Working Ranch Magazine March/April 2025

COW CAMP TO BOOT CAMP PLAN TO CONCEIVE PREP YOUR HORSE FOR SALE

SQUEEZE TO PLEASE THE BEST FEATURES IN CHUTE DESIGN COME TOGETHER TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE CRITTERS AND HANDLERS MASTER OF THE MIX HOW TO SELECT THE BEST PASTURE SEED MIX FOR YOUR FORAGE PRODUCTION GOALS

TESTED & TRIED VALERIE LIVINGSTON LOST HER HUSBAND AND FOUND THE COURAGE TO FORGE A FUTURE FOR HERSELF ON THE 88 RANCH

HOLD 'EM OR FOLD 'EM WHEN THE RETAINED OWNERSHIP MATH WORKS, IT WORKS

COWS HOLD THE CARDS DISEASE RESISTANT CALVES BEGIN WITH HEALTHY COWS

2025 SIDE-BY-SIDE LINEUP

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.

Westway’s liquid supplements support increased forage utilization, efficiency and convenience. Why Liquid Feed? Sucrose sugars in Westway’s molasses-based products have been proven to increase fiber digestion. This means you get increased utilization out of your grass, hay, TMR or crop residue. Liquid feeds provide better nutrition distribution across your herd. Available 24/7/365, our free choice liquid feeds support better body condition, getting more cows bred (and earlier) and less wasted feed.

To locate a dealer near you call:

800-800-7517 | www.westwayfeed.com

March 2025 Vol 20 • No 2

{Contents} FEATURES

44 RIDING FOR THE BRAND From cow camp to boot camp, this Texan is serving the land in many ways.

By Addie Brown

46 HOLD ‘EM OR FOLD ‘EM When the retained ownership math works, it works. By Ellen H. Brisendine 48 TIE ‘EM RIGHT The Safest Way to Tie Down a Calf. By Terri Mason 62 A WAY HOME

58

Dr. Dean Fish is leading the cattle industry with vision and integrity.

By Tiffany Selchow

LORETTA SORENSEN

58 TESTED & TRIED

When Valerie Livingston lost her husband, she found the courage to forge a future for herself and three daughters on the 88 Ranch.

By Loretta Sorensen {Plus}

50 RANCHER’S JOURNAL: DESERT POETRY Feeding cows, fixing trucks, lambing, and praying for good news.

By Darrell Holden {And}

On The Cover: Thank you to photographer Della

30 WR / STETSON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD WINNER: SAMANTHA MADDOX

Watters for our cover photo of Parker Greenwood at The Little Jennie Ranch in Bondurant, Wyoming.

4 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

MORE POUNDS. MORE CALVES. MORE PROFIT. WHOA .

Herefords are known as the efficiency experts for a reason. Herefords boost pregnancy rates by 7% and add $30 per head in

feedyard profitability in a crossbreeding system. And Hereford genetics bring unrivaled hybrid vigor, longevity and disposition.

Come home to Hereford.

Hereford.org | 816-842-3757

March 2025

COLUMNS {Contents} 32 NUTRITION: PLAN TO CONCEIVE

Are your BCS’s and BSE’s where they need to be?

By Gilda V. Bryant

40 HEALTH MANAGEMENT/ID: COWS HOLD THE CARDS Disease resistant calves begin with healthy cows, heifers, and bulls.

70

By Gilda V. Bryant

56 RANCH WHEELS: 2025 SIDE-BY-SIDE LINEUP

TERRI CAGE / ADOBE

By James Beckham

66 RANCH HORSE:

GENTLE IS AS GENTLE DOES Preparing your horse for a sale.

by Katie Hutton

70 GENETICS: AHEAD OF THE CURVE Chute-side pregnancy and blood test results within minutes.

ADOBE/CARRIE NICOLE POYO

By Jaime Pullman

73 RANCH AND PERFORMANCE HORSE LISTINGS

{Plus}

77 SOME GREAT BEEF CATTLE SALES LISTINGS

6 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

START YOUR FREE CATTLEMAX ® TRIAL TODAY!

T

R

E

Whoever said you can’t make everyone happy never used CattleMax at tax time. That’s because CattleMax not only tracks everything imaginable on your operation, it can assemble all your critical cattle records with the push of a single button. And that’s enough to make anyone smile.

I

E

A

21 DAY

R

L

F

F

R

L

E

A

I

E

R

T

cattlemax.com • 1-800-641-2343

March 2025 DEPARTMENTS {Contents}

10 12 14 18 22

24 28 36 42 114

RURAL CARRIER Your letters, emails and Facebook posts. CALENDAR Who, what, where and when. TOPPIN’ OUT

WEEKEND RODEO The 2025 NWSS Invitational Ranch Rodeo TERRYN’S RANCHWEAR REVIEW Best of the (Online) West PASTURE MANAGEMENT How to select the best pasture seed mix. HANDLING, SORTING & SCALES Two heads are better than one. LOOKING BACK Bartlett Richards & Mr. Van Wyck’s Law.

A visit with the California Cattlemen’s Association. NEW ON THE RANGE All the latest products. THAT’S AN IMPROVEMENT Squeeze chute best features.

PERFORMANCE HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY

36

PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN - PUBLIC DOMAIN

RENOVO SEED

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 91407-3185

8 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

Tag! We’re It Allflex ID tags work harder for you. A tool kit of sizes, colors, and types serve the unique ways you sort, manage, and market your cattle. Showcase your herd with the industry’s leading tags in quality, retention, and durability. Available as blanks, prenumbered, or customized with a unique management number, Allflex has a solution for all the unique ways you manage your cattle.

www.allflexusa.com Copyright ©2024 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. It All Starts With A Tag.

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

It’s Friday, and I need to know what the heck everybody is doing out there in cow country today! Tim

Tim and the WR crew, Your January / February 2025 issue of WR is over the top! The arti cle on the WRCA Finals in Amarillo was awesome (by Shaie Williams, p. 46). That’s a great event. I have announced it for 10 years. Bob Tallman EDITOR: Thanks, Bob.

10 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

*Price stated in USD and based on 7500MR, 60 month term at $9330 MSRP. Actual nancing price is $209.18 monthly payment at 7.74% interest rate, and may vary. Pricing is subject to change without notice. Accessories and option extra. Conditions may apply. Contact Arrowquip for full details

calendar UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

EDITOR Tim O’Byrne

MANAGING EDITOR Katie Hutton

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 Jaime Pullman, Gilda V. Bryant, Loretta Sorensen, Bert Entwistle, Terryn Drieling, James Beckham, Addie Brown, Tiffany Selchow, Terri Mason, Ellen H. Brisendine.

Join our community sharing their cow country Fridays on the WR Facebook page.

PUBLISHER Andrew J. Lawler

COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING Annie Allen-Larson 406-749-1611 Gina Bryson 817-614-3830

Feb 26 – Mar 2, 2025

The 36th Annual Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend is running full out at the Winnemucca Events Complex in Winnemucca, NV. This is the largest Ranch Hand Rodeo in Nevada, promising 30 teams showing their stuff in Saddle Bronc riding, Steer Stopping, Wild Mugging, Trailer Loading, and a lot more. Check out https://www.ranchrodeonv.com for the details. The Kick Off Classic at the Brazos Co. Expo Center in Bryan, TX is running again this year and promises a whole lot of competition and excitement. See the info at https://stockhorsetexas.org. Don’t forget to make room in your schedule for the Wichita Falls Ranch, Farm & Hemp Expo 2025 at the J S Bridwell Agricultural Center in Wichita Falls, TX this year. The expo has vendors from over 27 states and several countries presenting numerous cutting-edge displays for farm and ranch equipment, seed and chemicals, agricultural services, irrigation manufacturers, financial providers, commodity organizations, colleges, governmental services, home services, furniture and art galleries and much more. Try https://www.wichitafallsranchandfarmexpo.net for more info. The Kansas Ag Expo 2025 is running at the Kansas State Fairground in Hutchinson, KS. Check back at https://kansasagexpo.com as they update their website. The Cattle Raisers Convention and Expo 2025 is setting up at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, TX. Their vision is to “explore the wide world of cattle industry challenges, advances and possibilities”. Check it out at https://cattleraisersconvention.com.

Marjorie Triplett 360-544-5758

Katie Lowhorn 949-922-3417

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Lauren Hughes 806-344-6918 Karen Leibee 605-641-4626

Mar 6 – 9, 2025

ACCOUNTING Louise Straling / 714-478-8639

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

Mar 7 – 8, 2025

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 2

Apr 3 – 5, 2025

Apr 11 – 13, 2025

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.

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 .

12 I MARCH 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 California Cattlemen’s Association Podcast Talks Wildfire

gives. And that’s when those wind speeds come through and they hit all those passes and canyons and they start funneling through the coast. So that’s not natural burning. It’s pushing it downslope towards the ocean. Natural burning is upslope and what follows is topography. So that’s the first problem. And we have these things called pres sure gradients. And the pressure gra dients there were about minus seven, minus eight millibar, which equates to 70 to 100 mile an hour winds. To answer your question, was it stoppable? No. So with that going on in the Santa Ana winds, it’s a rescue and save lives

EDITOR: Since WR has many loyal readers and followers in California, I thought it might be a good idea to touch base with them regarding the fire situation statewide. I tuned into S5 E2 of their excellent podcast, The Sorting Pen , hosted by Katie Roberti with guest California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) Fire Subcommittee Chair Anthony Stornetta. One of the key elements of the CCA’s concerns are the fact that eight of the 10 most destructive wild fires in California history, and 10 of the largest wildfires, have occurred in the past 10 years. Here are some portions of the episode I felt were important to many of our readers.

comes through Las Vegas, the Mojave. And it fights and fights the high pressure versus the low pressure com ing off the coast. And those things fight so much that finally something

KR Explain to us your perspective on how these fires got to be as destruc tive and out of control as they did. AS This fire started during a time when there’s decadent fuels, large fuel beds. We had the Santa Ana winds that came through. The relative humid ities were low. The live fuel moisture is very low. And just remember, LA, the last time they had rain was last May. So when you have bad alignment, then this wind pattern comes in, there’s no stopping it.

[The Santa Ana wind] starts way out in the Great Basin,

Season 5, Episode 2 of the CCA podcast The Sorting Pen, with guest Anthony Stornetta, San Luis Obispo County cattle rancher, Deputy Fire Chief of Operations for Santa Barbara County Fire Department, and CCA’s Fire Subcommittee Chair. For the entire podcast, head here https://calcattlemen.

org/2025/01/21/sorting-through-the la-wildfires-with-cca-fire-subcom mittee-chair-anthony-stornetta/. 14 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

Livestock Market Updates Every Half Hour Monday - Friday 9a-2p ET | 7a - 12p MT Live Cattle

Feeder Cattle USDA & Boxed Beef Pricing Industry Analysts

Streaming available on

toppin’ out

questioned if they’re even going to lose their own insurance now after this. So what’s the subcommittee focused on this year? AS Our priorities unfortunately haven’t changed; grazing on state and federal lands, prescribed fire, insurance, and fire prevention to all extent. The grazing on state and fed eral lands, again, I know Brennan and Dave Daley have done a ton of work on that. It just astounds me that they’ve been advocating for this long and so has CCA, and we still haven’t made a whole lot of ground. Insurance is going to be a really big topic. I think all of us at CCA have been canceled at one point or not. I know there’s CCA members that don’t even have insurance anymore and just kind of live on the edge because it’s not worth it. And that’s true, and I’m sure we’re all going to get can celed again. And that’s where I have to say, it’s industries like us that have to develop solutions instead of pushing blame. But I think if we come forward and we push solutions, that’s where we’re going to gain a lot of ground. And to mention earlier, adding more fire fighters is not the answer. We lose firefighters on these fires as well, and so we don’t want them out there. We need to educate, not lecture. And I think we’re good at that too. And maybe that’s where we look at some of our other, you know, collaborators, stake holders, you know, the cattlewomen are really good at educating. Maybe we ask them for some help in educating people on wildfire prevention.

four across the state. He’s now funded equipment for 25-plus PBAs. So we have all that in place, but we still hit the red tape with working with Air Pollution Control District, the grazing, the thinning of the for est. But when it hits the ground, the APCD, the environment, they’re still limiting us to what we can do. We stop logging, we stop grazing. And I think there’s more to be talked about on that front. For us in my county [Santa Barbara] we’ve had lawsuits threatened against us for grazing with just goats. The vineyard just shut us down because of smoke taint. The water side of it, I mean, I would just say that amount of fire, and you’ve got to think about all the open valves to every single house is now burnt down there, and all that water is leaking out, plus all the fire engines are pulling on it. The reservoirs probably would have helped. And I would say across the state, we need them. Absolutely, we need reservoirs. We need a backup sys tem. Those hydrants weren’t built to take that much pressure off the system. As we saw in some fires in the past, in Cedar and San Diego, one of the num ber one problems in the water [sup ply] back then was the pump stations burned up. KR Let’s switch a little bit and talk about the CCA Fire Subcommittee. So you’ve been Chair of this for mul tiple years now. We know insurance was a big conversation that the Fire Subcommittees had, and I’m sure everyone has seen articles and

For the entire 22:38 podcast head to https:// calcattlemen.org/2025/01/21/sorting through-the-la-wildfires-with-cca-fire-sub committee-chair-anthony-stornetta/. If you want to get involved, particularly if you have fire or insurance experience, find the Cal ifornia Cattlemen’s Association at https:// calcattlemen.org/. We’ve sat with the Cal Fire Director and talked about this, you know, back with Senate Bill 1260 in 2017. And Cal Fire gave Director Tyler a lot of credit, too. He pushed a lot of money towards prescribed burn associations (PBAs). Back in 2017, there were only three or only. There is no putting the fire out at that time. We’ve seen this fire over and over and over. The Camp Fire, the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa. It’s occurred so many times. And unfortunately, this went from what we called the wildland interface into an urban fire. And I hear over and over that, you know, it’s climate change, climate change, but the big question, was it preventable? Absolutely. Absolutely. This was preventable. The fuel beds there, if they would have been either grazed or treated, our communities protected through some type of defensible space on the out skirts of those communities? It abso lutely would have been preventable. Even with those winds and every thing else, there would have been a little more mitigation if there were those types of treatments in place on the outskirts, because it never would have transitioned into the structures. I think your last one is, is there any thing we could do? We’ve made a lot of progress with CCA and the fire com munity, but there has been some red tape, and hopefully from here forward, we can work on some of that stuff. And I’ve had personal conver sations. Luckily, in Santa Barbara County, we have a pretty robust pre scribed fire program, and so does San Luis. And I’ve met with LA. They have restrictions in their laws and ordinances down there that they can only burn 10 acres at a time because of smoke production. And they’ve made zero progress on prescribed fire.

16 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

new on the range SOLAR MADE SIMPLE Gain efficient

LOOK AHEAD TO PROFIT Ranch Vision is a profit planning and business management software for grazing livestock operators. Founded by large animal veterinarian and ranch management consultant Dr. Rich Brazil, Ranch Vision is designed to maximize profits with detailed, comprehensive reports—no recordkeeping or data surveillance required. Ranchers can see their whole operation from their dashboard and optimize their management for improved profit. The web-based app is easy to use and beautifully designed for ranches of all sizes, from small to enterprise-level grazing operations.

watering, save time, and save water costs with Soler Solutions , a plug-and-play solar powered

The software is now available for use as a web-based app at the Ranch Vision website, www.ranchvision.io , where interested parties can also view a demo of the program.

water pump. Check out the key benefits: ● Zero electricity required ● Low maintenance due to no moving parts ● No pollution or noise ● Easy to move around or secure to the ground ● Flat packing for space saving Product specs: ● 540w solar panel ● 500w water pump – with 140ft reach ● 18 gallons pm over flat ground Go to https://solersolutions.com/ for more information. THREE’S A WRAP! RCI Engineering is excited to introduce the 521R and 421R Bale Accumulators for John Deere Round Balers. These machines provide round baler operators with the convenience of carrying multiple bales and grouping these bales right where the operator desires. Whether baling in rolling hills or in a flat valley, the 521R and 421R Bale Accumulators from RCI can carry two bales while baling a

Ranch Vision can be purchased under a monthly or annual license, with fees based on herd size. To celebrate the launch, the annual license is being offered at a 25% discount for a limited time.

BOOTS BUILT TO BREATHE Looking forward to warmer weather this Spring, Georgia Boot updates the Carbo-Tec FLX collection with a new Breeze Mesh lining for a super breathable, lightweight and flexible fit ideal for indoor or outdoor job sites. Additionally, the new styles feature proprietary InsulKul™ technology to keep hard-working

third bale. Drop one, two or three bales anytime, anywhere. In addition, positioning round bales together means fewer trips across the field with bale handling equipment

feet comfortable in all temperatures. InsulKul™ offers cooling to prevent feet from becoming overheated or chilled, depending on the surface and climate of the jobsite. New styles include: two 11-inch pull-on square toe Western work boots, GB00702 (brown/brick, MSRP: $185) and GB00703 (brown/ tan; MSRP: $185). A lightweight and flexible fit meets hefty work demands, and the groundbreaking AMP (Advanced Memory Polyurethane) insole keeps feet comfortable and supported throughout the day. Additionally, Carbo-Tex FLX boots meet ASTM F2892 electrical hazard classification. Go to www.georgiaboot.com for more.

reducing soil compaction. Built with producers in mind, rugged features have been incorporated into the new design. All sensors and hydraulics are installed on the accumulator rather than the round baler, making the system simpler and easier to install. A hydraulic bale transfer arm and heavy-duty, reinforced wheels are also standard equipment. Visit https://rciengineering.com/ for more details, specifications, and video.

18 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

powderriver .com • P: 800.453.5318

that’s an improvement BY PEYTON VALENTINE Cross-Fencing Considerations You have options, which works best for you?

roper pasture utilization is an important obstacle to overcome for any operation. It allows for making the most of grazing op portunities and ensures the greatest success of a herd. An ef fective way to overcome that obstacle, depending on your cir cumstances, is cross-fencing. Both permanent, temporary, a hybrid of the two, or virtual options might help make grazing and rota tions of your herd more effective.

Effective watering systems, not spaced too far apart, ensure that cattle can easily forage in a pasture equally, rather than favoring one area within the radius of a water source. Berger points out that “If ranchers can increase water capacity and flow delivery, then they can group cat tle together and sometimes existing fences are all they need.” Before stretching wire or pounding posts, consider taking a serious look at water systems. There are still areas where cross-fencing will enhance forage capacity where water is available.

In assessing whether cross-fenc ing in some form might work on an operation, start by looking not down the fence line, but at your watering systems. Nebraska State Extension Educator, Aaron Berger, emphasizes,

“In my experience, in western range land, almost always the first limiting factor as far as effective use of range land and pasture is probably water. So water development in my mind always comes before the fence.”

WR MARCH 2025 ISSUE DEDICATION FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, We have been honored over the run of the magazine to have been blessed with a loyal stable of freelance writers that unfailingly deliver stories you and I would love to read. The most recent addi tion to our list of esteemed journalists was a young man by the name of Peyton Valentine whose very first article of what we believed would be a long run was published in the previous issue, January February 2025. UNITED STATES CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION COMMENDS USDA FOR STEPS TO IMPROVE COMPETITION AND FAIRNESS USCA IS EAGER TO SUBMIT COMMENTS AND CONTINUE MOMENTUM WASHINGTON – The USDA announced several steps to improve competition and ensure fairness in the livestock marketplace. Among those was the interim report of the inves tigation into competition in the meat retail industry and a rulemaking effort under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 to enhance price discovery in fed cattle markets. United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is currently reviewing the report and the proposed rulemaking

God, in his infinite wisdom, had other plans. Peyton was called home on December 21, 2024 before he could see his name on the WR masthead and a print byline. His family told us he was excited about the opportunity to write for us. It was a dream of his to share the ranching life he lived and loved. We’re so glad he made it, if only for a short time. Go on and gather us up some good horses, Peyton, we’ll be there one day and you can show us around the outfit.

CONTRIBUTORS Jaime Pullman, Gilda V. Bryant, Loretta Sorensen, Bert Entwistle, Terryn Drieling, James Beckham, Burt Rutherford, Peyton Valentine Shaie Williams, Tiffany Selchow, Linay Williams, & Jade Currid.

www.workingranchmag.com VOLUME 20 / NUMBER 1

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

to be presented in the Price Discovery and Competition in Markets for Fed Cattle Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR). For years, our group has sought avenues to increase price discovery and transparency in fed cattle markets and we look forward to submitting comments to further our efforts to foster a fair and competitive market for all cattle producers. “USCA appreciates the efforts by USDA to gather input from our indus try on both the investigation and for the proposed price discovery options. Their willingness to connect with pro ducers and organizations like USCA is appreciated and helps yield rule making procedures that make a difference for those of us in the countryside.”

and released the following statement shortly after USDA’s announcement. “We commend USDA for their inves tigation into competition and fairness in the meat industry and hope iden tifying the trend of continued consol idation will help inform future deci sions. We look forward to their con tinued investigation efforts, to further research the concerns raised, largely by small and mid-sized, independent farmers and ranchers and processors like those that make up USCA. As we further analyze the interim report, we will begin drafting comments for the upcoming AMS proposed rulemaking,” USCA President Justin Tupper said. “USCA is also carefully reviewing the preview of the price discovery options

20 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

Not all “Angus” bulls are REGISTERED Angus bulls. Don’t buy an imposter.

Know what you’re buying. 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.

Look for the REGISTRATION NUMBER . Bring the Power of Angus to your herd. Angus.org/PBA.

SM

that’s an improvement BY TIM O’BYRNE

TIM O’BYRNE

Squeeze to Please The best features in chute design come together to make it better for the critters and handlers.

t the tail end of my 20 year cowboy adventure I spent several years on the large scale feedyards, including plenty of hours working every aspect of various processing and treating hy draulic chute setups.

Sherman. The side squeeze handle was the tank gun barrel. Here are features that I look for in a working chute: First, safety to both the critter and the handler. The three critical ele ments of chute work are the catch, the restraint and the release. Much of the success of the works depends on how

them dated back to the ‘50s, I’m sure. In fact, I think one of them was made from a repurposed Army surplus M4

Prior to that, I cowboyed on so many big outfits I can’t recall all the man ual chutes I’ve operated, but some of

22 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

the handlers operate the system, par ticularly feeding cattle into it. You’re not going to get maximum positive results up front if the crew bringing them up is rammin’ & jammin’ back there. Anytime I go to a feedyard for a tour I like to have a look at the pro cessing barn, see how they’re doing it. Generally, if all you hear is the hydraulic motor humming outside and the odd “BZZZZHHHT” of the motor functioning under pressure when you approach, it’s a good bet there’s gonna be pros at the helm. CATCH • The floor footing needs to be designed so cattle feel comfort able and confident entering. • Adjustable width setting at the floor level for different classes of cattle is very handy. • Speed of the hydraulics is critical; slow rams throw the headgate person out of timing. • I like blinders on the vertical side rails to keep the flow going. They work great. • The headgate needs to open wide enough to accept horned critters. • Side squeeze needs to be able to be set to slow fast critters down so a clean catch can be made. • Per industry SOP (LEFT) On a trip to Calgary awhile back, our BIF tour stopped in at Rimrock Feeders for a snoop. Walking up to their processing barn, where the crew was reimplanting some 9 weights, there wasn’t a peep, no vocaliza tion from anyone or any critter. Just the hum of the motor outside the building. I smiled.

recommendations, I need to be able to set the hydraulic pressure between 1100 and 1300 PSI. RESTRAINT • Cattle need to be immobilized so they give up the fight in order for the handler to safely perform their duties. I’ve seen several different neck restraint systems, they all look pretty good to me. • Confidence that the restraint system won’t fail, meaning the engineering of the catch elements ensures they won’t let go when you’re halfway through a proce dure, is very important. I’ve seen too many folks bonked on the noggin when a wore-out drop bar comes out of its slot. • Access to the feet and udder is necessary through a split-side drop down or swing out. RELEASE I like a smooth release, so the hydraulics need to reflect that. I don’t like a full, instant pressure purge; I want to be able to slowly perform the release using the handles. There also needs to be a well-engineered emer gency release setup for both sides in case a critter goes down.

mature bulls, but they can handle a 1,300 lb cow. Noise The hydraulic motor needs to be in a soundproof box as far away from the works as possible. Seven hours of that high pitched whining gets on my remaining nerve. And seven hours of the back gate clanging shut is enough for me. If the chute is quiet, the works remain sane. Cleanout The chute needs to be easy to clean. On the big feedyards I worked on, we (meaning the processing or hospital crew) shoveled out the chutes and snakes at the end of every shift. Ergonomics When you’re processing 600 head a day it can wear a person down. Easy to-set ergonomic handle settings make it easier on the operator. Maintenance Grease fitting accessibility and the ability to replace worn or damaged parts, hydraulics, rams, etc. Self-catch Manual Headgate Always a handy feature, there are some well-designed adjustable prod ucts out there. Built-in Scale Adding load cells to the chute base lets you grab a quick weight, which comes in mighty handy in your man agement plan. Exit Traction Oddly, I see a lot of good design right up to the exit area, where the trail to success runs cold. Cattle can do a lot of musculoskeletal damage if they exit too fast and slip on the concrete. The rubber tire mats are excellent, and I’ve even seen an outfit where they created a 12’ x 4’ sand pit inset into the con crete just coming out of the chute. Cattle feel confident when their foot ing is secure, and I think that adds to calming them.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS Adjustable Floor

Critical for ease of operation, you need an adjustable floor that will be able to handle 300 lb calves all the way up to the big boys. Not all chute designs are recommended for use with

SLOW & STEADY A crew that revs up the cattle in the back (to be fair, sometimes a group of one-iron cattle will already be rammy before they show up at the feedyard) will end up with two really bad situations (broken horns and shoulder abscesses) and one terrible situation (a critter going

over backwards in the snake). Slow down. During fall run we used to joke, “No sense rushing the works anyway, if we get done at 2 instead of 4 the boss is only gonna have to find something else for us to do, like shoveling bunks, haha.” Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

MARCH 2025 I 23

weekend rodeo BY KATIE HUTTON

PERFORMANCE HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY

Opening Night! The 2025 National Western Invitational Ranch Rodeo.

he 119th National West ern Stock Show kicked off in Denver, Colorado on January 11th with their 10th Invitational

Top Hand Sage Haythorn aboard Top Horse Add Two and Two.

The NWSS, which started in 1906, draws nearly 700,000 people to Denver each winter for sixteen days of non-stop action including 30 rodeos, 11 horse shows, and the “Superbowl” of Livestock Shows which hosts 25 different breeds of cattle and more than 12,000 head of livestock where Ranch Rodeo. Ranches from Colo rado, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Oklahoma were represented in the arena, where over 20 teams have competed since its inception.

PERFORMANCE HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY

24 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

2025 National Western Invitational Ranch Rodeo Results 1 ST PLACE: Jolly Ranch: Jesse Jolly, Luke Kelley, Luke Meier, and Austin Crist 2 ND PLACE: Haythorn Land & Cattle: Sage Haythorn, Tyler Minor, Wade Speck, and Cole Schaffer 3 RD PLACE: Sooner Cattle Company 4 TH PLACE: Crutch Ranch 5 TH PLACE: Broken Spear Ranch 6 TH PLACE: Oro Vaca Cattle Company 7 TH Place: Troublesome Creek Ranch TOP HORSE: Add Two and Two, Sage Haythorn, Haythorn Land & Cattle TOP HAND: Sage Haythorn, Haythorn Land & Cattle EXCELLENCE IN ANIMAL CARE: Jolly Ranch visitors can watch traditional compe titions including breeding, market, and showmanship. The 10th Invitational Ranch Rodeo, which has paid out $183,000 since 2016, welcomed seven four-man teams this year including the reigning three time National Western champions, Jolly Ranch out of Agate, Colorado. Jolly Ranch team members Jesse Jolly, Luke Kelley, Luke Meier, and Austin Crist stopped the clock at 1:05 to win the Cut & Brand competition as the crowd watched in excitement to see who would win the battle for top honors. The Sooner Cattle Company out of Pawhuska, Oklahoma secured their win in the Team Sorting with a time of 56 seconds, just seconds behind the arena record set by Crutch Ranch of Lovington, New Mexico in 2020 of 53.40 seconds. Speaking of Crutch Ranch, they tackled the Double Mugging in 57 seconds to win it and

Easy and Safe Catching!

A Cowman’s Best Friend at Calving Time!

Designed for Processing Safety... - Enables quick and safe calf catching! - Convenient, step in access of producer! - Holder secures calf for easy processing! - User-friendly inside release of calf to cow! - Move calves easier with cow following! - Less cow stress, mother can see and smell calf! - Reduces danger while working new calves! - Quick Mount/Dismount on both ATV & UTVs!

- Gary Reimer, OK “Never has tagging a calf been easier or safer. Momma cows are not near as nervous when they can smell their calves.” Bob Seely, WY ”This product has been invaluable. It makes the job of doctoring and tagging calves significantly safer. I am grateful for the calf catcher making the process easier!” Dan Bartels, NE “Catches the calves fine - the thing I like best is the cow follows so you can get the pair pulled without messing with the whole herd.” More testimonials on website .

Now available with a digital scale!

Safe Processing!

Fits ATV’s and UTV’s!

ONE PERSON can now SAFELY and EASILY process calves without concern of the protective mother cow!

Watch action video at SafetyZoneCalfCatchers.com For local dealers or to order, call 877-505-0914 today! IMMEDIATE SHIPPING

Safe Release!

SWIFT BUILT RANCH TRAILERS

IF THERE IS A BETTER WAY, WE LISTEN

AMERICA’S FAVORITE RANCH TRAILER

CHECK THE SWIFT BUILT WEBSITE FOR MODELS, DESCRIPTIONS & A DEALER NEAR YOU Swift Built is The Most Copied Livestock Pipe Trailer In The World Check Out Our Options, Materials, And Construction Pound For Pound Your Best Buy! VISIT US TODAY! WWW.SWIFTBUILTTRAILERS.COM 970-631-7453 3550 South County Rd 5 Loveland, CO 80537

MARCH 2025 I 25

weekend rodeo

(BELOW) Four-time National Western champions: Jolly Ranch

PERFORMANCE HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY

It was announced after the competi tion that “LaJunta” will be consigned to sell at the Western Heritage Classic Invitational Ranch Horse Sale. Third place overall went to Sooner Cattle Company, fourth place to Crutch Ranch, fifth place to Broken Spear Ranch, Oro Vaca Cattle Company came in sixth place and seventh place went to Troublesome Creek Ranch. An incredible night of Ranch Rodeo to kick off the 2025 NWSS.

Second place overall went to Haythorn Land & Cattle team mem bers, Sage Haythorn, Tyler Minor, Wade Speck, and Cole Schaffer with 18 points. The team still holds the 2018 arena record of 41.48 seconds in the Cut & Brand. Sage Haythorn of Haythorn Land & Cattle received the prestigious Top Hand award for the third time in 10 years while also earning the Top Horse honors with his big grey, Add Two and Two “LaJunta.”

Haythorn Land & Cattle of Arthur, Nebraska, took the top spot in the Wild Cow Milking with a 31 second run. By the night’s end, Jolly Ranch secured their fourth National Western championship with 21 points and was also awarded the Excellence in Animal Care award. Their exemplary commitment to ethical animal hus bandry practices earned them the title and a custom watercolor by Coors Western Art artist Kathy Harder.

BY DREW LAWLER

Work Boot or Cowboy Boot? How about both... o often when I know I will be on and off my horse throughout the day but know that I also have a long list of chores, the $64 question is do I put on my cowboy boots or work boots when I leave the house? Tecovas answered that question with grippy enough to scramble over rocks yet will also slip easily into a stirrup.

Oftentimes with cowboy boots, there can be a seam that wants to rub your ankle where the lower boot meets the upper part. Tecovas put a liner inside the leather that takes that seam out of play. Another pleasant surprise is the built-in arch. For my foot, it was per fectly located. Examining the tight stitch ing of the boot to the sole, I can’t see how it would be possible for any water to intrude. So while I haven’t waded through any creeks in them (they are frozen over at the moment) my hunch is they will keep your feet as dry as rain boots. Finally, the leather and tooling are what you would hope to find on fine cowboy boots. If you hose them off, you can wear these boots to church on Sunday morning or to the Saturday night ice cream social, by truck or horseback. Well done Tecovas.

this work boot disguised as a cowboy boot. Now I don’t have to choose. With these babies, you can get 10,000 steps in without foot fatigue and jump on a horse as needed throughout the day. One look at the sole and you know why

it’s first and foremost a work boot. Not only does it provide solid traction on dry or wet surfaces, but it’s

26 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

Built Stronger to Last Longer Since 1965 ALUMINUM TRAILER

14 BALE HAYMASTER

5 BALE HAYMASTER

STEEL

PUNCH PANEL TRAILER

BIG HAUL TRAILER

ORDER PARTS ONLINE AND WE SHIP DIRECT TO YOU!

Inquiries Welcomed To Become An Authorized Dealer

Terryn’s RANCHWEAR REVIEW BY TERRYN “T” DRIELING

Best of the (online) West his isn’t your typical Ranchwear Review. This time around, instead of talking about what to wear, we’re talking about where to get what you wear delivered directly to your door from some great online western shops.

APPAREL FOR THE WORKING RANCH

T’s Tried and True (T – that’s me, Terryn) The Fort

To be honest, I’ve done far more shopping at The Fort’s brick-and-mortar than I have in their online shop. Growing up in Nebraska, it was the premier one-stop western shop. We’d make the occasional special trip and stop in every time we were in Lincoln. Today, we still make a stop at The Fort every time we’re in Lincoln. Since 1972, The Fort has been a go-to for every thing Western, offering a wide range of cowboy hats, workwear, boots, saddles, and tack — all at prices that won’t break the bank. Although I hav en’t frequented the online shop as much as I have the brick-and-mortar store, they do have a robust online selection, like in their stores. The last pair of riding boots Tom purchased were a pair of Olathe’s from in the store. Tom and our boy, Tripp, both got their most recent straw hats from The Fort. We’ve picked up some tack and I ordered some jeans from their online store. The Fort carries several of the tried-and-true brands I’ve mentioned here in the Ranchwear Review. They’ve got Kimes Ranch, Twisted X, Wrangler, Ely, Danner, and more. Whether you’re shopping in-store or online, The Fort likely has you covered. www.fortbrands.com Reader’s Choice As usual, I went to the readers for their favor ite online Western shops. Among the most-men tioned, were Savannah Sevens, Kleinschmidt’s, and NRS. Savannah 7s Savannah 7s, launched by Ryley Wimer in 2013, is a Western boutique born from her desire to bring a fresh perspective to Western fashion. Frustrated by the lack of options that fit her life style beyond the rodeo, Ryley started the busi ness in her parents’ basement, where her family pitched in to get it off the ground. Since its inception, Savannah 7s has grown into a global brand where you can shop via the website or the Savannah 7s app. As business has grown so

PHOTOS BY HAPPY TRAILS CO.

28 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

NRS (National Roper’s Supply) NRS is another online western shop that has a wide selection and a storied past. If you’re not aware, NRS started as a mom-and-pop shop in a strip mall in Decatur, Texas. Over the last 30 years, David’s Western Store has evolved into the NRS we know today. Nowadays, in addition to multiple brick-and-mortar locations and the well-known NRS catalog, NRS has a big online presence and selection as well. They carry brands mentioned here like Kimes Ranch and Ely Cattleman. They’ve also a selection of ranchwear we’ve not yet mentioned here like chaps and chinks, and a wide selection of tack – ranchwear for your horses, if you will. If you’re looking to outfit yourself, your spouse, kids, horses, etc. – NRS has it all. Check them out, and read more about the story of National Roper’s Supply, at www.nrsworld.com

been outfitting the Midwest in quality western wear from its brick-and-mortar location in Higginsville, Missouri since 1969. And now, with their online shop, the Kleinschmidt family is outfitting folks from all over the country. Kleinschmidt’s features an incredible selection of apparel. According to their website, they’ve got 30,000 boots and 200 top brands available for cus tomers in-store or online. What readers told me they appreciate most about Kleinschmidt’s though is their outstanding cus tomer service. Shop the wide selection at www.kleinboot.com

PHOTOS BY HAPPY TRAILS CO.

has the product offering from wom en’s clothing to men’s and kid’s cloth ing, and now, home furnishings. Ryley sets Savannah 7s apart with exclusive collaborations with brands like Kimes Ranch, Ariat, and Bed|Stü, as well as “Trailblazing the West” a series she developed to highlight small makers and their designs. “If I can, I always spend my money where it supports good people. Ryley and her crew know how to treat peo ple — top-notch customer service. I love the unique pieces I find there that always have a Western touch to them. I shop there for both casual clothing needs and definitely for styl ing up events like family photos, wed dings, etc.,” said Sara Hisel, owner of Happy Trails Co. Another reader said, “I love that they list the sizes like ‘small fits sizes 3-5’, they ship pretty fast, and it’s all high-quality.” If you’re looking for “Western style, redefined,” be sure to check out Savannah 7s at www.savannahsev ens.com Kleinschmidt’s Kleinschmidt’s Western Store has

MARCH 2025 I 29

WORKING RANCH PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Working Ranch magazine is pleased to recognize Samantha Maddox from Oklahoma. Thanks for sharing this great photo. We’d like to treat you to a nice pair of boots courtesy of the good folks at Stetson Apparel & Boots .

Congratulations, Samantha , and keep shooting.

30 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

BY GILDA V. BRYANT

Plan to Conceive mproving breed-up cannot hap

moderate BCS of 5, she can maintain her condition, conceive again, and feed the calf at her side. Waechter Mead recommends that growing heifers, including second-calf heifers, have a BCS of six because they need enough energy for themselves and the developing fetus. Operators ask a lot of first-calf heif ers as well as second-calf cows. They should breed heifers that are 50%- to- 60% of their mature body weight. Still growing, they have energy require ments for their growth, plus the Cows and heifers should receive high-quality mineral supplements year-round. A complete mineral should contain the major macromin erals, calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium, as well as trace minerals, zinc, copper, selenium, and manga nese. With yearly mineral supple mentation, producers will not have to make changes at breeding. Nutrition plays a critical role in the health of the dam and her calf. developing calf. YEAR-ROUND

I

a spring calving herd. The cow has the fewest nutritional requirements because her calf is weaned. A rancher may realize a female needs more con dition before she calves again the following spring. He can separate the herd into different groups. One set can maintain their BCS; the second group may need a different diet or hay supplementation.” Waechter-Mead says producers should understand what really thin, moderate, and too fat looks like. “We want our cows to be a moderate BCS of five at breeding. They’re maintaining that plane of nutrition and won’t have a problem if they gain. If they’re too fleshy, they may not ovulate or con ceive as easily as a moderate BCS cow.” Remember that breeding time is when cows are at peak lactation, requiring more energy and protein to breed successfully. Producers typi cally breed cows 80 days after calving to produce a calf yearly. If a cow has a

pen overnight. However, beef producers can develop plans to enhance Body Condition Scores (BCS), providing quality feed stuffs, mineral and vitamin supple mentation, and giving heifers a little TLC. Don’t forget the bulls; they also require attention. Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM and Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says producers should understand the BCS system. Scores range from one to nine and describe thin, moderate, and fat animals. Ranchers usually look at cattle in the pasture to determine a BCS. Waechter-Mead recommends a rancher run his hands over the ani mal, feeling where the fat is when cat tle are in the chute. “Your hands will teach your eyes, and you can visualize the BCS,” Waechter-Mead explains. “The best time is preg checking in the fall for

32 I MARCH 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.

ADOBE/CARRIE

ARE YOUR BCS’S AND BSE’S WHERE THEY NEED TO BE?

IT’S NOT JUST ANOTHER TUB.

Keep your horses comfortable and healthy with HorsLic ® enriched with ClariFly ® . This safe, proven-effective solution stops stable and house flies in treated manure preventing painful bites and health risks. It’s not just another tub. It’s powerful fly control that works!

Scan the code to discover more. horslic.com | (888) 571-3421

PREMIUM TUBS FROM

HorsLic ® is a registered trademark of New Generation Supplements. ClariFly ® is a registered trademark of Central Life Sciences.

MARCH 2025 I 33

Working Ranch Equine - March 2025 - 1/3 page 4 color 7” × 4.875”