ABC’s – the Cobb Family Tradition
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ducated at Stanford as a geologist for his father’s oil company, Alfred Burl Jr. “Buddy” and Cecile Cobb moved to his family’s ranch west of Augusta, Montana along the Rocky Mountain Front in 1952. They were absolutely new to cattle ranching, possessing the gift of ignorance with no prior traditions or prejudices to overcome. And when the price of cattle fell 50 percent that year, they realized they would soon go broke, unless they could somehow produce more pounds of beef within the limits of the environment in which they operated. They purchased a 15/16 Charolais bull, “Snowball,” based upon the bull’s performance records, from Clint Ferris of Tie Siding, Wyoming for $900 in 1954. A friend-
ship with M.G. “Maxy’ Michaelis and later Max III and Sharon Michaelis, of Kyle, Texas and Coahuila, Mexico, brought linebred original Jean Pugibet Charolais stock, imported from France to Mexico in 1930-33, to the Cobb Ranch in Montana. Every Cobb animal traces his or her lineage back to this herd. Buddy was trained to think analytically and methodically, and detailed records were part of his former scientific life. A friendship with Dr. Ray Woodward of the renowned Ft. Keogh Livestock Experiment
tency. Using performance records as the basis for herd selection became part of a movement that grew into the Beef Improvement Federation. Buddy helped pioneer the founding of not only the BIF, but also the American International Charolais Association, and the Mexican and Canadian Associations as well. Son John graduated from Montana State-Bozeman and U of M Law School, and son Mike graduated from Univ. of Montana-Missoula. After 24 years of continuous service in both the House and Senate of Montana’s Legislature John was retired in 2009 due to term limits. Buddy and Cecile passed away in They were absolutely new to 2002 and 2003. John’s wife Cheryl now serves cattle ranching, possessing as the region 1 Director on the AICA Board of Directors for the the gift of ignorance with no prior northwest states. John and Mike and their families, all living and traditions or prejudices to overcome. working on the ranch for 35-plus years, continue their tradition of Station of Miles City, MT, originators of the producing economic, functional Charolais. famous “Line 1” Herefords, further In addition to the performance data records cemented his resolve to use careful line- beginning in 1956, we continue to add techbreeding and culling, supported by nological evaluations, such as ultrasound meticulous performance records, for continued on page 22 >> greater progeny uniformity and consis-
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See the valuable difference! Crossbreed with Cobb Charolais Bulls.
Linebred performance testing since 1956. All one brand and home raised.
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nd Tuesday, November 2Remember 2021 to vote!
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Western Livestock Auction, Great Falls Montana
Uniform muscular Cobb bull sired cross feeder calves. • Pocha Ranches, Helmville, MT
COBB CHAROLAIS RANCH John & Cheryl: 406-562-3670 cobbchar@3riversdbs.net
Mike & Sarah: 406-562-3694 cobbcow1@3riversdbs.net
www.cobbcharolais.com | Box 348, Augusta MT 59410 20
SEPTEMBER 2021
