American Cattlemen Podcast

Webo Angus Turning Grass Into Greenbacks Annual Bull Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Buttons York, Owner of Webo Angus. In this episode, Buttons and Gale will dive into the Webo Angus Turning Grass Into Greenbacks 19th Annual Bull Sale, held on April 7th, 2026, at 2PM CDT, in Lusk, Wyoming. 
Webo Angus continues to view fertility as their very first selection criteria; their cow herd calves in 45 days. They apply intense pressure on feet; bulls must cover the country and need good feet to do so. They have a common-sense carcass, with additional selection to improve PAP scores. They continue to strive for balance with maternal traits and maternal indexes as additional scorecards, while keeping an eye on the same value indexes that their buyers do.
Buttons explains that her family has been in the ranching business for six generations, most of that time with Angus cattle. Webo Angus, started years ago by Buttons and her late husband Walden, is now operated by Buttons alongside her daughters Ellie and Odessa and her son-in-law, Colby Eddy. Their program is deeply rooted in a commercial cattle mindset, shaped by generations of experience as commercial producers themselves.
Buttons emphasizes that fertility is the primary selection criterion. Cows are expected to calve within a 45-day window, on time, raise a big calf, walk on four sound feet, and maintain good dispositions. She stresses that they do not make excuses for poor-performing cows or bad temperaments. Their environment in eastern Wyoming is restricted in terms of feed and often very dry, so cattle must breed up and perform under limited resources without excess feed.
The program avoids single-trait selection, instead prioritizing maternal merit, structural soundness, and practicality, while still maintaining solid carcass traits. Sire groups include bulls like Flat Top, Jamison Keystone, Congress, and North Star, along with home-raised sires such as a feed-efficient More Big Check bull and a highly efficient Confidence 035 son.
All bulls are third-party feed-efficiency tested at the University of Wyoming’s SAREC facility in Lingle, with a large proportion testing negative for residual feed intake. Ultrasound data for ribeye and marbling is collected on all bulls and made available through their website and online auction platform.
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Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association 69th Annual Bull Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Allan Arndt, Owner of Double A Simmental, President, and Simmental Director of the Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association. In this episode, Allan and Gale will dive into the 69th Annual Wisonsin Beef Improvement Association Bull Sale, held on April 4th, 2026, at 11AM CDT, in Platteville, Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association has conducted and overseen a central performance bull test each year since 1957, making it the oldest bull development program in the country. Since 1970, young beef bulls from across Wisconsin and the Midwest have been brought to the University of Wisconsin - Platteville Pioneer Farm by top breeders.
Allan shares his agricultural background growing up on a diversified Wisconsin farm that combined crops, beef, and dairy. Over time, the family operation shifted away from feeding large numbers of steers and dairy cows, while Allan and his wife developed their own purebred Simmental herd alongside commercial cows on rougher ground. This experience allows him to relate directly to producers balancing multiple enterprises.
Allan then explains the origins of WBIA’s testing program, inspired by Dr. Ed Hauser at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1950s. Hauser wanted a more objective system than reputation-based purebred marketing, so he proposed bringing bulls together, managing them uniformly, and comparing performance. After an initial trial at the Hancock Experimental Station, the program eventually moved to Platteville in 1970, where it has remained, closely tied to the university, its students, and the local community.
The conversation shifts to the current 69th annual bull test and sale. The program now uses a 100‑day test focused on moderate, efficient gains rather than extreme, high‑energy feeding. Bulls must meet minimum performance and structural soundness thresholds at both arrival and test completion. Comprehensive data are gathered, including average daily gain, ultrasound carcass traits, EPDs, birth weights, and DNA parentage, all made available online through regular performance reports. Activity tracking ear tags help identify health or performance issues that might not be obvious visually.
Allan describes the 2026 offering as one of the strongest groups yet, representing multiple breeds and reflecting current industry trends toward structurally sound, thick, growthy cattle. The sale is conducted live with bulls walking through the ring while simultaneously broadcast online via DV Auction, allowing both in‑person and remote buyers to bid confidently.
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Calving Setup for Lifelong Success Cattlemen & Veterinarians

Welcome to Season 2 Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media! Today, Gale and Dr. Peterman chat with Dr. Roger Osinchuk to discuss calving setup for lifelong success through sound cow and calf management. 
They begin with cow management before breeding and calving, emphasizing pre-breeding vaccinations and scours vaccines. Dr. Osinchuk explains that reproductive diseases, including BVD and IBR, are largely preventable with correctly timed and administered vaccines, and that effective vaccination supports both pregnancy maintenance and colostral immunity for calves. He stresses reading labels, understanding the differences between killed and modified-live vaccines, and vaccinating four to six weeks prior to calving so protective antibodies are concentrated in colostrum.
Colostrum is highlighted as the single most important factor in neonatal calf health. Calves are born without antibodies and must absorb immunity through colostrum within the first 24 hours, especially the first few hours of life. Failure of passive transfer predisposes calves to scours, pneumonia, joint and navel infections. Both veterinarians strongly advocate early intervention in dystocia, rapid colostrum supplementation when there is any doubt, and judicious use of high-quality commercial colostrum replacers.
The discussion then moves to recognizing and managing calf scours, hypothermia, heat stress, and dehydration. Early fluid therapy, proper use of electrolytes, and appropriate antibiotics under veterinary guidance are key. They note that prevention through sound vaccination, hygiene, and timely intervention is far cheaper and more profitable than treatment.
Later, they cover calf processing: early castration and dehorning to reduce stress and long-term performance losses, strategic respiratory and clostridial vaccinations, and management of pinkeye and other region-specific issues. They also address bottle calf management, stressing colostrum status, controlled milk feeding, rapid transition to high-quality starters, and meticulous sanitation. The episode concludes with a discussion of udder and teat quality, mastitis recognition, and culling criteria, all framed around the goal of producing healthy, efficient calves and ultimately higher-quality beef.
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Noble Research Institute Cattle Con 2026

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 chats with Charles Rohla, Senior Regenerative Ranching Advisor for the Noble Research Institute. 
Charles grew up on a stocker cattle operation in northwest Oklahoma, spending significant time in sale barns where his father worked as an order buyer. That early exposure to livestock and producers sparked a lasting passion for working in agriculture. He went on to attend Oklahoma State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a ranch management focus and a minor in agricultural economics. During his education, he explored hog production through an internship, which helped clarify his career direction.
Charles continued his studies with a master’s degree in agricultural education, opting for a research-focused track that allowed him to take courses across multiple agricultural departments. While in graduate school, he worked full time at the fruit and nut research station, where he discovered how perennial crops such as pecan trees can be integrated with grazing. This led him to pursue a PhD in crop science, deepening his understanding of how different agricultural systems can complement each other. Through this broad training, he describes himself as a “jack of many, expert of a few,” which he feels is valuable when consulting with producers.
At Noble Research Institute, Charles has been on staff for over 20 years. His current role centers on education and producer support. He serves as an educator and facilitator for several Noble classes, including both grazing courses, a profitability course, and a new orchard class launching soon. In addition, he works directly with producers through Noble’s consulting group. Outside his Noble role, he and his family run their own operation raising miniature Herefords for the show industry, and he serves on the board of the Miniature Hereford Association.
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DeBruycker Charolais 42nd Annual Production Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Brett DeBruycker, with DeBruycker Charolais. In this episode, Brett and Gale will dive into the DeBruycker Charolais 42nd Annual production Sale, held on April 4th, 2026, at 11AM MST at Wester Livestock Auction, Great Falls Montana. 
DeBruycker Charolais, for over 60 years, has built a trusted Charolais breeding program; rooted in integrity, performance, and respect for the land. They exist to help cattle producers build profitable, reliable herd, through genetics backed by integrity, built for performance, and proven over generations.
Brett explains that the DeBruycker family has been raising Charolais cattle since 1963, when his parents first started using Charolais bulls on black, red, and baldy cows and were impressed by the resulting calves and carcasses. Today, seven siblings are involved in the ranch and farming operation. They not only raise seedstock but also buy and feed calves out of their bulls, positioning themselves in both ranching and cattle feeding at a time when the cattle market is strong.
At DeBruycker Charolais, cattle are run like a commercial herd in wide-open Montana country, grazing grass and traveling long distances across large pastures. The cow herd is not pampered, which, Brett says, helps them make better decisions about the kind of bulls that will truly work for commercial producers. He notes that they regularly support the Charolais calf market by bidding on calves sired by their bulls.
Brett stresses the operation’s long-term emphasis on linebred, structurally correct, long-bodied, small-headed, smooth-shouldered cattle designed to add performance and hybrid vigor. Many customers see 40–100 pounds of additional weaning weight when switching to DeBruycker Charolais bulls, which translates directly into greater profitability. He closes by expressing pride in their cow families and gratitude for the opportunity to serve commercial cattle producers through functional, profitable genetics.
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TCU Ranch Management Program

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. Matthew Garcia, the Director of TCU Ranch Management.
Dr. Garcia begins by outlining his personal and professional journey, from growing up on a cow-calf operation in Central New Mexico to earning advanced degrees in beef and dairy cattle genetics and genomics, as well as an MBA to strengthen his business and management skills. His career has spanned roles with USDA, Louisiana State University, and Utah State University, where he worked heavily in ranch succession planning, ranch consulting, and aligning production systems with available resources. He explains that he joined the TCU Ranch Management program to make a meaningful impact by preparing the next generation of ranch managers.
He then describes how the TCU program has evolved over the last year to stay modern while preserving its foundational focus on understanding the true cost and long-term impacts of managerial decisions. The curriculum now incorporates more guest speakers on topics such as agricultural legal liability, negotiations, energy, contracts and leases, and water development—issues that are increasingly critical, especially in Texas.
On generational transfer, Dr. Garcia highlights the aging demographics of agricultural asset owners and the urgent need for structured mentorship and formal transition plans. Without a clear, legal succession plan, ranches are at risk of being sold and converted to non-agricultural uses, resulting in permanent loss of productive land.
He explains that students complete a capstone management plan that first covers a five-year long-range strategy under normal conditions, then extends another five years with at least two major disasters, such as drought, fire, disease, or market collapse. This forces students to learn how to adapt, reallocate resources, and maintain solvency when conditions are far from ideal.
Finally, Dr. Garcia emphasizes system compatibility and evaluation before implementation. He contrasts high-rainfall, high-stock-density environments like Louisiana with arid, low-precipitation regions like Central New Mexico to show why management cannot be copy-pasted from one ranch to another. Students are trained to first evaluate soils, water, forage, climate, and infrastructure, then design practices that sustain both land and cattle while remaining profitable.
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MJE Livestock Equipment Cattle Con 2026

Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast and our series at Cattle Con 2026. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Ethan Cantrell with MJE Livestock Equipment. 
MJE Livestock Equipment is designed and tested in demanding feedlot environments to withstand heavy, everyday use, which gives customers confidence in its durability and performance.
Ethan emphasizes three core priorities when designing or upgrading a facility: design, efficiency, and safety. Good design starts with thorough planning, so a facility is built right the first time, avoiding costly rework years later. Efficiency is achieved by working with the natural flow and movement patterns of cattle rather than fighting them, reducing stress for both animals and handlers. Safety encompasses both animal welfare and the protection of everyone working the facility, which is especially important because many operations are multi-generational family businesses where children and grandchildren are often involved.
One of the biggest challenges MJE faces is reconciling producers’ initial ideas with what will be most effective and safe in practice. Many ranchers have envisioned their “dream facility” for years, but their concept may not maximize flow or long-term function. To bridge this gap, MJE relies on a knowledgeable design team and modern tools such as AutoCAD and satellite imaging. These allow them to lay proposed systems over aerial views of the ranch so producers can visualize how cattle will move and how the facility will sit on their property. Seeing detailed drawings often helps producers recognize improvements and feel confident in the final plan.
Ethan describes the deep satisfaction of guiding projects from the first conversation through delivery and setup, especially when the finished facility represents a lifelong dream for a family operation. He notes that customer satisfaction and word of mouth are central to MJE’s growth, with many new clients arriving after seeing a neighbor’s facility or hearing positive reviews.
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Pleasant View Farms 1st Annual Bull & Female Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the Owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Jake Lipton, Owner of Pleasant View Farms. In this episode, Jake and Gale will dive into the Pleasant View Farms 1st Annual Bull & Female Sale, held on March 26th, 2026, at 1PM EST, at the Farm in Somers, Connecticut. 
Pleasant View Farms has been family owned and operated in Somers, Connecticut since it was founded in 1918. Their mission is producing top quality Red Angus cattle. Their goal is to raise and breed animals to benefit any operation. They strive for animals that are balanced by breeding for performance, disposition, and phenotype.
Jake explains that the farm began as a dairy enterprise started by his great-grandfather, who emigrated from Poland. Over the decades, the dairy herd expanded to nearly 300 Holsteins and was an early adopter of embryo transfer technology. However, economic pressures in the late 1980s led the family to participate in the National Dairy Buyout Program, ending their dairy days in 1987. Jake’s father maintained the land through crops and feed sales until Jake and his brother reignited the livestock side.
Jake describes how the operation evolved into a diversified crop and feed business serving farms throughout the Northeast, and more recently into PVF Red Angus, launched around 2020. Initially, they focused on beef production for a strong local direct-to-consumer freezer beef market. Over time, they became deeply committed to building a maternal-focused Red Angus cow herd suited to their environment but capable of thriving elsewhere. Jake recounts extensive travels across major cattle states to study leading Red Angus programs and emphasizes that both the cattle and the people in the breed drew them in.
The core of the episode previews Pleasant View Farms’ first annual bull and female sale, scheduled for March 26, 2026, at the farm in Somers, Connecticut. The offering includes 28 lots of yearling Red Angus bulls, 11 yearling registered females, six embryo packages, and 25 Red Angus replacement heifers, with both bred and open groups. Jake highlights key sire groups, especially progeny of Burwald PVF Outright, an influential bull whose dam, Abba Grace 1110J, has become the matriarch of their program. He walks through several standout bull lots, stressing balanced calving ease, growth, carcass merit, and structural soundness.
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Smith Angus Ranch 37th Annual Bull Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the Owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Cameron Smith, Owner of Smith Angus Ranch. In this episode, Cameron and Gale will dive into the Smith Angus Ranch 37th Annual Bull Sale, held on March 27th, 2026, at 1PM CST, at the ranch in Bassett, Nebraska. 
At smith Angus Ranch, they work to provide genetic opportunities for customers that lead to optimum progeny performance and ideal herd development. At the end of the day producers need optimum genetic performance and maximized profitability, and at Smith Angus Ranch, they look to provide the sires that will achieve that for producers.
Cameron explains that their breeding philosophy is shaped by the realities of the Sandhills environment. While they have ample grass, other feed resources are limited and must often be hauled in from long distances. As a result, their cows must be able to go out on native range, which is not always high quality, and still maintain condition, rebreed, and bring in a heavy calf. He emphasizes that what they ask of their registered herd is very similar to what neighboring commercial cattlemen demand from their own cows, which helps ensure that the genetics they offer translate directly to commercial success.
The program features discussion of the Smith Angus Ranch 37th annual bull sale, to be held March 27, 2026, at the ranch. The offering includes 62 spring yearling Angus bulls and 26 fall-born, 18‑month‑old age-advantage bulls. Cameron notes that their largest group is the spring yearlings, but the age-advantage bulls from their long-standing fall herd have become especially popular with customers who want slightly older bulls they can turn out and use harder without excessive pampering.
Cameron stresses the balance between phenotype and numbers. While the operation pays close attention to EPDs and offers strong figures throughout the catalog, cattle that do not look and function the part are not kept, regardless of how attractive their numbers may be. Over the decades, cow families that failed to handle the rigors of the Sandhills environment have been culled, leaving a consistent, proven cow base.
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Renner Charolais Inaugural Bull Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Cole Renner, Owner of Renner Charolais. In this episode, Cole and Gale will dive into the Renner Charolais Inaugural Bull Sale, held on March 30th, 2026, at the Norton Livestock Market, in Norton, Kansas. 
Cole explains that after college he returned home to partner with his father, who had long run a commercial cattle operation. Inspired by an uncle’s purebred Charolais ranch near Oakley, Kansas, Cole moved to Monument, Kansas, to learn the purebred business at Hubert Charolais Ranch, founded in 1958. There he gained hands-on experience in weighing calves, developing bulls and females, and making genetic selections. After several years, he and his wife Bailey moved back to Norton in 2024 and consolidated the family efforts under Renner Charolais Ranch with his parents, Craig and Sherry. The operation now focuses on building a functional, data-driven Charolais program.
Cole describes his philosophy, shaped in part by his time on the Kansas State Livestock Judging Team, as centered on structurally sound, hardworking cattle that convert grass efficiently and generate pounds that pay. In their relatively low-rainfall environment, cattle must travel, graze aggressively, and still grow. He emphasizes sound feet, structural correctness, and carcass merit—especially ribeye and marbling—for both retained ownership and calf-marketing scenarios. Cole points to the weight advantage of Charolais-cross calves at weaning as a key economic driver for commercial producers.
The sale offering includes 37 spring yearling bulls, seven fall 18‑month‑old age-advantaged bulls, and 18 carefully selected females. Cole walks through major sire groups, including LT Triumph, Citation, WCR Icon, HCR Nautilus, LT Atlas, Patriot, and Affinity lines, highlighting standout bulls for phenotype, growth, carcass traits, and terminal indexes. Several bulls sell with two-thirds semen interest and full possession, reflecting their herd-sire potential. On the female side, he features donor-quality and foundation-type cows and pairs, many tied to leading sires like LT Global, positioned as ideal building blocks for both established breeders and newcomers wanting to start a Charolais-based program.
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