Episode 16: From the Breaks, Built to Last with Charlie & Courtney Totton

Deep in South Dakota's challenging Missouri River breaks, Charlie Totton and his daughter Courtney are quietly revolutionizing cattle production with a refreshingly straightforward approach. For nearly three decades, they've focused on breeding moderate-framed, fertile, low-maintenance Angus cattle that thrive where others fail – on steep terrain, minimal inputs, and unassisted calving.

"We don't have time to mess with problems," Charlie explains, describing their no-nonsense approach to culling cattle that don't perform. This father-daughter team maintains approximately 400 head across terrain marked by cedar-filled canyons and steep hillsides, where special attention is given to traits that truly matter: fertility, docility, sound udders, and good mothering ability. The Tottons aren't chasing industry trends toward larger frames or extreme EPDs. Instead, Charlie proudly wears his "moderate to low EPDs like a badge of honor," seeing them as proof he's breeding what he claims to be breeding.

Their innovative grazing management includes mob grazing during peak growing season, moving cattle daily to maximize forage utilization while allowing 90% of their land to grow uninhibited. This approach has significantly extended their grazing period, reducing feeding from five months to just two or three months annually. Perhaps most fascinating is their May-calving herd, which operates under an even more hands-off approach in the roughest country, being checked just twice weekly during calving season.

The Tottons' marketing is as straightforward as their breeding philosophy. Their annual "redneck auction" features no professional auctioneer, no predetermined sale order, and complete transparency as bulls are sorted from pens while potential buyers watch.

Whether you're struggling with high-maintenance genetics or simply seeking cattle that work without constant attention, the Totton approach offers valuable lessons about balancing selection with environmental realities. 

Visit TottonAngus.com to learn more about their program or mark your calendar for their annual sale the first Saturday of May. Isn't it time your cattle worked as hard as you do?

Connect with Courtney Tyrrell and Charlie Totton:

Website: https://www.tottonangus.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tottonangus/

Bos Sires: https://www.bossires.com/tottonangusranch

Charlies bull story can be found on this page under the title "WHATS AN OLD BULL WORTH?": https://www.tottonangus.com/about-us.html

Check out Bos Sires:

Website: https://www.bossires.com/

Bos Sires Catalog: International New Bos Sires Catalog (English)

Support the Podcast

If these conversations are helping you think differently about cattle breeding and land stewardship, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

To go deeper, join us on Patreon-where we host Shooting the Bull, our unfiltered podcast focused on honest conversations with producers from across the cattle industry.

Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bossirestalk