Working Ranch April/May 2025

SPRING INTO WESTERN SHIRTS ATV ACCESSORIES GRAZING SAGEBRUSH COUNTRY

MOVING THOSE CALVES ALONG SET YOUR CALVES UP FOR SUCCESS WITH A POSITIVE FETAL PROGRAM

NOW DOLLAR BID AND WILL YA GIVE ME? HOW TO SECURE THE RIGHT HORSE AT AUCTION RAISING THE ROOF WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN ASSEMBLING YOUR PREFAB BARN IRRIGATION DESIGN GETTING IT RIGHT MEANS MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET

IS BIGGER BETTER? COW SIZE IS INCREASING, BUT DOES EVERYONE BENEFIT?

WEIGH DAY ARE YOU READY TO SCALE UP?

How to turn biting flies into sitting ducks.

Count on Y-TEX insecticide ear tags for targeted fly control in cattle.

When it comes to controlling horn flies, face flies and other profit-robbing pests, nothing comes close to the proven power of TRI-ZAP ® , MAX 40 ™ , PYthon ® II, PYthon ® II MagnuM ™ and XP 820 ® insecticide ear tags from Y-TEX. Only Y-TEX offers fly tags in three different chemical classes, allowing you to rotate from one class to another to protect your cattle as well as the long-term viability of current active ingredients. Plus, easy-to-apply Y-TEX fly tags deliver three to five months of dependable control for just pennies per head per day. So, when it’s time to stop horn flies, face flies and other pests from tormenting your cattle, see your livestock products supplier or visit www.y-tex.com .

All brands mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of Y-TEX Corporation. ©2024 Y-TEX Corporation.

PROVEN. EFFECTIVE. EFFICIENT.

Today’s cattle producers need nutrition they can count on. Westway’s research backed, and cattleman approved liquid feed helps to increase forage utilization. In turn, you get more cows bred (and earlier) along with increased overall herd performance.

To locate a dealer near you call:

800-800-7517 | www.westwayfeed.com

April/May 2025 Vol 20 • No 3

FEATURES

{Contents}

28 THE BOON AND THE BANE OF BIGGER CATTLE Cow size is increasing, but does everyone benefit?

By Burt Rutherford

30 DESIGN IRRIGATION It will save you money and water.

By Loretta Sorenson

56 THE WINDY DEUCE FIRE

A resilient agricultural community rides the fire line to save a remnant.

By Natalie Bright {Plus}

68 RANCHER’S JOURNAL: WINTER ON THE VX RANCH

VX RANCH ARCHIVES STEPHANIE ESTES

56

Cheering on the Montana State Bobcats, plus lotsa giggles from Grandpa tickles and cowdog licks. By Tori Durham Pierson {And} 60

WR / STETSON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER: JIM NICHOLS

96 3 A.M. Calving thoughts.

On The Cover: Thank you to Kirk Prescott for our cover shot of Colin McNiven horseback for Steinbach Ranches in Lathom, AB (Canada).

Story and photos by Crystal Kulhanek

4 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

THE GRASS IS GREENER HERE This spring, take a good look at your operation—are your gates, panels, and chutes working as hard as you are? If your equipment is worn out or holding you back, it’s time to invest in the brand ranchers have trusted for over 85 years. Our equipment keeps your herd moving smoothly while standing up to the demands of real ranch work. Your cattle naturally prefer green—shouldn’t your equipment be the same?

SCAN TO FIND A DEALER NEAR YOU

powderriver .com P: 800.453.5318

April/May 2025

COLUMNS

{Contents}

44 NUTRITION: MOVING THOSE CALVES ALONG Set your calves up for success with a positive fetal program. 50 HEALTH MANAGEMENT/ID: MAKE YOUR MARK Caring for calves before, during, and after branding. EXTRA: Get on that Fly control now!

By Gilda V. Bryant

By Gilda V. Bryant

RICK HUTTON

62 STATE-BY-STATE: IOWA BEEF INDUSTRY COUNCIL

By Kacy Atkinson

64 RANCH WHEELS: TOP ATV ACCESSORIES FOR 2025.

By James Beckham

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76 RANCH HORSE: FROM BUDGET TO BID How to Secure the Right Horse at Auction.

BREAKERMAXIMUS/SHUTTERSTOCK KATE LOOSE

by Kate Loose {Plus}

79 RANCH AND PERFORMANCE HORSE LISTINGS

87 SOME GREAT BEEF CATTLE SALES LISTINGS!

6 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

START YOUR FREE CATTLEMAX ® TRIAL TODAY!

The only thing that takes more work than raising cattle is keeping track of all of the records that go with it. That’s why there’s CattleMax. Whether you’re tracking cattle or keeping records of everything from rainfall to receipts, CattleMax does it all. And does it easily.

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cattlemax.com • 1-800-641-2343

April/May 2025

DEPARTMENTS

22 24 38 42 106 {Contents}

10 12 14 16 18

RURAL CARRIER Your letters, emails and Facebook posts. CALENDAR Who, what, where and when. TOPPIN’ OUT WR is now in Tractor Supply! TERRYN’S RANCHWEAR REVIEW Spring into those Western Shirts.

THAT’S AN IMPROVEMENT Prefabricated Barns WEEKEND RODEO The 2025 Fort Worth & San Antonio Stock Show Ranch Rodeos PASTURE MANAGEMENT Prioritizing primary threats. HANDLING, SORTING & SCALES Is your operation ready to scale up?

NEW ON THE RANGE All the latest products.

LOOKING BACK Knee High Grass

22

SASSR

Working Ranch (ISSN 1942-6844) is published 6 times a year (Jan/Feb, March, April/May, June/July, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec). Subscriptions are $24.00 per year. Working Ranch is published by Abundant Life Media, Inc., c/o Sawtooth Valley Ranch, Fisher Creek Road, Stanley, ID 83278. Periodicals paid origin entry Newport Beach, CA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Working Ranch Magazine, PO Box 3185 Van Nuys, CA 91499-2815

8 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

CUSTOM-MADE TUBS FOR FLY CONTROL.

Vitalix is here to help control flies on summer pastures. Using our specially-formulated tubs made to your specifications, you can prevent the emergence of a wide variety of fly species while improving herd health, reproduction and performance.

Learn more at VITALIX.COM.

Keep those letters coming: Editor PO Box 91269 Henderson, NV 89009 tim@workingranchmag.com

10 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

You Work Your Ranch 24/7 Rice Lake Livestock Scales Are Built to Keep Up Owning equipment that will stand the test of time is vital to your cattle ranch. At Rice Lake Weighing Systems, our livestock scales are built by employees who are committed to providing quality scales you can count on.

18' X 8' MAS-M

Learn more about Rice Lake’s tradition of hard-working employees and the livestock scales they manufacture at www.ricelake.com/thewibrand .

calendar UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

EDITOR Tim O’Byrne

Apr 4 -5, 2025

The Aggieville Showdown is back in Manhattan, KS this year. Come out for the Live Music, Official After Party, Beer Garden, Vendors offering their wares and activities, Cattle Show and Fashion Show. Look it all up at www.aggievilleshowdown.com. The Virginia Beef Expo is a non-profit corporation founded in 1988 for the purpose of promoting quality beef cattle and the Virginia beef industry. The Expo offers something for the entire family. The cattle sales feature quality genetics that can improve and help grow any herd. The industry trade show features vendors from across the Mid-Atlantic region providing a venue to learn about new products and technology within the beef industry. The Expo also encourages the development of youth involved in the cattle industry through not only beef cattle shows, but educational, cooking and cattle handling contests. The Expo is home to the State Youth Stockman’s, State Youth Cattle Working, and State 4-H and State FFA Tractor driving contests. www.vabeefexpo.com.

MANAGING EDITOR Katie Hutton

Apr 16 – 19, 2025

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Jarrett Love PRODUCTION CHIEF Christine O’Byrne

COPY EDITOR / CALENDAR Judy Cole SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Gabrielle Crumley ILLUSTRATOR Wheeler Hughes (Slim)

SENIOR DESIGNER Heather Anderson

WR PODCAST HOST AND PRODUCER Justin Mills 307-363-COWS CONTRIBUTORS Burt Rutherford, Gilda V. Bryant, Loretta Sorensen, Bert Entwistle, Terryn Drieling, James Beckham, Addie Brown, Tiffany Selchow, Natalie Bright, Kate Loose, Kacy Atkinson.

PUBLISHER Andrew J. Lawler

Want information about your club or organization’s activities published in Working Ranch ? Send information at least 60 days prior to event to: “Events Calendar” Working Ranch, P.O. Box 91269 Henderson, Nevada 89009-1269 or email judy@workingranchmag.com . UPCOMING RANCH RODEOS ADARANCHRODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. APRIL 3, 2025 DUNCANPRORODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... MAY 2 – 3, 2025 THE HOULIHAN RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... APRIL 4 – 6, 2025 WEST TEXAS RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... APRIL 11-12, 2025 WILDHORSEPRAIRIEDAYS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JUNE6-7,2025 ROWELLRANCHPRORODEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAY17–18,2025 JAKE EARY MEMORIAL RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ MAY 30 – JUNE 1, 2025 WRCA WILD HORSE PRAIRIE DAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........JUNE 6 – 8, 2025 FORTSUMNERRANCHRODEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JUNE13–14,2025 SANDHILLSCLASSIC..................................JUNE13,2025 SANDHILLS CHAMPIONSHIP RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ JUNE 14, 2025 BENJOHNSONDAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... JUNE 13 – 14, 2025 COLORADO CHAMPIONSHIP RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . ...... JUNE 27 – 28, 2025 SANTA FE TRAIL RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... JULY 11 – 12, 2025 WAURIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . ..... JULY 11 – 12, 2025 TEXAS RANCH ROUNDUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... JULY 18 – 19, 2025 ESTANCIAVALLEYRANCHRODEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JULY18–19,2025 RIDE FOR THE BRAND CHAMPIONSHIP RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . AUGUST 2, 2025 BIG BEND RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... AUGUST 8 – 9 2025 OCA RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........AUGUST 15 – 16, 2025 MOTLEY DICKENS OLD SETTLER’S RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AUGUST 29 – 30, 2025 THE NEBRASKAN RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ AUGUST 30, 2025 JACKPOTRANCHRODEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SEPTEMBER6–7,2025 EARTHRANCHRODEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SEPTEMBER19–20,2025 KANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP RANCH RODEO . . . . . . . . . . ....... SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Annie Allen-Larson / 406-749-1611

COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING

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PUBLISHED BY Abundant Life Media, Inc. (See John 10:10)

YOUR SUBSCRIPTION $24 / year. To renew, subscribe, provide a change of address or inquire about your subscription, call 818-286-3166 or email worcs@magserv.com

Send subscription checks to: Working Ranch Magazine PO Box 3185 Van Nuys, CA 91407-3185 Editorial Office P.O. Box 91269 Henderson, NV 89009-1269 702-566-1456 www.WorkingRanchMag.com

VOLUME 20 / NUMBER 3

Submission of photography is welcomed. Please do not send hard copies of photography such as slides or prints. All photographic submissions must be received electronically. Articles that appear in Working Ranch do not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of Working Ranch Magazine or its parent company, Abundant Life Media. No material from Working Ranch can be copied, faxed, electronically transmitted or otherwise used without express written permission. Be sure to visit our website, www.workingranchmag.com for more information.

12 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

REDS RISING Red Angus boosts profitability with docile temperaments, environmental resilience, premium carcass quality and exceptional maternal traits. Registrations have surged by 24% over the past decade, underscoring Red Angus’ significance across all segments of the beef industry. Escalate Your Prosperity

Scan the QR code for real rancher stories about the rising power of Red Angus.

RedAngus.org

toppin’ out BY TIM O’BYRNE WR is BACK in TRACTOR SUPPLY!

I think one of the biggest draws about our humble mag is the authentic, timeless and outstanding photography. When we kicked the title off 19 years ago, the photography world was very different. We wanted authentic photos right out of the gate, and we did our best. When digital SLR pho tography and cell phone cameras began to become more popular and technically impressive, that’s when things really took off. I remember when we first started our Friday Facebook post ten years ago. It was a simple concept. I was noodling around one morning seeing what everyone was up to that day, and obviously it was a Friday, and must have been feel ing a little melancholy about my early cowboying days, back when our trucks had 8-Tracks in ‘em and the hi-lo beam was a footswitch down on the floorboards. We’d be out early, moving stuff around, checking heat on recips across several pastures, stuff like that, and we always tried to get back to the truck and trailer by noon on Fridays because Paul Harvey would come on with his signature entertaining end of the week show. Somehow, somebody would get the key in the truck and fire up the radio just in time to hear, “It’s FRIDAY!”, blaring from the raspy, sun-cracked speaker on the dash. We’d all crowd in the cab like a nest of packrats, and then he’d launch into fifteen minutes of hilarious, sometimes poignant, always insightful stories about this and that. Personal stuff. What people were doing and see ing, experiencing. On that Friday, I thought, why not honor ol’ Paul and post “It’s FRIDAY! What the heck are you folks doing out there in cow country today?” The first couple years were simple typed posts, always respectful and educational, and often funny or poignant, just like Paul’s stories. But then, around Year 4, folks started getting handy with their cell phones, and rural internet sat ellite and fiber optics connections improved dramatically. Then you started posting photos and videos of sunsets, sunrises, moving cows, starting colts, working the fields, e are so happy to bring you all the news that Working Ranch magazine is now back on the newsstand in a thousand Tractor Supply stores nationwide! I get calls and emails all the time asking where folks can pick up a copy of WR, and now I’ll be able to point them toward their closest TSC store.

We’re back on the stand!

MARK O’BYRNE

feeding, traveling off the ranch, weather in your area, and so much more. Soon, we had access to so many excellent ranch pho tographers who learned how to capture the moment in high resolution, high enough to print poster size. And you shared them with us, thousands upon thousands. We thank you so much for that. And we’re proud to share the con tributions of our talented writers and photographers with everyone out there, easily accessible on the newsstand at There are plenty of choices when it comes to your life’s direction, and I’m sure (and hope and pray) you’ll do amaz ing. I wanted to remind you though, as I do from time to time, that our industry could really use some more grad uates from law school. Litigation and definitive contract creation and negotiation is becoming more critical to the beef industry as we face increasingly complex legal pres sure from opposing entities, international trading part ners, and our own governments. We need young folks like you that grew up in ag to consider corporate, busi ness, political and/or personal law as a profession, and Agriculture as a specialty. Thank you for your time and consideration. your local Tractor Supply. ATTENTION STUDENTS! CONSIDER A LAW DEGREE

14 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

What’s bugging your herd? Prozap Protectus Pour-On Insecticide – IGR kills chewing and sucking lice, ticks*, horn flies, stable flies, horse and deer flies on beef cattle and calves. Talk to your vet about a coordinated insect management strategy built around the newest addition to our Prozap line. *Kills ticks by direct spray dilution application.

Learn more about Prozap solutions by scanning the code or visit Prozap.com

Triple Active Formula Insect Growth Regulator • Adulticide • Synergist

neogen.com • 800.621.8829 (USA/Canada) • 859.254.1221 Neogen Corporation, 620 Lesher Place, Lansing, MI 48912 USA. © Neogen Corporation 2025. All rights reserved. Neogen, Protectus, and Prozap are registered trademarks of Neogen Corporation. It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.

BY TERRYN “T” DRIELING Terryn’s RANCHWEAR REVIEW

Spring into those Western Shirts

APPAREL FOR THE WORKING RANCH

(Images Below) Cowboygirl by Jenna Paulette X Ely Cattleman

BOOTBARN

BOOTBARN

Cowboygirl by Jenna Paulette X Ely Cattleman When I started seeing chatter about the Cowboygirl Collection by Jenna Paulette and Ely Cattleman, I did not have the appropriate words to describe how excited I was! I spoke with Chris Stein, president of Ely Cattleman, and he shared that Ely had initially reached out to Jenna with a brand partnership proposal, but she had a proposal of her own. Jenna presented Chris with an apparel

f you’ve ever put on a western shirt only to find the sleeves too short, the shoulders too tight, or the fit just plain wrong, this Ranchwear Review is for you. A good shirt should move with you, hold up to a hard day’s work, and fit like it was made for the job - not like you bor rowed it from someone else.

T’s Tried and True + Tom’s Take (T – that’s me, Terryn) If you’re a longtime reader of this review, you likely know that Tom and I both love and swear by Ely

Cattleman shirts. You might also know that up until recently I wore more shirts from Ely’s men’s selec tion than I did from their women’s selection, but not anymore.

16 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

Poncho Western Shirts

line of shirts inspired by her ranch ing roots and the many women she knew who were wearing men’s shirts because what was marketed to women was missing the mark. I already loved Ely Cattleman shirts and Jenna Paulette is the real deal when it comes to her music and her ranching. So, when they reached out to see if they could send me some shirts to try, I immediately jumped at the chance to snag a couple before they launched to the public and told them to send me a size medium. Medium because old habits die hard, and even as a fairly small woman, that’s what I’ve had to wear in wom en’s shirts if I want the shoulders to be broad enough and the tails and sleeves to be long enough. Turns out, these shirts are so legit and so made with actual women in mind that I can actu ally wear a size small as a small woman. The Cowboygirl collection addresses the need for “functionality in the saddle, designed to offer all the same benefits that men need working cattle, but with a style that is vintage and feminine.” The Cowboygirl shirts, now available through BootBarn, fea ture broader shoulders for more com fortable roping, longer tails for easier tucking, and a pen hole in the breast pockets that are big enough to hold a notebook. I smiled so big typing that! I can personally attest that the Cowboygirl collection is rangewear for girls who get the job done! Visit www.bootbarn.com and search “Cowboygirl” to check out the collection, which includes shirts for young cowboygirls as well. Reader’s Choice As I do for every issue, I went to the readers and asked for their recom mendations. This time around, the readers came in with one well-known brand and one fresh brand. Wrangler Two Wrangler classics kept com ing up - the Men’s Wrangler® Classic Denim Western Snap Shirt and the Cowboy Cut® Firm Finish Long Sleeve

PONCHO OUTDOORS

Western Snap Work Shirt in Chambray. The Classic Denim Snap Shirt is just that - classic. Made from 100% cotton denim, it’s durable enough for ranch work but comfortable enough for everyday wear. The snap closures make for easy on and off, and the front and back yokes give it that time less Western look. It’s a little heavier and nice on those mornings that start out crisp, and it holds up to the wear and tear of ranching. For those who prefer something lighter but just as tough, the Cowboy Cut Chambray Work Shirt delivers. The firm-finish cotton has enough structure to hold its shape, and with every wash, it softens into a shirt that feels like an old favorite. The pencil slot in the pocket is a useful detail, and the chambray fabric offers a breathable option for those hot, dusty days when staying cool matters. www.wrangler.com Poncho If you love the look of a classic Western shirt but wouldn’t mind a little extra function, Poncho Western Shirts might be right up your alley. They take everything we love in a

good ranch shirt - pearl snaps, west ern yokes, and a solid fit - and mix in a few modern upgrades that make sense for a long day’s work. The lightweight, quick-drying fab ric and vented back help keep things breathable and cool, and the UPF 50+ protection is a nice bonus on those bright, bright sunshiny (couldn’t resist using that song lyric). And then there are the little details - a hidden zippered pocket, built-in lens cloth, snaps to keep your collar in place - features you don’t necessar ily think about until you’ve got them. “Trav loves Poncho Ultra-Lite and Western shirts. He loves their shirts for work and for dressing up. They get greasy, dirty, trashed and still wash up nicely,” said Marissa Hake of Black Label Farms, on the Poncho shirts she bought for her husband. Be sure to follow @workingranchmag azine and me (@terryn.drieling) on Instagram to watch me try on, test out, and work in the ranchwear we feature here, let us know what works for you, and tell us what you’d like us to try before you buy. APRIL / MAY 2025 I 17

new on the range THE NEED FOR SEED Re-vegetation is a vital component of many projects. While choosing the correct species might seem like a minor part of project planning, it plays a

critical role in the project’s outcome and can be difficult and time-consuming without the correct resources. Seed Spec makes choosing the right species for the re-vegetation of any project fast, simple, and successful. Seed Spec is a geo-spatially enabled web application to develop custom native seed blends for re-vegetation of your next project using site specific soil and plant information and minimal user inputs. Go to https://seedspec.com/ for more.

ONE CORRAL This just in! Moly Manufacturing’s All-Purpose Corral™ is a fresh, innovative take on the traditional corral. With added brace stabilizers, galvanized steel wheels hinged directly to the fence surface, adjustable headgates for different-sized animals, and a lightweight design, producers can operate this corral hassle-free. The All-Purpose Corral™ is perfect for any farming operation – portable or permanent. Featuring easy assembly and disassembly processes, this product will meet any challenge head-on. Flat tires, wheel slippage, weak connectors, and tough towing payloads are a thing of the past. With the All-Purpose Corral™, Moly Manufacturing has created the industry standard in portable corrals that is sure to meet your every need. One Corral. Endless possibilities. Visit https://www.molymfg.com to find out more.

WHAT? A NEW BRD TREATMENT?

indicated for the treatment of BRD and kills major BRD bacteria, including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis in cattle. The treatment is rapidly absorbed and distributed at the injection site, reaching a high and effective therapeutic concentration in plasma within 45 minutes of administration to cattle and a high maximum therapeutic concentration in cattle lung pulmonary epithelial lining fluid within six hours. This aids in the fast in-vitro

It’s been awhile since a new BRD treatment was introduced to the market. Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announces the availability of its latest

innovation: PradalexTM (pradofloxacin injection) for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and swine respiratory disease (SRD). Pradalex is the first new molecule and injectable antibiotic treatment to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat BRD and SRD in roughly two decades. Pradalex is a convenient single dose, low-volume antibiotic with excellent syringeability and an industry-leading withdrawal period. Pradalex’s structural differences result in a dual targeting effect, yielding improved potency compared to similar antibiotics. Pradalex is

elimination of bacteria and limits lung damage. Pradalex is indicated for the treatment of BRD in beef cattle (calves two months of age and over, steers, heifers and bulls intended for slaughter and replacement heifers and bulls intended for breeding and less than one year of age) and dairy cattle (replacement heifers and bulls less than one year of age). It is not for use in male and female cattle intended for breeding that are over one year of age, in calves under two months of age or in veal calves. Available in 100 mL and 250 mL volumes - see more at www.farmanimal. elanco.com/us/pradalexforcattle.com.

18 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

We weigh our cattle with the scales we sell The largest Tru-Test scale & EID reader distributor in North America— Backed by real ranchers who know cattle weighing.

Jimmy Curtis Texas Rancher and CattleScales.com Expert

Why Tru-Test Scales?

At CattleScales.com, we’re not just another distributor or store—we’re ranchers who rely on Tru-Test scales and EID readers in our herds. Our team is here to provide expert advice and recommendations to find the right set of scales for your ranch.

Ensure accurate treatment dosages Know exactly what your cattle weigh Track rate of gain on cattle

Questions On Choosing The Right Scales For Your Ranch? We’ll help you weigh your options—and your cattle—so you can manage your herd with confidence. Call 1-800-722-5395 or visit CattleScales.com to speak directly with one of our cattle scale experts.

Scan here

new on the range

RANCH SMARTER, NOT HARDER Your view of the range has never been this clear! The revolutionary RangeView ® digital platform from Envu Range & Pasture gives ranchers and land managers a real-time, data-driven view of their land. Powered by satellite imagery and machine learning, this all-in-one tool simplifies grazing management plans,

TAGGIN’ BRAGGIN’ This is something the WR team saw at CattleCon ‘25 - mOOvement’s GPS ear tags bring real-time tracking and data-driven insights to ranchers across the U.S. Our solar-powered, reusable tags help you monitor cattle location, grazing patterns, and

tracks pasture health and enhances herbicide treatment decisions. Whether you’re managing invasive brush or optimizing forage, RangeView helps you get the most out of your rangeland while saving time and effort. Smarter management means healthier land, healthier herds and better returns. Grazing management starts at only $10 per month. Learn more at www.RangeView.Envu.US.

water points, all from an easy-to-use app and web platform. Get alerts on your smartphone if cattle leave designated areas, optimize grazing strategies, and reduce loss or theft with precise tracking. Thanks to our partnerships, mOOvement also provides ranchers with access to carbon markets, turning sustainable land management into a new financial asset. You can unlock revenue while securing the future of your ranch. Head to https:// www.moovement.com.au/ for more.

axing the Death Tax, protecting beef in the Dietary Guidelines, rolling back excessive regulations, holding our trade partners accountable, combat ting the New World screwworm, and protecting the Beef Checkoff are all tangible steps Congress can take to support American farmers and ranch ers and protect our food security.” In his testimony, Wehrbein urged Congress to pass a Farm Bill that supports animal health, voluntary conservation, and risk management tools. He also explained the impor tance of the Beef Checkoff program, which strengthens beef demand, edu cates consumers, and funds critical research. The Beef Checkoff has faced renewed attacks from radical animal

rights activists and Wehrbein urged Congress to stand with real farmers and ranchers instead of activists. Additionally, Wehrbein asked Congress to protect the cattle indus try from the new threat of New World screwworm by investing in sterile fly production facilities that will help eradicate the screwworm. The U.S. has been free of New World screwworms for over 60 years, but the pest is cur rently in Mexico and could move north. Wehrbein also addressed the impor tance of passing legislation to lower taxes and eliminate the Death Tax, pro tecting beef in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, supporting public lands ranching, and reducing overregulation on American cattle producers.

Nebraska cattle producer and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Buck Wehrbein testified before

the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to share an update on policy priorities for the American cattle industry. “The cattle industry is seeing better market conditions, strong consumer demand for beef, and optimism for the future of our industry yet chal lenges still remain,” said Wehrbein. “Congress must always remember that food security is national secu rity and the policy decisions they make will impact the hardworking cattlemen and women who produce our nation’s food. Passing a Farm Bill,

20 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

Why roll the dice? Not all “Angus” bulls are REGISTERED Angus bulls.

Don’t gamble on unproven genetics. There are a lot of Angus bulls on the market, but not all are backed by the power of 80 million datapoints and a registration paper. Invest wisely in a registered Angus bull.

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that’s an improvement BY ADDIE BROWN We can thank our pioneering ancestors for the concept of prefabricated barns. (Raising the last half of a gable end panel into place. Southeast Missouri Farms Project. LC-USF33-011535-M5 Library of Congress)

Raise the Roof Considerations when assembling your prefabricated barn.

hen I think of the concept of prefabricated barns, it reminds me of how our nation’s pioneers accomplished such a task as building a barn. When it’s time to assemble your prefab ricated barn, it’s almost like a modern-day ‘barn raisin.’

a traditional barn is that the prefab barn is designed and manufactured in a factory and then delivered with instructions to reassemble once on-site. A traditional barn is built from scratch on-site. A major advantage of prefabricated barns is cost without sacrificing quality. Any kind of barn you could imagine can be ordered as prefabricated such as a backyard tool shed, hay barn, or 40-plus-stall horse barn. Some companies will even do fully custom-designed barns. Because of the wide variety of barns that can be designed and ordered as prefabricated, they can be utilized in many ways at the headquarters or in closer proximity to your house for personal use. Wayne Fahsholtz, a past president and CEO of the Padlock Ranch in Ranchester, Wyoming, and founder of AgWin Group LLC, had a positive experience with his pre fabricated barn that he ordered for personal use to house equipment.

amount of manual labor to construct the barn. It was sacrificial labor for all involved as they would surely have to halt their own homestead duties to lend a helping hand to their neighbor. If it sounds like I just described Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , that isn’t as far-fetched as it seems, and no doubt the movie romanticized homestead life and barn raisings. But it is easy to see how something so simple to us as a new barn going up would be so foun dational in the rural communities of young America. QUALITY The main difference between assembling a prefabricated barn and

Barn raisings were a common and integral part of colonial American life. If a man needed a barn built, local farmers and ranchers would gather at the homestead and help him build the barn. Often, they first would build the different sides of the barn lying flat on the ground. After that, they then would raise the walls and finish foundational construction to ensure everything was secure. A well-orga nized barn raising would only take a few days. After the barn was up and finished the ladies would provide a meal, and they would celebrate with a barn dance. Even though they would have a fully functional barn within a few days, it still took a tremendous

22 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

When you are an agricultural producer you know that time is money; when you can efficiently use your time, your wallet will benefit from it. Perhaps the most important part of any structure is the foundation. You must have your site ready with appro priate concrete pad or site dimen sions. The good news is that you can obtain the specifications and site plans from the prefab barn company so your contractor can review them to create the appropriate foundation. Another great point about pre fab barns is that you can better plan assembly around busy seasons on the farm or ranch, or as in Fascholtz’s case when the inevitable winter weather comes knocking at your door. With manufacturing taking place in a fac tory, many companies allow you to choose your own delivery time after completing your barn kit. This can be extremely helpful as you plan out

your projects around the homestead throughout the year. We can thank our pioneering ances tors for the concept of prefabricated barns. While the process of raising the barn wasn’t nearly as glamorous as the movies may make it seem, there is no doubt that fellowship was at the heart of the event. Even through the most laborious of tasks, they found ways to incorporate their commu nity and celebrate through the chal lenges they faced in forging a nation. Improvements continue to take place in almost every area of agriculture and these improvements are allow ing our agricultural producers to move into the future with confidence and peace of mind when taking on complicated projects. The process of assembling your prefabricated barn has been streamlined and simplified to keep all producers’ best interests and safety as the priority.

Because of his position at the Padlock Ranch of overseeing day-to-day oper ations and understanding the weather associated with living in colder states such as Wyoming, Fahsholtz is no stranger to knowing the importance of a well-constructed barn to protect commodities, livestock, or equipment. “The number one thing for me was that I couldn’t find anyone that would do it in a reasonable amount of time; all the contractors were busy, so I looked into prefab buildings. The barn came in on a semi-truck with all the pieces, everything was cut to specification, so they put the building up.” Fahsholtz said as he described his experience. KEEP IT SIMPLE A huge benefit of a prefabricated barn to the modern producer is that they now go up more simply and with less labor involved. Impressively enough, a crew of only four men is needed for most prefabbed structures and nor mally, you do not have to worry about providing the crew. Depending on which company you use, they will often have the manpower needed to assem ble the barns, allowing you to carry on business as usual. Most prefabricated barns are delivered as ‘barn kits’ with everything you will need to raise your barn. Should you choose to assemble your barn on your own, the company will provide you with an installation guide just like what would come with the swing set you ordered for your kids. It is recommended that you read these instructions even though you “didn’t need them” for the swing set. These manuals will have safety information and a complete list of tools and equip ment required for proper assembly. It will even give information about unloading and the preparation for your very own “barn raising.” For example, Fahsholtz enjoyed the simplicity of the assembly pro cess as he was able to continue with daily tasks while the crew completed the barn. While he could have used his own manpower to assemble the structure, he appreciated the option of having the company provide the crew.

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weekend rodeo BY KATIE HUTTON Texas Two-Step Texas offered back-to-back competitions for ranch rodeo teams this spring.

The 6th generation R.A. Brown Ranch team out of Throckmorton, TX came to win by dominating the Ranch Vet, Bronc Riding, Stock Sorting and Barrel Race on the first night. Team members Ben McCartney, Layne Strebeck, Nick Eiguren, Jack Kissel, Myles & Jaylee Brown and Lanham Tyler Thompson, Chace Thompson, Chad Williams, Alex Nino, Quay Howard, Colton McCarley 2 ND PLACE: Phillips Ranch 3 RD PLACE: Tongue River Ranch FWSSR Ranch Rodeo Results 1 ST PLACE: R.A. Brown Ranch: Ben McCartney, Layne Strebeck, Nick Eiguren, Jack Kissel, Myles & Jaylee Brown and Lanham Brown 2 ND PLACE: Drummond Land & Cattle 3 RD PLACE: Tongue River Ranch TOP HORSE: Ranchin’ Royalty, Myles Brown TOP HAND: Myles Brown, R.A. Brown Ranch SASSR Ranch Rodeo Results 1 ST PLACE: Thompson Ranch:

SASSR

he Best of the West Ranch Rodeo on January 17th and 18th kicked off 23 days of rodeo at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. This Thing is Legendary ® ! It’s not just a slogan, it’s been that way since the inaugural stock show in 1896. Teams from Oklahoma and Texas competed in Ranch Vet, Bronc Riding, Stock Sorting, Double Mugging, Wild Cow Milking, and Ranch Girls Barrel Race.

24 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

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weekend rodeo

By the end of the weekend, Myles Brown was named Top Hand and his horse, Ranchin’ Royalty received the prestigious Top Horse honor as well. Less than a month later, cow boys returned to the arena

place overall, with the Tongue River Ranch taking third place and the 6666 Ranch, who were the three-time reigning champs of the event, went home in fourth place.

Brown were on fire in the arena, win ning top honors on back-to-back nights of the event to become the champions. Drummond Land & Cattle Co out of Pawhuska, Oklahoma secured second

at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to compete in their ranch rodeo event on February 13th. Offering “More than an 8-second Ride” since 1949, hand-picked working ranch teams were invited to compete for the chance to win over $40,000 in cash and prizes in the Frost Bank Center. The R.A. Brown Ranch, 6666 Ranch, Tongue River Ranch, King Ranch, Phillips Ranch and Thompson Ranch competed in six timed events, including wild cow milking, the rescue race, and the hide race. The Champion title

SASSR

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26 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

R.A. BROWN RANCH 2025 Fort Worth Best of the West Ranch Rodeo Winners. L to R: Jack Kissel, Jaylee Brown, Myles Brown, Ben McCartney, Lanham Brown, Nick Eiguren, Layne Strebeck

went to Thompson Ranch of Munday, Texas, the six-time win ners of the San Antonio Stock Show Ranch Rodeo. Team members Tyler

Thompson, Chace Thompson, Chad Williams, Alex Nino, Quay Howard, Colton McCarley topped Phillips Ranch who came out in second place

and the Tongue River Ranch who placed third. Congratulations to all the teams and their equine partners!

®

APRIL / MAY 2025 I 27

A GLANCE AT THE TRENDS The first and perhaps the most important trend in the beef business is that cow size is getting bigger. Has been for a while, by about 10 pounds a year. By extension, so have fed steer live weights at harvest. “As weight goes up in steers, the same thing is going up with cows,” Scott said. “The belief in the U.S. is that cows weigh approximately the same as feedlot outweight.” That means the average cow in the U.S. weighs 1,400 to 1,500 pounds. The other trend of note is that weaning weights have stayed the same for 20 years or more. There are many reasons for the flat trend in weaning weights, but it’s not

Wyoming. “And as a business leader, I want to make sure we understand the relationship between adequate nutrition and what it’s costing us to provide adequate nutrition,” he said during a Cattlemen’s College talk at the 2025 Cattle Industry Convention. That’s where the downside comes in. And, like many things in the beef busi ness, it presents a puzzling conundrum. “We’re incentivized to sell pounds,” according to Dr. Ron Scott, director of beef cattle technical innovation with Purina Animal Nutrition. “But there’s a cost to this increased production and there are a lot of hidden costs that a lot of us are not aware of,” he told Cattlemen’s College attendees during the session on cow and calf size.

ow big is too big?” That’s likely the top question and conversa tion happening more and more often as fed cattle live and carcass weights get heavier and heavier. There’s been speculation that some of the younger folks in the beef business may well see 1,500-pound fed cattle carcasses in their lifetimes. Regardless of whether or not that actually happens, the trend is clear. However, there’s a downside for the cow calf producer, according to research and on-the-ranch data presented at the 2025 Cattle Industry Convention. “We’re getting more and more pressure from a cost standpoint,” according to Dr. Trey Patterson, CEO of the Padlock Ranch, Ranchester,

The Boon and the Bain of Bigger Cattle

Cow size is increasing, but does everyone benefit?

AMERICAN SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION

BY BURT RUTHERFORD

28 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

long and consume lower-quality nutrition, he added. “I realize things are different in Mississippi than they are in Montana,” Patterson said. “But the same lactation curve happens and the same change in nutrient require ments and forage removal happens in both places.” We need to understand the lac tation curve and how much power a producer has to control costs, he said. “Where are the leverage points? If I am going to intervene strategically with supplementation, when is that? What group of cows is that and how is that supplement plan built? I think those are really important questions.” UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES According to Scott, there are three unintended consequences with the trend toward heavier and heavi er-fed cattle harvest weights. “Number one, bigger cows can consume more feed than we realize,” Scott said. As cows get bigger, their maintenance requirement actually drops a little. “A cow that’s 50% bigger has a 36% lower maintenance require ment. But meeting her requirements doesn’t stop her from eating 1.5 times as much and we are not separating those bigger cows to feed them less than the rest of the herd.” This leads to unintended conse quence number two. “How many of us are running the same number of cows that grandpa did?” Scott asked. If so, Scott said a producer should have bought around one-and-a half times more acres to run cows on because they’re 50% bigger than grandpa’s cows 50 years ago. Unintended consequence number three, Scott said, is while cows are getting bigger, they are less efficient than smaller cows because they wean a lower percentage of their body weight, given that weaning weights have remained flat. Over a year, Scott estimated that a cow that’s 400 pounds heavier than another cow will consume about 1.5 tons more forage and that cows are 40% bigger than they were 30 years ago. “These larger cows consume more feed resources than we realize,” he said.

genetics. Today’s calves clearly have the genetics for growth, which is a good thing for those who own them after weaning. For cow-calf producers who sell at weaning, therein lies the mismatch between bigger cows and weaning weights. Bigger cows wean lighter calves as a percentage of the cow’s body weight. Unfortunately, those bigger cows eat more feed, mak ing them less efficient as cow body weights increase. ENTER NOW THE COST SIDE OF THIS DISCUSSION. Patterson used NRC information to model the differences between a “big” cow and one more “moderate” in weight and milk production and the resulting need for more forage. Patterson’s model showed a 960 pound increase in annual grazed forage intake for large cows com pared with moderate cows. “As you graze, (large cows are) going to need twice that because of trampling and leaving some residual,” Patterson said. “You’re looking at almost a ton of additional forage for that 1,450 pound higher milking cow versus a 1,300-pound cow with more moder ate milk production.” Regardless of cow weight, feed-re lated costs including pasture and fed alike revolve around the lactation curve, which is something cow-calf producers can control. Peak lacta tion, when a cow’s nutritional needs are the highest, happens when the calves are around two months old. However, larger cows with higher nutritional needs may fall below zero nutritionally earlier and more severely during the lactation period compared with smaller cows, Patterson told the audience. Since producers can turn on and turn off lactation by when they calve and when they wean, that’s where controlling feed costs becomes the focal point. Calving later in the spring or early summer means the cows are calving on green grass and are generally on a high plane of nutrition. Another management practice to keep cows on a better nutritional plane is to rotate pastures frequently. Cows stay on a higher plane of nutrition than if they graze the pasture too

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APRIL / MAY 2025 I 29

REID BROS IRRIGATION

A Design Irrigation well-designed irrigation system will be tailored to a specific site to provide the owner with the most efficient elements to achieve the best economic outcome. Jim Reid, a partner with his brother William in Georgia’s Reid Bros Irrigation, says the expertise necessary to create that efficient It will save you money and water. irrigation system requires a broad understanding of how a pivot works and knowledge of how it interfaces with each site’s factors. Beyond hands-on expe rience with an irrigation pivot, Jim says irrigation dealers should be certified through the Irrigation Association’s Certified Irrigation Designer program.

“My brother and I started farming in 1978,” Jim Reid says. “Low row crop prices in 1998 caused us to

BY LORETTA SORENSEN

30 I APRIL / MAY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. Follow label and stewardship guidelines to limit impact to non-target native species. Environmental Science U.S. LLC, 5000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 400, Cary, NC 27513. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-800-331-2867. www.envu.com. Not all products are registered in all states. Envu, the Envu logo, RangeView ® and Rejuvra ® are trademarks owned by Environmental Science U.S. LLC or one of its affiliates. ©2025 Environmental Science U.S. LLC.