August/September 2023

Rancho Deluxe

This Patent Pending design is the largest portable corral on wheels ever built. 22’ long panels, 6’ tall. 600-800 head capacity, all of which has a total weight under 15,000lbs. With multiple gates, spring latches, multiple pen capabilities for sorting.

Processor

Our most popular corral with built in Loading Chute option, Hydraulic Adjustable Alley is now standard equipment. Head gate and size options available.

Other model offered:

Classic

The Corral that started it all. Multiple pens, Bumper or gooseneck models. Head gate option, 22’ long panels, 6’ tall. New vinyl, sheeted temporary alley.

Bottom line: Strongest, largest and most portable corral ever built. Always made with animal and human safety in mind! Constantly making our product better and taking care of our customers is the goal. Thoughts on our warranty: as long as you own our corral, we will take care of you period

We believe in raising Reliable, Dependable,

Bulls to support your operation.

Lucas, Stephanie, John, and Owen Niebur N2315 140th Street, Plum City, WI 54761 Lucas cell: 715-307-2229

by Derek Sample. Derek@ABPmag.com

Justin Rhoades

Owner, Operator Rhoades

Ranch

Cambria, California

rhoadesranches

rhoadesranches@yahoo.com

1. Tell us more about what you do.

We’re a registered Angus as well as a commercial cattle operation. Our passion is towards the registered, but commercial is primary, though they feed off each other in many ways. We make great bulls here to sell and use them on our own commercial cattle. It’s like peanut butter and jelly, they just work together. Of course, you have your annual tasks for both operations, which are similar year after year. There’s branding season, boosting and shipping the purebreds, putting in embryos and setting up cattle, weaning and tagging calves, and then raising ‘em. So, we do a lot of the same for both sides along with lots of supplements put out in salt blocks. I try not to feed too much hay cause if you're feeding a lot of hay, then you're running too many cattle. So, I try and find the sweet spot for that cause hay can get pricey. I’ll feed some hay before I put in CIDRs, just to give 'em a little boost about a month before.

2. Do you make any of your own hay or buy it from a local source?

I have a hundred acres of it, but I honestly think I will quit because I have an expensive tractor

and a good disc and all that stuff that just sits the whole year. I can just go buy hay in bulk for a decent price. I think that's kind of my goal since I really want to put in permanent pasture. I’d try these two big fields out here at 40 acres or so first. Then, if it works out, I can do a few more, but just start with those two. Plus, I think it really would be good for the commercial end too. We can wean our commercial calves on there and you can see by the prices that they’re bringing a premium now. But it would sure be nice to go higher! I'd love to do some more permanent pasture, so we'll see how that turns out. That whole farming thing is not making sense to me. I think there are a lot of people that like it, my dad really did. I just hate going in circles. <laughs>

3. Tell me more about your dogs and the training you put them through.

Well, with the dogs, it's a process. I mean, you start really bonding with them when they're

sics. Then once you progress from that and have a good handle on 'em, you start introducing 'em to cattle. Based on how they respond to that, you can progress more and start teaching directions out there, like bringing ‘em to you and pushing cattle away from you. Of course, you can teach 'em to fetch or how you want to teach where you push 'em to cattle. Then they must bring the

I've been selling bulls since 2007, mostly private treaty. Plus I’ve been selling bulls at Visalia for the last couple of years. Now it’s time to do this on my own.

5. So then what made you decide that this was a good move this year and host it yourself

For one, having enough bulls to do it. There’ll be 75 bulls in my sale here at the ranch. There cattle to you, or they must find the cattle. It's all a progression, though slow. But it’s worth it. Some are just bred for it and will take to it quickly. Once you get to where they're efficient, they're probably equivalent to two guys on horseback or more. They really can do a lot in the big country, while the horses get tired easily. If a big ranch is one thing, it's usually flatter, but when it's real steep, that’s when it really gets those horses tired going up and down these hills around here.

4. You have a Bull Sale coming up, the first one here on your ranch?

Yes. It’s a bit scary. I'm not gonna lie, but I think hiring CK6 (Chris Earl & Wes Tiemann) to manage it will benefit me. They’re super good people, and they seem to really go to bat for you. They want to work, and you're not just another person to them. They’re your friend too. That’s rare. Most of those guys just show up and then run away when it’s done. Either way, when we get through this first year, the next

will be another 30 in Visalia the day before and then I'll still have about 20 private treaty left for later. So, I had plenty of bulls to do it with, and that was a deciding factor. The way this cattle market's going and the amount of rain we got, it seems like it's gonna be a hot year for people that need bulls. It’s just a lot of those little things are now aligned, so I was thinking I gotta do it this time. I think it'll be a good thing. Now that will be part of the annual process, our annual bull sale. Maybe down the road, we’ll host a female sale too. I do quite a few consignment sales with my females now, and that's the hardest part for me personally, selling registered females. Those high-end ones, you can sell anywhere, anytime.

But just your solid females, those are tough to sell. I can sell the bulls easier, that’s definitely our thing. We’re known for our bulls.

6. Where did you grow up?

Born and raised here my whole life until I moved away for college. I went to junior col-

State for a while. I moved from Sonoma State so my Dad could go to more games since I went to college to play baseball. Baseball was my life from high school on, playing year-round. I played semi-pro and got a pro contract. But then decided not to pursue it cause it was time to start being a cowboy. I probably would’ve continued playing baseball if I hadn’t met my wife already. She totally would've been fine with that, but, you know, I just knew I was gonna marry her. Plus, it's a tough life on the road and hard for any serious relationship. At the time, I was only a contractor for $680 a month, so I wasn’t getting rich. None of those guys do until they start to turn really pro.

The number one factor that made my mind up was that they all take steroids. They all take ‘em no matter what anyone says. When you don't take steroids, you're considered to be behind, so they won’t waste their time. There was this guy on my

junior college team, and his family had money that he had access to, which led him to use steroids all the time. Sure, he probably shouldn't have been on the team. You better believe that he wasn't even good enough to be on a junior college team, but he was on it anyway. He took steroids, and he did it all correctly with the right combo while eating and working out with a pro trainer every day. Then suddenly that sucker was starting in right field and hitting third in the order right before me. I'm a hitter. I love to hit. It's the best part of the game for me. So, I was at a crossroads. When I did the pro tryout, there were three first basemen, and I was one of those three. They were like, do you take steroids? I started laughing and said no, I just lift a lot of hay bales, dig water lines and holes, plant posts for new fence. I've never done that steroid stuff. They said I’d better take ‘em cause I'll make it through if I do.

But I decided not to do it, especially since I knew I had the ranch to take care of and that would be my livelihood. The health concerns after years of steroids weren’t worth it. With all that said, it was time to be a cowboy. I met a lot of good people, had a really good run, and I got a free education out of it.

7. Introduce us to your family at the ranch

Well, I met my wife Chrissy in college at a bar. She bought me a Coors Light, and I fell in love. Literally just at the bar, not like at a bar between friends, no setup, no date, no blind date. The funny thing is that I brought a girl to the bar that night and she wasn't a girlfriend. I went up to Chrissy, and I talked my game like I always do. However, I wasn’t sure how well it went because I was realizing she was pretty sharp. But she came right out of the bat swinging and asked if she could buy me a beer. She said she didn't want me to buy her a beer as she doesn’t really like guys buying her drinks. I loved that about her already, which meant she was one of the better ones. So,

that

girl can play.

8. What's your favorite tool(s) on the ranch?

9. Do you use social media at all?

Yeah, I use Snapchat cause it's good for the cattle deal. You can take a Snapchat of a new calf or something you want to show, and then you have certain people you send it to. They're always gonna follow the cattle, which keeps them aware of what you have. It's just quick and easy communication. You can see what each other’s doing, and then it just disappears. Snap, it’s gone. You're not making or managing a feed every day like on Facebook. It's just a quick little bit, then done. If I did a Snapchat right now, I would just go like this, take a picture of you, and that's it. Cool, okay? It'd just be a quick little glimpse of life and what you're doing now. It's kind of cool. I think it's the best one of all. It’s basically picture texting, and I don’t have to think about it much.

10. Do you use liquid supplements anymore?

That’s easy, the dogs. Without the dogs, I wouldn’t be able to do most of the work around here. I mean, I have 12 ranches and can gather every ranch with my dogs. I’m just trying to show you the value of the dogs and that’s why they’re the best. I train ‘em how I like ‘em. I have people asking about my dogs all the time so I decided to sell 2 of ‘em at our sale on September 18th. she bought me a beer, and things were going great. Then that gal, <laughs>, the one I brought to the bar, kissed me on the cheek in front of Chrissy. Obviously, Chrissy wasn’t into that at all, thinking that all baseball players are the same, you know? Anyway, long story short, that's how I met my wife. She’s as good as they get, and I couldn't do any better. Then there’s McCoy, she’s my daughter, she's nine. Ridge is my son, and he's six. Plus, there’s my mom, Pam, my sister Brittany, her husband Wes, and their daughter Penny. We all live here on the ranch. You also just met my Uncle Jay. He's in and out of here every now and then, kind of a gypsy. He’s an incredible roofer and keeps busy. My son Ridge plays flag football and is also really into baseball. He really likes to rope and he’s really into the ranch. He knows how to use a hot shot and sort cattle. He does a really good job, and he’s a super athletic little guy. McCoy is a very good dancer, a good swimmer, and great

I've always done it for 20 years, but I haven't done it yet this year. The guy I always dealt with quit, so I haven't pursued it. Now I really

continued on page 14 -->

Rhoades Rhino, lead off bull in his upcoming sale

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The impact of pinkeye in your herd is mostly felt with cattle gain. When animals feel eye pain, they don’t eat and the losses will mount.

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Michelle Arnold, DVM, with the University of Kentucky, reported results from a field trial published in 2009 where weaning weights ranged from 9 to 27 pounds less in calves with pinkeye versus those that did not experience the disease. The average weight loss in these trials was 18 pounds. If 500-pound calves were selling for $1.50 per pound, an 18-pound weight loss would cost the producer approximately $27 per animal. In addition to weight loss, calves with scars from pinkeye are often discounted at sale. Cost of pinkeye treatments, including antibiotics and labor, can amount to approximately $100 per head Carcass quality is also negatively impacted by pinkeye. Yearlings that had pinkeye pre-weaning had less 12th rib fat depth, ribeye area and bodyweight than yearlings without evidence of pinkeye.

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--> continued on from page 11

like these tubs; they're cleaner, and they aren't so hard on the trucks. I have around 25 different spots to put supplements, but I gotta drive ranch to ranch and the farthest one is an hour's drive. I have just the right formula, and I’m happy with it. Plus, we're deficient in copper here, so add the right balance of protein and fats, which really works in this area. It might be more money, but I hate putting out that liquid. When you do, you gotta drive slowly everywhere. There’s no fast way with 4,000 pounds in the back of your truck, driving through ditches and berms. Then you always need a towel to wash your hands to not to get it all over the truck. There are a lot of negatives to it, so I find that the tubs are so much easier.

11. Switching it up a little, what do you think about our cattle industry right now?

I think that everything is really headed in the right direction. There's a lot of stuff goin’ on because of the shortage of cattle nationwide. But, the shortage is definitely kind. We're down 50%, and once it gets closer to where they need to be, then we’ll hopefully see that everything stays strong with those numbers going back

up. We'll have at least another year of really good prices. It usually takes two years to build back up to that minimum. So, everything looks promising as far as cattle are going. It also seems people like beef more than ever. That’s not gonna stop. It’s hard for people to give up hamburger.

12. Is there anything that you would like to tell the politicians in Washington?

Politicians. Well, it would be good for them to be reminded that this is probably our oldest industry. I mean, they were running cattle thousands of years ago. I think there's nothing but positives to it. The other thing that isn't really talked about is what it does for the land. Eating grass and pooping the grass out, creating that natural fertilizer, is great for the ground as a whole. On top of that, the fire control fire is so scary, and it’s such a big deal if you don't have a grazing program. There are many more fires these days, and we can't control 'em anymore. With more grazing, a lot of that would be fixed.

13. What's your favorite cut of beef and how do you like it cooked?

I'll probably get made fun of, but this is how I've always rolled. I like medium well, no matter what the cut. I’d say top sirloin is my favorite, but any cut is fine as long as it’s medium well.

14. Favorite restaurant for a night out with your family?

McPhee’s in Templeton. It's both steak and seafood. We’re probably there once a week. We love it. It’s a little pricy, but the food is phenomenal.

15. Any industry organizations that you support? Any that have been there for you?

Yeah, California Cattlemen's Association. I'm honestly not very political. Since I am running this ranch by myself, I'm just so busy, and I can’t find the time to be political. Every day I ranch, and then I ranch some more, though I do make time for my family. I team rope when I have any extra time, but other than that, it’s family and work. I'm not against being political, it’s just that there are only so many hours in the day, and I’m the only one working here.

16. Remind me again how long your family’s been ranching here?

Around 150 years. I’m 6th generation. This land was homesteaded by my family. Some old cabins are still up in the hills on some of this land. As far as the cattle, they’ve changed quite a bit with the industry and what you’d get a premium for. Way back, it was Hereford. Then it switched to Shorthorn for a little while. Then it went back again to Hereford for a bit. Then it was Brahman. Then they crossed Brahman with other breeds because the buyers wanted a little hardier calf with some ear, which was popular back then.

That's how Angus started taking off for us. Our Angus and Brahman cross was popular when I was a kid. Then from there, less and less ear. Then it was just Angus as it is now.

17. What's the craziest, most unexpected thing that's happened to you on the ranch?

Man, there are a lot of them. From rolling four-wheelers to wrecks with tractors. We’re in steep country, and it’ll get you into some pickles. But the real story would be that I had a horse roll over on me and snap my leg. Oh, that was bad, real bad. That happened about 5 years ago, and it took about eight or nine months to

ly. It was just horrible. I had a good doctor who got me dialed in, but it took a long time. It was a clean break. When I would move, the bones would rub together. My horse had some kind of seizure. It was weird, and it came out of nowhere. I was training a dog for a trial, and my horse started quivering. What was he doing? Maybe I should get off, but it didn't make sense. Then right at that time, he just flipped over. It was so bad.

I’ve also had lots of intense encounters with wild cattle. Up in the hills with cattle that don't have a brand and have never seen a corral. Those turn into the devil. A couple of close calls scared me, I'm not gonna lie. Because I'll get horns, you know, and they don't know how to use them. It seems like there’s always something that happens here on the ranch.

18. Tell us about any mentors you've had along the way. My father, number one, he was a mentor to me with everything. I’m an observant person, and I always tried to learn and watch the way that other people do things, making my own twist on ‘em. Maybe I combined a few of their moves too.

Then I’d say my grandma, she was a badass cowgirl. She was really involved with the California CattleWomen and was the national president. She ran all these ranches, and she did it herself since my Dad did all the farming. There were many cool things about her, and I was really tight with her. My Dad was more of the farming type and being more of the brains. He figured out quickly that we can make much more money farming than cattle. <laughs> He grew Sugar Peas since they did well. Then there was squash and cherry tomatoes. We had more land then, even some in Mexico. He took it to a big scale.

I did some right after he passed away to keep

them weren't at all. I just needed better guys, and those guys are very hard to get, especially in farming. I had zero passion for it. It was just a way to make extra money, and I really liked the leftover product for the cattle, which was helpful. That's always a big plus with the farming side. But no, I'm not a farming guy.

19. What do you do to get away from it all?

We started to go on little family trips to Bass Lake, about three hours from here. We all love it there. That’s a cool spot. My goal is to buy a little house there someday. I'd say if we go anywhere, it’s there. The kids like the water, and we go with friends usually, like three or four couples, along with some jet skis and a boat. It’s become a tradition.

20. Ford. Chevy, or Dodge? I see a GMC and a Dodge over there by the barn.

I got a question for your question, which one wins in all your interviews?

21. Ford by far. Dodge is a hot second for trailering, cause of that Cummins exhaust brake. Well, I've never bought a Ford in my life. Dodges stop really good, and that's why I like Dodges. It stops with a heavy load and that exhaust brake works every time. I drive that old GMC over there cause it’s a cushy ride, and I got it for a good price from an old farmer. I bet

it will last forever so I’ll never get rid of it. I’d like to give Ford a try though, since everybody I know says they like ‘em a lot. Plus, I don’t like working with the Def fluid. That Dodge over there is hooked up to the trailer 24/7, and it goes through a lot of DEF fluid. That stuff is a pain.

22. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Got any plans for the ranch, the family?

I always think outside the box, so you never know what could happen. But I'm always looking for more land leases. They’re pretty popular, so you gotta get a little lucky and go off your reputation when they become available. I've been fortunate enough to get quite a few, but you're always looking for more, right? I'd probably do one for 50 acres in the right spot. But it’d be nice to have another 50,000 acres or so. After seeing how this bull sale goes, I’ll keep progressing to try and get better every year. Maybe I should put some avocado trees in at some point, which is smart cause you can make good money, but I’m not sure I have the time or enough interest to do that.

23. Do you have any advice for up-and-coming ranchers? We’d love to see more people get into this, so what would you tell ‘em?

Well, you just gotta have the passion for it. All it takes is some hard work, and learning as you go works if you ‘allow yourself’ to learn.

My plate is full every single day. If you plan your day and something else comes up, I call that getting derailed. That’s gonna happen all the time. If you that's not your thing, then you can't do this.

Find out why Justin Rhoades is well known for his Angus bulls!

The Rhoades Ranch Bull Sale will be held for 2 days September 17th at Visalia Livestock & September 18th at the ranch in the beautiful coastal town of Cambria, California. Don't miss it!

Saturday, October 7, 2023

3 p.m. MST ~ at the ranch Bruneau, Idaho

Open heifers, bred heifers, spring heifer calf pair splits, young donors, embryos and semen

P43889907 • 1/6/18 — This is a sale feature and a great way to kick off this years cow sale. At such a young age 8037 has done so much being the mother of the record selling Guardian herd sire along with many great daughters. This is a cow we never thought would be available for sale but Dimitri is needing to sell his partnership cows, so she along with many offspring are available to purchase. Her added power and performance and IMF numbers will complement almost any mating and we feel she is the kind that can lead a program into the future.

P44293650 • 8/28/21 — Every year we have a number of females we hate to leave the ranch and this female is sure one of them. The way she is bred she could take you to the next level. 4264 daughters are hard to part with as she is the dam of Belle Heir, Real Deal and 0195 to name a few. She has 30 progeny scanned for an IMF ratio of 124. Retaining 1/2 embryo interest.

All bred heifers carry a confirmed heifer calf pregnancy

Special attraction at our fall sale — Your opportunity to pick.

Selling half interest in our young donor cows on the ranch.

44359730 • 1/3/22 — Red to the ground, rednecked with extra facial pigment. She has a real broody look with her overall design. Big ribbed and extra body capacity. Hard to find her type that still have this kind of EPD profile. Top 10% for IMF, $CHB and Stayability, Top 15% for CED and Udder.

44405855 • 8/24/22 — This will be a sale feature. Cruz has shown this heifer all summer with lots of success. She has always been in the mix for overall supreme and on more than one occasion she has beat the big ones. We feel this is one of our best national level prospects that has the tools to compete at any level. She is great fronted, square built and has the running gear for the long haul.

Lot 23

C 1313 LADY GENESIS 2321 ET

P44405899 • 9/18/22 — This lot 23 female is something special and one that will get found. She is flawless in terms of build and design. She will be one that will compete hard this winter and next summer. Donor dam 1313 is a full sister to Miles. She had a very successful show career and then has been a top producer.

C

ET 44471075 • 1/2/23 — This flush of sisters will be a big attraction on sale day. We feel this lot 3 female is the best show heifer prospect as we have ever produced. She is so great necked and perfect in her spine and topline. These females come from a long line of show winners both top and bottom. Out of a Belle Air daughter and Candy Cane, the 3 time National Champion Female.

C CJC 9490 MILES 3015 ET 44471070 • 1/1/23 — Big time cow power with quality and performance. Bred to be the donor kind that offers diversity when planning matings. If you want to breed for numbers they have the phenotype to carry the heavy lifting. The structure, build and power is here out of the many times proven donor 4264. She is also the mother of Belle Heir and many other herd sires.

C

MISS MAKER

ET P44471101 • 1/4/23 — Exciting mating that will get your attention. These two sisters bring a lot of things together in one package. Birth to yearling spread with extra IMF but still have the look and phenotype to go with it. Lot 8 has a great rib cage with an elegant look. The donor dam 8037 is the mother of the record selling herd sire Guardian. Owned with Iron Lake Ranch.

C GUARDIAN GAL 3005 P44471060 • 12/30/22 — Without a doubt a sale feature and one that has been a true standout all spring. This female is fun to look at and we honestly hate to sell this kind because we realize what this one can turn into. She has the power and performance with added color and look. Her EPD profile is nearly flawless. This will be a great representation of what Guardian can do.

31058 Colyer Road • Bruneau, ID 83604 208/845-2313 (home) 208/845-2314 (fax) 208/599-0340 (Guy Cell) 208/250-3924 (Kyle Cell) guy@hereford.com • sherry@hereford.com

View videos and catalog at www.hereford.com

8037

3048

C BAR1 LADY GENESIS 1141 ET

C CJC BELLE AIR LASS 8037 ET

Angus - C TRUE NORTH WINNIE 1031 ET

C CJC 4264 LADY GENESIS 1295 ET

C BELLE HEIRESS 2027

LOT 45

LOT 42

C LADY BELLE AIR 2269

LOT 21

BAR1 8089 CANDY 3020

LOT 31

HI/ CATTLE COMPANY

Stapleton, Nebraska

• 5th generation ranchers, raising the 6th

• Registered American Black Hereford and Angus

• Commercial cow/calf operation and seedstock

• Genomically tested. We take data seriously

As generational cow/calf operators we know how important bull selection is. We love the heterosis that running multiple breeds gives our calves, but we were tired of fighting the red sort and taking hide color discounts. When we discovered Black Herefords in 2010, it clicked for us. We could keep our crossbred program with our British based cow herd; maintaining the feed efficiency and docility that we loved from our Herefords while limiting our red discount risk and mixing in our growthy, performance Angus. For us it was a no brainer!

Our commercial cow/calf herd is truly the testing ground for our bull genetics and they work.

www.HISLASHCATTLE.com

The Hill Family: Adeline, Logan, Jennifer and Cooper

#CATTLE WITH GRIT

#cattlewithgrit is more than a cheesy marketing tagline for us - it’s an ethos. Our cattle have grit because they have to. Our story began in the high desert mountains where cattle were run by the section, not the acre. After decades of drought and frustrations with public lands ranching, we made the decision to move cows, kids and crew 600 miles to the Great Plains. Despite the forage and weather changes (hello humidity and -40° winters), these cattle are thriving because they have been bred with grit! Visit our website for more information about our Private Treaty Bull Sale this Spring 2024

SEPTEMBER 19 TH -2 1 ST

SEPTEMBER 19 TH -2 1 ST

SEPTEMBER 19 TH -2 1 ST

Schedule of Events

TUESDAY SEPT 19 TH

8 AM GOLF SCRAMBLE AT EAGLE ROCK

OPEN HOUSES ALL DAY GENEX

ORIGEN

4 PM MT ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

5 PM SOCIAL & BANQUET AT BIG HORN RESORT

WEDNESDAY SEPT 20 TH

PINE COULEE AT BEARTOOTH RANCH

GUESTS: BARRAGREE CATTLE CO

CRAFT ANGUS

JL FARMS

INDRELAND ANGUS

GREEN MOUNTAIN ANGUS

CURRANT CREEK

FROSTY CREEK ANGUS

GUESTS: WEST WIND ANGUS RANCH

A BAR ANGUS

VERMILION RANCH

THURSDAY SEPT 21 ST

BEARTOOTH ANGUS

GUESTS: GREEN ANGUS

HEIKEN ANGUS

WORLD WEST SIRE SERVICES

MIDLAND BULL TEST

GUESTS: WINDING RIVER ANGUS

MCDONNELL ANGUS

HUNT CREEK ANGUS

CRAFT ANGUS

BASIN ANGUS

HOST HOTEL

BIG HORN RESORT 1801 MAJESTIC LN BILLINGS MT 59102 406-545-3542

OTHER HOTELS

HOLIDAY INN 3431 EMBER LANE BILLINGS MT 59102 406-652-0111

HAMPTON INN 3550 EMBER LANE BILLINGS MT 59102 406-656-7511

HOMEWOOD SUITES 3420 EMBER LANE BILLINGS, MT 59102 (406) 656-0525

SPONSORED

ANGUS TOURS

SPONSORED

A real, casual conversation about PROMOGEN with

by Derek Sample Derek@ABPmag.com

Dr. Jeff Gower

Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks. Springfield, Missouri

Science

matters. We get it...

Q: Hi again Dr. Gower. We've been traveling all over the country this year and we keep running into happy Promogen customers. How is the Promogen testing coming along?

A: Well, we've been using Promogen in our Angus program since the beginning. The high-scoring bulls brought $1,500.00 more on average at the first sale, and that was enough of an eye-opener to see the value. Fast forward to today, all the cattle we sell are Promogen tested, as well as all the cattle we retain to keep building our program, so I think it’s going well.

Q: How did you originally become involved with Promogen?

A: We've been breeding champion Clydesdale horses since 1972. Our goal was to produce the best, but we kept hitting roadblocks, such as the ‘failure to thrive’ in our foals. We were only getting 30% of our foals born live and that didn't make any sense. Fortunately, about 12 years ago I crossed paths with Dr. Bill Julien (President of Anova Biosciences) at a horse sale, and he told

me about this test his company was working on that measured previously unknown proteins that could predict the ability to resist stress. He also believed these proteins are inherited, and suggested that the problem could be linked to our breeding program itself. Sure enough, we're now in 2023 and we have 82% live foals on the ground! So we started Promogen testing our mares and studs and found that the horses we bought from breeders in western Canada all had high Promogen scores, likely because of the cold, the wind and that they have to make their own way in the world. It turns out that the mating from these horses produced foals that got up, took a deep breath, and were off to the races.

Q: The obvious next step was Promogen testing your cattle. What benefits did you find?

A: We found that Promogen was predictive of cow longevity, fertility, and the ability to fight disease. With that, we started looking for high-scoring bulls and cows to build our program. For example, I bought some bulls from Dr. George Williams in Tennessee, who based his

But we asked Dr. Gower to tell it to us straight, and it's fascinating

program on breeding for $C. It turned out that the bulls we selected from the Williams herd also had very high Promogen scores. Then about 4 to 5 months ago, I started looking at feed efficiency as a trait to breed for. Several well-known programs focused on feed efficiency in Montana and Wyoming, and it was there that we started our search. Just like with the Alberta-bred Clydes, cattle raised on the high deserts of Montana and Wyoming must be efficient to survive. Surprisingly, we found that Promogen once again was predictive of just how feed efficient an animal really is. For example, a breeder sent what he thought was a uniformly outstanding group of bulls to a local test station. I had them all Promogen tested, and we found some good ones as well as some that were not as good as the breeder thought. He responded, “I’ve spent 50 years trying to come up with a formula for breeding for feed efficiency, and you guys showed me this test that identified the very best ones right away.”

Q: That’s basically survival of the fittest.

A: Yes, it goes back to that simple observation of survival of the fittest. Putting that in the context of a herd of beef cattle, successful survival means living a long, productive life with minimal input in time and money from our side. The proteins that are measured by the Promogen test increase the chances of this happening.

Q: Can you use Promogen on any animal?

A: Yes, they have tested buffalo, deer, goats, horses, hogs, and even dogs and cats. As a medical professional, I am impressed with their research using the test to study human diseases as well.

Q: This is such a simple answer to what could be a complicated situation. Do you find that people just don't believe you?

A: Yes. Most people will say this is too simple, so it can’t be true. Another criticism I hear is "how could this test do better than my dad, grandfather, or great-grandfather's methods to pick our next herd sire or breed that ‘million-dollar’ cow?" My answer is always the same, ‘this test is insurance that your eyes

aren’t fooling you, and that pedigree with the performance of what is predicted by that pedigree actually happens.’

Q: So, you have all this information right in front of you now, instead of waiting years to work out your genetics through EPDs and AI-focused breeding?

A: Yes. We found that the Promogen test identifies the animals we want to keep at birth, and that decision gets confirmed when we get our EPD projections later. We don’t want to spend two years depending on a bull to produce the type of replacements we want and need in our herd only to find we bet on the wrong horse. Promogen takes the guesswork out of that process.

Q: With that being said, Promogen seems to be a cost-effective investment?

A: A Promogen test today costs $35.00. Genomic testing is around $42.00? Plus remember that EPDs are guesstimates of an animal’s potential, a blueprint of what could be. We have further found that only some EPD traits, specifically those maternally linked, give a more accurate picture of what could be. For example, we've been working with a large commercial breeder in Wyoming who described his herd as “just cows”. “They‘re not

pretty to look at, but they always have a calf, they don’t need a lot of feed to keep in condition. The calf is always in a hurry to get up, get going, and stays healthy.” At my request, this gentleman Promogen tested 60 of these cows and 50 of them hit home runs in terms of their scores. His “grubby lookin' old cows” as he put it, ended up in the top 10% of the thousands of cows that have been tested over the last couple of years. Promogen forecasted performance carries over into feedlot cattle as well. Dr. Julien shared the results of a study that was done independently of Anova, and it showed high-scoring cattle gained 1 lb. a day more, but ate 2 lbs. less feed per day, over a 90 feed out. These results were used to project performance using the Dalex feedlot software. Assuming a starting weight of 700lbs and a finishing weight of 1,400lbs, the high-scoring Promogen cattle reached that finishing weight 30 days sooner. The net return on these cattle went up from $1.35/lb. for average scores to $2.35/lb. for high-scoring cattle. My take on this is if you are running a feedlot with an annual throughput of 300,000 per year, and you are feeding the high-scoring, more feed-efficient cattle, they would be getting to weight 30 days faster which saves over a buck a pound per head about 300,000 times! You do the math. Then we ran numbers for a feedlot operator friend of mine and found that if he fed only high-scoring Promogen animals, he could save $4.6 million a year, just in feed costs.

Q: Do you find a correlation between EPDs and Promogen results over time?

A: Yes. EPDs are a prediction of what could be. As I said before, to me, EPDs are a blueprint. How useful that blueprint is depends on a lot of things. Our program found that the Promogen score predicts how many of an individual’s EPD scores will put them in the top 1% of the animals currently tested. Knowing this for months before we get the EPD results is helpful, and we'll keep an eye on the ones that we believe will be winners.

Q: How often do you test your cattle?

A: You just do it once, and we do it on every one of our calves that hit the ground. Once you know the animal's score, you don’t have to redo it. It’s an absolute that doesn’t ever change. It's not a guess or a prediction of the future but absolute results that every cattleman can work with. Another benefit of the Promogen program is that Dr. Julien will explain to everyone how to work with the results after every test. He’ll make sure that you understand what every score means and what to expect from your cattle.

For us, our buying decisions are weighed on Promogen first, then we look at phenotype, which usually lines up anyway. This is when we know we’ve hit the sweet spot and it carries over into our culling system as well. Promogen will tell you the animals that are a risk, the ones that aren’t reproductively profitable, and the ones that are likely to have short productive herd lives. Those are the ones we get rid of.

Q: Is this the best method to improve everybody’s genetic program, regardless of their geography?

A: In my opinion, yes. In our search for high-scoring bulls and cows, we find them all across the country. They usually come from programs that recognize the value of cow families. These are Promogen overachievers that share the same natural abilities to succeed in the environment they were born into, be it the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia or the high desert of Wyoming. I am not a gambler, but our experience is that with a little bit of homework, knowledge, and the $35.00 cost of the test, we significantly reduce the risk while getting payback right off the bat. It's an immediate ROI!

Q: Are traits read into these scores as well, such as tenderness, marbling etc.?

A: Are tenderness and marbling linked to the Promogen score? My personal experience is that they are, especially tenderness. This is reflected in the EPD scores, which correlate with

a Promogen score. We have begun to focus on tenderness in our own program because a tender steak is one that I prefer to eat, as well as most people out there. Marbling is important, but from personal experience and what I have learned from visiting with the owners and managers of the vertically integrated businesses, tenderness and marbling are very different things, with tenderness being more important.

Q: We talk to many ranchers that find it necessary to lease or purchase more and more land that’ll produce more forage to feed their cows. Will Promogen help them make better decisions with this?

A: That’s why we are currently working with Anova, Dr. Julien, and the State of Nebraska. By applying the results of Anova’s human medical research efforts, Promogen testing has been refocused to quickly identify beef and dairy cattle that are more feed efficient and significantly more productive. High-scoring cattle can produce more lbs. of meat or milk per acre at a cost that will benefit both the producer and the consumer, while conserving key natural resources such as water, along with the added benefit of reducing the carbon footprint. This project is a multistate enterprise and will use grant money to build a model that can be implemented across the country and the world.

Q: What about the Associations? How are they reacting? Do you get any pushback?

A: Pushback is an understatement! I can tell you that the most progressive breed association out there is Limousin. They realize that their EPD system doesn’t fully tell their story. They know that Limousins are feed efficient and produce a tender product that, thanks to a few breeders, have the data to prove it. So why are they crossing their animals with Angus? Well, it’s because the cross is usually black and marbles. This combination of natural tenderness, marbling, and color is the best of both worlds, right? In our experience, everybody we visit who breeds Limousins always talks about their crosses with Angus having the most potential.

Q: Do you find that EPDs are really delayed these days? It’s a common complaint, even a serious grudge with some.

A: I hate to say it, but the Angus Association appears overwhelmed. It’s frustrating but understandable due to the success of the Angus breed. For us, knowing we can depend on the reliability of the Promogen test to assist us in making early management decisions, some of the pressure is off, but for others, it is what it is. SEO

Consigned

Q: From what we can see, there's a lot more people adapting Promogen into their program

A: Yes, that's true. I know of several ranches and farms from California to Florida, both seed stock producers and commercial operations that are using the test as part of their management strategies. This is driven by the industry-wide realization that we must do something to get in front of a changing environment (being green is a key to success) and a brand-loving consumer market. If we don’t,

are. You can take that same heifer and put her in with a second group of heifers, and they won’t bother her. She’ll eat what, where, and when she wants. We have several high Promogen donors at the Blue Stem Embryo Transfer Center in Kansas, and the two highest ones always pair up together. They eat, drink, and sleep together and are our biggest producers.

Q: You mentioned that as a medical professional, you were impressed with the human medical research involving Promogen. Tell us things might be tough. For example, because of their inherent feed efficiency and stress resistance, high-scoring Promogen animals need less feed and water to maintain themselves or reach a marketable weight quicker and that is amazing. In fact, there was a heifer that was sold two years ago, and I wanted to buy her. I had her tested, and 10 others at the same sale, but she was the only one with an extremely high Promogen score. I got outbid by a group from California, and I think they paid $190,000 for her. They put her on a truck straight through to California. When she arrived and was offloaded, she walked over, took a drink, and settled in. I told the buyer, “I’m gonna tell you exactly what she did, and you tell me if I am right. She drank water, entered the barn, and laid down. You went in and gave her a little feed, and she ate, but she laid back down to get her legs under her. Then when you felt the time was right, you co-mingled her with some other animals her age, and none of ‘em bothered her.” Then the buyer said, “how did you know that?" I said, “that’s just the way they are. These animals know they are superior, and they really

some more about that.

A: After graduating from the University of Tennessee Dental School in 1971, I got an MS in Orthodontics at St Louis University in 1976 and completed a residency in orthodontics. That was a lot of science. That background gave me an appreciation for the science behind the Promogen test and got me thinking about how I could apply that science to help me achieve my objectives as an Angus breeder. Today, Promogen is used to study why some people live normal lives even though they have been diagnosed with diseases like Multiple Sclerosis. It’s been identified by another group of medical researchers as a method to determine disease susceptibility and its impact on longevity. Physicians working in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at a major East Coast research hospital are looking at using Promogen to assess surgical risk and projected outcomes of high-risk surgeries. A lot more is going on like this, proving that my early hunches were correct in putting science to work.

The second highest Promogen angus female tested to date

Q: Well, we’ve covered a lot of ground today. Is there anything else to share with our readers?

A: A couple of things. We just lost a bull called Williams Jonesboro. He had a Promogen score of 5.2. We have his full brother, Hollywood, who scored 5.0. The dam of both bulls has a 6.5 score and is the highest-scoring female in the Angus breed. Just before Jonesboro died, we had three of the top five producing bulls in the country for EPDs. That was for $C, $B, carcass weight, ribeye, $M, and efficiency. All that was predicted by their Promogen scores. It’s just that simple. Luckily, we collected enough of Jonesboro, and he's siring 6.5 calves! We intend to breed the high-scoring heifers to an outcross, 6.5 bull either home raised or one we find. We’ve had enough experience to know that like begets like. It’s that simple.

In my second career which is Sales, Marketing and Distribution for Anheuser-Busch, I learned much about consumer marketing. With that said, as beef producers we're at a crossroads. Successful marketing is ensuring your customer understands that you're truly providing what they want at a price they can

afford, which involves finding a message you can support and believe in. At Soaring Eagle, we are breeding for the future and that future is the sale of a truly sustainable product, which is now more understood by the consumer. Sustainability to them has a different meaning than for us. To them, sustainability means a wholesome consistent product that was humanely managed without damaging the environment, and it's got to be affordable. To us, sustainability means a product that is profitable enough to allow us to continue to live the lifestyle we have chosen. In short, sustainability will only work when those two definitions become synonyms. I believe applying what we learn from Promogen makes this possible. High-scoring cattle are more feed efficient, environmentally friendly, and live longer, more productive lives. These types of cattle are not only more profitable to raise, but are also poster children that prove we, as ranchers and farmers, are committed to protecting both the planet and the food supply! The beauty of it all, is that we can make money doing it!

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