First, Darrell Stevenson of White Sulphur Springs, MT, serves on the American Angus Association (AAA) Board of Directors. Darrell shares a summary of the June 6-9 AAA Board of Directors meeting. 

Then, Dallas Woltemath joined the show. Dallas is the owner/operator of Woltemath Angus, Kansas, and an Advisor to ZWT Angus Ranch in Crossville, TN. He talks about being born into an Angus family, and gives a historical perspective on great Angus cows and Cow Families. 

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

GeneBrokers.com

ZWTRanch

American Angus Association 

Quotes:

• “True profit is shown as to how long that cow can get bred back and how long she stays in production.” - Darrell 
•  “If we want to provide a service in the best interest of the membership, I honestly believe there needs to be a lot of open discussions.” 
• “Most importantly, membership feedback from what I heard at least there was overwhelming interest.” 
• “I've been very fortunate to be around Angus cattle for over 50 years now, actually closing out 60. And I enjoyed it. And I've seen a lot of things come and go. And it's just a fun business to be in, if there's a lot of fun people involved.” - Dallas

“I think if you go back to some of these places where the really good maternal cows are, and they're packed deep in these pedigrees, you realize that they didn't deviate from what the goal was, and still have it to this day.”

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

David, Joe, and Korbin are joined once again by Vince Santini of Shady Brooks Angus. The episode first starts out talking about the “shopping cart theory” and just how much a shopping cart can teach you about the depths of a human. The group then takes questions from listeners about some of their favorite cow families, what seven cows they would like to see in a pedigree, and mitochondrial DNA and environmental harmony. At the end of the episode, Joe explains his pedigree placement and why it’s important.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

BreederLink.com

GeneBrokers.com

Central Life Sciences

Shady Brook Angus

Angus Genetics Inc.

American Angus Association

Certified Angus Beef

U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

Quotes:

• “Maternal is a label placed on cattle with a certain level of brilliance and how they nurture their calf, adapt to range, land, and convert forage to profitability.”
• “I don’t think there are bad cow families or good cow families. It’s understanding them and how they work, and how their pedigrees were constructed.”
• “I think some of the greatest cows are the ones that go unnoticed the longest.”
• “When we talk about mitochondrial DNA, we’re looking for those pre-potent cows.”
• “If you’re gonna learn anything on Angus Underground, you’re going to learn what not to Google.”

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

David, Joe, and Korbin are joined by Vince Santini of Shady Brooks Angus as they dive deeper into some listener questions from the previous episode. They begin with a riveting recap about bar soap and move into more pressing topics like $Maternal. Once again, they discuss the shortcomings they see with $Maternal, why it’s so polarizing, and their proposed solutions. They discuss how much the digital society affects messaging and how they think it can be improved. A big word in the cattle business today is “sustainability”; and they talk about what it means, why it can’t be ignored, and how to control the messaging. Finally, the guys talk about what their mentors have meant to them and why they believe everyone should seek out mentors.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

BreederLink.com

GeneBrokers.com

Central Life Sciences

Shady Brook Angus

Angus Genetics Inc.

American Angus Association

Certified Angus Beef

U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

Quotes:

• “If we have shortcomings, and we all agree it’s not accurate, why the hell do we have it?” — David
• “Is this a breeding tool or a marketing tool?”— David
• “It can be a two-way street. Taking the premise that maternal cattle don’t harvest and grade is completely false and misrepresented.” — Korbin
• “I don’t think we can put a label on maternal and that’s why it’s so polarizing.” — Korbin
• “I don’t think there’s a soul on this Earth who can argue that Certified Angus Beef hasn’t been a raging success since it was implemented back in the late ’70s.” — David
• “We owe it to ourselves to control the message here.” — David
• “You might be sustainable. But what about your customers? Or your customers’ customers?” — Korbin
• “I think we owe it to ourselves to be a positive force for good in our industry.” — David

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

David, Joe, and Korbin answer questions submitted by the listening audience. David then visits with Casey White, Senior Director of Technical Services and Innovation at Central Life Sciences, about Fly Control. Casey describes the highly, highly effective products, ClariFly and Altosid IGR, and how/when to use them. The guys cover dozens of your submitted questions and talk about everything from marketing, breeding and crossbreeding, the future of industry, protocols, inflation and demand, how to be an advocate, diversifying, trusting your eyes, and so much more.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

BreederLink.com

GeneBrokers.com

Central Life Sciences

George Chambers

Southern Cross Ranch

ClariFly

Altosid IGR

American Angus Association

Quotes:

• “I just hope that when I get where I’m going, I’m where I need to be.” — Korbin
• “The customers pay an immense premium to get to do business with us and the more I can spend my time with those folks getting to understand their needs, wants, directions, goals… that’s the best marketing tool.” — Joe
• “Continue on the path that you’re on and capitalize.” — David
• “Your cattle still have value even if they have numbers.” — Korbin
• “Produce something different from everyone else, and let everyone know what you have.” — David
• “Find people that raise the kind of cattle you like and really quiz them.” — David
• “Develop your own biases, develop your network… but also trust your heart and trust your own eyes.” — Joe
• “Be an advocate for the beef industry.” — David
• “How do we grow our demand for our beef? We just have to produce good beef and we have to be good stewards of the cattle, of the land, and we have to sell that message to the general public.” — David
• “It’s about empowering a new generation of breeders.” — Joe
• “Every animal has to add value no matter which lane you decide to be in or if you decide to tackle multiple lanes.” — Joe
• “Trust your eyes, trust your heart, do what matters to you. Don’t pay attention to what the crowd says.” — David

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

David, Joe, and Korbin give an update from their corner of the world and hope that the record-breaking April blizzard in the Northern Plains brings rain sooner rather than later. They then read some of the great feedback they’ve gotten from a recent episode and welcome George Chambers of the Southern Cross Ranch in Carrollton, Georgia, where he also serves as county commissioner. The guys chat about the 30-month rule, and George gives the history behind the ranch and the genetics program, along with great life lessons about always moving forward. Finally, we hear who really is the boss behind it all (hint: It’s not George!).

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

BreederLink.com

GeneBrokers.com

Central Life Sciences

George Chambers

Southern Cross Ranch

Quotes:

• “Farmers and ranchers are the most resilient people in our society. They deal with more ups and downs than any other walk of life.”
• “That's why it's called Angus Underground. It's not to undermine anybody. It's to say, what is the real conversation going on in the industry?”
• “You don't put a hat on a mullet. You let a mullet just fly in the wind.”
• “I just want you to be honest with me, I want you to tell me the honest birth weight, the honest yearling weight, and let me see it’s mama.” — George
• “We need good young people that are backed with morals and ethics and from an agricultural background because they’re gonna need to carry the torch for the next generation.”
• “We’re the only area that can sell our calf crop three times a year, Christmas, tax time, and when we can catch ’em!” — George
• “In life, I think there’s an ultimate goal. You just keep progressing forward, whether it’s progressing forward with your genetic program, whether you’re purebred, commercial, whether you’re progressing forward in your life, your faith, whatever.” — George

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

David, Joe, and Korbin talk about their takeaways from a recent episode with Mark McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association. They address listener questions they wish they got to, and give a glimpse behind the scenes of recording. Then, they talk about $Maternal, how to prove the data when it comes to different types of scoring, and the fact that $Maternal means so many different things to so many different people.  David brings up a conversation he recently had with a third-generation commercial rancher that really sums up the simple things commercial ranchers truly want, and how it’s not that complicated to get it right. They explore how the Angus breed is slowly turning into a fake world.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

BreederLink.com

ELKAngus.com

GeneBrokers.com

AltosidIGR.com

Quotes:

• “I take perverse pleasure in culling.”
• “This early data is helping to train the genomics.”
• “If we can influence any kind of change with Angus Underground, I would like to see greater transparency. I want to see the ingredients that are going into the cake before it’s baked.”
• “Maternal means so many different things to so many different people. It's hard to capture that essence.”
• “I think the greatest space left in the Angus business is the proven cow maker. Because nobody’s doing it anymore.”

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

It’s a big episode this week as Mark McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association joins the show. Mark first talks about how livestock judging gave him critical tools and skills that have served him throughout his extensive career and walks us through how he got to be at AAA. He provides clarity on the role of the American Angus Association, along with a few of the many organizations under the Association’s umbrella. Mark talks about the organization’s foundational pillars, including a diverse membership base, providing tools for breeders, and serving the members to make Angus cattle better in many different ways. Mark also answers questions regarding gene editing, sustainability, and a few listener questions about how AAA plans to expand its share in the marketplace.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

American Angus Association | Angus.Org

Mark McCully

Ducks Unlimited

Quotes:

• “My passion for livestock judging opened a lot of doors and just like for a lot of other people, it exposed my eyes to the bigger industry.” — Mark
• “We talk about driving breed improvement, obviously, that's what this organization is largely about. Building tools, putting tools in the hands of breeders to make the Angus breed better, enhancing membership, experience, and success.” — Mark
• “Ultimately, we are a member-centric organization. We’re here to serve the member and make Angus cattle better in many different ways.” — Mark

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

The crew gets right into a few highlights from the American Angus Board of Directors meeting, including sustained cow fertility research, and what info breeders are wanting to see and why. They then welcome Vince Santini from Shady Brook Angus Farm in Tennessee. Besides being an all-around great guy, Vince is a busy businessman and has some keen insights on running a family operation, getting the optimal phenotype, and what makes Shady Brook so special. As Shady Brook celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, Vince talks about what it is like to run a multi-generational Angus operation, how building your identity within a herd is crucial, and what’s next for Shady Brook.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Breeder Link

Gene Brokers

Shady Brook Angus

Quotes:

• “I think that’s what’s fun about this business. I think it’s so fun that we can disagree about biological types or environments or any number of things or EPDs, but this passion for Angus cattle can transcend generations, personalities, and environments.”
• “Whenever we get caught up in trying to divide ourselves in the differences, we need to remember the thread that unites us is the Angus cow.”
• “That’s really the first step I think into building a herd is building your identity within that herd.”

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

This week, David, Joe, and Korbin start the show off by recapping their annual pilgrimage to North and South Dakota where they met some friends of the show and awesome listeners. David shares a few highlights of the visit, including Foxhoven Angus and Koupal Angus, and some disappointing moments including a pizza burger he wishes he hadn’t had. They talk about pedigree, the importance of finding your own direction, and having discipline with your breeding program. Finally, the guys announce the unveiling of the Angus Pathfinders for the year 2022!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Breeder Link

Gene Brokers

Foxhoven Angus

Koupal Angus

Gardiner Angus Ranch

Quotes:

• “In my old age, I’m getting rather particular about what I eat, but I am a connoisseur of truck stop food. I'd never had a bad truck stop hot dog until this trip.” [9:00]
• “Bud is constantly concerned with producing the right kind of bull for his commercial bull customers.” [17:19]
• “Don’t be afraid to be your own program. Don’t be afraid to build your own vision for your customer base and, and go ahead and go after it.” [35:00]

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

This week, David, Joe, and Korbin discuss the Angus Underground Facebook Community Forum, and how it is here to provide answers to your burning questions and quench your thirst for new information, all within a welcoming and friendly community. Then, for the first segment, the guys welcome Logan Sampson from Ruby Valley, Nevada to talk about his company, Gene Brokers. Logan talks about how his impulse buying and desire for an open marketplace led to GeneBrokers. He shares the process of going from testing mode to a live site, if GeneBrokers is really like a shopping mall for semen, how the payment process works, along with the nuts and bolts of paying and shipping. Logan talks about the three entities where the semen is stored — the vendor, seller, and shipper, and how customers can use this for their best advantage.

In the second segment, Robert Whitacre from Winchester, VA and Lex Carter from Pingree, ID join the show to discuss all things Breeder Link. They talk about how to use the filters to navigate towards what you want, the options for creating a storefront, and exactly what you can (and can’t) sell. They walk us through a checklist of what you need to list something and give us a glimpse behind the quality control of listing sires into the program.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Montana Ranch

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to [email protected] if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Rafter 5M Land & Cattle

Bruin Ranch

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact [email protected] or call 406-210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Angus Underground Ep. 9: “Angus on Dairy with Eddie Veenendaal”

American Angus Association® (AAA)

GeneBrokers

BreederLink

Quotes:

• “I’m not going to tell you how to breed your cows, and no one should either. That’s not our business. Our business is to support you in what you want to do.” — Logan [13:54]
• “When it comes to genetics, we’ve made plenty of mistakes, but one thing about ours is that the environment sorts those mistakes out. They don’t last very long.” — Lex
• “We want people to think of us as a maternal source. We really try to find bulls that come from strong cow families.” — Lex [45:40]

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.