April 2023 Brangus Journal

Brangus JOURNAL

BULLS THAT OUTWORK AND OUTLAST

JOHNES FREE BULLS • TRICH AND BVD TESTED • HETEROSIS BULLS • QUALITY ASSURED

TCF RAPID REWARD145E6 R10386792

DOB: 9/4/2017 Sire: BRB RapidReward 99W11

Commercial and Registered Semen Available

TCF RAPID REWARD145Z3 R10243006

DOB: 9/21/2012 Sire: BRB RapidReward 99W11

Commercial and Registered Semen Available

Join us at the ranch for the

TCF INTEGRITY 4861F7 R10231918

DOB: 2/8/2018 Sire: CCR Integrity 355S4 Sleep tight all night heifer bull.

Commercial and Registered Semen Available

TOWN CREEK FARM SALE

150 TOWN CREEK FARM BULLS

BRANGUS • ULTRABLACK • VIGORMAX™ HALF-BLOOD BULLS 225 BRANGUS COMMERCIAL BRED HEIFERS

LOOK FOR OUR TOWN CREEK FARM AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:

June 22 - 23, 2023 – Florida Cattlemen’s Convention, Marco Island, Florida, Booth No. 1

July 3-6, 2023 – Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium, Calgary, Canada

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO REQUEST A SALE CATALOG AND JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. CALL FOR SEMEN INFORMATION.

Quality Assurance always comes rst. 3

Total Commitment

TOWN CREEK FARM

Milton Sundbeck, Owner 32476 Hwy. 50 East, West Point, Mississippi 39773-5207

Joy Reznicek Sundbeck (205)399-0221 Joy@TownCreekFarm.com

Cody Glenn (601)508-8689 Cody@TownCreekFarm.com www.TownCreekFarm.com

Brangus JOURNAL

Loyalty & Recognition

This year's award winners for the IBBA Pioneer and Top Hand of the year go out to some very deserving Brangus breeders who have been around for many years and have done a great deal for the Brangus breed.

32 Gillespie County Ranch Tops Sale

Read about how Cross F Cattle produced the Champion Brangus bull at the recent 2023 San Antonio Livestock Exposition Annual All Breeds Sale.

Jake White Achievement Recipient

38

The recipient of this year’s Jake White Lifetime Achievement award has walked hundreds of miles in show rings across the United States showing Brangus cattle.

48 Florida & Houston Show Results

Featured on pages 48-54 are the results and pictures for the 2023 Florida State Fair and Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Brangus Shows.

A Cut Above Sale, Cullman, AL • Selling 4 Elite Pairs, 4 Heifers ready to breed, 1 Pick Flush and 4 Embryos Packages out of the some of top donors in the breed and newest elite sires in the breed!

Phillips Ranch Sale, Bunnell, FL • Selling one of the best young donors, BWCC Ms Overload 468D22. She has done it all avg over $15,000 dollars on her last 8 heifers at VF and has 2 herd sires Merger and Inferno and more in the pipeline.Avg conv 28 embryos; IVF 19+ embryos. Selling a pick! From top new herd sire BWCC Hugo 484H7 x VF Ms Rock Solid 000F28.

Quail Valley Farms Invitational Elite Sale, Blountsville, AL • Selling Pick! Choose from some of the top fall embryo calves out of VF top donors and elite donor prospects.

HARTNESS BRANGUS

Steve Hartness

RIVER BEND BRANGUS

David Chadwick

TRUITT BRANGUS

Brian Truitt

VANNA FARMS

Lee McGarity

A group of four reputable breeders has allied together to purchase some of the best genetics in the breed. We started by buying the two best donors we could find…$120,000 RBM Ms Special Forces 313A and $57,500 Ms DMR Coronado 415A7

Look for great things to come in the future with these genetics.

Genetic Partners will be selling a pick flush on these donors at Quail Valley Farms Invitational Elite Sale on July 9th in Blountsville, AL. This will be the only flush to sell in US in 2023 on these two donors!

Reasons foR Optimism

By Rob Singleton, International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) president

Let me start by saying that it is not only my pleasure, but my privilege to serve the IBBA and its members as your President. My love for Brangus cattle runs deep and I am proud to play a small part in promoting this great breed. I encourage the membership to find a place to serve and make a difference. Our association is committee driven, and membership input is vital. You will find all committees and chairs at the front of the journal. The data we are collecting in the Brangus Value Project is proving what we as breeders already knew. Brangus cattle not only are adaptable, have superior maternal qualities, are reproductively efficient, and produce pounds, but Brangus cattle excel in the feedlot performance and end product value! That is reason for optimism! I believe that if we take this data and apply the DNA technology we have, the market share we can capture will be incredible! As we head into what appears to be a historic upswing in calf prices, lets offer our commercial bull buyers a product that out performs the rest. I hope all Brangus breeders are as excited about the future of our breed as I am!

As I close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to past president Jeremy Jackson and the IBBA board of directors for a productive year. Although we have made huge progress, there is still work to do. TOGETHER, we can move mountains!

Sincerely,

Rob

Global branGus

by Darrell Wilkes, Ph.D., International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) executive vice president

The Brangus breed should have a larger genetic footprint in the U.S. cattle population, and we are working to make that happen. Likewise, around the world, there are tremendous opportunities for the growth of Brangus genetics.

At least 2/3rds of the grazing land in the world qualifies as “harsh” in terms of the potential for heat stress in livestock. Cattle in those regions need a dose of heat-tolerant genetics and, for the most part, they have it – and they have for many decades/centuries. In many of those regions, beef quality – as we define it -- has not traditionally been of great concern. The basic need for protein has trumped any concern about tenderness and juiciness – which are characteristics that modern consumers associate with high quality beef.

But the market is changing. A growing number of consumers around the world are entering the “middle class.” As that occurs, they tend to diversify and upgrade their diet. They upgrade from lesser forms of protein to beef, and from lower quality beef to higher quality. A fellow rancher put it in perspective when he told me, “Once you go from eating beetles to beef, it’s hard to go back.” I’ve never eaten beetles, but I’m 100% sure he was right about that. I don’t intend to test his theory. Marbling in beef was not “invented” in the U.S.; Japanese consumers have valued marbling for centuries. But the U.S. beef industry darn sure commercialized it on a grand scale. It is akin to Henry Ford’s Model T. It was not the first

car on the market. Far from it. But it was the first car that everyday folks could afford. The U.S. beef industry was the first, and still the best, at producing large quantities of grainfed marbled beef that is affordable to everyday folks – whether they live in Tokyo or Texas.

Because of the value placed on marbling (a proxy for “quality”) in the U.S. market, the seedstock industry in the U.S. has very effectively selected for marbling and has moved the genetic curve for marbling to levels unmatched in the world – with the exception of a few “boutique” breeds of cattle in other countries that produce highly marbled beef affordable only to the elite economic class.

There are tens of millions of cattle being raised in “harsh” environments around the world that can benefit from the genetic gains that have been made in beef quality and pure performance by U.S. Brangus breeders. They need heat tolerance and high quality beef in the same package, and that is not easily done. We already have the genetics that they need to produce higher quality beef, which is a requirement for many of them to develop export beef markets – or even to satisfy the higher quality demands of their domestic consumers. Brangus genetics from the U.S. would allow beef producers in many countries to literally leapfrog forward in their quest to produce quality beef where it’s hot.

To be succinct, if you were a seedstock producer in a country where marbling has not historically been a priority, but suddenly has become one, would you want to start virtually

from scratch and select for marbling for 20-30 years to get where we are, or would you import genetics from the U.S. to leapfrog your competitors? That question is easily answered.

The World Brangus Congress is taking place this month in Argentina. A fairly good contingent of IBBA representatives will be in attendance from April 21st through the 28th. We’re there to learn and to network with Brangus enthusiasts from around the world, but we’re also there to market IBBA genetics. We will explain how Brangus breeders in the U.S. have responded to the quality and performance demands of our marketplace. We will describe our customer base of highly informed commercial cattle producers who place great value on objective genetic metrics (EPDs).

We will explain how IBBA members have embraced genomics as we close in on 50,000 genomic records in our database. We will explain our stateof-the-art genetic evaluation process that fully incorporates genomic information, and we will test their interest in joining with us in a global genetic evaluation for Brangus. Consider the implications of a Global Brangus Genetic Evaluation. What if a breeder in South Africa, or Brazil, Columbia, Panama, Mexico, etc., could log into a global database and search for Brangus genetics that would help them move to the next level in their breeding plan? What if all the EPDs were apples-to-apples such that an EPD for IMF or Yearling Weight or any other trait could be compared directly whether the animal was in the next county or another hemisphere? Do you suppose that a good number of IBBA cattle would rise near the top of those searches? At the risk of being presumptuous, I think IBBA cattle would shine pretty brightly in that scenario. We might also discover superstar bulls from other countries that some of our breeders want to use.

I surmise that a ten-fold

increase in Brangus genetic exports is not the least bit unrealistic if we had a Global Brangus Genetic Evaluation. Not every member of IBBA would take advantage of the export market – even if it was ten-fold larger - but to the extent that it brings in new revenue to the U.S. Brangus business, it has the same effect as a rising tide lifting all boats.

Brangus’ genetic footprint should be and can be much, much larger than it is – in your own county, and in many countries around the world.

We’ll keep you posted on the outcomes and opportunities arising from the World Brangus Congress.

Loyalty & Recognition

by Lindsay L. Allen

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of a kind, so the recognition and praise at the show should be just the same! At the 2023 annual International Brangus Breeder’s Association (IBBA) Membership Meeting, the caliber of award winners was high and well deserving. Two awards presented in March went to Vernon Suhn, Suhn Cattle Company, for Pioneer of the Year and Brad Wright, Ranch Hand Analytics, for Top Hand of the Year.

The recognition for these two individuals took place on March 2, 2023 and was a much-appreciated surprise for them both.

Check out next month’s issue to read the features for this year’s Breeder of the Year, Commercial Breeder of the Year and Herdsmen of the Year.

Pioneer of the Year

The Pioneer Award recognizes an IBBA member, past or present, for his/her service, loyalty and contributions to the Brangus breed.

Vern fits this description well and has always had his hand in the latest technology and willingness to adopt new methods for managing cattle. Growing up in South Dakota in the mid-1960’s, the operation his father managed was quick to implement artificial insemination, and despite the difficulty they faced in sourcing Angus semen, they were able to implement European breeds into the Angus based cowherd. Later in life, he and his wife Vicki made a move to Texas to manage Brinks Brangus, which created new opportunities for Vern to learn about this new environment and Brahmaninfluenced cattle that he had not been exposed to and be on the cutting edge of marketing advances. But a challenge never slowed Vern down and while at Brinks Brangus, the operation, which later moved to Kansas, went on to become a leader in ultrasound technology for the breed. It was here that Vern also challenged the status quo and proved that an operation could sell yearling bulls, which reduced the feed bill and got the sires in the pasture and working sooner!

Always ready for the next challenge, Vern and Vicki purchased land and began their own herd in 1990 outside of Eureka, Kansas, and began marketing their bulls. Their daughter, Jessica, said, “Dad has always concentrated on breeding Brangus cattle that would be uniform in their kind while maintaining the great natural bredin positives found in the Brangus breed. Those positives included great mothering ability, vigorous calves, heat tolerance, bred-in insect resistance, resistance to fescue toxicity, and natural heterosis.”

Their son, Jared, said, “Starting with only 15 cows, it was a slow, methodical, and planned building process. Just two years after the ranch’s inception, they incorporated an embryo transfer program. But typical of Dad’s approach his whole life, he wasn’t content to just worry about his own

program. Since they had such a small herd to begin with, they worked to solidify relations with other small Brangus breeders throughout the Midwest and started developing and merchandising bulls together. The co-op model Mom and Dad began employing in the early ‘90s is now a part of many large-scale purebred operations in America today, but Dad’s philosophy and approach was to help these small breeders advance.”

“I believe the most important part of any Brangus operation is to be involved with the association,” Vern said. During his tenure as IBBA president, he was instrumental in developing the Ultrablack program and has previously been recognized as Breeder of the Year as well, confirming his history and loyalty with the breed of cattle he has come to love.

His contributions to the breed continued when he was given the lead on forming GENETRUST, a program that consisted of several individual programs, with one philosophy and a united approach to breeding and merchandizing cattle.

“Through this successful program we took the same approach that we took with our own bull development center

and allowed not only partners of GENETRUST to sell their bulls and females, but also other breeders who were selling their cattle through these sales. This alliance lasted for 10 years when myself and others decided to split off and form GENEPLUS. It has been rewarding to see this new group succeed and raise the standard even higher on our selection process for sales,” Vern shared.

Pictured Left to Right: Joe Fuller, Jared Suhn, Jessica White, Vicky Suhn, Vern Suhn, Mike Weathers

When asked what this award means to him, Vern said, “I am humbled and honored to be recognized by my fellow breeders. It is a privilege to receive this award and stand beside others who have received this award, especially my mentor, Glenn Brinkman, who was the first recipient. I would also like to acknowledge my wife, Vicki and our children, Jared and Jessica, for their hard work and unwavering support in helping me attain our goals and the success we have achieved.”

Top Hand of the Year

“When you think of a top hand, it’s an individual who will get the job done and then some, without cutting corners,” Dr. Darrell Wilkes, IBBA executive vice president, said, “A top hand goes above and beyond in their service and that is absolutely true of this year’s winner, Mr. Brad Wright.” Brad is the founder and owner of Ranch Hand Analytics, LLC, a company focused on helping producers make data driven decisions. “Too many times, producers

breed as he has worked closely with the association to help build a new software program for registry and performance data tracking. Dr. Wilkes added that Brad has continually made himself available and provided sound advice throughout the process.

While Ranch Hand Analytics provides services for a number of breeds, Brad’s history and love is with the Brangus breed, which is why he has personally made himself available throughout the software building process.

He grew up around the breed, as his dad managed a Brangus operation and in college, and after graduation, Brad worked at Ultimate Genetics, a sister company to Camp Cooley, where he saw a number of Brangus sires and their impact. From 2010 – 2014 he worked at American Marketing Services where he managed Brangus sales and ultimately founded Ranch Hand Analytics in 2014.

“The thing I love about the Brangus breed is the innovation and drive for performance data. As a whole there are things we do, from ultrasound to total herd reporting, that are common nature to Brangus breeders that others are struggling with,” he shared, “The Brangus breed collects data very well and then makes decisions based on the performance data.”

collect data points because a breed association, marketing program, or public perception demanded it, but they never actually use the data to make their product and their program better,” Brad continued, “That is my real passion; utilizing all available information to help producers make management decisions that put their programs on the leading edge of the industry.”

Brad has used his passion to help further the Brangus

The impact Brad has had on the breed and the association’s work in collecting data has built a favorable reputation for him and Ranch Hand Analytics. Brangus members describe Brad as smart, confident, always there and admit they don’t know what they would do without him. Dr. Wilkes added that Brad is not intimated by “complicated” and is thankful for his dedication to furthering the Brangus breed and supporting Brangus breeders. Brad’s passion for the breed doesn’t start and stop with advising from a software aspect though, he has been an IBBA member for 13 years and served on several committees too.

It’s this level of service, loyalty and passion that led to the easy selection of Brad Wright as this year’s Top Hand of the Year.

Congratulations to Vern and Brad on their welldeserved awards.

Pictured Left to Right: Jeremy Jackson, Wade Fisher, and Brad Wright

EPD-OLOGY

Which EPD is best to predict calving ease?

by Darrell Wilkes, Ph.D., International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) executive vice president

I receive a lot of calls from producers seeking my opinion on whether or not a certain bull is safe to use on heifers. I suspect every IBBA member gets the same question on a regular basis. To add to the confusion, we publish two EPDs that relate to calving ease. IBBA and every other breed association publishes a BW EPD and an EPD for Calving Ease Direct (CED). A typical question is: “which EPD should I consider?” My answer is, BOTH. Another common question is: “what BW EPD will produce 70-lb calves?” My answer to that question is: I have absolutely no idea!

Birth Weight (BW) EPD is pretty well understood. It is expressed in pounds. Among Active Sires in the IBBA database, the range in BW EPD is from -10 to +10. Those are the extremes. If we look at the practical range of top 10% to bottom 10%, the range shrinks to a -1.3 on the low side to +2.5 on the high side. That creates a 3.8–lb difference in average progeny birth weight from the top 10% to the bottom 10%. Keep this in mind as we discuss Calving Ease Direct (CED).

Calving Ease Direct (CED) is expressed in percentage of unassisted births among first calf heifers. Among Active Sires in the IBBA database, the range in CED EPD is from +20 to -14. The practical range from the top 10% to the bottom 10% is from 5 to 2. Considering the extremes, where there is a 34 percentage point spread between the highest and lowest, this suggests that if you were calving two groups of 100 heifers, with each group bred to an extreme sire, you would assist 34 more births from one sire than from the other. If you assisted 0% of the births from the best calving ease sire, you would expect to assist 34% of the births from the worst calving ease sire.

It is important to understand the data that feeds into each of these EPDs. Birth weight is pretty obvious. Theoretically, every birth weight that is turned into the association is the result of a calf actually being weighed shortly after birth. It is naïve to think that this always happens. First, the little rascals are sometimes hard to catch after they’re 12

hours old and have learned how to use their legs. And second, some cows won’t let you handle their new baby long enough to get a weight. So, the weights are “estimated”. This is a simple fact of life and anyone who denies it has never calved out a group of cows. But, if the “estimates” are reasonable and if enough actual weights are turned in, the data will separate sires pretty well based on the weight differences among their calves.

Calving Ease Direct is another story. Unlike BW, it is easy to capture the data. It’s very simple: did you assist in the birthing process or not? The downside is that it does not differentiate between a stressful birth in the middle of the night that took 4 hours from water-break-to-birth compared to a birth that was over and done 30-minutes after waterbreak. If neither was assisted, then they get the same calving ease score. So, just like birth weight, calving ease data has its flaws.

The only DIRECT data used for the CED EPD are calving ease scores on first calf heifers. So, if a sire is never used on first calf heifers he will have no DIRECT data for this trait. His CED EPD will be driven entirely by his BW EPD and the actual heifer calving ease data from his relatives.

Birth weight and calving ease are highly correlated. Lighter calves will be born with less difficulty than heavier calves. Nobody debates that. But every breeder has observed situations where 80-lb calves from one sire are born easier than 70-lb calves from another. Conventional wisdom says it is due to calf “shape”, and that’s probably true. I once had a professor who held a theory that some fetuses send a stronger hormonal

signal to the dam that hastens and improves dilation. Better dilation, less maternal stress, easier birth – it makes sense, but who knows? It just happens. The fact is that there is variation and we cannot scientifically explain all of it.

I advise producers searching for a “heifer bull” to consider both the BW EPD and the CED EPD because it factors in both kinds of data – actual birth weights and calving ease scores. From my perspective, there is not a magic dividing line between a “heifer bull” and a bull that should not be used on heifers. In large measure, it depends on the heifers and how well developed they are when they have their first calf. If someone tells me that they “rough” their heifers and they weigh 900-lbs when they calve, I will first congratulate them on getting the heifers pregnant in the first place, then wish them luck getting the heifers re-bred, and then will advise them to find a bull in the top 10-15% of the breed for both BW and CED. If the heifers are aggressively developed and will weight 1250 when they calve, I advise producers to select bulls in the top third of the breed for both EPDs. Finally, the best advise I can give anybody when it comes to breeding heifers is to A.I. them to a proven calving ease bull and spend a little extra money on clean-up bulls with the right EPDs.

Gillespie County Ranch Tops San Antonio All Breeds Sale

A Gillespie County ranch, Cross F Cattle, produced the Champion Brangus bull at the recent 2023 San Antonio Livestock Exposition Annual All Breeds Sale.

The Champion Brangus Bull and third best bull over all breeds was produced by Cross F Cattle, Willow City, Texas. Taking the honors was CFC Big Lake 19J, a March 2021, son of BWCC Big Lake 111F4. Second high selling bull honors went to another Cross F bull, CFC Big Lake 30J5, purchased by Gary Wente Cattle Company, San Saba, Texas.

Cross F Cattle has over 40 years of experience in the Brangus breed producing both purebred cattle and bulls for the commercial industry. Cross F uses both tried and true ranching practices along with the most modern production techniques, including embryo transfer, DNA testing, and ultrasound performance measurements to produce to quality genetics. Cross F Cattle is owned by Joe and Melanie Fuller along with Ben and Trisha Fuller.

UPDATE from the Field

by Kyle Caldwell, Director of Field Services and Strategic Projects

Spring sale season is now in full swing, and we have certainly been busy! Since my last field update, I have been visiting producers in Florida and Georgia, attending the HLSR open show, IBBA committee meetings, and some of the first spring Brangus sales. First, I spent time traveling around Florida making stops at Fenco Farms in Floral City and Phillips Ranch in Bunnell. For those that have visited one or both operations before, they are both beyond impressive. Clay Cooper, manager at Fenco Farms, was kind enough to show me around the ranch. Fenco is an extremely thorough operation when it comes to data collection. From the time a calf hits the ground to the time it is hung in a cooler, if there is a data point to be measured, rest assured it has been meticulously recorded. This commitment to excellence shows in the type, quality, and functionality of the cattle that roam the pastures at Fenco. My next stop in the sunshine state took me to Phillips Ranch, which might just be one of the most beautiful and expansive, yet easily navigable ranches in the southeast. The real draw, however, is not the paved roads, beautiful entertainment spaces, or the rich, cedarscented sale facility. It is the mustachioed IBBA President, Rob Singleton, and the ultra-maternal cows and well-balanced bulls he and his crew manage. Be sure to come out and see the ranch and cattle in person on Saturday May 6th for the second annual Phillips Ranch spring sale. Daytona Beach and Disney World

aren’t too far away either, so bring your spouse, your kids, and your checkbook because you don’t want to miss it. I then headed north to L.G. Herndon Jr. Farms in Lyons, Georgia. Manager Kevin Asbury introduced me to one of the bulls they co-own with Pinnacle Cattle Company, Pinnacle Rejuvenator 420H2. Rejuvenator is unique in that he is easily one of the tightest sheathed, neatest fronted R bulls in a mobile, balanced package. My last visit for the week brought me to Cold Creek Ranch in Butler, GA, now managed by Sean Davis, son of longtime Brangus breeders Tom and Betty Davis. In addition to managing Cold Creek Ranch, Sean is also managing another up-and-coming Brangus ranch down the road, Critter Fixer Cattle Company, owned by Dr. Vernard Hodges co-star of the Disney+ series Critter Fixers. Sean is a student of the game and his passion for cattle is plain to see. I look forward to seeing more of Sean and the Cold Creek and Critter Fixers crew down the road.

I ended the week at Hunt’s H+ Brangus and Ultrablack bull sale held in Calhoun, GA. The Hunt’s put together an outstanding offering of bulls and commercial females. In speaking with some of the attendees, it is apparent the level of trust and loyalty the Hunt family has instilled in their customer base over the course of many years. Customer confidence is a badge of honor for the Hunt family, and the old adage, “They come for the cattle and stay for the customer service” is well-displayed.

The Houston Livestock Show was up next, chock-full of board

and committee meetings and showcasing the upper echelon of Brangus show cattle. Across the board in every division from Blacks to Reds to Ultras, quality genetics were on full display. But in my opinion, the real showstoppers for the week were the outstanding Genetic Edge and IBBF Embryo Auctions. The Genetic Edge sale brought in a record breaking $700,000 for an average of $15,218 per lot! The IBBF Embryo Sale also brought in $100,000 with all proceeds going toward Foundation research initiatives. For those that placed bids and purchased lots in both sales, I would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU!

Next, I attended the Cavender-Draggin’ M and Partners Spring Bull Sale and the Mound Creek Prime Time Genetics and Genomics Spring Bull and Female Sale. Both outfits had a great turnout and started the spring sale season off with a bang. I also had the chance to make it down to the inaugural

Red Alliance Sale hosted at Villa Ranch. I think fellow Brangus breeder Mike Shelton said it best, “Those females would make you want to get in the Red Brangus business if you weren’t already.” If you were not able to make it to these sales this year, do not miss your chance next year.

To finish up March, I will be at the TSCRA Convention, followed by the Oklahoma Brangus Sale, the Suhn Cattle Company Spring Sale hosted at Chimney Rock Cattle Company, and the Superior Livestock Gulf Coast Classic in Natchitoches, LA. In April, you can catch me at a tour of the Cargill Innovation Center in Wichita, KS as a part of the IJBBA Legacy Conference, the ACE Cattle sale at Wiley Ranch on April 15th, the CDP Spring Female Sale on April 23rd, and the Oak Creek Farms bull sale on April 29th.

I look forward to seeing everyone again as spring sale season kicks into high gear. Go Brangus!

JAKE WHITE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTRuss Williamson

by Lea Stokes

The recipient of this year’s Jake White Lifetime Achievement award has walked hundreds of miles in show rings across the United States showing Brangus cattle. Similar to Jake White, with each passing decade, it became physically more difficult but he always entered the ring with pride and confidence.

Many would say this year’s recipient is a man of deep character, a huge heart, a giant love for Brangus, and that he works too dang hard.

Russ Williamson of Skyhawk Brangus is recognized as the third recipient of this prestigious award. Raised in Indiana on the family farm he showed steers growing up, Williamson joined the United States Marine Corps as an Aviation Cadet in September 1962 and served his country flying missions in both North and South Vietnam. He retired as a Colonel after dedicating 26 years of service. A decorated airman, Williamson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 23 Air Medals, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Following his military career he went on to work as a commercial pilot having flown for Braniff International Airways and US Airways retiring in 2002.

In 1980, Williamson purchased his first ranch near Athens, Texas, and named it Skyhawk in honor of his love for aviation. Today Williamson and his wife, Pam, own and operate Skyhawk Brangus located near Tyler, Texas. Williamson

The Jake White Lifetime Achievement award was instituted in 2020 by the IBBA show committee to recognize an individual who has dedicated years to promoting and exhibiting Brangus cattle. The award is given in honor of Jake White, a legendary cattleman, master animal breeder, successful cattle judge, showman and herdsman who was well respected across all breeds of cattle.

has been a member of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) for more than 30 years and at one time he managed approximately 200 head of registered Brangus cattle. The Skyhawk team has been actively involved in the show circuit, winning many awards for their accomplishments

in the show ring. In 2011 Williamson was recognized by his peers as the IBBA Herdsman of the Year and then again in 2015 he and Pam were awarded the same award together.

The Skyhawk show string could be found in the show barn at every state, regional and

national Brangus show. If there were a Brangus show the Williamsons would be there to promote Skyhawk Brangus but more importantly to them, they were there to promote the breed as a whole. For this reason and many more, they have always been barn favorites. “From the day that Russ started showing cattle, he set an example of work

ethic and a ‘can do’ positive attitude toward the Brangus breed,” said Myron Saathoff, friend and fellow recipient of this award. “This, in addition to their love for junior exhibitors, has earned them the respect and admiration of every exhibitor, plus guests visiting the show barn.” Saathoff went on to say, “In all the years they have been showing, I have never heard anything but high praise for Russ and Pam. That is especially rare in a show barn. More importantly, you cannot discuss anything about the Williamsons without saying Russ AND Pam. They are truly a team and very, very good friends of mine!”

Williamson is also passionate about the youth in the Brangus breed. He has taught and helped countless young men and women how to feed, care for, groom, show and promote Brangus cattle.

Many Brangus breeders strive to have that one special bull, one that’s recognized across the breed and continents by merely his name. Williamson was fortunate to have one. Skyhawk was home to the world-famous Brangus bull Presidente. Presidente was a many-time champion including Grand Champion at the Dixie National Show and San Antonio Livestock Show in 2007 and 2008. Presidente was the IBBA Summit Champion Individual Bull and the “Peoples Choice” bull at the Summit. He won the senior division at the 2008 Houston Livestock.

Presidente was the 2008 IBBA Show Bull of the Year and was named Show Sire of the Year for an unprecedented seven years, more than any other bull in the breed.

“Russ is a longtime friend and a steady fixture in the Brangus breed. He has worked his tail off promoting Brangus. He has always been very dedicated and successful in displaying and marketing his product,” said Gary Bruns, a longtime Brangus breeder.

Skyhawk Brangus has had numerous bull and female sales throughout the years. Since retiring from aviation in 2002, Williamson advanced his program with artificial insemination and embryo production using the best bulls and females in the breed. Williamson believes in offering bulls that are raised slower with harder muscle and not much fat. He hand feeds his bulls a high fiber ration twice a day for two reasons, one to control the intake amount and the second to get the bulls used to interact with people. Their last public offering was in December 2019 when they held their Reduction Sale. Since then they have been marketing their cattle at consignment sales and private treaty.

Williamson is a past board member of the IBBA and unselfishly served the Texas Brangus Breeders Association for decades in many capacities including president, board member and sale chairman.

“If you needed a picture for a dictionary to describe each of these words Tough, Hardworking, Loving, Friend, Integrity, Honest, Humble and Fair, it would be a picture of Russ. My life is better having Russ as a friend,” says Gina Gill, Brangus breeder, friend and neighbor.

Russ Williamson is a man who has quietly worked for Brangus both in and out of the show ring for more than 30 years and has never asked for anything in return. He is the 2023 Jake White Lifetime Achievement award recipient and an unsung hero in the Brangus breed.

ORDERYOUR SEMENTODAY!

ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG BREEDING BULLS IN BRANGUS

CB PARAMOUNT 7139H2

REG. #UB10445139

He is an elite growth bull ranking in the breed’s top 1% for WW and YW with big carcass values and pleasing birth and calving ease. Best of all he consistently adds bone and looseness and can be used on tighter and finer made females.

THESE ARE AMONGST HIS FIRST CALVES AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED!

VIEW OUR FULL 2023 SEMEN DIRECTORY CDPBRANGUS.COM

OWNED BY:

SEMEN AVAILABLE THROUGH: REGISTERED

SEMEN: $75 | COMMERCIAL SEMEN: $25

SELLING APRIL22!

MASTERPIECE DOES MORE THINGS RIGHT

CB MASTERPIECE 2051F

REG.

#UB10383790

He is a near perfect combination of calving ease, explosive growth, incredible carcass credentials and impeccable fertility values.

He boasts 14 EPD traits ranking in the breed’s top 15% or greater.

His Angus dam in the Brangus data base posts an impressive array of 14 EPD traits ranking in the breed’s top 10% or greater.

His Angus dam posts top 1% CED and BW, 5% $E, 10% DMI and 35% marbling as an eleven year old dam in the Angus data base.

Cavender Ranches has 22 full and maternal sibs to Masterpiece retained in the herd.

His dam has generated over $185,000 in progeny sales for Cavender Brangus.

He ranks in the top 5 in semen sales for 2022 at CDP. 10 progeny averaged $9,125 in the 2022 CDP Fall Production Sale.

He is a maternal brother to CB Growth Fund 2051G11.

PROTECTING THE BUSINESS CATTLEFAX TRENDS

The feeder and calf markets have made a significant push higher not only to start 2023 but over the last few years as the prospect of tighter supplies comes to fruition. Many producers eagerly await the further advancements in prices likely to occur as the middle of the decade approaches and cattle inventories decline further into 2024 and 2025, at least. It is easy to get excited about the market when it enters a bull cycle, but that doesn’t take away from the importance of managing risk. Prices can move rapidly when a trend takes hold, which bodes well for the time being and may allow for a less aggressive risk management approach as the long-term price trend remains higher. But on the other side of the cycle, do not underestimate the speed of the correction and how quickly margin can vanish. Prices are expected to advance considerably in the coming years with sale barns across the country already reporting some lots of feeders selling above $1,600 per head. The potential for feeders to sell between $1,800$2,200 per head or more is not out of the question. While prices have the potential to establish new records given the fundamental outlook, it is important to keep risk in perspective with no shortage of lessons to draw from. The frequency of black swan events since 2019 and overarching economic turbulence in 2023 alone serve as no small reminder that risk is never zero and rallies are never guaranteed.

Nevertheless, aggressive risk management strategies can be limiting to margins when prices are on the rise. In situations where the market bias is higher, risk management tools like options and Livestock Risk Protection insurance (LRP) are well suited to provide baseline protection and peace of mind while keeping the topside open for further price increases. The price dynamics from 2009-2016 illustrate how feeder cattle and calf values changed considerably during the previous cattle cycle. Record prices were established across the cattle complex in the fall of 2014, but the

transition to the expansion environment and larger supplies is clear. The $60/cwt spread between the 2015 and 2016 annual average 800-pound steer price equates to $480/head difference in revenue. However, the annual average is deceptive and masks the rate of decline from 2014 to 2015 alone.

Upon further examination, the price decline in the CME Feeder Cattle Index from the December 2014 high of $244.83/cwt to the October 2016 low of $120.66/cwt accounts for a nearly $1,000 per head decline in the value of a feeder steer in less than two years. Without risk management, that’s $100,000 in lost revenue per 100 head.

Having a risk management plan that takes a disciplined approach to adding coverage depending on underlying market fundamentals, technical signals, and an individual’s risk tolerance serves as an asset that can protect the business from substantial changes in price dynamics.

It’s easy to look back and see what should have been done. Acting with foresight and doing what needs to be done in real time proves more challenging. Establishing a risk management plan well ahead of time that outlines action that will be taken under specified circumstances yields an executable strategy.

For example, a producer might ask themselves at what margin above a breakeven are they comfortable locking in a sale price? It may be $100 per head, $200 per head, and there will be some that are willing to accept the risk of solely participating in the cash market. Not only does this include specific areas where coverage will be added but should also incorporate an exit strategy when using futures, especially if the market moves against the hedge position.

This year the fall feeder cattle futures have provided an apt example as to why being short feeder futures in a higher trending market can leave potential margin on the table. From January 4th to February 22nd the September feeder cattle contract traded a $7/cwt range, from $205-$212/cwt. Considering the 550-pound calves over the same period averaged $215/cwt for

using futures can be expensive.

Alternative methods including options and Livestock Risk Protection insurance can provide a method to manage risk without limiting upside price potential. Buying feeder cattle put options gives the purchaser the right but not the obligation to be short futures at the strike price. Purchasing a September feeder cattle put at $212 would cost around $6.80/cwt or $3,400 per 50,000 pounds. This would essentially establish a price floor at $205.20/cwt when subtracting the cost of the premium and would not result in margin payment if September futures expire above the strike price. However, it does leave the topside open for price advancement in the cash market, after accounting for regional and quality basis differences.

a purchase cost of $1,182/head, and assuming 250 pounds of gain over the summer at $225/head puts total cost around $1,407. With September futures trading between $205-$212, producers had the opportunity to lock in $1,640-$1,700/head in revenue on an 800-pound steer, or an estimated margin between $240$300/head.

However, feeder futures continued to advance from late February into early March, establishing contract highs at $222.48/cwt. Attempting to pick the highs to hedge is not the most realistic strategy but paying margin calls and losing out on an additional revenue can lead to seller remorse. Locking in a profitable margin, especially to the tune of $200-$300/head certainly isn’t a bad decision, but at this stage in the cycle hedging cattle

Purchasing LRP insurance is very similar to purchasing a put option to establish a floor price, with the added advantage that the cost of the premium is subsidized depending on the percentage of coverage purchased. Coverage levels range between 70 to 100 percent while the subsidy rate ranges from 55 to 35 percent and decreases as the coverage level increases. Additionally, LRP contracts are written on a head count basis, whereas feeder cattle options contracts specify 50,000 pounds. An essential component to understand is that LRP policies are settled against the CME Feeder Cattle Index, not the price received for cattle marketed. For more information regarding LRP insurance, read the June 2022 issue of Trends or contact an insurance agent that specializes in selling LRP policies. Managing risk is neither easy nor perfect but performing due diligence analysis on the tools available to protect your bottom line can make all the difference when volatility and unpredictable price risk strike. After all, the most important thing about a business is staying in business and the revenue that almost was doesn’t pay the bills.

Keep a close eye on fundamentals in the coming years in order to gauge the impact the coming expansion will have on cattle supplies and price. The percent of the cowherd in drought, percentage of heifers of feeder and calf sales, and heifers as a percentage of fed slaughter will be key metrics to determine when the industry enters expansion. At the end of the day, if and when to implement a risk management strategy is a judgement operators have to make when the right answer isn’t always clear.

Blackwater Ranch

Cross F Cattle

Hardee Farms

Mound Creek Ranch

Bar X Brangus, The Cowan Family

Darren & Carrie Lee Baxley

Belt Brangus, Brandon Belt

Chimney Rock Cattle Company, Bill Davis

Cross N Farm, Randy & Samantha Nugent

Draggin’ M Ranch, John Milam

Fenco Farms, Jim Fenton

Giffin Brangus, Anthony Giffin

Grassy Lake Cattle Company, Randy Malouf

Leto Farm, Frank Johnston

Mound Creek Ranches, Eddie Blazek

Phillips Ranch, Tim Phillips

TTT Ranches Inc., Nolan Trice

Vanna Farms, Lee McGarity

WD Ranch Services

move our breed forward.

Thank you Mark Cowan and Tracy Holbert for collecting the embryo donations and to the organizers and consignors of the Genetic Edge for allowing the IBBF tag on to this elite sale!

The International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF) hosted a very successful embryo auction during the Houston Brangus activities. The IBBF raised $100,000! Funds raised will be invested in research to

National SOE Point Show

February 2023 | Tampa, Florida | Judge: Dr. Jon DeClerk, Texas

Female divisions

Junior Heifer Calf Champion: KK Miss Rizzo

157K5, Railee Steele, Gainesville, FL

Reserve Junior Heifer Calf Champion: 3B Ms G2

889K1, Brianna Zubieta, Reddick, FL

Senior Heifer Calf Champion: LB Ms. Opal

1252J1, Lettelier Brangus, Citra, FL

Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion: CT Ms Crosscut 698J, Brittany Steele, Lakeland, FL

Summer Champion Heifer: TCR Belinda 302J8, Railee Steele, Gainesville, FL

Reserve Summer Champion Heifer: VCC Auora, Isabella Carrillo, Okeechobee, FL

Yearling Champion Heifer: MSC Ms Dinero Luna 27J11, Brianna Zubieta, Reddick, FL

Reserve Yearling Champion Heifer: MSC Ms Dinero Willow 129J25, Brianna Zubieta, Reddick, FL

red Female divisions

Red Junior Heifer Calf Champion: M&M 98K, Hannah Stegall, Lake Wales, FL

Red Reserve Junior Heifer Calf Champion: Marvel's Ruby Tuesday 222, Marvel Farms, High Springs, FL

Red Senior Heifer Calf Champion: M&M 844/ J1, Madison Stokes, Lake Wales, FL

Red Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion: M&M 10J, Brittany Steele, Lakeland, FL

Red Summer Heifer Champion: M&M 198/J, Federico Gonzalez Reyna, Dade City, FL

Red Yearling Champion Heifer: M&M 844/J, Payge Dupre, Kathleen, FL

Red Reserve Yearling Champion Heifer: Marvel’s Miami Jewel 221, Marvel Farms, High Springs, FL

Grand Champion Female TCr Belinda 302J8

Railee Steele, Gainesville, Florida

reserve Champion red Female m&m 844/J1 Madison Stokes, Lake Wales, Florida

Grand Champion red Cow-CalF pair marvels Goldie Girl 1319 marvel Farms, hiGh sprinGs, Florida

reserve Champion Female lB ms opal 1252J1 Lettelier Brangus, Citra, Florida

Grand Champion Cow-CalF pair KK miss annie 148h4 Railee Steele, Gainesville, Florida

Grand Champion red Female m&m 844/J Payge Dupre, Kathleen, Florida

reserve Grand Champion Cow-CalF pair mCC miss risinG sTar 722h Kaylee Mixon, Waverly, Florida

reserve Champion red Cow-CalF pair marvels sweeT FanCY 116 marvel Farms, hiGh sprinGs, Florida

Grand Champion Bull

mr CheeCho 767J5

Rilee Bennett, Lake Wales, Florida

reserve Champion Bull

lB mr BlaCK smoKe 55K

Lettelier Brangus, Citra, Florida

red Bull divisions

Red Junior Bull Calf Champion: M&M 237K, Hannah Stegall, Lake Wales, FL

Red Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champion:

MARVEL'S Kalel Pride 1922, Marvel Farms, High Springs, FL

Red Senior Bull Calf Champion: M&M Mr Turbo 844/J2, Rilee Bennett, Lake Wales, FL

Red Yearling Champion Bull: Marvel’s Mr Cruz, Kinley Ward, Christmas, FL

Red Reserve Yearling Champion Bull: TR JE

Omega Red 616J, Madyson Carter, Haines City, FL

Group divisions

Champion Produce of Dam:

Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

Champion Junior Get of Sire: Casey Delona Harper, Haines City, FL

Champion Senior Get of Sire:

Casey Delona Harper, Haines City, FL

Grand Champion red Bull m&m 237K

Hannah Stegall, Lake Wales, Florida

Bull divisions

Junior Bull Calf Champion: LB Mr. Black Smoke 55K, Lettelier Brangus, Citra, FL

Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champion: VCC CoJo, Isabella Carrillo, Okeechobee, FL

Senior Bull Calf Champion: VCC Encanto, Isabella Carrillo, Okeechobee, FL

Summer Champion Bull: CT Mr. Tramp 814J, Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

reserve Champion red Bull

marvels Kalel pride 1922 Marvel Farms, High Springs, Florida

Reserve Summer Champion Bull: KDC Stunner Walks Alone 284J, Kyleigh Criswell, Lake Wales, FL

Yearling Champion Bull: Mr MS Cheecho 767J5, Rilee Bennett, Lake Wales, FL

Reserve Yearling Champion Bull: HCT Mr Lamberts Callum, Casey Delona Harper, Haines City, FL

Champion Breeders Herd: Isabella Carrillo, Okeechobee, FL

Red Champion Produce of Dam: Payge Dupre, Kathleen, FL

Red Champion Junior Get of Sire: Marvel Farms, High Springs, FL

Ultra Champion Produce of Dam: Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

Ultra Champion Breeders Herd: Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

National SOE Point Show

February 2023 | Tampa, Florida | Judge: Dr. Jon DeClerk, Texas

CT ms FinleY 108J2

Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, Florida

Madilyn

reserve

Bull CT mr ForBes 108K2

Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, Florida

ulTra Female divisions:

Ultra Junior Heifer Calf Champion: MNR Ms Shakira 617K2, Kathleen, FL

Ultra Reserve Junior Heifer Calf Champion: MNR Ms Rita 535K2, Payge Dupre, Kathleen, FL

Ultra Senior Heifer Calf Champion: CT Ms. Finley 108J2, Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

Ultra Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion: CAPO Ms Cash Flor 362J, Emily Stokes, Lake Wales, FL

ms speCial ladY 814G

Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, Florida

Ultra Yearling Champion Heifer: GCC HF MS Atlanta 607J, Chesney Doney, Ocala, FL

Ultra Reserve Yearling Champion Heifer: Capo Ms Abstract 416J, Brianna Zubieta, Reddick, FL

ulTra Bull divisions:

Ultra Junior Bull Calf Champion: CT Mr. Forbes 108K2, Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

KYleiGh 1374

Jayden Black, Lakeland, Florida

Ultra Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champion: MNR Mr Merle 535K3, Payge Dupre, Kathleen, FL

Ultra Senior Bull Calf Champion: CT Mile Marker 242J, Carlee Taylor, Lakeland, FL

Ultra Senior Champion Bull: ZF Pride of Low Nuff, Brianna Zubieta, Reddick, FL

Grand Champion ulTra Female

Champion ulTra

reserve Champion ulTra Female mnr ms shaKira 617K2

Nichols, Kathleen, Florida

Grand Champion ulTra Cow-CalF pair CT

Grand Champion ulTra Bull ZF pride oF low nuFF

Brianna Zubieta, Reddick, Florida

reserve Champion ulTra Cow-CalF pair CT ms

National SOE Point Show

March 2023 | Houston, Texas | Judge: Dave Allan, Nocona, Texas | Photography: Next Level Images

Female divisions

Junior Heifer Calf Champion: RAFTER L VEGA

JO 157K4, Lucherk Cattle, McCoy, TX

Reserve Junior Heifer Calf Champion: MP MISS

FORGET ME NOT 150K8, MP Brangus, Waco, TX

Senior Heifer Calf Champion: MP MS

MIDNIGHT STAR 804J38, MP Brangus, Waco, TX

Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion: TCR REINA 302J14, Triple Crown Ranch, Angleton, TX

marvel's Goldie Girl 1319

Marvel Farms, High Springs, Florida

Summer Champion Heifer: TCR BELINDA 302J8, Railee Steele, Gainesville, FL

Reserve Summer Champion Heifer: MISS BH

KEEVIE 302J, Briana Hicks, Danbury, TX

Yearling Champion Heifer: MP MISS SWEET

HONEY 150J9, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Reserve Yearling Champion Heifer: GT MS

TANK 804J4, Eris Basey, Florence, TX

Senior Champion Heifer: MP MISS SWEETIE

38H42, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Reserve Senior Champion Heifer: ACC HELEN 674H10, Briana Hicks, Danbury, TX

red Female divisions

Red Junior Heifer Calf Champion: SJCC KRYMSIN 72K4, Trademark Genetics, Hempstead, TX

Red Reserve Junior Heifer Calf Champion: TAJO CATALINA 59K5, Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX, Truitt Marks, Waxahachie, Texas, KO’s Cattle Service, Waxahachie, TX

Red Senior Heifer Calf Champion: TAJO MS ADELLA 204J9, Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX, KO’s Cattle Service, Waxahachie, TX

Red Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion: MS SENDERO JLO 59J2, Sendero Red Brangus, Laredo, Texas, TRIO Cattle & Genetics, Mabank, TX

Red Summer Champion Heifer: CX MS DH'S CHI CHI 59J3, Cox Excalibur Brangus, Weimar, TX

Grand Champion Female mp miss sweeT honeY 150J9 GKB Cattle, Desdemona, Texas

reserve Champion red Female sJCC KrYmsin 72K4 Trademark Genetics, Hempstead, Texas

Grand Champion red Cow-CalF pair Kwm miss anGelina Kayden Mascheck, Eagle Lake, tx

reserve Champion Female mp ms midniGhT sTar 804J38 MP Brangus, Waco, Texas

Grand Champion Cow-CalF pair 3B miss laura 804h3 Blayze Saltzman, Iowa, Louisiana

Grand Champion red Female GKB miss velveT 204J8 GKB Cattle, Desdemona, Texas

reserve Grand Champion Cow-CalF pair KK miss annie 148h4 Railee Steele, Gainesville, Florida

reserve Champion red Cow-CalF pair

Grand Champion Bull

mp mr maGnum 804J65 MP Brangus, Waco, Texas

reserve Champion Bull

GKB perFeCT sTorm 804h20

GKB Cattle, Desdemona, Texas

red Bull divisions

Red Junior Bull Calf Champion: BROKEN

A MAVERICK 841K2, Broken A Ranch, Madisonville, TX

Red Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champion: TAJO NIGHT CAP 307K2, Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX, KO’s Cattle Service, Waxahachie, TX

Red Senior Bull Calf Champion: GCC

JEFE GRANDE 225J1, Greenwood Cattle Company, Plantersville, TX, KO’s Cattle Service, Waxahachie, TX

Red Reserve Senior Bull Calf Champion: M&M

MR TURBO 844/J2, FA Cattle, Lake Wales, FL

Red Summer Champion Bull: VILLA'S

VALENTINO 59J14, Villa Ranch, Brookshire, TX

Red Reserve Summer Champion Bull: DOS

XX'S DYNAMITE'S ROCK, Dos XX’s Cattle Company, Washington, TX

Red Yearling Champion Bull: CX FOREVER

HARLEY 74J, Cox Excalibur Brangus, Weimar, TX

Red Reserve Yearling Champion Bull: CX

Grand Champion red Bull

BroKen a GKB valdeZ 841h

GKB Cattle, Desdemona, Texas

Broken A Ranch, Madisonville, Texas

Red Reserve Summer Champion Heifer: KTS

MS STELLA 800J, Truitt Marks, Waxahachie, TX, KO’s Cattle Service, Waxahachie, TX

Red Yearling Champion Heifer: GKB MISS

VELVET 204J8, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Red Reserve Yearling Champion Heifer: TAJO

MS KENA 307J4, Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX, KO’s Cattle Service, Waxahachie, TX

Red Senior Champion Heifer: MS BROKEN

A HARLOW 841H4, Lazy 3 Cattle, Tomball, TX, Circle T, Central Point, Louisiana, Lone Star Ranch, Okeechobee, FL

Bull divisions

Junior Bull Calf Champion: ORIGINS KNOCK

OUT 302K2, Orgin’s Ranch, Houston, TX, MP

Brangus, Waco, TX

reserve Champion red Bull

BroKen a maveriCK 841K2

Broken A Ranch, Madisonville, Texas

Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champion: BB CROSS

CANADIAN 150K3, Burns Brangus, Wharton, TX

Senior Bull Calf Champion: ACC ASTRO 674J11, Allen Cattle Company, Crockett, TX

Reserve Senior Bull Calf Champion: ACC HIGH FIVE 674J15, Allen Cattle Company, Crockett, TX

Summer Champion Bull: 6B JOHN BOY

804J10, Eris Basey, Florence, TX

Yearling Champion Bull: MP MR MAGNUM

804J65, MP Brangus, Waco, TX

Reserve Yearling Champion Bull: MC FULL RANGE 628J, Mill Creek Land & Cattle, Puryear, TN

Senior Champion Bull: GKB PERFECT STORM 804H20, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

HOMBRE'S HOME RUN 59J10, Cox Excalibur Brangus, Weimar, TX

Red Senior Champion Bull: BROKEN A GKB

VALDEZ 841H, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, Texas, Broken A Ranch, Madisonville, TX

Red Reserve Senior Champion Bull: PCC

TRIO'S FFF HURACAN 101H3, TRIO Cattle & Genetics, Mabank, TX, Genetica Triple F, Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, MBJ Ranch, Wharton, TX, Sendero Red Brangus, Laredo, TX

Group divisions

Champion Produce of Dam:

Orgin’s Ranch, Houston, TX

Champion Breeders Herd:

Triple Crown Ranch, Angleton, TX

Red Champion Produce of Dam:

Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX

Red Champion Junior Get of Sire:

Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX

Red Champion Senior Get of Sire:

GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Red Champion Breeders Herd:

Tajo Ranch, Waller, TX

Ultra Champion Produce of Dam:

Wyman Creek Cattle, Summersville, MO

Ultra Champion Senior Get of Sire: Wyman Creek Cattle, Summersville, MO

Ultra Champion Breeders Herd: Wyman Creek Cattle, Summersville, MO

National SOE Point Show

ulTra Female divisions:

Ultra Junior Heifer Calf Champion: GKB DIXIE

LADY 436K7, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Ultra Reserve Junior Heifer Calf Champion: MC

MOCKINGBIRD 95K3, Mill Creek Land & Cattle, Puryear, TN

Ultra Senior Heifer Calf Champion: GKB MISS

BELLA 118J, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Ultra Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion: CT MS FINLEY 108J2, TaylorMade Cattle Co., Lakeland, FL

Ultra Summer Champion Heifer: MGS TRIO'S

JABELLA 700J, Perry Cattle Co., Pearland, TX, Corbyn Whittall, Mabank, TX Trio Cattle & Genetics, Mabank, TX

Ultra Reserve Summer Champion Heifer: GKB

SQ AVEN 302J, Madelyn Eskew, Tarzan, TX

Ultra Yearling Champion Heifer: OCR PARTY

LINE 487J, Old Colita Ranch, Houston, TX, Allen Cattle Co, Crockett, TX

TaylorMade

ulTra Bull divisions:

Ultra Junior Bull Calf Champion: SCCC

KADILLAC 804K, Roxton Stone, Stanton, TX

Ultra Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champion: WC UB KINGFISHER 512K, Wyman Creek Cattle, Summersville, MO, Mill Creek Land & Cattle, Puryear, TN

Ultra Senior Bull Calf Champion: CHAMP MR LIMITLESS 150J7, Champions Valley Brangus, Schulenburg, TX

Ultra Reserve Senior Bull Calf Champion: DR MR FIREBALL 19/1, Reifel Cattle, Alvin, TX

Ultra Summer Champion Bull: DIAMOND JV JOKER 23J, Cheyene Durheim, Spring, TX

Ultra Yearling Champion Bull: 3B MR. CREW 804J1, Blayze Saltzman, Iowa, LA

Ultra Senior Champion Bull: MC RANGER 924H9, GKB Cattle, Desdemona, TX

Grand Champion ulTra Female oCr parTY line 487J

Old Colita Ranch, Houston, Texas Allen Cattle Co, Crockett, Texas

reserve Champion ulTra Bull sCCC KadillaC 804K

Roxton Stone, Stanton, Texas

reserve Champion ulTra Female GKB diXie ladY 436K7 GKB Cattle, Desdemona, Texas

Grand Champion ulTra pair CT ms speCial ladY 814G

Cattle Co., Lakeland, Fl

March 2023 | Houston, Texas | Judge: Dave Allan, Nocona, Texas | Photography: Next Level Images

Grand Champion ulTra Bull mC ranGer 924h9 GKB Cattle, Desdemona, tx

reserve Grand Champion ulTra pair CT ms KYleiGh 137h TaylorMade Cattle Co., Lakeland, Fl

SALESummaries

Genetic Edge Sale

March 4, 2023 | Houston, TX

CUT ABOVE SALE, CULLMAN, AL – APRIL 30, 2022

59 Brangus & Ultra lots grossed $239,350 to average $4,057

11 commercial lots grossed $11,200 to average $1,018

The total sale grossed $250,550

6 - sets of Embryos grossed $25,750, to average $4,292

3 -3-N-1 grossed $13,950, to average $4,650

7 - bred cows grossed $25,400 to average $3,629

14 – bred heifers grossed $42,350 to average $3,025

11 – pairs grossed $74,500 to average $6,773

20 – open heifers grossed $50,250 to average $2,512

2 – bulls grossed $7,150 to average $3,575

Buyers from 6 states were on hand to compete for the high quality lots consigned by 20 breeders across the Southeast. The highest selling lot MS. Boulder 000F16 with a heifer calf at her side, consigned by Vanna Farms, was purchased by L & K Farms for $26,000.

hiGh sellinG Bred Females

Lot 14

BWCC Ms Rugby 313F sold for $39,000 to Midsouth Cattle & Riverbend Brangus

125 Registered Lots grossed $723,250 to average $5,786

Commercial Females

324 Commercial pairs with Brangus and Ultrablack calves at side grossed $890,500 to average $2,748

59 Brangus and Super Baldy Bred Heifers grossed $140,950 to average $2,389

66 Open Brangus Heifers grossed $140,050 to average $2,122

449 Commercial Females grossed $1,171,500 to average $2,609

hiGh sellinG open heiFers

Lot 33

CFC Miss Big Town 803K11 sold for $10,000 to Debbi Holmes Stockstill in Virgil,SD

163 buyers from 12 states and Mexico were greeted by pleasant spring weather, mild temperature and welcoming hospitality from the hosts at Cavenders Neches River Ranch.

Lot 35

Marvel’s Miss Karamel 1022 sold for $15,000 to Red Bud Farms of Ben Lomond, AR

The volume buyer was Eagle Ridge Farms, Cottondale, Al -purchased 12 lots

Lot 24

All consigners and buyers are greatly appreciated. The 2023 Cut Above Sale will be in Cullman, AL on April

DCF Ms Woodford 5137J2 sold for $20,000 to Cuevas T3 Brangus in Purvis, MS

Lot 26

Ms WW Justified 795J10 went for $22,000 to Michael Bennett of Tennessee Colony, TX

hiGh sellinG Bulls

Lot 22

6B John Boy 804J10 commanded $20,000 for 50% semen interest and 50% possession

Lot 23

Broken A GKB Valdez 841H syndicated ¼ semen interest for $35,000

Lot 1C

Broken A Maverick 841K2 brought $11,500 for 50% semen interest and 50% possession

hiGh sellinG donor Females

Lot 11

Ms DMR Coronado 415A7 commanded $57,500 for full possession

Lot 12

Suhn’s Miss Tradition 30F18 sold for $52,000 to Phillips Ranch in Bunnell, FL

hiGh sellinG piCK loTs

Lot 3

at the 2nd annual CDP Spring Female Production Sale. The sale featured Registered Brangus and Ultrablack cattle from the CDP group as well as customers and included 450 commercial cattle, many with calves at side sired by CDP bulls. The bidding was fast paced and furious as demand for quality Brangus seedstock ran high.

Flush opportunity from Phillips Ranch sold for $32,500

The day’s top selling female, at $25,000 was Lot 85, PR MS Crossroads 129J7. This powerful open heifer was consigned

Lot 7

Pick of any fall ET calves from TTT Brangus Ranches LLC sold $30,000 to Ruben Millan of Mexico

Lot 10

The Pick of 5 Heifers to flush from Cavender Ranch sold for $26,000 to American Cattle Enterprise of Oneota, AL

hiGh sellinG semen loT

Lot 36

Trio’s Yucatan 175Y Semen commanded $2,000/ per straw

iJBBa FoundaTion heiFer Grossed $52,000

SALESummaries

Cavender, Draggin M and Partners

March 11, 2023 | Jacksonville, TX

CUT ABOVE SALE, CULLMAN, AL – APRIL 30, 2022

Strong Demand at Cavender, Draggin M and Partners

125 Registered Lots grossed $723,250 to average $5,786

Commercial Females

Third Annual Spring Bull Sale

59 Brangus & Ultra lots grossed $239,350 to average $4,057

11 commercial lots grossed $11,200 to average $1,018

324 Commercial pairs with Brangus and Ultrablack calves at side grossed $890,500 to average $2,748

Lots

The total sale grossed $250,550

Average

91 Coming Two Brangus & UB Bulls $5,792

6 - sets of Embryos grossed $25,750, to average $4,292

Grossed $542,000

3 -3-N-1 grossed $13,950, to average $4,650

7 - bred cows grossed $25,400 to average $3,629

59 Brangus and Super Baldy Bred Heifers grossed $140,950 to average $2,389

66 Open Brangus Heifers grossed $140,050 to average $2,122

83 Yearling Brangus & UB Bulls $5,332

14 – bred heifers grossed $42,350 to average $3,025

Grossed $442,500

11 – pairs grossed $74,500 to average $6,773

20 – open heifers grossed $50,250 to average $2,512

449 Commercial Females grossed $1,171,500 to average $2,609

174 Total Brangus and UB Bulls $5,658

2 – bulls grossed $7,150 to average $3,575

Grossed $984,500

Buyers from 6 states were on hand to compete for the high quality lots consigned by 20 breeders across the Southeast. The highest selling lot MS. Boulder 000F16 with a heifer calf at her side, consigned by Vanna Farms, was purchased by L & K Farms for $26,000.

163 buyers from 12 states and Mexico were greeted by pleasant spring weather, mild temperature and welcoming hospitality from the hosts at Cavenders Neches River Ranch.

The volume buyer was Eagle Ridge Farms, Cottondale, Al -purchased 12 lots

All consigners and buyers are greatly appreciated.

Damp spring weather greeted 134 registered buyers from 14 US states and Mexico at the third annual CDP Spring bull sale. An active crowd appraised the bulls Friday afternoon followed by a steak dinner and an informative program by Doug Husfeld and Ryan Rice, Next Gen Cattle Feeding, covering some of the CDP feedlot and carcass data. Saturday’s noon sale saw active bidding and strong demand.

The 2023 Cut Above Sale will be in Cullman, AL on April 29, 2023 at 10:00 am

CAVENDER DRAGGIN’ M AND PARTNERS SPRING SALE

Registered Female Sale

The day’s high selling bull was Lot 105, DMR Never Surrender 535K15. This high performing son of Never Surrender was out of the 535A8 donor and ½ interest and full possession sold to Sewell Cattle Co, Eldorado, AR and was consigned by Draggin M Ranch, Eldorado, AR

1 Registered Brangus Herd Sire grossed $15,000 to average $15,000

7 Brangus and Ultrablack 3N1’s grossed $67,500 to average

$9,643

10 Brangus and Ultrablack Donors grossed $79,500 to average $7,950

14 Spring Pairs grossed $45,750 to average $3,268

The second yearling in the sale was the second high selling bull when Gold Creek Brangus, Marietta, GA paid $26,000 to own ½ interest and full possession in Lot 106, DMR Masterpiece 795K2. This light birth and big growth son of Masterpiece was consigned by Draggin M.

25 Fall bred Brangus and Ultrablack Heifers grossed $183,250 to average $7,330

65 Open Brangus and Ultrablack Heifers grossed $318,500 to average $4,900

3 Fall Pairs and Pregnant Recipients grossed $13,750 to average $4,583

Doug Cheney, O’Brien, FL paid $17,000 to own the days third high seller, Lot 108, CB Chill Factor 1363K. He posts elite growth, big carcass and light birth EPDs. He was sired by the high selling bull from the 2021 CDP spring sale and Consigned by Cavender Brangus, Jacksonville, TX.

½ interest and full possession of Lot 10, TTT Cash Flow 541J34 sold for $14,000 to JRT Brangus Cumming, GA. This light birth and elite growth Cash Flow son was a wide body. He was consigned by TTT Brangus, Fayette, AL.

at the 2nd annual CDP Spring Female Production Sale.

The sale featured Registered Brangus and Ultrablack cattle from the CDP group as well as customers and included 450 commercial cattle, many with calves at side sired by CDP bulls. The bidding was fast paced and furious as demand for quality Brangus seedstock ran high.

San Patricia Brangus, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico paid $12,000 to own Lot 112 DMR Cash Flow 302K8. He was consigned by Brad Chisum, Niangua, MO.

The day’s top selling female, at $25,000 was Lot 85, PR MS Crossroads 129J7. This powerful open heifer was consigned by Pennridge Farms, Paige, Tx. Her dam is a full sister to the dam of Modello and Herndon Farms, Lyons, Ga was the winning bidder.

Also selling for $12,000 was Lot 129 DMR Dynamic 10K21. James McMahon, Hattiesburg, MS won the bid on this super attractive bull consigned by Draggin M, Sewell and TTT Brangus.

Briggs Ranch, Bloomington TX and Harris Riverbend Farms, Cleburne, TX teamed to eran the bid of $24,000 for Lot 107, MS DMR Resource 415J52. She was another stout open heifer and was consigned by CDP Partner, Draggin M Ranch, Eldorado, Arkansas.

B/K Beef LLC, Boerne, TX was the purchaser of the next high selling lot when they paid $22,500 to own Lot 42, MS DMR Empire 222H5. This bred heifer, safe to Growth Fund, was also consigned by Draggin M.

B/K Beef also purchased the day’s next high seller when they paid $20,000 to on Lot 41A, CB MS Capital Gain 117H20, another stylish bred heifer this time safe to Masterpiece. She was consigned by CDP Partner Cavender Brangus, Jacksonville, TX.

El Granizo De San Juan, Durango, Mexico purchased the next high seller when they paid $19,000 to own Lot 43, MS

JOHN MILAM, OWNER Grady Green, Ranch Manager 870-314-3673 | grady@dragginmranch.com El Dorado, Arkansas www.dragginm.com 2020 IBBA Top ET Breeder

For advertising opportunities in the Brangus Journal or Frontline Beef Producer, contact Kyle Caldwell at kcaldwell@gobrangus.com

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