Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney at the American Wagyu Conference, and he chats with Cade Nichols owner of Nichols Ranching Company. In this episode they will get into Cade’s deep roots in agriculture as a fifth-generation Texan, highlighting a family legacy of farming and ranching that dates back to the mid-1800s. 

Cade describes the evolution of Nichols Ranching Company from a traditional commercial cow-calf operation towards the integration of Wagyu cattle seventeen years ago. Initially skeptical, Cade recounts how the family experimented by bringing in Wagyu bulls, which ultimately led to diversified revenue streams including registered seed stock, bull sales, and a buyback program for calves. He explains how the ranch’s business model enables commercial producers to transition into Wagyu, emphasizing educational outreach to encourage adoption. Cade details the performance traits of Wagyu bulls, such as longevity, fertility, and ease of calving, which have helped sway commercial producers to participate in the program. He also shares strategies employed, including private treaty sales and programs for preconditioning and buying back calves, reflecting the ranch’s adaptability to fluctuating market conditions.

Throughout the interview, Cade discusses the opportunities within the Wagyu industry, noting the cyclical relationship between commercial cattle markets and Wagyu demand. He underlines the current favorable timing for entering the Wagyu seed stock sector and praises the supportive, sharing nature of the American Wagyu Association. The episode illustrates both the challenges and rewards of ranching, anchored around family tradition, innovation, and industry collaboration.

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