Cattleman’s Corner Radio

Free Advertising on Cattlemans Corner

Call Brian today at 941-942-4361 for a FREE INTERVIEW on the radio!
 

Amercian Gelbvieh Genetics

A True Partnership

Shane Bedwell - American Hereford Association

Raising Cattle in Deer Lodge Montana

Jim Felton, a third-generation Angus breeder from Deer Lodge, Montana, elaborated on his commitment to Angus cattle, attributing it to his lineage and personal experience in breeding. He acknowledged the competitive nature of the Angus market but highlighted the established reputation of his ranch in raising quality cattle.

Crossbreeding in Kansas with Cole Buffo

Cole Buffo is a prominent community leader, city councilmember, and cattle rancher based in Jetmore, Kansas. He plays an active role in local municipal governance and the regional agricultural sector.
 
Agricultural Leadership
 
Beyond his public office, Buffo is a well-known livestock producer in the Kansas ranching community. 
Buff Tuff Cattle Co.: He operates Buff Tuff Cattle Co. based out of Jetmore, which specializes in raising Gelbvieh, Balancer, and Red Angus cattle. The operation focuses on advanced crossbreeding genetics and hosts annual open-house silent auctions for regional cattle buyers.
Kansas Gelbvieh Association: Highlighting his standing in the livestock industry, Buffo serves as the President of the Kansas Gelbvieh Association, promoting the breed's development throughout the state. 

Raising Cattle in the Desert Southwest

Story Behind Largest Cow in the World

The world's largest fiberglass cow, known as "Salem Sue," is located in New Salem, North Dakota, just off Interstate 94—about 30 miles west of Bismarck. Built in 1974 for $40,000, this massive Holstein stands 38 feet tall and 50 feet long, and weighs 12,000 pounds.
 

Where Herefords Began

Nearly 300 years ago, farmers in Herefordshire, England founded the Hereford breed in response to consumer beef demand created by Britain's industrial revolution. Now, centuries later, here's Shane Bedwell, Director of Breed Improvement, on more about the Hereford breed. 
 
"Yes, sir. Brian, I appreciate you having me on. The American Hereford Association is experiencing some really great times in growth. The demand by the commercial cattlemen we've seen here in the last five years has been tremendous. And using Hereford genetics, we've seen bull sales increase not only in volume, but in sale price all across the U.S. And my belief is that our breeders that have been in business for a long time have really stayed committed to making the cattle problem free. Stayed committed to passing on those genetics to the commercial cattlemen to add pounds, to add efficiency, and add fertility in their crosses."
 
That's good news not only for your breed, but for the whole industry, right, Shane? 
 
"Absolutely. I think we've done quite a bit of extensive research and studies, and we look pretty good there in that arena."
 
That was Shane Bedwell, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Breed Improvement for the American Hereford Association. 

Raising Cattle in Southern Colorado

Joe Klun and Klun Farms & Cattle
Background: Joe Klun grew up on a family farm that has been in operation since the early 1900s, giving him deep roots in agriculture and livestock production.
Return to Cattle: Although he initially sold his cattle herd after high school to purchase equipment, his interest in the cattle industry eventually returned and grew into a dedicated breeding operation.
Gelbvieh Focus: Joe specializes in registered Gelbvieh cattle because of their:
Calving ease
Strong growth performance
Adaptability to challenging environments
Overall versatility in commercial cattle operations
Herd Improvement Strategy: He emphasizes:
Strict culling standards
Use of elite genetics
Artificial Insemination (AI) to continually improve herd quality and performance
Telecommunications Business
Joe also owns a telecommunications company focused on low-voltage fiber-optic infrastructure.
He has spent more than a decade building the business while continuing his cattle operation.
The company works throughout Colorado and occasionally in other states when projects offer strong incentives, such as hurricane-recovery work in Florida.
The business currently employs 12 people and is expanding into additional sectors, including:
Transportation
Logistics
Key Takeaway
Joe has successfully built two complementary enterprises—cattle breeding and telecommunications—by combining long-standing agricultural experience with a growth-oriented business mindset, emphasizing quality genetics, operational efficiency, and strategic expansion.

Don Edwards on Gelbvieh Traits

Let's wrap this interview up with Hyde Gelbvieh's Don Edwards. What do you like about the Gelbvieh, Don?
 
"They're really good mothers. They got a pretty good sized carcass on them. The carcass characteristics probably aren't the best as compared to like a black Angus or a red Angus, but they do have the size of the carcass, but they have a really good adaptability to their environment. So whether you're in a high humidity climate with taller grass, or if you're in a real arid climate like I am with short grass, it seems like the cattle really adapt good to any kind of a situation in their environment that they're placed in."
 
So do you cross those Gelbvieh on Red or Black Angus?
 
"My personal choice is red just because it seems like the weaning weights on the red cattle coming off grass on the calves are about 50 pounds heavier on average than what the blacks are, and it depends on year to year, but on average it seems like the reds have a higher weaning weight when they come off grass and seems like they handle the heat stress a little bit better that we have here in northeast Colorado."
 
Any last words for folks considering Gelbvieh?
 
"If you're looking at maybe a breeding option or a crossbreeding option coming this spring or this fall, maybe look at Gelbvieh and see if Gelbvieh would have something to increase your genetic material in your cow herds. That's what I would say."
 
That was Don Edwards from Otis, Colorado in the northeastern part of the state, raising Gelbvieh at Hyde Ranch.

Colorado Grass Conditions at Hyde Gelbvieh

 Let's talk to one of those premium Gelbvieh breeders in northeastern Colorado.
 
Here's Don Edwards. How's the grass for you there, Don? 
 
"A lot of my grass out here is pretty short. You know, we got the buffalo grass, which it's a good grass too when it dries up. It actually has more protein content than when it's green. It's a real short, warm season grass, but we also have some other grasses out here like western wheat, brome grass, some blue grama, some needle and thread that the cattle kind of thrive on. Those get a little bit taller because those are mostly cooler season grasses. They might get maybe 10 inches tall and that's about tops on it. Yeah, we have mostly short grass country out here."
 
Do you have an annual sale? 
 
A lot of my heifer sales are done like a private treaty. Either take them to the sale barn or I'll advertise them on Facebook or on some other websites. And then every spring, the Colby Community College always has a bull test down there. And so in November, I select bulls that I want to keep as bulls and take down to their testing."
 
"The kids down there, they do all the work on it as far as growing. They do all the advertising on it and I have to pay for everything, for like the feed and the vet, all that kind of stuff at cost. But they ultrasound the bulls and put them in GrowSafe units so we can figure out feed efficiency."
 
"We know what their carcass merit is, their average rate of gain on a per day basis, the ratios of their feed that it takes to put that pound of gain on. And they do a really excellent job. I've taken bulls down there for the last three or four years and I'll probably keep taking bulls down there."
 
That was Don Edwards from Otis, Colorado in the northeastern part of the state, raising Gelbvieh at Hyde Ranch. 

Don Edwards of Hyde Gelbvieh

Background and Cattle Business Journey: Don Edwards, not associated with Hyde Cattle but rather Hyde Gelbvieh, was interviewed about his engagement in the cattle industry. Located in a ghost town named Hyde in northeast Colorado, Don began his journey in the cattle business as an eighth grader in the early 1990s. He attended a purebred cattle sale in Brighton, Colorado, where he purchased a Gelbvieh show heifer for his FFA (Future Farmers of America) project, thus starting his career with the Gelbvieh breed. Over the years, Don has continued to work with purebred Gelbviehs and has also incorporated balancers, adapting to industry changes while valuing traits like adaptability and resilience to environmental stress.
Cattle Breeding and Traits: Don prefers red cattle, citing higher average weaning weights compared to black cattle and a better handling of heat stress in northeast Colorado's climate. While Gelbvieh carcass characteristics might not compete with Angus breeds in terms of certain qualities, they possess adaptability to various environments and are excellent mothers. This adaptability is pivotal for breeders in diverse and challenging conditions.
Sales and Programs: Hyde Galvey conducts heifer sales mostly through private treaties, utilizing platforms like Facebook for promotion. Don participates in a bull test program at Colby Community College, where selected bulls are assessed, and their performance compared with other breeds, helping to evaluate cattle quality and growth traits comprehensively. This partnership allows for learning and improvement in cattle genetics while supporting educational programs at the college.
Contact and Community Engagement: Don Edwards's Hyde Gelbvieh can be contacted via Facebook or directly through email and phone. While a website is not yet set up, outreach is conducted through available channels to ensure engagement with potential buyers and the broader cattle community. Hyde Gelbvieh, while not a major player in specific breeds like Angus, offers significant breeding advantages that Don promotes for consideration among other cattlemen for genetic improvement strategies.

No Ton Cows Here

Now here's Galen Frenzen from Frenzen Angus and Polled, Herefords. 
 
Well, hello Galen. I understand you have a lot of experience in the business. Can you give us a little background on that please, sir? 
 
"I'm 82 years old and my dad bought two horned Hereford heifers for my brother and I for 4-H and FFA projects in 1957. Dad had always had commercial cows, mainly primarily Herefords. Then after I got out of college in 1965, the exotics had hit. I started dabbling a little more on the commercial cows. A lot of the new exotics were coming in and one time somebody asked me, what breeds did you try? And I said, it'd probably be simpler if I told you which ones I didn't. We select for a bigger animal than a lot of commercial people because my bull customers come in and pick the big stout bulls. So I've got a little bigger cow, but I don't have these ton cows that some of them do. The thing that differentiates us is we don't creep feed. It's a survival of the fittest type deal."
 
"I did a feed bunk analysis of our ration, sent it to ward laboratories and none of our bulls are dry lot developed. They run on corn stocks. All of our yearling bulls run together."
 
What did you end up selling this year? 
 
"75 Angus bulls, 40 Herefords, one Simmental bulls and they're going to be yearlings, four yearlings and two year olds. And then the females were going to have some yearling heifers and some two year old pairs. And then some groups of black baldy F1 heifers, two F1 heifers."
 
Galen Frenzen, Fullerton, Nebraska. 
 
Thanks again for listening and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

Shawn Booth on Getting Started Early

Listen in to this interview with Shawn Booth of Veteran, Wyoming.

From High Country to the Plains

Now let's check in with Dan Reardon of Rockin' R Red Angus, who had moved his operation from the high country in Colorado to just a few miles south of McGrew, Nebraska.
 
How did your sale go, Dan?
 
"We were really, really thrilled with the sale and how it went and the feedback on the bulls. You know, it was a really challenging time. The two days before the sale is when the big fire hit, and so friends and customers just scrambling and dealing with the fire, and we were kind of wondering on our end what we should do, and we decided to still hold the sale on that Saturday and on that fire started Thursday, and we were really blessed with the amount of people that showed up, the amount of people that bid, so we were really, really excited and really happy despite what was going on in the community. We definitely had some out-of-town buyers. We sold bulls as far east as Illinois, and obviously sold quite a few to Colorado and Kansas and a bunch to Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, so yeah, we had a pretty good representation as far as geography."
 
"I cannot speak highly enough of the crew over at Sugar Valley. We were very, very happy. We were extremely impressed with how professional they were. We feel like we found a home for sure for our sale. The people there were just so nice, so professional. We couldn't have asked for a better partnership than what they did for us over there."
 
That was Dan Reardon talking about the successful sale they had at Sugar Valley Stockyards in Gering, Nebraska. Find my longer interview with Dan on cattlemanscorner.com, as well as hundreds of other interviews.

Cole Epley - Diversified Operation

Buff Tuff Cattle Company Background

South Dakota Producer Troy Thomas

Troy Thomas is a seed stock producer from Thomas Ranch in South Dakota. They have a very diversified operation there with several breeds of cattle. So why so much diversity? 
 
"I guess we've tried to kind of diversify ourselves enough that we can supply bulls to people that are using different breeds and some crossbreeding systems. So what kind of breeds do you primarily focus on? We primarily have Charolais and Angus, but also have some Red Angus and some Simmental cattle. And I guess every year we're kind of surprised, you know, several customers, more than one breed, and kind of incorporate it into some different crossbreeding programs. Depending on what they want to add or what they're trying to do at the present time, we kind of try to fill all their bull needs if we can." 
 
So do you produce any crossbred bulls? 
 
"We've done a few. We've mainly stayed with the purebred registered side. The Simmental cattle, we're doing a little more of the SimAngus, the percentage cattle. But the majority of our cattle are purebred and all registered cattle." 
 
That was Troy Thomas, seed stock producer from South Dakota, on today's Cattleman's Corner.

Joe Klun on Gelbvieh Traits

Summary
On Cattleman’s Corner, Brian Hale interviews Joe Klun of Klun Cattle Company in Pueblo, Colorado, about the advantages of Gelbvieh cattle. Klun says he values the breed for its calving ease, growth, maternal efficiency, and ability to maintain condition in tough environments. He explains that his cows, weighing around 1,400 to 1,500 pounds, are versatile and perform well on a variety of rough grazing conditions. Klun also describes the harsh southern Colorado terrain, including poor grass, sagebrush, cactus, and abandoned river-bottom farmland, where the cattle have continued to thrive.
 
Transcript
Today we have Joe Klun from Klun Cattle Company, Pueblo, Colorado.
 
Tell me what you like about the Gelbvieh again. 
 
"There's just a lot. Good calving ease and the growth, and you get big, mature cows. I mean, the cows that I got, you know, they're probably weighing 1,400, 1,500 pounds, and they're easy fleshing. You can put them pretty much anywhere, and they'll work anywhere you take them. I haven't really had any trouble anywhere that they've been, really, which is a good thing, because I've been just chasing grass and getting pasture wherever I can, when I can. So the versatility of them is one thing that I've found."
 
Tell us about that tough country that you're in, actually. People might want to know what your conditions are like there in southern Colorado. 
 
"A lot of river bottom area. I mean, there's not good grass. It's been a lot of, like, Kochia Weed and just nothing good. Nothing that you really want to have cattle on, but it's something that, you know, all the good stuff is taken. You know, being a younger guy, if you weren't already in it, there's just not a lot of options. So I've had to take them to some pretty rough places, you know, lots of Sagebrush, lots of Cactus, or like I said, the river bottom where it used to be farm ground, and then they quit farming it, so now all that grows out there is Kochia Weed and Pigweed, but they handled that just fine."
 
Joe Klun from Klun Cattle Company.

The Key to the Operation

"My wife June is the key to the whole operation"
 
That is the impression that we received when talking with Gelbvieh breeder Roger Olsen of Platteville, Colorado. Roger is a Select Sire rep, while June runs the cattle operation on a day-to-day basis. 
 
Here is a transcript of today's conversation;
 
Now, here's Roger Olson again today from Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company.
 
"One of the things that I failed to mention, Brian, and she is the key to our whole operation, is my wife, June. My way of supporting the herd, I guess, is I am Select Sire Rep here in central Colorado. She kind of maintains the herd herself.  We couldn't do it without her. I didn't want to do an interview without mentioning her. This is a family operation, it's a heritage, it's a way of life."
 
Would you give it up for anything else? 
 
"No, I wouldn't. And you're right, it is a way of life. I've sold herds before, but I've always ended up with cows again. It's just, like you said, a way of life. And it's good people. I mean, the cattle people that we deal with on a daily basis, yeah, you're right, I wouldn't trade it for anything."
 
That was Roger Olson from Northeastern Colorado's Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company. 

Meet Gelbvieh Breeder Roger Olsen

Roger Olson's Cattle Operation: Roger Olson is involved in a family-run cattle business in eastern Colorado, operating the Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company. The operation specializes in registered Gelbvieh cattle, a breed chosen for its maternal traits, feed efficiency, and adaptability to pasture conditions. Despite challenges from area development and droughts, the cattle have performed well, and Olson maintains a mix of pasturing and feedlot strategies. They also host an annual bull sale, the Pot of Gold Bull Sale, which has been successful over the years, with strong sales of both bulls and heifers.
Broadcasting and Community Engagement: The interviewer, Brian from Hale Broadcasting, discussed how their radio broadcasting covers agriculture in multiple states, including a focus on cattle operations. Hale Broadcasting provides both radio and podcast formats to share insights from the agricultural community, emphasizing personal interviews rather than traditional news reports. The program celebrates a long heritage of cattle operations and promotes sharing stories and information within the community, highlighting its rootedness as a way of life.
Online Presence and Advertising: Roger Olson mentioned utilizing the website gelbviehbulls.net for promoting their annual bull sales. They also engage in various advertising channels, such as postcards and regional publications, with word-of-mouth playing a significant role in their sales success. Although initially lacking in social media engagement, Olson's operation recognizes the growing importance of digital presence.
Family and Heritage: A significant highlight is the role of family in the operation, with Roger attributing much of the success to his wife, June. This underscores the operations as not only a business endeavor but also a lifestyle choice deeply integrated with family values and traditions.
Transcript
Today we have Roger Olson, a Gelbvieh breeder from Colorado. How did you get started in the Gelbvieh, Roger? 
 
Well, in 1970, my dad bought a group of three-quarter blood Gelbvieh cattle from a gentleman in South Dakota. There was 75 head there. The Gelbvieh breed has always been really, really good for us. We've always just stayed with it. 
 
Why do you think that is? 
 
They check all the boxes, as far as maternal traits, feed gain, their do-ability as far as pastures are concerned, docile disposition, very fertile cattle. We have just a super breed up every year. The cows have just not ever let us down. Even drought years, like we are having this year, just having phenomenal calves. Like I said, they've always treated us very well. They've never disappointed. We have an annual bull sale, pot of gold bull sale, over in Montrose, Colorado, every year, last Friday in February. I have been doing that for 35 years and have just been a successful bull sale and sell feedstock. They've always just been really good for us. 
 
What kind of country is that where you are? Is that good for raising cattle? 
 
It was good at one time. We're being invaded by subdivisions and investment groups and stuff like that, so we're having a hard time as far as finding pasture and feed. It's becoming a challenge. 
 
Your location is Platteville. Where is that? 
 
Fifteen miles south of Greeley, up in the north central. 
 
That was Roger Olson from northeastern Colorado's Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company. 
 
That's going to do it for today's Cattleman's Corner.

Meet Gelbvieh Breeder Joe Klun

Joe, the owner of Klun Farms & Cattle, discussed his background and journey in the cattle business. Growing up on a farm that has been in his family since the 1900s, Joe has been involved with agriculture from an early age. After starting a separate career in telecommunications focusing on low-voltage fiber optic lines, he has spent over a decade building this business alongside his cattle ventures. Joe’s passion for cattle was revived post-high school by trading his initial herd for equipment, eventually leading him to focus on breeding registered Gelbvieh cattle, which he admires for their calving ease, growth potential, and versatility across tough environments. His approach includes stringent culling and using top genetics through Artificial Insemination (AI) for herd improvement.
 
Joe also shared details about his telecommunications business, which operates statewide in Colorado and extends to other states for projects motivated by pay incentives, such as post-hurricane work in Florida. Now employing 12 people, he is expanding his operations by branching into other areas, including transportation and logistics.
 
Marketing and Sales Strategy for Cattle
 
Joe's cattle sales primarily occur through word-of-mouth and private treaty rather than formal auctions, resulting in satisfied, repeat customers. He shared his thoughts on pricing strategies and the challenges of running a formal sale, noting that while his herd isn't large enough to produce big catalogs, he successfully sells bulls privately. Joe appreciates the rarity and demand variance between black and red Gelbvieh cattle, with preferences influenced strongly by consumer opinion on color.
 
Joe has plans to advance his marketing by considering web presence, having recognized earlier attempts to build a website as time-consuming amidst his other responsibilities. He acknowledges the importance of marketing in reaching broader audiences and expressed willingness to explore professional help to establish an online front for his cattle operations.
 
Challenges and Community Involvement
 
Joe also touched upon the challenges of cattle farming on suboptimal pastureland in southern Colorado and the measures he takes, such as providing protein and mineral supplements to maintain cattle health. Despite prior issues like nitrate poisoning in feed, he has been able to manage herd health effectively.
 
Finally, the discussion included future aspirations and strategies around improving his herd's genetics and maintaining customer relationships through robust guarantees on his bulls. He emphasizes ensuring customer satisfaction for the longevity and reputation of his business.
 
Potential Collaboration
 
Concluding the interview, Joe was offered a promotional opportunity from Hale Broadcasting for marketing support at a discounted rate, highlighting the mutual benefits of promoting the Gelbvieh breed further. The conversation capped with friendly exchanges and best wishes for Joe's multifaceted endeavors in agriculture and telecommunications.
 

Flood Irrigation in Arizona

Our co-host David Woodruff has David Lamoureux, and they were talking about flood irrigation practices in Arizona. 
 
"Yeah, well, it's out south. It's about halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, down south of Eloy, a little place called Picacho, down there by Picacho Peak."
 
And it's all flood irrigated? 
 
"Right." 
 
When you come on raw land in Arizona and you go to flood irrigate it, there's a little bit of leveling involved, or is there a lot? How do you do it? 
 
"When we bought this farm, it was already being farmed, but we went in and laser leveled it and put cement irrigation ditches in and turnouts, and so it had where we could flood irrigate it and take care of the water, and it does a great job. But in Arizona, that farm down there was part of the CAP, the Central Arizona Irrigation Project. We got cuts on our water, so we don't have all the water that we used to, so that's been hard for us. Part of the old Santa Cruz River bottom runs through our farm, and we've got that fence, and we run cows down there in the mesquite, so when you get the rains, you get some good desert feed. But where we're at in Arizona, unless you have flood irrigation, you just don't do much. But it's just a bonus when you get some rain."
 
Dave Lamoureux on the Cattleman's Corner.