American Cattlemen Podcast

Gale Sits Down With Dr. Jessica Spurber and Jim Johnson To Discuss The Future Of Beef Program

Welcome back to another episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast and a return to our series from Gale's recent trip to NCBA CattleCon, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. After a brief introduction from our two guests, they will get into the Future of Beef, what it entails, and all that it's doing to help keep producers informed. With experts all around the industry coming together to discuss the Future of Beef program, this episode is a must listen.   
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
 
Sponsors:
Rawhide Portable Corrals
DMTC Consulting  
Udder Tech

Panther Creek Ranch Production Sale

Welcome to another episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast and our Producer Profile. Today, Gale McKinney, the Publisher of American Cattlemen, and Mike McClelland of Panther Creek Ranch in Bowen, Illinois, discuss the Panther Creek Ranch 31st annual working stock production sale on April 5, 2025. The ranch, started by Mike's father in 1952, is a family-operated Angus cattle operation committed to producing high-quality genetics. The upcoming sale offers a diverse lineup including yearling and fall bulls, spring and fall bred pairs, elite open heifers, and embryo opportunities. Mike highlighted several standout bulls, emphasizing their exceptional EPDs and phenotypic qualities. The sale features bulls from top sires like Showcase, Craftsman, and Deadwood, with Mike noting this is the best set of bulls they've ever offered. McClelland's primary focus is serving commercial cattlemen, providing bulls that balance performance, maternal traits, and calving ease. The ranch offers attractive sale incentives, including free shipping within 500 miles and volume discounts for multiple bull purchases. Potential buyers can preview the catalog at www.panthercreekcattle.com and attend the sale in person, with lunch served at 11:30 AM. Mike and his brother-in-law Steve are available to answer questions, with contact numbers provided in the podcast. The sale represents a culmination of decades of careful breeding and commitment to producing top-quality Angus cattle. 
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.  

Dustin Sits Down with Lamar Steiger & Neil Mellers to Talk About Ranch2Retail

Welcome to the American Cattle Podcast.  Today's episode will feature Lamar Steiger & Neil Mellers for Ranch 2 Retail.  These two gentlemen join American Cattlemen Director of Business Development, and host, Dustin Hector to discuss the inspiration behind Ranch 2 Retail along with some of the challenges facing the beef industry.  They will wrap up the issue sharing the benefits of their model for each industry segment and how they all work together.  What a great episode and I enjoyed my time with these two, I hope you enjoy it as well.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
 
Sponsors:
DMTC Consulting
Rawhide Portable Corrals
Udder Tech Inc.

The Upcoming Vermilion Ranch Sale

Welcome back to another episode of The American Cattlemen Podcast and this Special Producer Profile. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, the Publisher of The American Cattlemen, and Bob Cook, with The Vermilion Ranch in Billings, Montana, to discuss their upcoming sales held on March 27th and March 28th, 2025. Founded in the mid-1960s by Pat Goggins and his wife, the ranch has grown to become a significant player in the cattle breeding industry, running approximately 1,200 spring calving cows and 400 fall calving cows. The ranch will host three major sales on March 27-28, 2025. The first event is a commercial heifer sale featuring 5,000 heifers at the South Prior Development Center, followed by an embryo and registered heifer sale at the public auction yards. The final day will feature a bull sale with around 500 performance yearling bulls. Bob Cook emphasized Vermilion Ranch's breeding philosophy, which focuses on creating cattle with exceptional length, performance, maternal power, and carcass merit. While incorporating modern technologies like EPDs, the ranch still relies heavily on visual selection, believing that a bull must look good and have strong genetic potential. The sales will offer unique opportunities for buyers, including 52 cow-calf pairs AI bred to a top sire, 250 embryos from their best cows, and a collection of bulls from various sire groups. Notable bulls include Vermillion Riverside, which previously sold for $132,000 and has produced outstanding offspring. The ranch provides buyer-friendly terms, including volume discounts of $100 per bull after purchasing two, and free delivery to Montana and adjoining states. Potential buyers can review the full catalog and contact ranch representatives for more information. With a commitment to quality genetics and a long-standing reputation in the cattle industry, Vermilion Ranch continues to be a premier source of high-performance cattle for commercial and registered breeders across the region.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.  

Hager Cattle Co. 19th Annual LIM-FLEX Sale

Welcome back to another episode of The American Cattlemen Podcast and this Special Producer Profile. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, the Publisher of The American Cattlemen, and Austin Hager, with Hager Cattle Company in Karlsruhe, North Dakota, to discuss the upcoming 19th Annual LIM-FLEX Bull sale, held on Tuesday, April 8th. Austin is a fourth-generation rancher managing approximately 900 head of mother cows, with half being registered Limousin and LIM-FLEX cattle, and the other half commercial cows. Hager specializes in LIM-FLEX hybrid cattle, which are a cross between registered Limousin and Angus breeds. These cattle range from 25% to 75% Limousin or Angus genetics. Austin began developing this breed in the late 1990s to improve reproductive efficiency, mothering ability, and overall cow performance. Key benefits of LIM-FLEX cattle include modest birth weights, above-average growth, excellent carcass traits, and superior feed efficiency. Research trials have shown these cattle grade comparably to Angus cattle, with better yield and feed conversion rates. They also demonstrate excellent longevity, with commercial herds seeing two additional years of production compared to straight-bred cattle. Hager Cattle Company will host their 19th annual LIM-FLEX bull sale on April 8, 2025, offering 83 lots of bulls and 60 heifers. The sale will be conducted through Superior Livestock Auction, with free delivery available in North Dakota and surrounding states. 
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.  

Gale Discusses The Upcoming DeBruycker Charolais Sale With Brett DeBruycker Held On April 5th

Welcome to another episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast and our Producer Profile. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, the Publisher of American Cattlemen, and Brett DeBruycker with DeBruycker Charolais as they discuss the upcoming Annual 41st DeBruycker Charolais Annual Bull Sale, held on April 5th, 2025. They will lead the interview off by discussing the DeBruycker Charolais ranch, a third-generation Montana cattle operation with nearly 100 years of history. Founded by Lloyd and Jane DeBruycker, the ranch has grown from 10-12 heifers in 1963 to approximately 2,200 mother cows today. Brett DeBruycker discusses their upcoming 41st annual bull sale, scheduled for April 5, 2025, at the Western Livestock Auction in Great Falls, Montana. The sale will feature around 600 bulls, including 80 long yearling and 520 yearling Charolais bulls. The operation focuses on line-bred genetics, ensuring consistency across their herd. DeBruycker Charolais genetics stand out for their exceptional performance characteristics. Producers can expect significant weaning weight gains ranging from 25 to 100 pounds extra. The breed has overcome historical calving challenges, now offering improved ease of calving and superior reproductive traits. Their bulls demonstrate excellent feet and leg structure, adaptability to various climates, high feed efficiency, and desirable carcass qualities. The bulls are raised on a high-roughage diet, allowing top performers to naturally emerge. Feed lots and packers actively seek Charolais-cross calves due to their superior performance and genetic potential. Interested producers can contact Brett directly for more information about the sale and their genetics.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.  

Gale Chats with Dr. Todd Armstrong and Larry Miller About Phibro

Welcome to the American Cattle Podcast and todays episode from San Antonio, TX for NCBA CattleCon 2025. Gale talks with Dr. Todd Armstrong, the president of the North American Region, and Larry Miller, the chief operating officer, about Phibro. Together they will discuss their recent Aquisition on medicated feed additives and water-soluble products from Zoetis to reinforce their product line. 
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
 
Sponsors:
DMTC Consulting
Rawhide Portable Corrals
Udder Tech Inc.

SweetPro With Dr. Abe Schafer

Welcome to this episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast.  Our series to NCBA CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio, TX led to Gale sitting down with Dr. Abe Schafer to discuss Sweet Pro and why it should be the product you use. Dr. Schafer shares his professional background, beginning with his roots on a cow-calf operation in Central North Dakota and continuing through his academic journey, which included studying in northwest Iowa, graduate school at North Dakota State, and a post-doctoral position at Colorado State University. The conversation centers on Sweet Pro's unique approach to cattle supplementation, distinguishing itself from traditional lick tubs. Unlike molasses-based supplements, Sweet Pro uses a distillers grains and solubles base, which is fiber-focused rather than sugar-based. This approach allows the supplement to complement, not compete with, the cattle's existing forage diet. Dr. Schafer emphasizes the scientific approach to supplementation, highlighting the importance of understanding how supplements interact with cattle metabolism. He explains that as agricultural margins tighten, producers need to justify their supplement choices through measurable outcomes and economic benefits. A key innovation discussed is Sweet Pro's proprietary probiotine product, available in both liquid (in tubs) and dry yeast post-biotic forms. The supplement is derived from small grains like wheat, oats, flax, and barley, creating a diverse fiber profile that optimizes microbial fermentation in the rumen. The interview also touches on agricultural education, with Dr. Schafer stressing the importance of bridging the gap between agricultural professionals and consumers who are increasingly removed from farming experiences. He believes in inviting the public into agricultural settings and sharing the industry's story. The podcast concludes by highlighting Sweet Pro's commitment to regional agriculture, noting that their production facilities in North Dakota use local small grains as the foundation for their innovative supplement, creating a product deeply connected to its agricultural roots.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.  

TCU Institute of Ranch Management With Jeff Geider

Welcome to this episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast.  Our series from Gale's recent trip to San Antonio, TX for NCBA CattleCon 2025 brought Jeff Geider, the director of TCU Institute of Ranch Management, to discuss the history of the program. Geider, a TCU graduate from 1981, shared insights into the university's ranch management program and its evolving mission. The TCU Ranch Management Program, founded in 1956, was originally designed as a training center for ranch managers focused on holistic land and livestock stewardship. Over the years, the program has adapted to technological advancements while maintaining its core purpose of developing multifaceted agricultural professionals. The Institute of Ranch Management, established about 20 years ago, serves as an outreach arm of the program. It focuses on bringing educational opportunities both domestically and internationally, with partnerships spanning from the Botanical Research Institute of Texas to international organizations like the University of Panama and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland. A key emphasis of the institute is field research on sustainability and regenerative agriculture. They conduct comprehensive studies on working ranches, examining soil health, forage production, pollinators, rainfall data, and carbon sequestration. Their goal is to develop scalable, practical approaches that help commercial ranchers improve profitability while enhancing land stewardship. Geider highlighted the importance of consumer awareness in modern agriculture. The institute even teaches a cross-disciplinary class on global food production to non-agricultural students, helping bridge the knowledge gap between consumers and agricultural practices. Looking forward, the institute aims to expand its international research, develop more living laboratories across Texas, and continue bridging the perceived divide between environmental sustainability and agricultural production. Guider believes producers are making significant progress in understanding and implementing sustainable practices that meet both environmental and economic needs.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.  

TCU Institute of Ranch Management With Dr. Mathew Garcia

Welcome to this episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast.  Our series from Gale's recent trip to San Antonio, TX for NCBA CattleCon 2025 continues as Dr. Mathew Garcia, the director of TCU Institute of Ranch Management, to discuss how the youth is affecting the industry today. Dr. Garcia emphasized that the industry is experiencing a significant generational leadership transition. The TCU Ranch Management program, established in 1956, is strategically positioned to develop future industry leaders and managers. The program takes a comprehensive systems approach to ranching education, teaching students to critically evaluate resources, understand financial implications, and adapt to changing agricultural landscapes. Dr. Garcia noted that students must now navigate complex challenges such as alternative energy enterprises while also becoming advocates and educators for the agricultural industry. A key focus of the conversation was the growing disconnect between consumers and agriculture. With only 2% of the population involved in agriculture, Dr. Garcia stressed the importance of educating people about agriculture's fundamental role in producing food, fiber, and fuel. He highlighted that every aspect of modern life is touched by agricultural production, from petroleum and textiles to steel and rubber. The program aims to prepare students not just as ranch managers, but as industry leaders who can bridge the knowledge gap between agricultural producers and consumers. By training adaptable, financially savvy, and communication-skilled professionals, TCU Ranch Management is helping to ensure the future sustainability and understanding of the agricultural sector. Dr. Garcia expressed optimism about young people's growing interest in agriculture, despite the challenging and hard-working nature of the industry.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast please check out the website:  www.americancattlemen.com
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
DMTC Consulting  
Rawhide Portable Corrals  
Udder Tech, Inc.