American Cattlemen Podcast

When Chris Earl and John Wessel came up with the idea for Genetic Allies, they recognized something pretty simple: there is value in bringing good Angus breeders together.
Not just to sell cattle, but to share genetics, knowledge, and fellowship with others who have the same passion for the Angus business. 
The producers involved are accomplished cattlemen with their own programs, their own breeding philosophies, and their own ideas about where they want to take their cattle. Genetic Allies gives them an opportunity to bring some of their best genetics together, learn from one another, and enjoy the relationships that are such an important part of the cattle business.
That was really the conversation I wanted to have when I visited with Chris Earl of CK6 Consulting ahead of this year's Genetic Allies Female Sale, September 12 at Edgar Bros Angus near Rockham, South Dakota.
Good Breeders Make Each Other BetterThere is something to be said for surrounding yourself with people who are good at what they do.
Each of the producers involved with Genetic Allies has built a program of their own. They have developed cow families, made breeding decisions, learned from the ones that worked, and probably learned even more from a few that didn't.
Bringing those producers together creates an opportunity to share some of that experience.
And when you get cattlemen like that together, the conversation naturally turns to cattle.
What worked?
What didn't?
What cow families are you excited about?
What are you trying to build next?
Those conversations matter.
We have more genetic information available to us today than cattlemen could have imagined a generation ago. EPDs, genomic testing and other tools have given breeders tremendous ability to evaluate cattle and make breeding decisions.
But there is still value in experience.
There is value in looking at cattle with somebody who has spent a lifetime breeding them. There is value in talking about why a mating worked, why another one didn't and what somebody is trying to accomplish with the next generation.
That knowledge gets shared when good cattlemen spend time together.
Bringing Different Genetics TogetherThe other thing I like about the Genetic Allies concept is that nobody has to give up the identity of their own program to participate.
Quite the opposite.
Each breeder brings something different to the table.
Different cow families. Different genetics. Different experiences. And sometimes a different way of looking at cattle.
For buyers, that creates an opportunity to evaluate genetics from several outstanding Angus programs in one place and decide what might complement the cattle they already own.
For the breeders themselves, it creates an opportunity to see what others are doing and perhaps discover genetics that can move their own programs forward.
That's where the word Allies makes a lot of sense.
These producers can have their own programs and their own goals while recognizing that there is value in working together.
More Than a SaleI've always thought some of the best conversations at a cattle sale happen before or after the cattle actually go through the ring.
They happen walking through the pens.
They happen leaning against a fence.
They happen over a meal when somebody starts talking about a cow family, a bull they used or a mating they are excited about.
That's fellowship, and I don't think we should underestimate its importance to this business.
The cattle business has always been built around relationships. Some last for a sale season. Others last for generations.
Genetic Allies creates another place for those relationships to develop.
Certainly, there is business being done. There are cattle to sell and genetics to evaluate.
But there is also an opportunity to spend an evening with people who share the same interest in good Angus cattle.
I think that's an important part of what Chris and John envisioned.
Genetics, Knowledge and FellowshipThe 2026 Genetic Allies Female Sale will be held September 12 at 5:00 PM Central Time at Edgar Bros Angus near Rockham, South Dakota, with online bidding available through DVAuction.
There will be an outstanding set of Angus females and genetic opportunities to evaluate.
But my conversation with Chris reminded me that Genetic Allies is about something more than assembling cattle for a sale.
It's about bringing outstanding Angus producers together.
Sharing genetics.
Sharing knowledge.
And enjoying the fellowship that comes from spending time with others who have the same passion for good cattle.
That's a pretty good idea.
And it's probably why Genetic Allies works.
 
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Because a complete herd dispersal is about more than selling cattle.
For anyone who has spent a lifetime building a cattle operation, there is history tied up in those cows. You remember where the cow families started. You remember the matings that worked—and probably a few that didn't. You remember the cattle that helped move the program forward. 
And somewhere along the way, most of us probably begin assuming that somebody in the next generation will pick it up and keep going.
Sometimes they do.
Sometimes they don't.
That can be difficult to accept, particularly in agriculture, where we tend to measure success partly by whether the next generation comes home and continues what we started.
I'm not sure that is always a fair measurement.
Our children and grandchildren have their own abilities, interests, and opportunities. The fact that their path may be different from ours doesn't diminish what was built before them. Nor does it mean the previous generation did something wrong.
That was what I appreciated about my conversation with Albert.
There wasn't bitterness about reaching this point. Certainly, there is emotion involved. How could there not be? But there was also a recognition that circumstances change, families change, and eventually every operation has to decide what comes next.
Sometimes good stewardship means continuing what previous generations built.
Sometimes good stewardship means recognizing when it is time to make a change.
For ADR Cattle Company, that change comes on September 16.
The cattle themselves will move on to new operations, and I suspect many of those cow families will continue having an influence for years to come. In that respect, the work Albert and his family put into the ADR program doesn't disappear when the last animal goes through the sale ring.
It simply takes a different form.
I think there is a lesson in that for all of us involved in family agriculture.
We should absolutely work to bring the next generation into agriculture when that is what they want. We should give them opportunities, responsibility and eventually the freedom to make the operation their own.
But succession isn't successful simply because the same family name stays on the gate.
Sometimes the next generation chooses another direction. Sometimes circumstances make the decision for us. And sometimes the right decision is knowing when it is time to close one chapter and begin another.
That can be hard.
It doesn't mean it's bad.
The ADR Cattle Company Complete Angus Herd Dispersal will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Dunlap, Iowa, with more than 450 head selling. Online bidding will be available through CattleUSA.com.
To hear my complete conversation with Albert Epperly, listen to this episode of Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media.
Take Care!
— Gale McKinney
 
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The Black Hills will provide the backdrop for the 2026 South Dakota Angus Tour, set for September 15–17. Over three days, attendees will have the opportunity to visit Angus operations, see high-quality cattle and spend time with the breeders and families behind these programs. 
This year’s tour will give cattlemen an up-close look at Angus operations throughout the Black Hills region. Each stop offers an opportunity to see how different producers approach breeding, management and the development of Angus cattle suited to their individual operations.
For seedstock and commercial producers alike, tours such as this provide a chance to see cattle in their working environments and learn from the people raising them. Attendees can compare breeding philosophies and management practices while considering ideas that may be useful in their own operations.
The tour also provides an opportunity to connect with fellow cattlemen. In addition to visiting ranches and viewing cattle, attendees will have time to visit with breeders and other producers throughout the three-day event.
Rapid City will serve as the headquarters for the tour, with the Best Western Ramkota Hotel designated as the host hotel.
2026 South Dakota Angus Tour DetailsDates: September 15–17, 2026Headquarters: Best Western Ramkota Hotel, Rapid City, South DakotaRegistration: South Dakota Angus AssociationContact: Justin UhrigEmail: jhuhrig@gmail.comPhone: 308-760-5615
For cattlemen interested in seeing South Dakota Angus genetics firsthand, exchanging ideas with other producers and experiencing the Black Hills, the 2026 South Dakota Angus Tour offers three days centered around cattle, operations and the people behind them. To hear more about this year’s tour, listen to the Genetics & the Gavel conversation with Justin Uhrig, powered by American Cattlemen Media.
 
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One of the things I enjoy most about this business is the people you get to know along the way. 
I've known Jeremy Leister for quite a while, and I always enjoy the opportunity to catch up and talk cattle with him. Jeremy manages Pollard Farms in Waukomis, Oklahoma, and when you start talking about the Pollard program, it doesn't take long before the conversation gets back to one thing - the cow families. 
That seems especially appropriate as Pollard Farms prepares for its annual female production sale on September 19. 
Most Angus producers are familiar with the Pollard Farms name. Dr. Barry and Roxanne Pollard have spent more than three decades building a program recognized across the Angus breed for producing cattle that combine strong numbers, phenotype, and, most importantly, usefulness. 
But it started pretty simply. 
Barry grew up in Hennessey, Oklahoma, where his father taught vocational agriculture, and his mother was a schoolteacher. He went on to become a board-certified neurosurgeon, returning home to Oklahoma and opening his medical practice in Enid in 1982. 
Ten years later, he purchased several bred heifers and yearlings and started an Angus herd. 
A lot has changed since 1992, but I think one of the strengths of Pollard Farms is that the basic objective has remained pretty straightforward: to produce better cattle that can help their customers be more profitable. 
Jeremy and I talked about the depth of this year's female offering, and there is certainly plenty to talk about. But something Pollard Farms hears repeatedly from its bull customers says more about the program than any sale listing ever could. 
They buy Pollard bulls because they believe in the cow families standing behind them. 
I think that's pretty powerful. 
We spend a lot of time in the seedstock business talking about the bull and rightfully so. A bull can influence a lot of calves in a hurry. But behind every good bull is a cow, and behind the most consistent breeding programs are generations of females that have proven their ability to work. 
That's what makes a female sale like this interesting. 
You're not simply looking at individual females. You're getting an opportunity to buy into cow families that have been developed and tested over generations.
Pollard Farms has worked hard to build those families without losing sight of the commercial cattleman. They want females that stand out numerically and phenotypically, but they also want females capable of producing the kind of bulls their commercial customers come back to buy. 
That balance matters. 
There are plenty of ways to make cattle impressive on paper. There are plenty of ways to make one look good standing in a picture pen, The challenge is putting everything together in cattle that go home, reproduce, raise a calf, and ultimately make somebody money. 
That's still the business we're in. 
This year's Pollard offering reflects that philosophy, with females representing several ages and stages of production. There are young fall pairs and heavy-bred females, fall yearling open heifers, spring open heifer show and donor prospects, donor dams, spring-bred cows with calves, and spring-bred heifer. 
That gives cattlemen an opportunity to study the Pollard program from several different angles and find females that fit their own breeding objectives. 
Knowing Jeremy, I also know how much work goes into getting to sale day. 
A program like Pollard Farms doesn't happen because of one person. Barry and Roxanne have built something special, but Jeremy is quick to recognize the crew behind it. Raising cattle, developing them, collecting the data, preparing for a sale, and taking care of customers takes a team and it takes a lot of days when nobody outside the operation is watching. 
That's part of what I enjoy about these Producer Profiles. we get to talk about the cattle, but we also get to talk about the people behind them. 
And Pollard Farms has always understood that side of the cattle business. 
Sale weekend isn't simply about selling cattle. It's also a chance to get customers and friends together, talk cattle, enjoy some fellowship, and renew relationships that, in many cases, have been built over the years.
That's the cattle business I know, and I hope we never lose that part of it. 
The Pollard Farms Annual Female Production Sale will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at noon at the ranch in Waukomis, Oklahoma. Online bidding will also be available through LiveAuctions.TV.
If you're in the market for Angus females this fall, take a look at the offering. There will certainly be some impressive individuals in the sale. 
But I'd spend just as much time studying the cow families behind them.
After all, that's what Pollard Farms' bull customers keep telling them matters. 
It was great catching up with Jeremy again. I appreciate his friendship, I appreciate what the Pollard family and their crew contribute to our industry, and I always enjoy talking cattle with him. 
Take care!
Gale McKinney 
American Cattlemen
 
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The American Wagyu Association is preparing to welcome producers from across the country to its 2026 Annual General Meeting, Conference and Tour, scheduled for September 9-12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with an optional Post-Conference Tour on September 13-14.
While the annual conference serves as the Association's official business meeting, this year's event reflects something much larger—the continued evolution of the American Wagyu industry.
Under the theme "Born to Be Prime," attendees will explore topics that are shaping the future of premium beef production. Educational sessions will cover genetics, DNA technology, selection indexes, artificial intelligence, camera grading, food safety, branded beef programs and beef marketing. The program also features presentations from industry leaders representing USDA, NCBA, Oklahoma State University, Neogen and other respected organizations.
Beyond the classroom, the conference offers numerous opportunities for networking and collaboration through its trade show, producer receptions, the popular Best Wagyu Steak in America Contest, the new Everything BUT Steak Contest and Saturday evening's Gala Dinner.
For producers interested in seeing innovation firsthand, the optional Post-Conference Tour includes visits to Oklahoma State University's Meat Science Facilities, Genesis Enterprises, the American Wagyu Association's new headquarters and G$ Grasslands Wagyu.
During a recent American Cattlemen Podcast interview, Executive Director Jerry Cassidy discussed not only the conference itself but also the direction of the Association and the opportunities ahead for Wagyu producers. As consumer demand for premium beef continues to grow, the Association remains focused on providing members with the education, technology and industry connections needed to remain competitive.
Whether you're an established Wagyu breeder or simply interested in learning more about one of the fastest-growing segments of the beef industry, the 2026 American Wagyu Association Conference offers valuable insight into where the breed—and the business—is headed.
For registration information, conference details, and the complete schedule of events, visit www.wagyu.org
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There is something to be said for developing cattle in the same kind of environment where you expect them to perform. That philosophy has been at the heart of Rhoades Ranch in Cambria, California, since the program began in 2006. 
Rhoades Ranch develops its cattle in rough country that asks them to travel, stay sound, and prove their ability to perform. The goal is straightforward: produce bulls with the durability and athleticism to cover country and reach cows while combining those practical traits with strong phenotype and a balanced EPD package.
The result is a powerful set of Angus genetics made for the seedstock breeder and commercial producer alike.
I really enjoyed talking with Justin Rhoades for this episode of Genetics & the Gavel. One thing became apparent very quickly during our conversation: Justin genuinely wants to help improve his customers' genetics. He isn't simply interested in selling bulls. He thinks about where those genetics are headed, what his customers are trying to accomplish, and how Rhoades Ranch cattle can help advance their programs.
I think that mindset says a lot about the Rhoades program.
Today's cattle producers have access to more genetic information than ever before, and Rhoades Ranch embraces the opportunity to make genetic progress. At the same time, Justin understands that the numbers have to translate into cattle that work in the real world.
For seedstock producers, that means genetics with the potential to complement a breeding program and create the next generation of cattle. For commercial cattlemen, it means bulls expected to travel, remain durable, breed cows and sire calves that can add value.
It's about finding balance between genetic progress and practical performance.
That philosophy will be on display at the Rhoades Ranch Annual Production Sale on September 5, 2026, in Cambria, California. Justin and I talked about the depth of this year's offering and the opportunities available for cattlemen with different breeding objectives.
But the sale isn't limited to Angus genetics.
Rhoades Ranch will also offer working horses and working cow dogs, and I think those animals add another dimension to the story of this operation. Anyone who has spent much time around a working cattle ranch understands the value of a dependable horse and a good cow dog. They aren't there for decoration—they are part of getting the job done.
In many ways, that fits perfectly with the philosophy behind the Rhoades cattle. Whether you're talking about bulls, horses or dogs, usefulness matters.
What I appreciated most from my conversation with Justin was his focus on the people who ultimately put these genetics to work. There is plenty of excitement surrounding a powerful set of Angus genetics, but behind the pedigrees, EPDs, and phenotype are cattlemen trying to make their next calf crop better than the last.
Justin understands that.
For anyone considering the Rhoades Ranch offering, I encourage you to listen to our conversation on Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media, spend some time studying the offering, and visit with Justin about what you're trying to accomplish in your own program.
The Rhoades Ranch Annual Production Sale is on September 5, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific in Cambria, California.
Whether you're looking for Angus genetics to advance a seedstock program, bulls to strengthen a commercial cow herd, or working horses and cow dogs for the ranch, there is plenty worth taking a look at.
At the end of the day, the Rhoades Ranch philosophy is pretty simple: develop genetics with a purpose and help customers make their cattle better.
 
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Bovine respiratory disease remains one of the cattle industry’s most persistent and costly health challenges. Despite decades of vaccines, treatments, and management practices, BRD rates have not declined—and some reports suggest mortality is increasing. In this episode of the American Cattleman Podcast, host Dustin Hector sits down with Dr. Bob Gentry of MedGene to examine why respiratory disease continues to demand producers’ attention and how emerging tools may help them respond more effectively. 
With 45 years of veterinary experience spanning mixed-animal practice, cattle reproduction, technical service, and animal health innovation, Dr. Gentry brings a practical perspective to the conversation. He explains why calves become especially vulnerable as maternal antibodies fade, often just as weaning and other stressful management events approach. Listeners will learn why preconditioning and vaccinating before stress remain essential parts of a herd health strategy.
The discussion explores both familiar and frequently overlooked contributors to the BRD complex. Dr. Gentry reviews established pathogens such as IBR, BVD, BRSV, and PI3, then examines the growing importance of bovine coronavirus, now a leading respiratory virus detected by diagnostic laboratories. He also discusses bovine influenza D, bovine rhinitis virus, bovine astrovirus, and bovine adenovirus 3, along with the bacterial threats that may follow viral infection.
Producers will hear which early warning signs deserve attention, including nasal discharge, coughing, depression, reduced appetite, and poor performance. Dr. Gentry also explains “summer pneumonia,” why apparently low-stress nursing calves may still develop disease, and how unprotected animals can break with BRD after weaning.
Finally, the episode highlights advances in prevention and diagnostics. Dr. Gentry discusses MedGene’s prescription platform vaccines for coronavirus and influenza D, as well as rapid PCR testing that can identify pathogens from nasal swabs collected from live animals. With results potentially available within 24 to 48 hours, producers and veterinarians can make faster, more targeted intervention decisions.
Whether you raise calves, manage a backgrounding operation, or oversee feedlot health, this episode offers timely insight into recognizing BRD, strengthening prevention, using diagnostics, and staying ahead of respiratory threats before they become costly losses. Tune in for guidance supporting healthier cattle and resilient operations.
 
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Female sales are easy to describe with numbers. This many open heifers. This many bred females. This many pregnancies and embryo packages. But numbers alone do not explain what has made the Next Generation Foundation Female Sale last for 28 years. That story is about cattle, but it is also about people. It is about consignors willing to offer their best, buyers willing to trust the program, and a sale team that stays involved long after the final lot leaves the ring. 
I recently visited with Nick Dwyer of Dwyer Cattle Services about the 2026 sale, set for Sunday, August 30th, at the home farm in Roseville, Illinois. This marks Nick’s fifth year leading the event and the 28th year he and his dad, Bob, have hosted it together. Nick believes this is the deepest offering they have ever assembled. That is a strong statement after nearly three decades, but the catalog supports it. More than 200 head and genetic opportunities represent show-ready heifers, commercial bred females, elite cow prospects, pregnancies, embryo packages and herd bulls. What makes the sale different is not simply the size of the offering. It is the range. A buyer can find a heifer built for the show ring and then turn the page to a female designed to become the kind of cow that produces herd bulls and replacement females for years. That kind of diversity does not come from one herd. This year’s sale represents 61 consignors, each bringing different cow families, breeds and breeding goals to the offering. Nick and Bob’s work managing sales across the country gives them the opportunity to evaluate cattle from many programs and identify genetics that can add value in different ways.
Just as important is what happens after sale day. Nick does not believe the job ends when a female changes hands. Much of his spring and early summer is spent visiting past customers, evaluating cattle and following the progress of genetics purchased through previous sales. Many of the lots in this year’s catalog trace back to earlier Next Generation purchases. That may be the best measure of the sale’s success. Some customers have earned banners in the show ring. Others have generated meaningful genetic and financial returns in their breeding programs. Both matter. The cattle business is built on relationships, and the best sale programs understand that a satisfied buyer is more valuable than a one-time sale. The customer-success pages in this year’s catalog make that point better than any advertisement could.
Last year, cattle sold into 23 states and Canada. That reach says something about the quality of the cattle, but it also says something about the confidence buyers have in the people behind them. Nick encourages buyers to arrive early, walk through the offering and visit with the consignors. That is good advice. A catalog can provide pedigrees, EPDs and footnotes, but a conversation with the breeder can tell you how a cow family performs, what kind of calves it produces and where those genetics may fit in your own program. The Next Generation Foundation Female Sale is not built around one type of buyer or one definition of success. It is designed to offer cattle that can work in the show ring, the pasture and the donor pen. For producers looking to improve their herd, add a proven cow family or find a female with the potential to make an impact for years, the trip to Roseville may be well worth the time. And if the weather turns warm, Nick says there will be an ice cream truck waiting. After 28 years, they apparently have the sale-day details figured out too.
More Than a Female Sale: Building Customer Success One Generation at a Time
 
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Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Today, join hosts Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman as they sit down with Dr. Ryan Fairbairn, DVM, of Trans Ova Genetics to explore the rapidly evolving world of bovine embryo transfer and Cattle Genetics.
Dr. Fairbairn shares how his upbringing on a small Angus cow-calf operation in Pennsylvania inspired his interest in reproductive physiology and biotechnology. After graduating from Purdue University’s veterinary school in 2015, he joined Trans Ova Genetics, where he now serves as professional services manager for the Western region.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Fairbairn explains how embryo transfer can help cattle producers accelerate genetic improvement, multiply the influence of their best donor cows, and make better use of recipient females. He walks listeners through conventional embryo flushing, including superovulation, breeding, collection, grading, freezing, and fresh transfer. He then compares that process with IVF, explaining how technicians collect unfertilized oocytes directly from a donor’s ovaries before fertilizing and developing them in a laboratory.
The discussion breaks down the advantages and limitations of both methods. Conventional flushing may offer lower costs, stronger conception rates with fresh embryos, and easier access to international markets. IVF can provide faster collection intervals, use less semen, work effectively with sexed semen, and allow producers to collect oocytes from pregnant donors during an appropriate window of gestation.
Dr. Fairbairn also explains embryo staging and grading, factors that influence embryo quality, and why donor performance should help determine the best collection strategy. Just as importantly, he emphasizes that recipient cows cannot be treated as an afterthought. Proper body condition, nutrition, mineral supplementation, vaccination, low-stress handling, and thoughtful synchronization are all critical to a successful pregnancy.
The episode also examines the growing accessibility of IVF through Trans Ova’s laboratories, satellite locations, on-farm collections, and partnering veterinarians. Whether producers want to preserve genetics from a favorite cow, purchase elite embryos, select for heifer or bull calves, or advance an entire herd, this episode provides a practical introduction to reproductive technology and the planning required to use it successfully in commercial and seedstock cattle operations across America today.
 
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Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Dr. Wayne Ayers, Senior Beef Cattle Technical Consultant with Elanco Animal Health, for an informative discussion on Bovine Congestive Heart Failure (BCHF), also known as bovine pulmonary hypertension or right-sided heart failure. As the disease continues to affect cattle at both high and low elevations, Dr. Ayers explains why producers across the country should become familiar with its causes, symptoms, and risk factors. 
Drawing from decades of veterinary experience in private practice, academia, and animal health research, Dr. Ayers breaks down the science behind Bovine Congestive Heart Failure in practical terms. He discusses how pulmonary hypertension places increasing stress on the heart, eventually leading to heart failure in affected cattle. Listeners learn to recognize common warning signs, including brisket edema, bottle jaw, fatigue, labored breathing, and jugular vein distension, while also understanding why early recognition is critical since the disease is almost always fatal once clinical signs appear.
The conversation explores the growing body of research surrounding the condition, including the discovery of genetic markers that significantly increase an animal's risk of developing Bovine Congestive Heart Failure. Dr. Ayers explains how genetic testing can help producers make more informed breeding decisions and reduce the prevalence of susceptible animals over time. He also discusses the connection between bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and heart failure, highlighting how previous lung damage can dramatically increase the likelihood of cattle developing BCHF later in life.
Beyond genetics, Dustin and Dr. Ayers examine practical management strategies that may help reduce risk throughout the production cycle. Topics include implementing strong vaccination programs, minimizing handling stress, preventing respiratory disease, reducing heat and cold stress, providing adequate shade and bedding, and adjusting feeding programs for higher-risk cattle. They also discuss how communication between cow-calf producers, backgrounders, and feedlots can improve long-term herd health by identifying at-risk bloodlines and sharing valuable performance data.
Whether you're a commercial cattle producer, feedlot manager, veterinarian, or anyone involved in the beef industry, this episode delivers valuable insights into one of the industry's emerging health challenges. Dr. Ayers provides practical recommendations that can help producers better understand Bovine Congestive Heart Failure, improve herd management decisions, and protect the long-term health and profitability of their cattle operations.
 
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