Over the Hump

This week on the Over the Hump podcast, Rachel and Brandon are back after a month-long gap, explaining that they’ve been busy with the ranch and would love any guest suggestions that you might have. They also share “the good, bad, and ugly” of recent ranch life at BRC. They recount multiple problems and unexpected expenses, including their Ford Expedition overheating, a totaled Kawasaki Mule and damaged ranch entrance, a hole in the tractor roof, a hit-and-run that tore up fencing and let their bull Six Gun loose on a busy road (prompting a call to the sheriff), and a busted water line, plus frustration from an anonymous Facebook troll.

Positives include preconditioned steer calves selling well at a weaned-calf sale, strong beef sales at their Ranch Downtown, ranch visitors (including Australians), recent bull sales, a visit from their American Angus Association rep, success at a recent show, and working a Boling FFA concession stand. They preview a two-day DV Auction multi-breed female sale Sept. 7–8 featuring 50+ Brahman, Hereford, Angus, and F1 heifers, and outline upcoming 2026 sales.

Follow along with Over the Hump on our website https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on social media at BRC Ranch.

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Rachel and Brandon Cutrer host a quick Over the Hump podcast update with Lynn from the ranch on a rainy day before they head to Louisiana to wean calves. They discuss abundant rainfall improving grass and cattle condition, heavy customer traffic, and strong demand for Brahman heifers even before branding, targeting branding/pickup in late July to early August; Hereford and F1 heifers remain on a waiting list until weaning. Brandon shares excitement about new calves from selected Florida bulls (446 “Low Rider” and 708), including a couple he expects to be special. They outline added labor, treatments, inspections, and interstate paperwork tied to screwworm precautions, and Rachel begins tracking related costs. They recap TJBA and AJBA All American successes for Molly and announce purchasing Dr. Graham’s Brahman herd. Lynn praises the summer ranch crew and interns.

Follow along with Over the Hump on our website https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on social media at BRC Ranch.

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Brandon and Rachel discuss how partnerships work in the cattle business, focusing on half-interest ownership of bulls and females and why higher-end cattle are often partnered rather than sold outright. They explain BRC’s main reasons for offering partnerships—cash flow during growth, enjoyment of sharing success with friends, bull management, and increasing progeny data through partners’ herds and crossbreeding. They outline typical bull partnership terms (50/50 ownership, expenses, semen inventory, and semen sales) and contrast investor-only partners with ranchers who use semen and natural service. For females, they describe flushing/IVF, recept planning, possession, and the need for advance communication, scheduling tools, and written contracts. They cover risks, recommend insurance, share lessons from a disappointing impulse purchase, and recount a “ghost cow” partnership where they paid but never saw the animal, reinforcing the importance of trust, transparency, contracts, and expectation management.

Follow along with Over the Hump on our website https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on social media at BRC Ranch.

What does it take to ranch in a place where wildfires can move faster than you can react, pastures stretch for miles, and every cow must prove herself?

In this episode of Over the Hump, hosts visit with Kyle and Tanya Perez of Perez Cattle Company in New Mexico. From battling devastating wildfires to building one of the region's respected Hereford and Angus seedstock programs, the Perez family shares an honest look at life in the cattle business.

Kyle and Tanya discuss the realities of ranching in the High Plains, including managing cattle across vast landscapes, rebuilding after fire, and selecting genetics that thrive in tough conditions. They also share how their family balances ranching, business ownership, marketing, embryo transfer programs, and raising twins who are growing up immersed in the agricultural lifestyle.

Whether you're a seedstock producer, commercial cattleman, or simply interested in rural America, this conversation offers valuable insights into resilience, stewardship, and the future of the cattle industry.

Follow Over the Hump on all social media platforms at BRC Ranch or online at https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/

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Brandon and Rachel are back on the Over the Hump podcast this week with Garrett Harvey of Garrett Cattle Company. Garrett shares the story behind his family’s Danbury, Texas ranch and its deep roots in the Brahman industry, tracing generations of involvement from his great-grandfather to today. He talks about taking over the remaining cow herd in 2016, rebuilding the program through intentional breeding decisions, and focusing on moderate, easy-keeping cattle with strong disposition and practical performance. The conversation also highlights family traditions, Garrett’s partnership with BRC, success with standout bulls, and the announcement of a new semen offering: GCC Mr. Bar Cross 228/2—a proven, moderate, low-birth-weight bull known for fertility, quality daughters, and versatility across commercial operations.

Follow along at https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on Facebook at BRC Ranch!

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Brandon, Rachel, and Molly discuss a busy spring of ranch work, including a Louisiana cow work trip, carcass ultrasounding, and preparing for breeding season and an open house, plus recent rain and team member Lynn Castanedo’s cruise.

They recap the Cadillac Show in Rosenberg, where Molly won champion Brahman, champion American, and champion supreme heifer with heifer 700, renamed BRC Your Gypsy, and note her resemblance to Boom Shakalaka. They preview their May 18–19 spring online sale on DV Auction featuring a herd bull prospect (lot 1 Cowboy Hank), a bred heifer (lot 2 Sally O’Malley), several heifers, semen offerings (including Six Gun and Noble sons 382 and 383), and embryo packages, and invite listeners to a Saturday open house and crawfish boil.

00:00 Meet the Crew

00:15 Spring Ranch Chaos

03:47 Boom Shakalaka Flashback

05:01 Sale Preview Kickoff

06:19 What’s in the Sale

20:15 Rare Heifer Genetics

21:00 Six Gun Semen Drop

22:37 Six Gun Calf Reports

23:42 Jagger and Wells Fargo

25:50 Embryo Offers

26:40 160 x 902 Embryos

27:29 Sugar Embryo Pairings

29:50 Pearl Donor Legacy

33:25 Dolly Embryos

35:46 Open House Invite

Follow along at https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on Facebook at BRC Ranch!

If you're thinking about getting into the Brahman business, this episode is for you. On this episode of Over the Hump podcast, Brandon and Rachel reflect on a dinner with two new Brahman breeders and discuss how to enter the Brahman cattle business today versus when they started in 2010–2011 amid record cattle prices and higher interest rates. They recount building their operation from zero land and a few cows, using leased land, financing cattle deals, and guidance from Sloan Williams, starting with commercial cattle for cash flow and equity before reinvesting into registered Brahman, with each deal funding the next.

They emphasize tracking assets and liabilities, avoiding simultaneous land and cattle loans when possible, and planning for loan interest payments. They compare strategies (all F1, all registered, mixed), heifers versus bred cows, and embryos versus live cattle, stressing research, reputation, cash-flow timing, and resisting sale-atmosphere impulse purchases.

Follow along with Over the Hump on our website https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on social media at BRC Ranch.

This episode of Over the Hump podcast features Derrick Smith of Bullseye Ranch discussing the ranch’s Brahman history from starting with a first female bought in Louisiana in the late 1980s, moving to Brenham, Texas, in 1996, and building the herd by sourcing genetics from multiple programs. Smith explains how embryo work accelerated progress while still requiring cows to have natural calves.

He shares experiences judging over 300 U.S. shows and judging internationally (beginning in Panama at age 25), importing about 10 bulls from Mexico, and stressing respectful, encouraging judging. Smith also describes diversifying income through Bullseye concrete products and his brother’s septic business to stabilize ranch cash flow, and he notes Bullseye markets via its website, Brahman Journal ads, two annual sales, and private treaty.

This week on Over the Hump, Rachel welcomes Jake Scott of Krebs Ranch in Gordon, Nebraska, to discuss his path from an Oklahoma FFA program and livestock judging to joining the Angus seedstock business through his wife’s family. Jake describes working at Krebs Ranch, returning to Oklahoma as manager of Roland R3 Ranch, then moving back to Nebraska in 2007. He notes Krebs Ranch’s upcoming 46th annual bull sale, selling about 400 bulls annually, and growing demand in the Southeast and Texas for northern Angus genetics on Brahman-based herds to add performance and carcass value. He outlines breeding priorities, emphasizing Angus maternal and marbling strengths while adding performance, muscle, and visual quality, and mentions their Western Sire Service bull stud. The episode centers on “Influence,” a Zoom-based faith curriculum Bible study that grew from a small men’s group to about 75 participants, honoring late member Travis Pembroke, with plans to broaden resources for families and junior nationals; joining is via the private Facebook group “Influence Bible Study.”

Follow Over the Hump on all social media platforms at BRC Ranch or online at https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/

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The Over the Hump podcast crew records a Houston wrap-up in their new office, recapping BRC’s 2026 Houston show: Connor’s first year as official herdsman resulted in Champion Bull (Six Gun) and Reserve Champion Heifer, strong group class performances, and praise for a mostly first-time Houston crew and interns Eduardo and Alexis, plus ranch support from Ishmael. They discuss judge PJ’s efficient “cinnamon roll” group-class format, the decision to keep Johnny Brahman at collection after a serious Christmas illness and due to semen demand, and Six Gun’s preparation (time off feed, turned out with cows, then collection and final push). The group raises concerns about over-aging in calf classes and debates bringing back weights/measures.

Follow along at https://brcutrer.com/category/over-the-hump-brahman-podcast/ and on Facebook at BRC Ranch!

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