Episode 14: Timeless Cattle in a Trend-Driven World with Mark DeBoo 

"Cattle have to earn their keep." That straightforward philosophy has guided three generations of the DeBoo family at Diamond D Angus in Montana, were function trumps fads and longevity reigns supreme. Mark DeBoo joins us to share how his family's no-nonsense approach to cattle breeding has created extraordinary resilience in their herd.

In an industry increasingly dominated by extreme traits and eye-catching EPD numbers, Diamond D stands apart. Their cattle development program strips away every "crutch" - no grain finishing, no supplements, no parasite medications - revealing the true genetic value beneath. When a Diamond D bull maintains condition during breeding season or a cow remains productive for 15+ years (their record is 22!), it's pure genetics at work, not management tricks.

What makes this approach remarkable isn't just the principle - it's the results. Diamond D offers something almost unheard of in the industry: a foot guarantee on their bulls. They can make this bold promise because they've eliminated every non-genetic variable through their forage-only development system. When feet hold up for decades in rugged Montana conditions without grain or supplements, you know you've found something special.

Beyond genetics, Mark shares how Diamond D has embraced regenerative grazing through daily cattle moves and eliminated conventional parasite treatments entirely. These practices not only improve soil health but create more resilient animals. As Mark says, "What made a good cow in 1970 will still make a good cow today" - a timeless reminder that beneath all the industry trends, the fundamentals of good cattle haven't changed.

Connect with Mark DeBoo and Diamond D Angus:

Website: https://www.diamonddangus.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054606183356

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

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

Episode 13: Sell Truth, Not Hype with John Atkinson

A candid conversation with Australian cattleman John Atkinson reveals profound insights about the cattle industry's struggle with honesty, fertility, and sustainable breeding practices. Since our last conversation, John's operation has secured a milestone export deal to Africa, not through slick marketing, but through straightforward communication about which genetics would actually work for the buyer's environment.

The episode confronts uncomfortable truths about how newcomers are frequently exploited in the cattle business. "I feel really sorry for new people into the industry," John remarks, "because they naively trust people, they get so taken advantage of." This exploitation often leads to costly failures when producers invest in cattle with impressive appearances but poor functional traits. John and Patrick discuss how the pursuit of show ring aesthetics and extreme growth has undermined the fundamental fertility that determines ranch profitability.

One standout moment comes when John describes a respected Australian veterinarian who recently spoke out about the crisis of infertility in northern Australian herds, where many producers have simply accepted that their expensive cattle will only produce a calf every two years. Meanwhile, John's own operation achieved 80%+ pregnancy rates in just two months of breeding, proving that fertility-focused genetics deliver results even in challenging environments.

The conversation takes fascinating turns into innovations emerging from Australia's high labor costs, including automated weighing systems that allow producers to monitor weight gain in real-time and make smarter decisions about pasture rotation. John also makes a compelling case for crossbreeding, explaining how strategic breed combinations can correct functional problems in just one generation.

Perhaps most powerful is John's reflection on the moral obligations of cattlemen: "We are the biggest animal rights advocates there are. We just don't voice it. We live it every day." His message for listeners considering bull purchases this season? Research the maternal lines, look beyond the sale catalog photos, and understand what you're really bringing into your herd for generations to come.

Connect with John Atkinson:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cashmeredroughtmasters/

Bos Sires: https://www.bossires.com/john-atkinson

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

Shooting The Bull: Episode 2 Preview

Not everything worth knowing comes with a data sheet.

In this episode, Patrick Powers is joined once again by John Atkinson of Australia, and Kansas cattleman Darris Meitler, for a conversation about the kind of cattle that last. They don’t chase trends, they watch cows. They visit herds. They ask the right questions before ever looking at an EPD.

From moderate frames to maternal consistency, they unpack what separates functional cattle from the ones propped up by feed buckets and photo shoots. And they don’t hold back when it comes to calling out the bulls that fall apart after one breeding season.

To finish the episode, follow us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/bossirestalk

Question the noise. Trust the land. Don’t breed nonsense.

Episode 12: It's About the How, Not the Cow with Bogs Peralta

What if everything we've been taught about cattle breeding is wrong? In this eye-opening conversation with Filipino cattleman Bogs Peralta, we explore how conventional wisdom about "bigger is better" has led ranchers astray across the globe.

From the lush tropical landscapes of the Philippines emerges a story that will resonate with ranchers worldwide. Peralta, a third-generation cattle producer, shares his journey from fighting against nature to working with it through regenerative grazing and adapted genetics. After years of struggling with show-type Brahman cattle that looked impressive but performed poorly, Peralta made a radical shift toward moderate-framed, fertile cattle that thrive on forage alone.

The challenges he describes are strikingly familiar - reproductive inefficiency, high input costs, and genetics ill-suited to local conditions. Peralta reveals that 90% of Philippine cattle calve at painfully inefficient intervals, with many not producing their first calf until three or four years old. This isn't just an economic problem; it's contributing to food insecurity in a nation of 110 million people.

Through resources like "Man, Cattle & Veld" and connections with like-minded ranchers, Peralta discovered that the solution wasn't more inputs - it was better-adapted cattle. His shift toward native Philippine cattle genetics blended with adaptable imported breeds has yielded remarkable results: earlier maturity, consistent calving, fewer difficult births, and better performance on grass.

Peralta's powerful insight that "it's the how, not the cow" challenges us to rethink our priorities. Rather than selecting for trending traits, he advocates focusing on what truly matters: fertility, efficiency, and adaptability. This approach not only improves profitability but also addresses critical food security challenges.

Ready to challenge conventional wisdom in your own operation? Join us as we explore how returning to nature-aligned principles might be the most revolutionary path forward for cattle producers everywhere.

Connect with Bogs Peralta:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balungaointegratedfarm/

Check out Bos Sires:

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the show and want to support our mission of restoring sustainable, long-lasting genetics to the cattle industry, consider joining our Patreon community. Your support helps us continue producing valuable content for ranchers and cattle enthusiasts worldwide.

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

Shooting The Bull: Episode 1 Preview

Something feels off, and veteran cattlemen can see it a mile away.

In this preview of our debut episode of Shooting The Bull, host Patrick Powers sits down with Grant Vassberg and Australian breeder John Atkinson to expose the red flags that reveal a breeding program built on marketing, not function.

From donor cows that never calve to surrogates doing the real work, this is the kind of straight talk you won’t hear in the show ring.

To finish the episode, follow us on Patreon:
patreon.com/bossirestalk

Question the noise. Trust the land. Don’t breed nonsense.

Episode 11: Wrong Background, Right Results with Jesse Colón

What happens when a California city boy inherits his father's struggling cattle ranch in Mexico? For Jesse Colón, it became the unlikely beginning of a regenerative ranching revolution in the semi-desert of Zacatecas.

Jesse's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most innovative paths forward begin with honoring what came before. When faced with his father's deteriorating health and a ranch that had become a financial "money pit," Jesse made a pivotal decision to learn everything he could about making the operation viable—not just as a business, but as a living tribute to his father's dream.

The journey took him deep into the world of regenerative agriculture, where he discovered that the conventional, large-framed cattle genetics that dominated the region were fundamentally mismatched to the harsh local environment. Through trial and error, Jesse transformed the ranch using high-density grazing with electric fencing and by transitioning to smaller-framed, regionally-adapted cattle. The results speak for themselves: improved soil health, greater plant diversity, extended grazing periods, and most impressively, cows that can consistently produce a calf every year—something local conventional ranchers consider impossible.

What makes Jesse's perspective particularly valuable is his willingness to challenge established practices while maintaining deep respect for traditional wisdom. He's become a bridge between worlds—documenting his journey on YouTube to 20,000 Spanish-speaking subscribers and now serving as a Bos Sires distributor for Mexico. His mission is clear: highlight "legacy breeders" who have consistently selected for practical traits like fertility over fashionable traits, and make those genetics available to ranchers searching for sustainable solutions.

Explore more of Jesse’s work and see how he's proving the power of practical genetics in one of Mexico’s toughest ranching environments—through the links in our show notes. And don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with ranchers who are rewriting the rules of sustainable cattle production.

Connect with Jesse Colón and Rancho Cinco Talentos:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCADO6875jXhcloWZxYoM4EQ

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

Bos Sires: https://www.bossires.com/jesse-colon

Check out Bos Sires:

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the show and want to support our mission of restoring sustainable, long-lasting genetics to the cattle industry, consider joining our Patreon community. Your support helps us continue producing valuable content for ranchers and cattle enthusiasts worldwide.

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

Episode 10: Let the Cows Do the Work: Durability Over Dependency with Arron Nerbas

Arron Nerbas of Nerbas Bros Angus challenges mainstream cattle breeding philosophies by creating a herd built on durability rather than dependency. This third-generation Canadian cattleman shares how his family transformed their operation by focusing on three fundamentals: grass, pressure, and purpose.

The conversation reveals a refreshing alternative to trend-chasing in the cattle industry. Arron explains how they've developed genetics specifically adapted to their environment without introducing any live cattle since 1999, relying solely on AI for genetic improvement. Their breeding philosophy prioritizes maternal traits over the extreme growth that has dominated the industry for decades – creating moderate-framed, fertile cattle that require minimal intervention.

"A good cow is a cow that doesn't need me," Arron explains, highlighting their commitment to letting cattle express their natural abilities without constant human support. This approach has yielded cows that calve unassisted on stockpiled grass, maintain fertility, and demonstrate exceptional longevity in their herd.

The discussion explores four key strategies for herd improvement: AI sire selection, replacement selection, system pressure through management, and strict culling protocols. Arron also shares insights on the benefits of multi-sire breeding, which enhances both land management and reproductive efficiency by allowing natural competition among bulls.

What started as a local approach to better ranching has gained international attention. Nerbas Bros now exports genetics to the UK, with interest coming from as far away as Romania and Botswana. Closer to home, Arron also shares how they’re challenging convention with a self-serve, automated beef market—offering direct-to-consumer sales without middlemen.

This episode offers valuable perspective for anyone questioning industrial cattle production models. As input costs continue rising worldwide, the Nerbas Bros approach demonstrates that focusing on land-adapted, low-maintenance cattle might not just be more sustainable – it might be the economic future of ranching.

Explore more of Arron’s work and learn how the Nerbas Bros are building cattle that thrive where others fail—through the links in our show notes. And don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations with ranchers who are rewriting the rules of sustainable cattle production. 

Connect with Arron and Nerbas Bros Angus:

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

Website: https://www.nerbasbrosangus.com/

Bos Sires: https://www.bossires.com/nerbas-brothers

X page: https://x.com/nerbasbrosangus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theebutcheryonmain/#

Check out Bos Sires:

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the show and want to support our mission of restoring sustainable, long-lasting genetics to the cattle industry, consider joining our Patreon community. Your support helps us continue producing valuable content for ranchers and cattle enthusiasts worldwide.

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

Episode 9: Fat Cows, Fat Soil, Fat Wallet: Real Wealth Ranching with Jim Elizondo

Regenerative agriculture expert Jim Elizondo reveals the profound connection between cattle genetics and land health in this transformative episode. Drawing from his diverse expertise as an accountant, dairy nutritionist, and agronomy engineer, Elizondo shares how modern cattle selection has inadvertently led to degraded soils and increased dependence on costly inputs.

The conversation explores Elizondo's revolutionary Total Grazing Program, which mimics natural grazing patterns from 50,000 years ago when diverse herbivores maintained healthy ecosystems. By selecting for early-maturing, efficient cattle that can perform non-selective grazing, ranchers can dramatically increase their stocking rates while simultaneously improving soil health. "Usually we can double the stocking rate the first year," Elizondo explains, highlighting the immediate economic benefit.

One of the most compelling insights is Elizondo's "screwdriver test" for soil health. When a screwdriver hits a hard pan just inches below the surface, it reveals the damage caused by selective grazing. The solution lies not just in changing management, but in transitioning to cattle genetics that thrive without requiring excessive inputs or specialized grazing patterns.

The episode clearly articulates Elizondo's four pillars of Real Wealth Ranching: the Total Grazing Program, adapted genetics selection, nutrition when grazing, and optimal calving season. Together, these principles create what he calls the "fat grass, fat soil, fat cattle, fat wallet" progression that leads to true ranching wealth—defined as having money, time, and health.

Ready to break through the hard pan holding back your operation's potential? Discover how adapted genetics combined with proper grazing management can revolutionize your ranch. 

Connect with Jim Elizondo and Real Wealth Ranching:

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

Website: https://www.rwranching.com/learn

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@realwealthranching

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realwealthranching/?hl=en

Check out Bos Sires:

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the show and want to support our mission of restoring sustainable, long-lasting genetics to the cattle industry, consider joining our Patreon community. Your support helps us continue producing valuable content for ranchers and cattle enthusiasts worldwide.

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

Episode 8: AI in the Arctic — Building Better Cattle with Hailey Edwards

Hailey Edwards takes us deep into the world of raising cattle in Alaska's most extreme environments, where temperatures plummet to -60°F in winter before soaring to 90°F in summer. Growing up on a family dairy that collapsed during industry-wide failures in 2000, Hailey pivoted to beef production and developed specialized knowledge that few ranchers in America possess.

The realities of Alaskan agriculture are startling. With 95% of food imported and only enough stored food to feed the population for approximately ten days, the state faces unique food security challenges. COVID-19 exposed these vulnerabilities, triggering panic buying and renewed interest in local production. Yet building agricultural systems in Alaska isn't simply a matter of importing models from Texas or Iowa.

Hailey shares the extraordinary challenges of raising cattle where hay seasons last just three months, allowing only two cuttings annually. This compressed growing season extends beef production cycles to 30 months—nearly double the timeframe in the lower 48 states. Transportation costs further complicate matters, with importing a single cow from Montana potentially costing $7,000.

As an AI technician serving remote communities, Hailey sometimes travels 1,000 miles round-trip to service just a few cows. Her work through Granite Mountain Breeding Services provides vital genetic diversity to isolated herds where "the family tree can quickly turn into a Christmas wreath." Her approach combines scientific knowledge with practical wisdom as she helps producers select genetics suited to Alaska's harsh realities.

Haley's most powerful insight resonates throughout our conversation: "You can't outbuy a learning curve." No amount of capital investment can replace the knowledge gained through experience in Alaska's unique conditions. Success requires patience, adaptation, and cattle that thrive on marginal forage with minimal inputs.

Connect with Hailey's work and discover more about building resilient cattle genetics for challenging environments through the links in our show notes. Subscribe for more conversations with ranchers revolutionizing cattle production through sustainable practices.

Connect with Hailey Edwards and Granit Mountain Breeding Services:

Facebook:  https://m.facebook.com/hailey.mcnabb.3/

Website: https://granitembs.com/

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

Check out Bos Sires:

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the show and want to support our mission of restoring sustainable, long-lasting genetics to the cattle industry, consider joining our Patreon community. Your support helps us continue producing valuable content for ranchers and cattle enthusiasts worldwide.

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

Episode 7: No Backbone, No Herd: Restoring Forgotten Genetics With Hays Boyd

When nine-year-old Hays Boyd set out to find heat-tolerant, good-natured cattle that could thrive on grass, he had no idea his research would lay the foundation for one of America’s premier Murray Grey herds. Now a veterinarian and third-generation rancher, Hayes shares the journey of Backbone Ranch—where a commitment to practical, efficient genetics is reshaping the industry.

From combing through decades-old breed newsletters as a teenager to sourcing semen from the first Murray Grey bulls imported to the U.S. in the 1960s, Hays took an unconventional path to restoring forgotten genetics. With a focus on longevity and efficiency, Backbone Ranch selects for cattle that last—like females still producing past age 12 and bulls from proven maternal lines.

Hays also brings a veterinarian’s insight into the structural soundness issues plaguing the industry, contrasting them with the durability of his low-maintenance herd in the Texas heat. His customers—both ranchers and restaurants—have discovered that Murray Grey cattle don’t just survive, they excel. Whether grass-finished or grain-fed, they deliver premium beef quality with unmatched efficiency.

If you’re interested in genetics that work in the real world—without the extra inputs—tune in to hear Hays Boyd’s take on building better cattle from the ground up. Learn more at https://www.backboneranch.com/.

Connect with Hays Boyd & Backbone Ranch:

Website: https://www.backboneranch.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078894004341

Bos Sires: https://www.bossires.com/backbone-ranch

Check out Bos Sires:

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the show and want to support our mission of restoring sustainable, long-lasting genetics to the cattle industry, consider joining our Patreon community. Your support helps us continue producing valuable content for ranchers and cattle enthusiasts worldwide.

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