE HERD

From the beginning, Terry and Julie determined they would start their Beltie herd with the best genetics possible. “Our idea was, if we’re going to be in this breed, we want to start out with as high-quality cattle as we can afford or find. That was a lesson we had learned with the Angus. It just takes too long to run a breed up program in cattle,” Terry shared.

The couple sought out older foundation females from well-established Belted Galloway operations on the East Coast and Midwest. Due to small breed numbers, at times top genetics can be difficult to come by. But time and time again, the Willises seemed to be at the right place at the right time, creating valuable connections, and making excellent breeding and purchasing decisions.

Sunnybrook Farms operates with a core group of 30 elite cows. Terry and Julie have found through the years that a smaller number of excellent genetics proves more profitable for their operation. The Willises primarily utilize their own herd sires, occasionally employing ET and AI work.

STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT

In little to no time, Sunnybrook Farms stole the spotlight on the national stage. The Belted Galloway Society acknowledges top females and bulls through its Lifetime Point Awards. Cattle accumulate points and earn breed rankings through success in the show ring.

The Willises hold the title of highest point female in the breed with their foundation female Sunnybrook Elaine. Sunnybrook Elaine was the Belted Galloway national show female of the year. Her progeny has excelled in the show ring as well; she’s produced 17 national show award winners of the year. Her daughter, Sunnybrook Alexis, claims the second spot for the top number of points for a Belted Galloway female.

Additionally, two of Sunnybrook Farms’ bulls, Countyline Connor bred by Jay and Liz Dausman, and HCS Flannagan bred by Ellen Sims, earned the number one and number two highest point positions. The Willises have garnered the Belted Galloway national breeder of the year and national exhibitor of the year for more than a decade straight.

One of their most cherished accomplishments with their Belted Galloway cattle occurred when their cow/calf pair placed in the top five of the supreme drive at the World Beef Expo. A Belted Galloway had never placed in the supreme drive at the World Beef Expo in 30 years, but the Willises won fourth in 2022 with Sunnybrook Rosa and her daughter Sunnybrook Rita.

“We show against the other breeds at a lot of shows, and we do very well against them. The judges have been very complimentary of our cattle, especially at the national

level. It makes you proud, and you feel like you’ve achieved something,” Julie shared.

LEANING ON CATTLE KNOW-HOW

When contemplating the reasons for success, Terry and Julie shy away from taking the credit for their accomplishments. But their years of cattle know-how has positioned them to make solid breeding decisions.

“There are a few things that have been fate. But Julie really knows how to pick cattle. She has that end of it. My end of it is the pedigrees. We put it all together and it works,” Terry explained.

The couple also leaned on their years working in the Angus breed to guide their management decisions with their Belties. Terry created his own production records system. Since the Belted Galloway breed does not have an EPD program, the Willises track their herd birthweights, weaning weights,

yearling weights, calving dates, and other data with their own system.

Additionally, they monitor the carcass quality through data collected each year from the processing plant they utilize for their steers. Sunnybrook Farms has a continual waiting list for customers wanting beef. The bulls that don’t make the top of the Willises’ list are processed each year. “The meat quality is outstanding. It has very high tenderness, and a unique flavor. If you’ve ever had it, you won’t go back,” Julie said.

HERD MANAGEMENT

Sunnybrook Farms operates its cattle herd on a limited number of acres, capitalizing on the Belties moderate size and ability to efficiently convert a roughage diet. Though it varies with their stage of production and time of year, the cattle receive creep feed, silage,

below HCS Flannagan

hay, and graze on corn stalks. The Willises plant and harvest 80 acres of corn and soybeans on their farm.

The Willises halter break every animal on their farm. The cow herd calves in the spring and fall with a few cows calving outside of that window. Terry and Julie like to have different age show calves, so their customers are not competing directly against each other.

Sunnybrook Farms has sold its genetics to customers in all 50 states and Canada. The Willises say Belties are able to thrive in many different climates and topographies. The Belties make it through the winter well with their double-coated hair. In the spring, Sunnybrook Farms shears all its cattle to keep them cooler in the summer months.

A LOOK AHEAD

Terry and Julie look to the future with much enthusiasm. They are

seeing a growing demand for Belties and an increasing acceptance and appreciation of the breed from other producers. “We think the future for the Beltie breed is bright. There are more and more people starting to recognize the breed and the value of the breed. We’re seeing more and more interest from some of the breeders of other cattle wanting to get into the Belties,” Terry said.

Looking ahead, the Willises plan to continue focusing on producing high-quality genetics. They’ll rely on a little bit of luck and a lot of passion to keep their operation at the top of the breed.

Selling this popular daughter of Coleman Rio 2526 from an outstanding dam who is sired by SAV Renovation 6822 from Janssen Madame Pride 8028.

This awesome March heifer calf sells by SAV Northlander 1058 along with her proven dam by SAV Harvestor 0338.

Janssen Madame Pride 5054 – Lot 1

Featuring this fabulous daughter of Coleman Platinum 2622 from the record-valued Janssen Madame Pride 8028 who produced a multitude of sale toppers.

Janssen Madame Pride 8028

Record-valued dam with WR 4@114. Owned with Lindskov’s LT Ranch.

A special favorite sired by Coleman Platinum 2622 from a topproducing dam who is sired by SAV Reign 6845 from the Pathfinder® Dam SAV Madame Pride 0244.

Selling this elite bred heifer by Coleman Below Zero 2106 from a dam who is sired by SAV Renovation 6822 from the former Lot 1 cow Janssen Greystone Janet 5006.

Janssen Madame Pride 5007

Janssen Greystone Janet 4019

Janssen Madame Pride 5024

Janssen Amanda 5046

Portable Corrals & Windbreaks

SELLING

120

Veterinarian View

Health & Reproduction questions answered and explained.

contributed article by Dr. Vince Collison Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services, Rockwell City, Iowa collisonembryoservices.com

BLUETONGUE VIRUS IN THE MIDWEST

ver the years we have coped with various new disease outbreaks, everything from PRRS to the West Nile virus. In the fall of 2024, we dealt with a new outbreak of a virus that typically has not been a major issue in Iowa, the Bluetongue virus. Prior to this, we have had very limited exposure to clinical Bluetongue in our practice.

My first exposure to the virus was when I tested a cow for Bluetongue in 2001 for a sale at the Denver Stock Show. This cow tested positive, yet never had had any clinical symptoms prior to testing. The owner had acquired her out of western Nebraska, and we felt the exposure had occurred prior to him owning her.

BLUETONGUE TRANSMISSION

Bluetongue virus is not a contagious virus, meaning it will not spread from animal to animal. Vector transmission is the primary route via the saliva of the biting midge; thus, disease spread is seasonal through the warmer, more humid months of the year.

In the United States, the biting midge, Culicoides sonorensis, is the primary vector of the virus. As a

species, sheep and White Tail deer are affected the most. Goats and cattle can also be affected but normally do not exhibit clinical disease. The Bluetongue virus originates from Africa, but has spread throughout the world. Currently, there are 24 strains identified worldwide.

Bluetongue entered the United States in the early 1950s and has been most prevalent in the southern United States where it is more endemic due to warmer weather. Northern areas of the United States show reduced incidence and Canada is free of the virus except for some incidence in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.

In the past, outbreaks have occurred in the northern range of the Bluetongue virus into Wyoming and Montana. The potential for expansion of the range of Bluetongue in the United States is possible and has occurred in Europe since the early 2000s. In Europe, the northern spread of Bluetongue resulted in severe disease that caused high morbidity in cattle similar to what was seen in Iowa.

The high morbidity in cattle, not typically seen with Bluetongue,

could be due to the introduction of a new strain of Bluetongue and/or the lack of immunity in the animal population since it’s not an endemic area. Reasons for the northward spread of the virus could be for several reasons: the warmer and drier weather caused by the drought and possibly the increased movement of cattle throughout the United States. It has also been suggested that infected midges might have been pushed northward from hurricane activity that occurred during 2024.

IMPACTS OF THE VIRUS

Bluetongue virus affects the endothelial cells causing vasculitis which will compromise circulation and explains the blue tongue which is occasionally seen due to cyanosis. Symptoms in sheep will include high fevers with increased respiration which can easily be misdiagnosed as pneumonia. The increased respiratory rate is actually caused from pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) which is the result of the vasculitis. Often the muzzle and ears will be swollen from edema caused by the vasculitis. It can

also cause lameness in multiple limbs due to inflammation in the coronary bands.

In addition to the biting midges, the virus can also be transmitted to the fetus from an infected dam during pregnancy. This can result in abortions. It also can be the cause of malformed limbs, dome skulls, or dummy lambs in newborns. Symptoms in cattle and White Tail deer will be similar to those seen in sheep. While we saw more mortality in sheep and deer during the outbreak, there were a fair number of cattle affected and some mortality there as well.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Treatment options for Bluetongue are centered more on supportive care. The use of anti-inflammatories to relieve symptoms and antibiotics to prevent secondary infections are warranted. Provide clean, comfortable bedding with shade along with clean water and food.

Prevention should center on control of vector parasites. Biting midges will reproduce in manure piles and manure contaminated water, so sanitation is important in control as well. Culicoides are susceptible to synthetic pyrethroids or organophosphates and can help to limit the spread of the virus. Culicoides are also susceptible to Ivermectin, but while it will kill the biting midge, it is not known if it will act in time to prevent the spread of the virus.

Vaccines have been used but are limited in the United States. Only a modified live vaccine has been available and primarily used in sheep. It is only for one strain and the immunity for one strain

does not cross protect against others. Also, it should not be used in pregnant ewes as the vaccine can cause similar defects in newborn lambs as that caused by the wild virus.

Another issue is that the vaccine should not be used during the time of year that biting midges are active, as the midges can transmit the vaccine virus. Serial passage of the vaccine strain between animals could cause a mutation into a different strain with the potential to cause disease.

Work with your veterinarian if you suspect Bluetongue in your herd or flock. It looks like Blue-

tongue is a disease we will continue to see in Iowa. Recently this month, we had a case of a Hereford bull with a non-descript illness. He had a low-grade fever and crackling sounds in the lungs that lasted over a two-week time period. Testing was done for Bluetongue virus on this bull, and it came back positive. It is a disease that can look like other diseases such as pneumonia or EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease). Your veterinarian can help to get an accurate diagnosis for the best outcome.

learn more collisonembryoservices.com

Dr. Vince Collison is co-owner of Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services PAC in Rockwell City, Iowa.

A special highlight from the Rosebud family, this outstanding heifer prospect is produced by the 2015 Grand Champion Female of the American Royal, Rosebud 403B, sired by the current leader for ROV Sire of the Year, 24 Karat. Rosebud 403B, the dam of Sara’s Dream 5409 combines the powerful phenotype sires, Fullback 380 and Saugahatchee 3000C. BNWZ Sara’s Dream 5409 +21336993

Sire: SCC SCH 24 Karat 838

Dam: CCC Sara’s Dream 5116

Sire: SCC SCH 24 Karat 838

Dam: CCC Sara’s Dream 5116

Sara’s Dream 5855 is a powerfully made daughter of the legendary many-time champion and producer of champions in the Nowatzke donor program, Sara’s Dream 5116, sired by the current leader for ROV Sire of the Year, 24 Karat.

BNWZ Princess 4870 +21337010

BNWZ Sara’s Dream 5855 +21336994

Sire: Hill Valley Reckoning 931

Dam: T/R NFF Princess E307

Featuring this daughter of the the 2018-2019 ROV Show Heifer of the Year and prolific Nowatzke donor, Princess E307 and sired by the outcross sire, Reckoning 931.

•

In the kitchen with

Amanda Kagarice

Faith Cattle Company - Butler, Mo.

We are thankful and blessed that God has given us the opportunity to be caretakers of His land and livestock. My husband, Luke, and our two children, Ally Jo (12) and Kord Lee (2), own and operate Faith Cattle Company in west central Missouri, just west of Clinton, about 20 miles. We run herds of registered and commercial Simmental, Angus, and SimAngus cows. In addition, we row crop corn and soybeans. We sell bulls and females with a primary goal of fulfilling the needs of commercial cattlemen. We utilize artificial insemination and embryo transfer to improve our genetic base. From a career perspective, I have been in animal health for close to 20 years. I currently work as a senior executive veterinary sales manager for an ultrasound company. I have been actively involved in the Missouri Simmental Association since I was a young girl and currently sit as the Missouri State Simmental Association’s president. Our family finds great joy in the beef industry, and strive to raise the best Simmental, SimAngus, and Angus cattle in the state of Missouri. “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1”

What is your favorite cooking tip or trick?

I have to chuckle here because I have recipes that are tried and true, but I never really measure anything. I tell Ally Jo to measure with your heart, and don’t be afraid of the spice cabinet and to use as many as you like to change things up a bit!

What is your most requested dish or what is your favorite thing to make?

STOCK Kitchen

our favorite country cooks.

My household loves Mexican food, and to be honest so do I. I get asked all the time to make my homemade beef enchiladas. It’s a favorite in our home, and a dish I often make to take to others.

Where did you learn to cook?

I have always had a love for cooking, and it started in the kitchen with my mom and both of my grandmothers. From there it led to 4H cooking classes where multiple women helped shape me. I love to show love through feeding people. It just makes my heart happy! Now, I get the joy of sharing the kitchen with my daughter and teaching her to find the same love.”

What is your least favorite job in the kitchen?

I love the kitchen and cooking, but who really likes the cleanup portion of all of it? The dreaded dishes.”

learn more thomasranchcattle.com

for printable recipes stockmanmag.com

Cowboy approved recipes used by

2 lbs. ground beef (browned)

with one pound of beef and one pound of Italian sausage.

1 whole yellow onion (diced)

2 cans chili ready beans

Great Value brand.

1 packet chili seasoning

2 heaping spoons minced garlic

1 can sliced mushrooms

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. spicy mustard

2 cans diced tomatoes

you can make this spicier if you like that way.

2 T. brown sugar - You can make sweeter if you like or leave out.

2 T. dried parsley

2 small cans or 1 large can tomato sauce

Additional spices to taste: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Slap Ya Mama seasoning

Step 1: After you brown your meat add everything to the pot and cook on high for 30 minutes or once heated leave on a low simmer for 1 to 2 hours stirring occasionally. with your favorite chili toppings!

Notes: I don’t measure with measuring spoons on this, I measure with my heart. As you make this, make adjustments to your family’s liking.

BEEF ENCHILADAS Amanda Kagarice

HOLIDAY BEEF TENDERLOIN

Amanda Kagarice

1 T. salt

1 ½ tsp. onion powder

1 ½ tsp. garlic powder - We love garlic, I use more here. 1 ½ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. ground red pepper - If you don’t like a little kick or have littles that don’t - leave this one out.

½ tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

1 5 to 8 lb. whole beef tenderloin - I trim it as best as I can. If you are buying from the store, most butcher counters can trim it for you.

¼ c. olive oil

Step 1: Combine the first seven ingredients in a small bowl. Step 2: Rub the tenderloin with the olive oil and then coat with your spice mixture. Wrap it in foil and chill for 8-plus hours. (I tend to make mine in the eve- ning for the next night.) Step 3: When you are ready to cook: Unwrap your loin and preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t put your loin in until your oven reaches temp! Step 4: Bake at 500 degrees for 15 minutes or until brown. (If you have a smaller loin, please adjust your time down, it makes a difference!) Step 5: Next, lower your temp to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 20 minutes. (Again, if a smaller loin adjust time back.) Step 6: Once the timer goes off, remove loin from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Step 7: Slice and serve. I make a homemade horseradish and sourdough dinner rolls that go great with this. Enjoy! This one truly melts in your mouth! Eat with caution as your family is destined to ask for it for every family holiday!

Notes: This is my mama’s recipe and one that has been a Christmas Eve tradition since I was younger. Now that I have a family, it has become a holiday tradition in general. Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, birthdays you name it - Beef, it’s what’s for dinner. This one takes some planning as you rub the tenderloin the morning of or night before. You can also change up the rub spices to adjust to your family’s liking.

SALE OFFERINGS:

2 lbs. ground beef (browned)

1 yellow onion (diced)

2 c. shredded cheese (divided) - I like to use a Colby jack or fiesta blend.

1 c. sour cream

1 can enchilada sauce - I use the medium, but you can use mild or hot.

1 can cream of chicken - Yes, chicken.

1 can Rotel

1 can green chilis

1 packet taco seasoning

Bulls and heifers by private treaty on the farm. Mo. State Simmental Sale - November 8, 2025, held in Springfield, Mo.

1 can sliced black olives - Only if you like them.

1 package flour tortillas - Or make your own corn tortillas out of the Mesa flour, it’s fantastic!

Salt, pepper, cumin, and minced garlic to taste. Add Slap Ya Mama seasoning for more heat.

Step 1: Brown ground beef. Add salt, pepper, ground cumin, and minced garlic while browning the meat. Measure the spices with your heart here! Step 2: Combine browned ground beef and all the other ingredients in a large pot, heat to a low simmer. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to bring flavors together. Step 3: From there, take your tortillas and start filling. Lay out your tortilla in a greased baking dish, I use a 9x13 glass dish. Scoop mixture into the middle and roll the enchilada. I like to fill mine pretty full. It’s ok that it’s messy! Step 4: When you’re done filling your tortillas and your dish is full, pour what is left in the pot over the top of the enchiladas and top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese. Step 5: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until nice and bubbly (usually about 25 to 30 minutes). Step 6: Serve with lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and any of your other favorite Mexican toppings.

Note: This is a favorite in our home, and one that you can add things to make it more spicy, feed more people, or whatever you want. It’s quick and easy and something you can make to freeze and reheat later as well.

46G – Shamelesss Donor Sells!

January Horned Heifer Red River x Kiwi 711E

Fall Calving Bred Heifer – PCC Maverick x 48E

Arlo x Diana Bred Heifer

April Polled Heifer Red Kingdom x 130K donor April Polled Heifer Red Kingdom x 48E

February Polled Bull Ontime x Donor 48E

BREDS OCT. 28 dec. 16 TUESDAY OPENS TUESDAY

Sale Barn Study

contributed article by Roman Schooley Bloomfield Livestock Market, Inc., Bloomfield, Iowa

bloomfieldlivestockiowa.com

FALL MARKET FORECAST

Fall is moving in and so are the calf runs! Pastures are starting to show some stress for the first time in several weeks due to lack of rain in southern Iowa. That means producers are preparing to move yearlings and calves to market.

The second week of September the market seemed very volatile. For example, on a Tuesday the feeder board was down the limit at 9.25. This was a concern to many who have been buying those record selling yearlings. But then the next day, with uncertainty in the markets, our early bird calf run saw over 1,500

new crop calves come to town.

Many of this year’s calves were pulled straight off the cow as producers seemed to be running to capture the high demand. It was much higher than expected with many 4wt steers bringing way north of 5.00 to 5.80. Your 5wt was just as impressive up towards 5.00. Demand was excellent with many farmer feeders in attendance.

Box beef cutouts were a bit lower at the time of publication with choice selling for 400.79 about 10 dollars higher than August. Select cuts were up to 379.95 up 13.00

from last visit. Slaughter was down 27,000 during a week in September compared to the same time last year. With average carcass weight at 953 pounds, you can see they continue to want big yearling feds.

Fat cattle in the North the second week of September started at 237 after the board limit down to rally by the end of the week at 242. That was 2 to 6 lower than last meeting. The South actually gained ground to the North this week finishing at 240, with all the Mexico cattle not being available due to the border closed in the South.

Supplies are very tight and that has helped the fed cattle market in the southern region. Cow and bull slaughter continue to be steady with many cows 1.40 to 1.75. Bulls are steady to a pinch lower at 1.40 to 2.25. Feeder calf runs this fall have been steady to higher due to record breaking prices. We held our anniversary yearling sale, and it was full of optimism with many 8wt steers bringing north of 3.75. Market also saw several guys looking for top quality replacement heifers topping out at 2,880 per head.

Your CME index for the week of September 12 closed at 365.47, that

was 22.00 higher than last visit. Demand seems to be in full swing as many farmers are looking for cheap gains through the corn.

October 1st will be another great opportunity to buy several strings of fancy new crop calves. A majority of the groups will be weaned for this sale. Breeding stock seems to be very quiet as many guys are into full swing of fall calving. I know several producers looking for pairs to run yet this fall, but supplies are very short. I expect the cow runs to start up towards November once

the farmers exit the fields. I look for stock cows to be in full demand come winter!

Hopefully you will find some time to relax and enjoy your family this fall. Seems like fall is the best weather for working and enjoying the outdoors. Take some time in the evenings to disconnect from the noises and visit with family and friends. As always, I appreciate your time and your efforts as we continue to push forward breaking new records in the beef business!

Roman Schooley, Bloomfield, Iowa

Roman Schooley owns Bloomfield Livestock Market and Schooley Cattle Co. in Bloomfield, Iowa. As president of Schooley Cattle Co., Roman leads the breeding decisions of the seedstock operation which consists of 550 registered Simmental and Angus cows. Schooley Cattle Co. utilizes IVF to produce breed leading genetic advancement. The company hosts an annual production sale the first Friday in February at the ranch; selling 18-monthold and yearling bulls and a select group of open and bred heifers. Roman also owns and assists in the operations at Bloomfield Livestock Market which primarily serves producers in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children: Hannah (23), Haven (20), Houstin (17), and one grandson, Weaver (2 months).

ANGUS BREEDER

In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE ARACHNID IMPACTING HERDS THROUGH LATE FALL

Understand the risks, disease spread, and control methods of ticks.

“Ticks are a very interesting species,” begins Kirk Ramsey, DVM, Professional Services Veterinarian at Neogen®. “One fascinating thing about them is that ticks have eight legs, which would make them an arachnid. As larvae, they only have six legs, but as they progress into their nymph and adult stage, they develop two more legs.”

Ticks have a significant economic impact on the US cattle industry, causing disease transmission, decreased gain, increased treatment expenses, stress, and reduced and milk production efficiency. Cattle feel the pinch from a number of tick species, including:

- Spinose Ear Tick

- Black-legged Tick

- Winter Tick

- American Dog Tick

- Gulf Coast Tick

- Cattle fever tick

- Asian Longhorn tick

- Lone Star Tick

Ticks are born in droves. In fact, “The lone star tick is active from early spring to late fall, and the female is capable of laying 9,000 to 12,000 eggs during the spring,” says Jonathan Cammack, PhD, D-ABFE, Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist for Livestock Entomology and Parasitology at Oklahoma State University.

Another tick that is especially top of mind - and rapidly emerging - is the Asian Longhorn Tick.

“Asian Longhorn ticks have a unique capacity to reproduce without a male. The females go through a process of essentially cloning themselves. In our population, Asian Longhorn ticks are around 97% female, meaning that every single one of them has the capacity to reproduce,” shares Dr. Ramsey.

In his line of work, Dr. Cammack has tracked the spread and growing risk of Asian Longhorn ticks, including seeing reports of “instances where as many as 1,000 of these ticks could be feeding on a single animal at a given time, which could result in the animal dying due to blood loss.”

Dr. Cammack explained that, depending on the species, ticks are classified as one-, two- and threehost ticks. For reference, it’s helpful to understand the life cycle of ticks, which is summarized with added commentary below from Drs. Cammack and Ramsey.

LIFE CYCLE

- Female bites host (usually a large mammal, such as a cow, deer, or dog).

- Engorging themselves, they receive ample nutrients.

“Females are trying to get the biggest blood meal possible. They’ll drop off the host, digest it, and then use the protein from that blood meal to generate eggs,” said Dr. Cammack.

- Eggs are usually deposited on the ground in leaf litter, and hatch into six-legged larvae (beginning of the life cycle).

- Larvae await a host, surviving weeks to months without one.

“What those larvae are doing is essentially waiting for a small

mouse or a bird picking worms to attach to. They must have a blood meal in order to take on the next stage in life,” shares Dr. Ramsey.

- Larvae attach to the host, receive a blood meal, then fall off to digest the blood meal.

- Larvae then molt into an eightlegged nymph, seeking out next host (usually a little bigger animal than the larval host, such as a dog, squirrel, raccoon, or coyote).

- After their second blood meal, the nymph molts into an adult.

“Essentially, this is where we have the most interaction. The adults will again be looking for a host to attach to and for opportunities to breed,” says Dr. Ramsey.

DISEASE SPREAD

Disease spread from ticks occurs through the bite of infected ticks (biological) or by way of mechanical vectors.

Biological

“Male American Dog Ticks will feed on multiple hosts throughout their life, whereas that female is going to take that one big blood meal because they’re producing eggs,” says Dr. Cammack. “If that adult male tick feeds on an anaplasma-positive cow, however, they are now a biological vector of anaplasma. That pathogen is going to replicate a portion of its life cycle within the salivary glands of the tick. When that male tick bites another animal, it could then pass on the pathogen to another animal. They are now biological vectors, meaning the pathogens are actually living inside of them.”

In the News

(continued...)

Mechanical

“Diseases such as anaplasmosis can be spread not only through ticks, but also through mechanical vectors. For herds impacted by anaplasmosis, or are in areas where you have greater concerns about anaplasmosis, it’s important to change needles in between animals or injections to avoid further spreading that disease,” shares Dr. Ramsey.

DISEASES

Tick-borne diseases impact cattle through a number of conditions. Here are some of the most common.

Theileria orientalis

“Theileria orientalis is a protozoan parasite carried in Asian Longhorn ticks,” shares Dr. Ramsey. “The protozoa infect the red blood cells themselves. They go through a series of their life cycles in the red blood cells and multiply by something called binary fission, leading to a lot of the same things that we see with anaplasmosis: jaundice, fever, and anemia.”

An additional concern: “Since it is a protozoan and not a bacterium, it cannot be treated with antibiotics,” shares Dr. Cammack.

Anaplasmosis

More than 20 tick species can transmit bovine anaplasmosis – a condition well known across the cattle industry. Impacting herds in North America and around the world, anaplasmosis causes anemia, abortion, weight loss, lost production, and adult cattle death. The condition is spread through biological vectors and mechanical trans-

mission such as blood contaminated fomites, including processing equipment.

With both Theileria and anaplasmosis, the animal becomes a lifelong chronic carrier.

Bovine babesiosis (cattle fever)

Cattle fever ticks are found today from Brownsville to Del Rio, Texas, along the Mexican border, as well as in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. These vectors spread the disease bovine babesiosis, commonly called cattle fever. “Often fatal, this disease caused enormous losses to the US cattle industry in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Direct and indirect economic losses were estimated at $130.5 million—more than $3 billion today,” according to the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

CONTROL

For effective methods of control, look to trusted sprays, pour-ons and back rubbers—and always refer to the product label.

Apply sprays at the areas where the adult ticks would be; Dr. Ramsey suggests applying at the armpit region, the belly, and the groin area. For pour-ons, “Translocation is the key—it’s how the product moves across the animal’s body after application. Over time, product spreads along the skin to create a barrier that deters pests or kills them on contact. Pour-ons like this are incredibly useful,” shared Dr. Ramsey.

Whether producers are battling ticks, flies, or lice, it’s key to find

opportunities to break the life cycle. Pour-ons with an insect growth regulator (IGR) are especially helpful with those that are completing their life cycle entirely on the animal, such as with lice; an important consideration leading into the cooler months when lice are more prominent.

“Using cattle movement patterns to apply insecticidal products, such as through back rubbers, is a highly effective and convenient method for controlling ticks and other insects. For the best success, I recommend that producers pay close attention that the equipment is properly maintained and consistently charged with product,” shares Dr. Ramsey.

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Linn Haven Farms

Linz Heritage Angus

Lorenzen Farms

Lowderman, Monte

Lowderman Auction Options

Lowderman Cattle Co.

Maternal Dreams Sale

McFarland Productions

Mid Continent Farms

MO Simmental Assn. Sale

Naylor Angus & Shorthorns

Neil Farms

Nowatzke Cattle

Oakdale Farms

Pembrook Cattle Co.

Petersek’s Raven Angus

R&R

Rawhide

and Cattle

Renovo Seed

Ro-Sie View Farms

Roper

Safety Zone Calf Catchers

Schooley Cattle Co.

Sealpro Silage Barrier Films

Sisco Brothers Cattle Co.

Slate Group

Southern Fleckvieh Alliance

Star G Ranch and Friends

Stetson

Stockman Design Services

Studer Shorthorns

Summit Ag Group

Sunnybrook Farms

Sunnyslope Angus

The Judge Source

Voss Angus

Wall Street Cattle Co.

Ward Brothers Livestock

Weishaar, Seth

Wilks Ranch

Y-Tex Corporation

ZWT Ranch

STOCKMAN traight

About the Stockman.

We entered the cattle business in the spring of 1967 with a Jersey- Angus bucket calf gifted to me and my brother from our maternal grandfather. The heifer calf’s name was Kijsa and our paternal grandfather provided the farm to raise her on. That was the beginning of the cattle operation. I have been in the cattle business basically my whole life. Today we ranch in northcentral Kansas and southcentral Nebraska. My wife, Sheila, along with our son Brady and his family, run a purebred

Hereford operation. We have recently started to build an Angus herd. Brady and his wife, Allie, along with their three daughters Kelli, Kirbe, and Kya returned to Jensen Ranch two years ago to join the ranching business with us. Our herdsmen, Lute Judy, is integral in the day-to-day operations of the ranch. We host an elite female sale, The Chosen Sale, each October at Sanders Ranch located 45 minutes south of the American Royal. We have a bull sale the first Thursday in March each year on the ranch in Courtland, Kan. Additionally, we offer an online fall heifer sale each April and most years we host an online embryo and semen sale in December.”

What is the most used tool on your farm? How old is it?

The most used tools on our ranch are our side-by-sides and four-wheelers. They range in age from pristine to piles of junk.”

The most important lesson you’ve learned in this business?

The most important lesson I have learned is to try to make cattle as problem-free as we can. I use the term no-excuse cattle. Not all our cattle are problem-free, but that is our goal. Another lesson is to always treat customers with respect because you won’t have them as a repeat customer if you don’t.”

A

Kevin Jensen

Jensen Ranch - Courtland, Kan.

Describe your best and worst day.

The best day is when I am with grandkids. The worst day is when we lose a calf.”

What about the beef cattle industry excites you the most?

What excites me the most is when we have young people entering the business, especially when it is young people who want to start a cattle operation but didn’t necessarily come from one.”

Which animal (any species) has left the greatest impact on you?

It would be our donor cow 2054. She has been gone now for 15 years, but she is a mainstay in our herd. If you look at our herd pedigrees, she is likely to be in there three to five times in a lot of pedigrees.”

Your favorite non-farm activity to do in your free time?

I enjoy cattle judging, especially youth shows. I also like to slip in an open wheel car race on dirt.”

Your go-to sorting apparatus?

My go-to sorting apparatus is a portable cattle pen made by Blattner Livestock. We go from pasture to pasture and use it when we are preconditioning, weighing, and moving cattle. We use it all the time.”

What is your least favorite job on the farm?

It is a toss-up between several different chores, but fencing is probably my least favorite – sometimes I just don’t have the patience for it.”

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