Joe, Korbin, and Vince sit down to chat about the recent calving season, including the impact of drought on cattle operations and the challenges of maintaining healthy herds during tough conditions. They share insights into managing feed shortages, early calving issues, and the importance of mental health during these stressful times. The guys then focus on the topic of what makes a cow a donor and the careful considerations involved in choosing the right animals for breeding. They highlight what they’ve learned about managing genetics, selecting bulls, and navigating the complexities of embryo transfer programs.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

CreekInsure.com

SaleRing.live

BruinRanch.com

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact AngusUnderground@Yahoo.com or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “Even if it crashes and burns now, it was still worth it. And that’s just saying, you know, even if I go have a bad sale next year, it will still be worth it.” [1:39]
• “Everybody wants to know some secret sauce to these marketing keys about getting people there. And what I’ve found is if you’re able to show your passion with people, the people will find you who think like you, and they’ll show up.” [2:12]
• “I’m hopeful that a listener will hear this, and they will say, ‘You know what? Joe’s gone through that, and he’s had to sort through it, or he’s had friends go through it. And I’m not alone, because we don’t talk about mental health nearly enough in this ag business.” [11:57]
• “I’ll be the first one to tell you guys that I struggle with it every day. It’s one of those things that when you’re running cows and things aren’t going well, whenever it gets dry and I don’t have any grass and I don’t have any way to get any feed, and I don’t have hay, it gets tough. I just want everyone else to realize that they’re not alone in that. I’m sharing those same problems you are having.” [12:42]
• “I think a lot of times, if you had that mindset instead of, ‘Boy, how can I make her better?’ It’s more like, ‘How can I not screw this thing up? How can I make another one just like her?’” [43:08]

The full crew is back and here to celebrate their third anniversary! They share updates on their busy summers — from calving and crop work to family vacations. They then reflect on the podcast’s evolution, the valuable connections they’ve made with listeners, and the profound gratitude they feel for the overwhelming support that has sustained the show. Everyone agrees how the podcast experience has instilled lessons in humility, discipline, and maintaining perspective — so thank you, and here’s to the next three years ahead.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

BruinRanch.com

SaleRing.live

ShadyBrookAngusFarm.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact AngusUnderground@Yahoo.com or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

Quotes:

• “Perspective means everything when it comes to forming an opinion.” [1:07:16]
• “To be able to actually see that on this podcast we have made people’s lives easier and solved a problem for someone means a lot to me. It’s absolutely my favorite part.” [1:18:44]

This week, David welcomes Darris Meitler of Meitler Cattle in Lucas, KS and Brent Lonker of Lonker Cattle in Fresno, CA. They dive into the principles for selecting cattle for functional efficiency, as taught by Dr. Jan Bonsma, a renowned animal scientist from South Africa. Darris and Brent share insights on Bonsma’s approach to evaluating cattle based on visual indicators of hormonal balance and adaptability, and how these principles can be applied to improve herd productivity and longevity.

Mentioned in this Episode:

MontanaRanchAngus.com

Facebook @AngusUnderground

Instagram @AngusUnderground

Contact AngusUnderground@Yahoo.com or call (406) 210-1366 if you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Angus Underground.

MeitlerCattle.com

The Bonsma All_Breeds Cattle Group

Quotes:

• “Three of my favorite things — wine, beef, and the fine art of breeding cattle.” [1:44]
• “The great cattlemen are already breeding Bonsma-type cattle, they just don’t realize it.” [3:00]
• “If you want to breed great cattle, it basically consists of three equal parts of observation, management, and science.” [29:57]
• “Your cow herds are no better than the mothers of the bulls you’re using, and so that should tell you exactly where you’re at.” — Brent [32:43]
• “If you apply the principles and you’re making those close decisions, the percentages are going to increase in your favor.” — Brent [1:26:03]