American Cattlemen Podcast

2S Angus Land & Cattle 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 Juston Mitchell, Owner of 2S Angus Land & Cattle. In this episode, Juston and Gale will dive into the 2S Angus Annual Production Sale, held on February 27th, 2026, at the ranch in Seneca, Missouri. 
At 2S Angus, breeding and herd management decisions are based on the core principles of producing Elite Seed-Stock genetically designed to be leading cattle operation in SW Missouri. An elite breeding program takes years of discipline and at 2S Angus they strive to move forward on a daily basis. Sparing no expense of time, money or energy when they set up their breeding and select our groups.
2S Angus emphasizes maternal strength and functional, profitable cattle for commercial producers, particularly in fescue country. Juston stresses that while he aims to raise nationally recognized, elite Angus, the foundation is a powerful commercial bull program supported by a consistent, proven cow herd. He focuses on females that are productive at four to five years of age and older, with many remaining in the herd into their teens. Traits such as phenotype, structural correctness, udder quality, feet, fertility, hair shedding, disposition, and longevity are non-negotiable. Culling is intense, and females or high-dollar purchases that do not work in the environment are moved on.
Juston highlights several key donor cows and cow families that anchor the program, including H4, 2-002, J38, and daughters of influential sires like T220, Reno, and others. He walks through feature bulls and females in the sale, noting consistent phenotype, depth of body, strong tops, sound feet, and calm dispositions. Sire groups mentioned include Jumpstart, Heat Seeker, Intuition, Jordan, Craftsman, Hometown, Capone, Monumental, Rangeland, and Alternative, each chosen to complement the cow herd’s strengths and maintain functionality and performance.
The sale will offer 55 18‑month‑old bulls and five elite heifers, representing the top of the 2S Angus program, with a straightforward customer-focused guarantee and the option to participate in person at the ranch or online through DVAuction.
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Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle

Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, hosts Dr. Shynia Peterman and Gale McKinney chat with Dr. Eric DeVuyst and Dr. Cheryl DeVuyst, owners of DeVuyst Ranch about the Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle. 
Cheryl and Eric have a background in production agriculture and focus on their work. Cheryl's specialization is agricultural finance, while Eric's is farm and ranch management. In addition to currently serving as Vicec-Chair of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, Cheryl is an advisor to the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlewomen and works to help develop young leaders in the beef industry. She was named the Oklahoma Cattlewoman of the Year in 2024. Eric has focused on research and Extension projects that impact the profitability of agricultural operations. Some of his research includes the economics of genotyping in cattle operations, management of cow-calf operations, and feedlot profitability.
The conversation begins with an overview of the current cattle market, where tight supplies and strong consumer demand for beef are driving record prices. Weather-driven forage availability, especially the easing of drought in parts of the Great Plains versus persistent dryness in western regions, is shaping whether the industry moves into an expansion phase. Eric and Cheryl emphasize that, regardless of market cycles, the single most important number for cow-calf producers to track is cost of production. Producers cannot control cattle prices, but they can influence their costs through stocking rate, feed management, and disciplined record-keeping.
Feed costs and land decisions emerge as critical drivers of profitability. Overstocking inflates feed bills and degrades grass, while chasing expensive land can create unsustainable financial pressure. Most U.S. cow-calf herds are small, often family-run operations with modest labor costs, but large operations may face tightening labor conditions. Instead of focusing solely on individual weaning weights, the guests recommend thinking in terms of pounds weaned per acre and favoring moderate-sized cows that allow higher stocking rates and better overall output.
Common economic mistakes include chasing the wrong EPDs, inadvertently selecting large, high-maintenance cows, and failing to keep or analyze detailed production records. Vaccination and basic health protocols are framed as “cheap insurance” rather than direct profit centers—producers may not see the absence of disease as a measurable return, but the financial hit from outbreaks is immediate and severe. University tools such as preconditioning budgeting models can help evaluate value-added programs, and research shows that bundled practices like vaccination, castration, dehorning, defined calving seasons, and sound genetics substantially increase the odds of premiums and profitability.
Economic Implications of Providing Aggressive Treatments in Cattle
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High Point Genetics 18th Annual Bull Sale

Welcome 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 Brian Oswald with High Point Genetics. In this episode, Brian and Gale will dive into the High Point Genetics 18th Annual Bull Sale, held on February 28th, 2026, at 1PM CST at the Harkens Hulls Ranch in Osceola, Iowa. 
High Point Geentics cowherd is managed under conditions that mirror commercial operations in the area, with cows primarily running on fescue and bluegrass pastures and with limited labor resources. The Oswald family has been in the bull business throughout Brian's lifetime, and it was through a friendship with the late Dick Bell that Brian's passion for Angus cattle originated.
Brian explains that High Point Genetics runs about 500 cows plus a 150-head cooperator herd, giving them a gene pool of roughly 650 registered Angus and SimAngus cows. They sell around 220 bulls annually, mostly to commercial cattlemen in the surrounding region. Their philosophy centers on a common-sense, balanced approach to genetics. They prioritize cattle with added body length, a tick more frame, strong growth, structural correctness, and eye appeal—traits that help calves sell well at the sale barn, perform in the feedlot, and hang heavier carcasses.
Brian walks through key sire groups, including calving ease bulls, crossover bulls that start on heifers and later move to cows without sacrificing performance, and higher-powered cow bulls. He highlights standout individuals such as sons of Connealy High Point, the high-profile sire Eternity, Mercury, and multiple Angus and SimAngus lines like North Star, Growth Fund, Galactics, Big Country, and Texas Teas.
High Point Genetics
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Pine View Angus 22nd Annual Bull Sale

Welcome 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 John Wessel, Owner of Pine View Angus. In this episode, John and Gale will dive into the Pine View Angus 22nd Annual Bull Sale, held on February 21st, 2026, at 1PM CST, at the farm located North of Colesburg, Iowa. 
Pine View Angus is set right in the middle of rural America in Colesburg, Iowa. The farm's location has shaped their livelihoods and focus. the family is active in many phases of agriculture, from implement sales and service, seed sales and service, custom feeding, farming, and, of course, purebred Angus Cattle.
Wessel traces his roots back to German immigrants who settled in northeast Iowa in the late 1860s. His family has long been involved with registered livestock, from Brown Swiss dairy cattle to draft horses, and that passion for genetics has carried through to his own Angus program. He reflects on his late father’s work ethic, transition from dairy to hogs and commercial Angus, and the impact his example had on Wessel’s approach to cattle and life.
The Pine View Angus philosophy is that the cow herd, particularly the females, are the true foundation of any successful seedstock operation. He emphasizes that while bulls are what customers see and talk about, great bulls are only possible because of strong maternal genetics. Functionality, structural soundness, appropriate size, muscle, and especially udder quality are non‑negotiable traits. John and his family use extensive embryo transfer and IVF work, pairing each female with sires through carefully planned, individual matings to create complementary genetic combinations. Data, EPDs, genomics, and carcass information are used to fine-tune decisions, but phenotype and real‑world functionality remain paramount.
Wessel also discusses what commercial producers prioritize most: calving ease, birth weight, disposition, and fertility. He argues that today’s strong beef market reflects where prices should have been for some time, noting robust consumer demand and willingness to pay for high-quality beef. He believes beef has moved beyond being a simple commodity and become part of an “event” eating experience.
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Deppe Angus Progress Through Testing 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 Dennis Deppe, Owner of Deppe Angus. In this episode, Dennis and Gale will dive into the Deppe Angus Progress Through Testing Bull & Female Sale, held on February 27th, 2026, at 6PM CST, at the farm in Waverly, Iowa. 
Starting from modest roots, the Deppe Angus brand was built upon a strong vision. Despite only owning three cows after college graduation, this small foundation was key to establishing the brand. They meticulously developed their herd by focusing on careful breeding, selecting superior bulls, and retaining their most exceptional females.
Dennis emphasizes that “progress through testing” is not a slogan but the core of his program, reinforced by comprehensive genomic testing on all sale cattle.
The sale offering, which includes a powerful set of 76 yearling and age-advantaged bulls, 21 spring-bred heifers and pairs, 27 high-end open females, and several elite genetic opportunities is great for anyone looking to expand their herd. Dennis highlights key sire groups such as Crouch Congress, Glacier, Spring Cove Grant, Duracell, Craftsman, Wildcat, and others, explaining how each contributes growth, carcass merit, structural soundness, and maternal strength. He repeatedly comes back to cow families like Black Cap and Mistress that anchor the program’s consistency across different sire lines. Several standout lots are described in detail, including bulls with top-percentile growth, efficiency, and carcass EPDs, as well as females he believes could serve as front-line donors in any herd.
The discussion also covers three special genetic opportunity lots built around proven donor cows with exceptional dollar indexes and strong track records in third-party testing. Dennis notes that a portion of proceeds from one of these lots will support youth, education, and research through the Angus Foundation, aligning with his long career as an ag instructor and FFA advisor.
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Johnson Angus Ranch 54th Annual Bull Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Bailey Johnson, Oner of Johnson Angus Ranch. In this episode, Bailey and Gale will dive into the Johnson Angus Ranch 54th Annual Genetic Advantage Bull Sale, held on February 28th, 2026, at 1PM CST at Mobridge, South Dakota. 
The Johnson Angus Ranch breeding philosophy centers on producing cattle that work in real-world conditions - moderate, efficient, structurally sound, and capable of adding pounds while maintaining cow herd longevity. Many of their bulls come from cow families that have stood the test of time, with multiple generations still in production today. Disposition, soundness, and usability remain priorities in every mating decision they make.
The upcoming sale will showcase a deep offering headlined by 81 yearling Angus bulls, eight aged bulls, and 27 bred heifers. Bailey describes the yearling bulls as a very consistent yet individually unique group, with many sired by home-raised sires for the first time. She highlights several key sire groups, including Rainmaker 4404, known for strong maternal daughters; BNB Holy Water; BJJ Legacy, a Baldrige Bronc son whose progeny combine performance with the kind of females commercial producers need; and the Jose sire line, bringing in OCC Juno blood and producing calm, structurally sound daughters with good udders and feet. Another major sire group is the Quarrel 3/3 bulls, which Bailey describes as powerful, high-quality cattle and notes that lots 32 and 33 stand out as particularly multi-dimensional.
Bailey and Gale then discuss the aged bulls, including Patron, cataloged as Lot 88, an experienced herd sire and full brother to Jose, representing a rare opportunity to purchase genetics from the heart of the program. Bailey explains their development philosophy: bulls are grown on a high-fiber ration without silage or distillers grains, aiming to express genetic potential while ensuring they are sound and ready to work without being over-conditioned.
The 27 bred heifers are a first-time sale feature for Johnson Angus. Many come directly from the keeper pen and will be sold in two groups sorted by calving dates, with gate cut available under defined minimums.
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Kessler Angus 19th Production Bull Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Aaron McKinney, he's the field editor for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Randy Kessler and Tierra Kessler Duke, of Kessler Angus. In this episode, they will dive into the Kessler Angus Bull Sale, held on February 17th, 2026, at 12:30Om PST, at the ranch in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. 
Kessler Angus is a first-generation cattle ranch started with a single 4H project heifer by Randy Kessler in 1962 in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Randy sold his first bull in 1964 and has been holding an annual production sale since 2007 after years of private treaty and consignment sales.
Tierra explains that the operation is very family oriented. She works full-time on the ranch, her brother Cody splits time between the ranch and horse training, and their sister Cheyenne works as an ICU nurse in California but returns annually to help with calving. The cattle experience a range of environments: mature cows calve on dryland wheat pastures in the hills, older cows and first-calf heifers are kept closer to the ranch. This setup emphasizes functional, hardy cattle that perform under minimal pampering.
A central theme of the program is calving ease combined with performance. The Kesslers are known as a trusted source of heifer bulls that deliver the calving ease promised without sacrificing growth. They lean heavily on the Angus Pathfinder program, with over 28% of their eligible mature cow herd having earned Pathfinder status. Their cow herd is expected to “pay its way,” funding land, equipment, and overall ranch operations, with a strong emphasis on fertility, early breeding, heavy-weaning calves, and long-term functionality.
They'll close the interview by diving into the upcoming Kessler Angus Bull S ale. Tierra walks through the offering by sire group, highlighting Basin Keystone, Free Water, Deluxe, Pacific, Top Gun, Prolific, North Star, Security, Jameson, Rise Above, Safe Deposit, Lookout, Inspire, Highlander, Resilient, Duke, Kindred, and Kingdom. She details standout bulls, their EPD profiles, carcass traits, maternal strength, and notable donor cow families behind them, emphasizing both calving ease and strong growth and carcass merit.
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Martens Angus Farms 25th Anniversary 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 Jody Marten, Owner of Martens Angus. In this episode, Jody and Gale dive into the Martens Angus Farms 25th Anniversary Sale, held on February 25th, 2026, at 1PM CST, located at the farm, Bellevue, Iowa. 
The history of this operation is deep-rooted, actually starting with his father, Leo, who raised and sold Registered Angus Cattle in Clinton County, Iowa, back in the 1950s. There was a pause, tough, as a family move led to a switch to purebred hogs. But, with the decline in the pork industry in the late 1980s, the Angus herd made its return in the early 1990s. Jody himself jumped in after graduating from Iowa State in the mid-1990s, working alongside Leo until he fully purchased the cow herd in 2001.
Discussing the Martens Angus breeding philosophy, Jody emphasizes running a purebred Angus program that functions like a commercial herd. Cattle are not pampered, and traits like disposition and birth weight remain foundational priorities. He focuses on balanced genetics, blending calving ease, growth, carcass merit, maternal value, and structural soundness, using EPDs as a guide rather than a strict target.
The sale offering includes approximately 40 18‑month‑old bulls, bred heifers, open heifers, and commercial spring‑bred heifers. Jody highlights the extra age and durability of the bulls and describes several standout lots that combine calving ease with muscle and performance. Many of the top bred and open heifers, he notes, are the kind that normally would stay in his own replacement pen, with several candidates suitable for donor status. The commercial spring‑bred heifers, bred to a strong performance bull, are purebred cattle marketed as commercial, with the option to obtain registration papers for an additional fee.
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Silencer Squeeze Chutes with Moly Manufacturing & Bar 7 Ranch

Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Kaid Panek with the American Cattlemen, and he sits down with Cody and Erica Archie of Bar 7 Ranch and Marc Ahrens of Moly Manufacturing. In this episode, Kaid and the gang will discuss the benefits of strong, effective cattle-handling equipment and how Moly's Silencer Squeeze Chutes fit that bill. 
No one wants to work with faulty equipment and Cody contrasts his early years working cattle with rudimentary or worn-out equipment—manual chutes, guillotine head gates, makeshift setups, and unsafe conditions—against the experience of using a Silencer. He emphasizes how inferior equipment increases stress, risk of injury and cattle wrecks, and ultimately costs more in the long run.
The discussion highlights the Silencer as a long-term, customizable investment. Mark explains that almost everything beyond the basic tail doors is custom built to match the customer’s herd, working style, and future plans. Options like palpation cages, walk-through doors, side exits, neck extenders, brisket bars, and expandable floors allow ranchers to tailor the chute to their needs and to grow into it over five to ten years, rather than outgrowing it quickly.
Erica adds the family perspective, describing how the Silencer has dramatically improved confidence and safety for her and their children. Once hesitant to run the controls, she quickly found it intuitive and now sees it as a critical tool that reduces risk, stress, and the chance of serious injuries. They note that even young or older family members can safely operate the hydraulics.

Peckenpaugh Angus 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 sits down with Tony Peckenpaugh, owner of Peckenpaugh Angus. In this episode, Tony and Gale dive into thee Peckenpaugh Angus Annual Bull Sale, held on February 22nd, 2026, at 2PM CST, located at the farm in Carthage, South Dakota. 
Peckenpaugh Angus has a deep history in purebred cattle, beginning with Registered Herefords in 1936 and adding Registered Angus in 1998. Today, they run about 300 Registered Angus cows alongside a commercial herd and farming operation. Their philosophy emphasizes functionality: the cattle must perform well within a busy schedule without a full-time herd manager.
The Peckenpaugh Angus philosophy is built around functionality and real-world performance rather than pampered management. With limited labor and a busy farming schedule, cows are expected to calve unassisted, get calves up and going, and thrive under variable conditions without constant checking. The environment in South Dakota demands this kind of resiliency, as cattle regularly face mud, damp cold, dust, heat, humidity, and harsh winter wind chills. Over time, the family has accumulated extensive carcass and grid data, reinforcing their focus on marbling, carcass quality, and uniformity.
They will then get into some highlights and several standout lots, noting the emphasis on length, volume, structural soundness, and especially docility, which Tony sees as increasingly important given the aging ranching population. He describes bulls that are easy to handle yet powerful and athletic, suitable for covering cows efficiently and adding pounds to calves. The sale also includes a couple of commercial bulls that are fully purebred by genetics but will sell without papers due to uncertain dams. Tony expresses strong confidence in the entire offering and invites interested cattlemen to study the catalog, view the bulls, and evaluate the program’s practical, performance-oriented genetics.
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