Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Dennis Deppe, Owner of Deppe Angus. In this episode, Dennis and Gale will dive into the Deppe Angus Progress Through Testing Bull & Female Sale, held on February 27th, 2026, at 6PM CST, at the farm in Waverly, Iowa. 

Starting from modest roots, the Deppe Angus brand was built upon a strong vision. Despite only owning three cows after college graduation, this small foundation was key to establishing the brand. They meticulously developed their herd by focusing on careful breeding, selecting superior bulls, and retaining their most exceptional females.

Dennis emphasizes that “progress through testing” is not a slogan but the core of his program, reinforced by comprehensive genomic testing on all sale cattle.

The sale offering, which includes a powerful set of 76 yearling and age-advantaged bulls, 21 spring-bred heifers and pairs, 27 high-end open females, and several elite genetic opportunities is great for anyone looking to expand their herd. Dennis highlights key sire groups such as Crouch Congress, Glacier, Spring Cove Grant, Duracell, Craftsman, Wildcat, and others, explaining how each contributes growth, carcass merit, structural soundness, and maternal strength. He repeatedly comes back to cow families like Black Cap and Mistress that anchor the program’s consistency across different sire lines. Several standout lots are described in detail, including bulls with top-percentile growth, efficiency, and carcass EPDs, as well as females he believes could serve as front-line donors in any herd.

The discussion also covers three special genetic opportunity lots built around proven donor cows with exceptional dollar indexes and strong track records in third-party testing. Dennis notes that a portion of proceeds from one of these lots will support youth, education, and research through the Angus Foundation, aligning with his long career as an ag instructor and FFA advisor.

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