Cattleman’s Corner Radio

AGA Commercial Marketing Director

Welcome to the Cattleman's Corner. I'm Brian Hale, sitting in for the late Howard Hale, as we continue his legacy of speaking with cattlemen and women from around the globe. 
 
Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle are well known throughout the beef industry for their maternal strengths and superior growth. With attributes such as more pounds of calf weaned, added fertility, greater cow herd longevity, and heavier carcass weights, just to name a few, Gelbvieh and Balancer offer genetics that work for the commercial cattle business. For more information about the Gelbvieh and Balancer Edge, visit Gelbvieh.org. 
 
On the program today, Commercial Marketing Director for the American Gelbvieh Association, Tom Strahm. So Tom, what is a balancer bull? 
 
"So the balancers are registered hybrid seed stock. It's trademarked from the American Gelbvieh Association and they're a minimum of 25% Gelbvieh up to 75% Gelbvieh , with the offsetting percentage being either Angus or Red Angus. They're out of two registered parents, and we calculate all the performance information on them in the EPDs.
 
So how does that work for crossbreeding?
 
"You know, I think it's a great way to implement a crossbreeding program in a commercial cow herd. Gelbvieh are the continental breed of choice. Very good breed complementarity when used with the British breeds."
 
"And so, you know, when you're thinking about crossbreeding and obtaining the benefits of heterosis and hybrid vigor, I also think that breed complementarity is very important. So the strengths of Gelbvieh complement the strengths of the British breeds very well. And then, you know, if you're using those balancer bulls, keeping your own replacement females, you can continue to use balancers, and it makes crossbreeding easy."
 
That was Tom Strahm, Commercial Marketing Director for the American Gelbvieh Association. 
 
Find out more about Gelbvieh at Gelbvieh org. That's going to do it for the Cattleman's Corner.
 
Thanks again for listening, and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.
 

Free Interviews for Cattle Breeders

Welcome to the Cattleman's Corner. I'm Brian Hale sitting in for the late Howard Hale as we continue his legacy of speaking with cattlemen and women from around the globe. We'll be back with today's guest right after this.
Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle are well known throughout the beef industry for their maternal strengths and superior growth. With attributes such as more pounds of calf weaned, added fertility, greater cow herd longevity, and heavier carcass weights, just to name a few, Gelbvieh and Balancer offer genetics that work for the commercial cattle business. Visit Gelbvieh.org.
While Howard Hale has passed on to the big pasture in the sky, we are still determined to continue to discover the great people involved in the horse and cattle business.
The Horseman's Corner and the Cattleman's Corner have been on the air since 1994, almost 30 years now of conversations with some of the best folks in the country. Over the years, we have interviewed some of the greatest minds in the business, but it's getting tougher to find local folks. Our listeners are primarily wanting to hear from people who are local to them versus some expert in DC.
If you are involved in horses or cattle, we want to hear from you. Give us a call at 940-224-6315 or visit Hale Broadcasting for all of our radio programs and that phone is listed there too. If Facebook is your cup of tea, follow Horseman's Corner Radio and Cattleman's Corner Radio and drop us a message.
Again, all of our programs can be found on halebroadcasting.com and if this radio station isn't playing one of those that you enjoy, let them know to carry it. It's free to them to carry our programs. We appreciate all the listeners and this great radio station for carrying the Horseman's Corner and or the Cattleman's Corner for all these years.
Thanks again for listening and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

Gill Red Angus Sale Results

Let's check in with Bryan Gill from Gill Red Angus to see how their sale went.
 
"Sale was really good. We sold 160 commercial replacement heifers and they averaged just under 3500 and then we sold 98 bulls. Sold every bull we offered and averaged just under $10,200."
 
Wow nice.
 
"It was really good."
 
Oh good yeah that's pretty good averages. Was that your best sale ever?
 
"No last fall was our best sale. We have a two-year-old sale in the fall and that was about a thousand dollars a head higher. But I'm still very happy with what we got."
 
Good well that's good, and are you delivering them yourself or do you hire that out?
 
"Well my brother does most of that. We don't hire anything except for today there's I think 10 head that got on a semi and headed for the East Coast. Three head North Carolina and seven head in South Carolina. Other than that he delivers them all. Well that's a lot of work to do especially if they're spread out he's got to go to several different states I suppose huh? Yeah the December sale they typically stay a little bit closer to us or we still spread out quite a ways but this sale with a DV Auction they kind of went a little bit everywhere several states."
 
Yeah that's gonna happen isn't it with that online stuff?
 
"Yeah we're blessed with DV auction they really help our sale a lot but there's a lot of work afterwards when you sell them all over the country."
 
Timberlake South Dakota Red Angus breeder Bryan Gill.
 
Contact me directly and let's get your program exposed with a free interview on cattlemanscorner.com.

Meet Shawn Booth of Veteran Wyoming

The discussion details the history and operations of Cherry Creek Ranch in Veteran, Wyoming, in an interview with Shawn Booth. He describes his beginnings in the livestock business, starting with raising registered dogs and gradually moving into cattle by purchasing a bred heifer in Montana as a child.
Over the years, Cherry Creek Ranch has grown and adapted through sales and breeding programs. In 2008, they dispersed their cow herd due to severe drought conditions but retained embryos to restart their herd, focusing primarily on top female Angus breeds. Sean continues to pursue innovative breeding practices.
The ranch places a strong emphasis on using donor programs and embryo transplants. Shawn illustrates the complexities of managing donor cows and how critical genetic testing and planned breeding are to maintaining a successful herd.

Record Breaking Sales

Had a chance to catch up with Isabel South Dakota Breeder, Bryce Lindskov on their recent sale.
 
You mind telling us how it went, Bryce?
 
It was a record-breaking sale, like most of them have been good, but this one would of course be our top sale. We sold like 605 bulls, 28 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and I'd say it would be the number one averaging sale for Angus and Charolais in the nation, and then the Hereford's would have been the top three.
 
Yeah, and do they keep numbers on those things?
 
Yeah, that's a national record-breaking sale. Charolais, we've been at the top for 45 years. Angus was sure it would have been the first year we hit the top, and this year would be the second year in a row. I think everybody's got their own program, their own customer-based and our goal is to keep our customer base and keep it growing.
 
Averages don't mean a lot to me in the end, but if you can be at the top of two out of your three breeds in the nation, it makes you feel like you're doing something right. My goal is to retain the customers and pick up new customers, and sometimes averages scare people, but there's a lot of good bulls that could be bought from us and everybody's price range. I always tell everybody the cheapest bull on my sale would be at the top of both sales across the country, so don't feel like you can't buy the cheapest one on our sale. That same bull would probably top a lot of sales.
 
That takes quite an effort to put on a sale of that caliber, I imagine.
 
There's three of us brothers involved in. It takes everybody to do their part, and then the wife's of course. My wife did all the clerking, and my sister-in-law did all the hospitality side as far as the food goes, and then my other sister-in-law was on the block doing the clerking up there. So I'd say we had 65 people all hands on deck on those two days trying to make it happen.
 
Isabel South Dakota breeder, Bryce Lindskov.

Steve Mowry on Conducting Live Sales

Here's more from my conversation with South Central South Dakota Angus breeder Steve Mowry.
 
You said you've been running it this way. It's been successful running them through the ring. Do you see any disadvantages to that?
 
"You know, I've had bulls that are team as kittens at home and I've had them get excited in the ring and and you know, it hurts the sale. But I mean, they are what they are and I've had bulls that I was a little concerned about and they were, you know, you never really know with livestock. So for the most part, people really, really like to see exactly what they're buying. I like the video sales. Those are okay too. But it's really nice to see the bull come in the ring and see what you're doing. I buy bulls myself. And that's the way I like to buy them."
 
This many years in your reputation you have, you offer guarantee, I'm sure.
 
"Absolutely. Yeah. And you know, I was offering a 50% guarantee just to kind of help the customer share the risk that we've changed. I've never given 50% credit to anybody in my life. We've always given 100%. So this year we went ahead and offered the 100%. So we try to take care of our customers. You have to in this business."
 
After that many years, you got to have a lot of returning customers, right?
 
"We do. We have a great base, it's taken a long time. And you know, just like I said, perseverance and patience. There's been some years that weren't so good. And like I always say, it could have been a little better. It could have been a whole lot worse. We offer free delivery and I don't usually have to haul the bulls very far. I like to brag about that because my neighbors use our bulls. That's a good thing."
 
South Central, South Dakota Angus Breeder, Steve Mowry.

Bullfighting at an Early Age

Steve Mowry from Ma And Pa Angus in Presho, South Dakota.
 
"I started when I was about 16 as a bullfighter, but when I was a young 10, 12 years old, I was in Little Bitches rodeos. I always enjoyed the bull riding more than I rode barebacks and saddle broncs both. I had a lot more luck with junior bulls and even the senior bulls growing up. I just clicked with cattle. Horses, I was more afraid of a horse than I was a mean bull."
 
"On the other side note, I actually rode when I was a kid at about 12 years old, but they had us on steers rather than many bulls. Maybe it was just different area or time."
 
"Up here we have some super-ranked cattle and their yearlings and two-year-olds are as mean as all get out. They'd run over you and that's what the junior boys kids rode. In some places they do ride steers, but even junior, when I started my bullfighting, I was doing those junior rodeos and the bulls were plenty mean and a great place to learn."
 
"I could not have been in a better place in the world to learn my trade. My first cows that I bought well was actually from winning from the 1983 bullfight championships. I won 12,000 there and I brought it home and bought black baldies. From then I switched to black and today we're 100% registered Angus."
 
"And the name of your ranch is Ma And Pa Angus in Preshos, South Dakota?"
"Absolutely."
"Well, we appreciate it. Was there anything I should have asked you that I didn't get out?"
 
"Life's been a journey. To God be the glory."
Steve Mowry from Ma And Pa Angus, Presho, South Dakota.

Steve Mowry - Passionate About Angus

Steve Mowry from Ma anb Pa Angus in Presho, South Dakota has a sale today. So the first question is Steve, if you don't mind, just give me a little background on how you got started in the cattle business.
 
"I guess I've always been drawn cattle in one form or another. I grew up on a ranch, my dad bought this ranch in 1961, the year that I was born. I followed my brothers into rodeo. That was some of my first enjoyable experiences. Cattle have just been a part of everything I've ever done. I went on to did pro rodeo for quite awhile as a rodeo bullfighter. When I retired from that, I worked for a veterinarian for a couple of years in kind of fell in love with the Angus breed while I was at the veterinarian."
 
"The timing could not have been any better. When Ag was bad in the 1980s, there was a Wrangler jeans came out with a program called the Wrangler Bullfighting Competition. I was a rodeo bullfighter and they paid a tremendous amount of money. It got up to $485,000 for a 16 man tour. I won more than my share of that $485,000. That's basically how I got in the cow business was my winnings from those bullfights. I was buying cows when cows were dirt cheap in the 80s and my dad was running them on shares with me. That's how I got started."
 
"We have 65 yearling bulls on the sale. We are on DV auction. You'll be able to bid and buy there. Our catalog and videos are there, of course, but the sale itself is at Presho Livestock Auction. We still run the bulls in the ring one at a time so you get to see exactly what you're buying."
 
Steve Mowry from Ma and Pa Angus, Presho, South Dakota. 

Discussion on the New World Screwworm

Galen Frenzen on Avoiding Fat Cattle

Now here's Galen Frenzen from Frenzen Angus and Polled Herefords.
 
"Most of the guys that sell yearling bulls, they start calving right after Christmas. We don't start calving till the middle of February and when we tested our bulls at our sale, I always get nervous with the yearling bulls, a lot of them weren't even a year old yet. But the vet commented that he said the nuts are right there and they're firm. And he said, I'm not grabbing hold of a scrotum full of, well he didn't say scrotum, he said, a bag full of fat. We don't get them fat."
 
"The genetics are the same. When that calf is born, his genetics are set. And what you do from there is not going to change them. I don't care how you fat you get them or how hard you promote them or what. Those genetics aren't going to change. And so we don't have the weights that a lot of them do. And I've been watching a lot of videos and there's a lot of fat cattle out there.
 
"It was a Sunday afternoon, a guy called and he said, I don't need any more bulls. But he said, I want to come to your sale. And he said, just look at your bulls and he said, I'm the most guilty one there is. He said, 'I say, I'm not going to buy a fat bull. But that's what we buy because they look better. And then we get upset because they go to hell come summer.' We got repeat customers that say the bowl, he looks about the same in July as they bought them. In areas where there's a hell of a lot of highly promoted, high powered bulls, he says, well, I'm tired of buying fat bulls. It's a totally different program. That's it in nutshell. I'm a redneck. I'm stubborn. I'm German.
 
That was 82 year old, Galen Frenzen, and that's going to do it for today's Cattleman's Corner.

Upcoming Bull Sales

The Cattleman's Corner is brought to you by the American Gelbvieh Association.
 
Have you heard about the Gelbvieh and Balancer Edge? Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle are well-known throughout the beef industry for their maternal strength and superior growth. With attributes such as more pounds of calf weaned, added fertility, greater cow herd longevity and heavier carcass weights just to name a few, Gelbvieh and Balancer offer genetics that work for the commercial cattle business. For more information about the Gelbvieh and Balancer Edge, visit Gelbvieh.org.
 
Well, if you look at a map and find Timber Lake South Dakota, our gravel road is 6 miles east of Timber Lake on Highway 20. You'll run into our ranch sign and a big cross anda U.S. flag we got flying there. Then you just go north a couple miles and back west and you're right there. It's really simple. The catalog is online. It's at gillredangus.com. My phone number is 701-730134. And if you want to see the videos of the bulls, they will be on DV Auction here shortly.
 
Bryan Gill from Gilred Angus in Timber Lake, South Dakota. They have a sale today, Wednesday, April 22nd. You can find it online at DV Auction and Cattleman's Corner or go to their place out at Timber Lake, South Dakota and buy a bull today!
 
And speaking of those sales that are listed on Cattleman's Corner, Stroud Farms is also having their sale today in Pueblo, Colorado. Tomorrow it's the Packard Point Bull Sale in Muldrow, Oklahoma and the XL Angus Ranch Bull Sale in Evansville, Wyoming. On Friday we are featuring Cavender Ranches, their registered female sale in Jacksonville, Texas. Find all these sales on Cattleman's Corner.com. 

Raising Age Advantaged Cattle

Gill Red Angus from Timberlake, South Dakota has a sale coming up on Wednesday. Here's Bryan Gill with more.
 
The bulls there, I said are aged advantage bulls. There's some two-year-old bulls in there, and there's some fall bulls in there. Our program specializes in aged cattle. We like to sell them bulls a little bit older, instead of pushing them to grow them. So we like to grow them on grass a while and get them their frame mother nature's way. So they really should hold up well for the next guy. One thing that we do is we pride ourselves in the customer service, and along with delivering the bulls and standing behind our products, which we do, we also help our customers market their calves. And when our customers take their cattle to the sale barn and time to sell them or sell them off the farm, however they decide to market them, if they let us know, we will be there one way or another and try to round up some bids for them. We purchased several thousand calves last fall and over the winter from our customers, either on order or for ourselves. We'll take them cattle to ones we buy for ourselves and we'll background them and give them to 900 to 1,000 pounds and we'll sell them in the winter.  We're peddling cattle to now that we bought in October and November, and then we're also going to run almost a thousand steers on grass that we'll sell in August, September and October that we purchased from our customers. And we also market several hundred head of replacement heifers that we purchased from customers. So we see the cattle from weaning until they grow up. We know which genetics are working and which genetics aren't working and know a little bit more about the cattle that our bulls produce.

Meet Bryan Gill of South Dakota

We have Bryan Gill from Gill Red Angus on the phone today. Can you tell us how you got started in the cattle business, Bryan?
 
My brother and I took over my parents' operation. Dad started Gill Red Angus in 1979. He had commercial cattle before that, but he bought his first registered cattle in 1979, and it progressed along the way, and then my parents retired, and we were here working with them, and when they retired, we just took it over. Back then, it was just commercial cattle, and then in 1979 when Dad bought the first registered Red Angus cattle back, before then, they had some, just kind of a mix-match. They had some herefords and some blacks and whatnot, but there was some red-angus cattle in the country. Then Dad really started to admire, and that's how we chose Red Angus.
 
What do you think's best about them?
 
For me, it's the maternal end, it is second to none. The disposition is quiet. Flushability is there. It's always in good shape, and they've got good feet and good utters, and the depths of body, and it's just very easy to get along with, I guess, the red cattle.
 
April 22nd, at the ranch near Timberlake, South Dakota, we're going to be selling 100 bulls, and in them bulls, 60 of them will be age-advantaged, and 40 of them will be yearlings, and then we'll have 180 commercial replacement heifers, and then we'll also have, one first time we've ever done this, it's a pick of the herd, 2026 born heifer calves. So they're just getting born now, but whoever buys it can come into here, and there's approximately 600 registered cows calving right now, and they get to pick any calf heifer calf they want out of that deal. 

World Renowned Genetics

Lindskov's LT Ranch
World Renowned Genetics
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
The Nation's #1 Source for Registerd Bulls
 

3 Major Bull Sales This Weekend

If you're not familiar with our Cattleman's Corner website, cattlemanscorner.com has some great information including this interview and hundreds more. We also have a free sale calendar for those who have a sale coming up. Either a production sale, sale bar and auction or a private treaty sale.
 
Speaking of the private treaty sales, there's an unusual one coming up. It's actually an auction but it's in a different format. That's the Windmill Angus Ranch in Haigler, Nebraska. You heard us talking about that one earlier.
 
 
You also heard an interview from Bryce Lindskov on their huge 45th annual Charolais, Angus and Hereford Bull Sale on Saturday in Isabel, South Dakota.
 
 
Then yesterday we told you about that Saturday sale from Newsam Angus Ranch in Murdo, South Dakota.
 
 
Lots of great information on cattlemanscorner.com and you can qualify for a free interview if you'll just give us a call. And if you're in the cattle business, let's get your name out there on Cattleman's Corner and our network of stations in 5 states!

Meet Newsam Angus

Today we have Levi Newsam from the Newsam Angus Ranch in South Dakota. How did you get started in the cattle business, Levi?
"My great-grandpa settled right here in the Murdo area and he was a farmer-r rancher and he was kind of the end of that because his kid didn't want it and so that land sold and then my dad come along and he was a carpenter and decided he wanted to be a cowman and so he started a cow herd when I was young maybe even before I was born and so then it just kind of spun off of that. He bought us a registered cow when I was really young and we kind of dabbled with that just a little bit here and there and I took over pretty young. We lost him when I was 18 and so I kind of got thrown to the wolves and took off with it and once I was kind of on my own and got a little bit established I started pushing harder on the registered deal and got to the point where all the cows are registered and so we keep all of our own replacement and we have a annual bull sale right here at the place. We've been selling bulls for I don't know 15 years at least. Last year we made it move to move it right to our place and it was really well received and went really good so we're gearing up to do it again on Saturday April 18th. We're going to sell 55 yearling Angus bulls and about 15 registered Angus heifers and have a good meal and we do something a little bit different here than a lot of places we do it in the evening so our sales start at six o'clock on April 18th."
 
That was Levi Newsam from the Newsam Angus Ranch. 

A Different Kind of Bull Sale

Nebraska Angus breeder Alex Peterson has a different way of conducting his sale. Tell us again when that sale is and how you do that.
 
"The bull sale will be April 18th at 1 o'clock and it's located two miles east of Hagler, Nebraska. We have the sale set up. It'll be a private treaty bid-off type auction. The bulls will be in pens and we'll have a big board. We go pick out the bull you want and the cattlemen set the sale order. So the bull with the most names on it starts to sale just between the guys that have their names on the board and we bid them off in $500 increments. The last guy still bidding gets the bull and then we'll just go down and say another bull has four guys on it. So we'll do that bull and then go down to the ones. Let's say we got a couple bulls that don't have any names. We'll save those clear to the end and then if somebody didn't get a bull we'll put them up if nobody bids and they just walk and we can usually get it done in 30 minutes. It's super fast. We'll have a really nice meal there. Certified Angus beef, roast beef sandwiches and cowboy candy and all kinds of different homemade food. It is a nice way to do it and it's quick. I started doing this a while back and now I see a lot more people are doing it just because it's fast and it's pretty simple. One o'clock, so show up a little bit ahead of time and get your bull picked out, eat some lunch and we'll hammer through it."
 
Alex Peterson from Windmill Angus Ranch in Hagler, Nebraska.

Lindskov LT Ranch 3 Breed Sale

Background and Cattle Business Overview
The discussion is an interview with a cattle business operator named Bryce Lindskov, who provides insights into his cattle operations. Bryce's family business, initiated by his father in 1981 with the registered Charolais breed, has expanded over the years to include Angus and recently Hereford breeds. The operation runs about 3,000 registered cows and 6,000 commercial cows, with over 600 bulls from three different breeds available for sale in their 45th annual bull sale.
Bull Sale Event Details
The annual bull sale is a significant event, featuring over 625 bulls, and it will take place at a state-of-the-art facility in Isabel, South Dakota, on April 18th. The event attracts a large audience, with over 1,200 attendees the previous year. There will be a pre-sale social event offering meals and a full bar on the evening preceding the sale.
Logistics and Clientele
The business sells bulls across various states, including international transactions involving embryos and semen. The facility is located conveniently near major airports and has seen significant growth in customer base due to an effective marketing strategy. There is emphasis on customer service and loyalty, with specialized programs for customers, such as a feeder cattle buyback program.
Breed Selection Rationale
Bryce elaborates on the rationale for selecting certain cattle breeds. Charolais is noted for its performance in cross-breeding to enhance weaning weights and carcass merit. Angus is chosen for its maternal traits and structural integrity, while Hereford is selected to produce cross-baldy females for crossbreeding. This diversifies options for customers looking for particular genetic advantages.
Other Business Ventures and Future Ambitions
Aside from cattle, Bryce is involved in managing multiple businesses including New Holland equipment stores and commercial hunting operations. Although he has considered running for governor of South Dakota, his current focus remains on his business engagements. The family business is characterized by its commitment to customer service and non-corporate, family-owned ethos.
Potential Business Collaboration and Marketing
Towards the end of the interview, potential collaborations are discussed, including possible upgrades to their website to better facilitate e-commerce transactions. Bryce expresses interest in enhancing the digital marketing aspect of their cattle business with the help of Hale Broadcasting, which also offers to feature their operation as part of an ongoing promotional program.
This overview provides a comprehensive understanding of the business operations, future aspirations, and the upcoming bull sale highlighted in the Cattleman's Corner interview.

Gelbvieh On Ice Sale Announced

Lots of great things happening. The Gelbvieh on Ice Sale book is out. That's a live online auction Saturday night, April 11th at 6.30 p.m. Central. Elite Donation Genetics from Gelbvieh and Balancer breeders for AGJA to help fund the 2026 junior classic in Nebraska. All proceeds go to the American Gelbvieh Juniors Association. That's Saturday night, April 11th starting at 6.30 p.m. Central, the Gelbvieh on Ice Sale. That sale will be available online and we'll have a link to that sale on Cattlemen's Ccorner on our sale calendar. Look for that post from Mitchell Marketing Service.
 
According to Feedlot Magazine, one study found that nursing calves between 2-5 months of age consumed about 60% of what the cows were eating. This means that if cows consumed 4 ounces of mineral mix per day, their calves were eating just over 2 ounces. A good rule of thumb would be increase the target disappearance rate by 1.6 times to account for calf consumption once they reach 2 months of age. That's an answer to the question of how much free choice mineral are nursing calves eating. From Feedlot Magazine, you can find that post on our Harvest USA report Facebook page.
 
If you'd like to share your operation and what you're doing with others, give us a call. The numbers are on the screen at cattlemanscorner.com.

Upcoming Angus Charolais and Hereford Bull Sales

So many good bull sales still coming up here in the month of April. Fink Beef Genetics... Hey, it's Galen Fink with his sale. That's the spring bull and female sale on Saturday April 11th, and the Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull and Female sale. That's out in Red House, Virginia. Actually, the sale's in Concord. That's another one of our Gelbvieh breeders from the National Gelbvieh Association. And don't forget the 44th annual Hebbert Charolais Bull Sale. That's April 11th as well in Hyannis, Nebraska.
 
I just got off the phone yesterday with Linskov's LT Ranch. Bryce Linskov in Isabelle, South Dakota is doing some amazing things. It's the 45th annual Charolais, Angus and for the first time this year, Herford sale. That's Lindskov's LT Ranch.
 
 
All of these featured sales can be found right on cattlemanscorner.com. Just click on Featured Sales. For Linskov's LT Ranch, we also have an attached interview that will be appearing on that site very soon. 

Leah Peterson on Calving Heifers

On the program again today with our co-host David Woodruff is Clear Creek Ranch Mom, Leah Peterson talking about her cattle operation today. They started off talking about the screw worm.
 
"I've been concerned with the early spring coming with warps all the way south to Texas that keep waiting to hear that that darn thing made its way north."
 
"Well I think Brian had something that he posted somewhere and it sounded like they were pretty well on it in the southwest. I had never heard of it until I talked to the Flakes. I guess I had heard of it but I didn't know it firsthand. How big of a herd, how many cow calf pairs do you have to keep tabs on?"
 
"Well we culled really hard last year. Late moisture that didn't really come until it was time to go to grass. We culled really hard in the spring and so we're down a little bit on numbers currently of mature cows. However we raise our own replacements and so had that discussion multiple times in recent days as we weigh drought planning with trying to restore numbers, but typically somewhere around 500 adult cows on the place that would include heft bread heifers somewhere around there. A lot of people turn up their nose at calving heifers. We make very careful intentional decisions in our breeding programs so that we don't have a battle at calving time but I would rather be raising heifers right now and calving heifers than I would be spending money buying mature bred cows."
~ Clear Creek Ranch mom Leah Peterson.
 
That's it for today's Cattleman's Corner. Thanks again for listening and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

Nathan Cummins on Cowboy Poetry

Cowboy Poetry Gathering Experience: The discussion highlights the success of a cowboy poetry gathering in Taber, Alberta. It was noted as the fourth such event organized and was deemed the best so far due to high talent levels and contributions from participants like Nathan Cummins, Crystal, and other storytellers and musicians. The event served as a platform to celebrate and preserve the heritage of the old west, drawing attendees from various regions.
Community and Inspiration: Nathan expressed his appreciation for the sense of community and inspiration found at the gathering. He emphasized the importance of maintaining connections to Western heritage through storytelling and music. The event was praised for fostering a sense of camaraderie and support among participants, and Nathan felt inspired to write about these experiences.
Youth Involvement and Talent: There was a notable involvement of young participants, such as 4-H club members, who contributed to the event with speeches and poetry. The presence of younger generations is seen as vital for preserving the cultural tradition. Discussions included family stories and attempts to encourage continued involvement and participation among young attendees.
 
View the Article about the event here...
Saddle up for Taber’s annual cowboy poetry round-up

8 Decades of Experience

Meet Galen Frenzen with 8 decades of experience in the cattle business...
Galen Frenzen, at 82, has a storied history in the cattle industry dating back to 1957, when he and his brother were introduced to Hereford heifers by their father. Over the years, Frenzen expanded the business with a variety of cattle breeds, experimenting with exotics and transitioning to a focus on Angus cattle after marrying into an Angus-oriented family. He reflects on past trends, such as the shift to larger cattle in the 1960s and the challenges with dwarfism, exotics, and the evolution towards a more moderate animal in response to market extremes.
Frenzen remains committed to traditional breeding practices, focusing on genetically sound and well-rounded animals actively involved in seed stock operations. He prides himself on not overindulging with feeding supplements, advocating for a survival-of-the-fittest approach in which cattle are naturally developed without inflated fattening practices. The operation tests bulls later in life, ensuring they remain functional and desirable in competitive markets without excessive conditioning, emphasizing animal adaptability and longevity over immediate appearance.  

Clear Creek Ranch Mom Leah Peterson

The conversation between David Woodruff of Hale Broadcasting and Leah Peterson, operating from Clear Creek Ranch, highlighted the challenges of managing livestock in the Nebraska heat and dryness, particularly regarding livestock operations focused on cow-calf systems with breeds like Herefords, native shorthorns, and Red Angus.
They discussed the seasonal calendar that dictates operations like weaning, sowing, and harvesting, and the genetic qualities they target for their livestock, notably hybrid vigor. The challenges of managing resources such as leased pastureland due to natural disasters and environmental conditions were also addressed, including impacts from prairie fires and their implications for cattle movement.