A great conversation with Payton Warmke, from JB Ranch Akaushi in Kaufman, Texas. Payton took time from his busy role as father and ranch manager at JB to visit with us, and I am glad he did!
In 2018, Steve and Alison Dehan formed the JB Ranch to raise Akaushi Cattle. They now raise 100% full-blood Akaushi and have a herd of over 60 head. They also raise F1 Akaushi calves from the finest Red Angus cows, utilizing RA Brown genetics and cows from our Bridwell West Ranch, which has been a closed herd for over 50 years.
The name “JB Ranch” is a tribute to Alison’s grandfather, JS Bridwell. Bridwell was a legendary Texas cattleman, oilman, and philanthropist. He started using the JB Brand in the 1930s and established several ranches in the Texas Panhandle and North Texas.
Care for the land and stewardship for the cattle have passed from one generation to the next. With a family history dating back to the ranch’s founding in the mid-1930s, there is a sense of pride and heritage in everything we do. When it comes to caring for the land and our animals, conservation isn’t a sideline; it’s a necessity at Bridwell West Ranch.
Bridwell West Ranch holds fast to tried and authentic traditions while embracing modern innovation and advancements. Annual branding events remain essentially unchanged, except for the introduction of electronic identification and a record-keeping system that utilizes the latest technology.
JSB Cattle Company is a commercial operation located at the JB Ranch, formerly known as the Star Brand Ranch, in Kaufman, TX. The ranch is located in the Blackland Prairie region of the state, providing access to extremely fertile soils that produce abundant forage. The topography of the ranch sprawls outward and upward from vast bottoms to gently rolling mesquite flats where, on a clear day, one can take in a view of the Dallas Skyline.
Our cowherd consists of a high-powered Red Angus herd that has been produced through years of closed herd breeding at our Panhandle location (Bridwell West Ranch). The cowherd today consists primarily of R.A. Brown Genetics, which has been carefully selected to produce a well-balanced and productive female that can thrive and perform in our environment. The cattle possess all the efficiency and performance they need, and will also demonstrate outstanding performance in carcass merit and quality grade. This enables us to produce exceptional Red Angus cattle, as well as excellent F1 Akaushi cross calves.
Through our cowherd, we will produce Red Angus calves that will be our program cattle (Gap 4, Verified Natural, NHTC). These cattle will be sold as feeders and will also supply us with replacement heifers. We will also produce F1 Akaushi calves out of our Akaushi Bull Battery. These calves will be marketed as feeders or fats and will also supply us with some replacement heifers that we will sell to the public.
The productive ranch allows us to have a lot of flexibility and to maximize production, especially in years of ample rainfall. We strive to produce the highest-quality Red Angus and F1 Akaushi cattle, from feeder to replacement heifers, from birth to slaughter. We are proud of the cattle we have and will always strive to improve year after year.
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