A BRANGUS ADVOCATE

DAVID AND NADA WOOD OF DOUBLE W RANCH FOUND A HOME WITH, AND NOW SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR, THE BRANGUS BREED.

by Lindsay Allen

Ninety minutes due north of New Orleans, Louisiana, is Magnolia, Mississippi; a small town that served as a popular tourist destination in the late 1860s for New Orleans residents who were wanting to enjoy the fresh air and crystal creeks of the area. While the town may not be the number one weekend vacation spot anymore, the road from New Orleans to Magnolia still saw a lot of travel long after it was built, particularly from David and Nada Wood.

The Woods, who lived in New Orleans until 2000, have always owned and operated their Brangus herd in Magnolia and could be found traveling that same path carved out almost two centuries ago between the two cities as they built their herd. And even though the Woods moved to Houston, Texas, over 20 years ago, Double W Ranch remains in south Mississippi with high quality Brangus grazing their green pastures.

After moving to Texas and joining the International Brangus Breeders Association, Wood noticed there were quite a few sales near his new location. He attended a Camp Cooley Ranch (CCR) sale. That sale led to him buying some of their cattle for his commercial herd. He also learned about the CCR cooperator program and decided it was a very good fit for him.

“Through the program, producers were given the education and tools needed to make sound genetic decisions and implement health and nutrition protocols to improve the herd and develop the animals,” Wood recalled. “It was through that program that I, as someone who didn’t grow up in the industry, gained the foundational knowledge needed for my own herd. My participation with the program also sparked something in me to move to the registered side of the business.”

Shortly after moving to Texas, Wood turned his operation into a registered Brangus outfit and today the herd has grown to approximately 200 head of cattle. His goal every breeding season is to utilize AI and embryo transfer (ET) to maintain and improve the high-quality genetics of his herd. Wood feels the tools of AI and ET are paramount to staying competitive in terms of quality and marketing.

The genetic base for Wood’s operation is derived from Brinks Brangus breeding. CCR had purchased the Brinks Brangus herd and many of Wood’s purchases included those well-known genetics. Over the course of time, Double W Ranch has also owned, both outright and in partnership with others, bulls such as Singletary, Foundation, 30T, Main Event and Can Do, along with donor cows such as 535K14, 924Z11, 404A and, a more recent purchase, 1912C. These leading genetics have been the main reason Double W Ranch has seen success by producing highquality cattle again and again every calving season. CCR not only helped Wood gain the assistance he needed initially, but it created relationships that have turned into business partnerships for Double W Ranch. He is a founding member of Cavender – Draggin’ M and Partners (CDP Brangus). The group is a continuation of the long-term partnership

“I THINK IT JUST MAY BE THE BEST BREED between Cavender Brangus, Draggin’

OF CATTLE IN THE INDUSTRY. THESE CATTLE M, Double W, and Johnston Brangus and is

COMBINE THE BEST QUALITIES OF THE now made up of seven BRAHMAN BREED WITH THE SOUGHT-AFTER members whose focus is on performance, data, CARCASS QUALITIES OF THE ANGUS BREED. and comparative testing utilizing breed-leading

THIS COMBINATION OFFERS A DESIRABLE herd sires or donors RESULT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE SOUTHEAST.” and range bulls and commercial replacement females. “We are a group of breeders that have similar genetics, and we enhance those genetics together,” Wood shared, “There is strength in numbers and CDP Brangus is proof of that. Our genetic director, Craig Green, is also a huge asset to our program and provides sound direction for mating and retention decisions for our cattle.” The CDP partnership utilizes embryo transfer, genomically-enhanced EPDs, years of ultrasound and carcass data, and the largest contemporary groups in the breed. Additionally, the herds are managed by cattlemen that cull for the convenience traits like sound feet and legs, desirable dispositions, mothering ability, and fertility with a vision to produce and provide top quality Brangus and Ultrablack cattle. This newly formed partnership includes Cavender Brangus Ranch, Draggin’ M Ranch, Johnston Ranch, Sewell Cattle Company, Inc., TTT Brangus Farm, Elias Brangus and of course, Double W Ranch. Together, these seven members total over 100 years of experience in the industry and the breed to provide adaptable and versatile Brangus cattle. Every breeding season starts with the collective desire to make the next generation even better. CDP Brangus goes beyond sale day though; buying cattle from the partners includes resources to help navigate the industry, like post-sale service and marketing assistance. Wood explained, “Not only will this partnership be providing the highest quality full-data backed Brangus and Ultrablack genetics that can be found anywhere, but it offers those backed by transparency, integrity, service, and the best run bull test and development station in the industry, allowing our animals to be developed to their utmost genetic (continued on page 34)

(continued from page 33) potential. From among our partners have come many of the leading herd sires in the business and all of our partners use the highest quality genetics in their breeding programs ensuring both commercial and registered breeders, large and small, that we have quality from herd sire to range bull to offer ranchers at every level.”

His involvement with Brangus cattle stems from the performance he sees in his own herd and others. “I think it just may be the best breed of cattle in the industry. These cattle combine the best qualities of the Brahman breed with the sought-after carcass qualities of the Angus breed. This combination offers a desirable result, particularly for the Southeast,” Wood said.

His love for the breed has led to his involvement with the International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF). The nonprofit’s mission is to conduct research, investigations, and experiments in the breeding of Brangus cattle, to facilitate and promote the participation of Brangus cattle in exhibitions, and to engage in such other activities that generally or incidentally promote the breed. Its objectives include funding research activities for the purpose of advancing the livestock industry benefiting Brangus breeders and other beef producers today, and in the future; funding and supporting programs involving education and research of Brangus cattle; and educating the beef cattle industry on topics such as Brangus genetics and other production practices “Right now, through the Brangus Value Project, the foundation is heavily focused on obtaining value data for the breed. We are encouraging commercial breeders to AI their cattle to the best quality Brangus bulls available and take the offspring through the feedyard so we can develop more data to prove to the world that Brangus cattle have high quality carcasses,” Wood continued. “CDP currently has three operations sending their Brangus bred commercial cattle to the feedyard and the resulting data is fantastic. If we could expand this throughout our breed’s commercial producers, it would enhance the breed tremendously and increase our demand for the cattle.” With years of experience, a rich foundation in the Brangus breed, a love for the people and cattle and strong partnership through CDP, Double W Ranch is actively and consistently delivering top genetics to seedstock operations and ensuring commercial cattlemen have the best of the best Brangus bulls to select from. While the Woods may no longer travel the New Orleans to Magnolia path anymore, it was that route that started it all and established the prestigious operation they still operate in southern Mississippi. If you need quality cattle, want to know more about IBBF or need a solid business contact within the breed, David Wood is a great resource to have!