Angus Underground

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

American Angus Association

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

BreederLink.com

GeneBrokers.com

Central Life Sciences

Quotes:

“I just hope that when I get where I’m going, I’m where I need to be.” — Korbin
“The customers pay an immense premium to get to do business with us and the more I can spend my time with those folks getting to understand their needs, wants, directions, goals… that’s the best marketing tool.” — Joe
“Continue on the path that you’re on and capitalize.” — David
“Your cattle still have value even if they have numbers.” — Korbin
“Produce something different from everyone else, and let everyone know what you have.” — David
“Find people that raise the kind of cattle you like and really quiz them.” — David
“Develop your own biases, develop your network… but also trust your heart and trust your own eyes.” — Joe
“Be an advocate for the beef industry.” — David
“How do we grow our demand for our beef? We just have to produce good beef and we have to be good stewards of the cattle, of the land, and we have to sell that message to the general public.” — David
“It’s about empowering a new generation of breeders.” — Joe
“Every animal has to add value no matter which lane you decide to be in or if you decide to tackle multiple lanes.” — Joe
“Trust your eyes, trust your heart, do what matters to you. Don’t pay attention to what the crowd says.” — David

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

What Commercial Cattlemen Really Want with George Chambers Apr 22, 2022

Show notes

David, Joe, and Korbin give an update from their corner of the world and hope that the record-breaking April blizzard in the Northern Plains brings rain sooner rather than later. They then read some of the great feedback they’ve gotten from a recent episode and welcome George Chambers of the Southern Cross Ranch in Carrollton, Georgia, where he also serves as county commissioner. The guys chat about the 30-month rule, and George gives the history behind the ranch and the genetics program, along with great life lessons about always moving forward. Finally, we hear who really is the boss behind it all (hint: It’s not George!).

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

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

BreederLink.com

GeneBrokers.com

Central Life Sciences

George Chambers

Southern Cross Ranch

Quotes:

“Farmers and ranchers are the most resilient people in our society. They deal with more ups and downs than any other walk of life.”
“That's why it's called Angus Underground. It's not to undermine anybody. It's to say, what is the real conversation going on in the industry?”
“You don't put a hat on a mullet. You let a mullet just fly in the wind.”
“I just want you to be honest with me, I want you to tell me the honest birth weight, the honest yearling weight, and let me see it’s mama.” — George
“We need good young people that are backed with morals and ethics and from an agricultural background because they’re gonna need to carry the torch for the next generation.”
“We’re the only area that can sell our calf crop three times a year, Christmas, tax time, and when we can catch ’em!” — George
“In life, I think there’s an ultimate goal. You just keep progressing forward, whether it’s progressing forward with your genetic program, whether you’re purebred, commercial, whether you’re progressing forward in your life, your faith, whatever.” — George

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

It’s a Fake World Apr 08, 2022

Show notes

David, Joe, and Korbin talk about their takeaways from a recent episode with Mark McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association. They address listener questions they wish they got to, and give a glimpse behind the scenes of recording. Then, they talk about $Maternal, how to prove the data when it comes to different types of scoring, and the fact that $Maternal means so many different things to so many different people. David brings up a conversation he recently had with a third-generation commercial rancher that really sums up the simple things commercial ranchers truly want, and how it’s not that complicated to get it right. They explore how the Angus breed is slowly turning into a fake world.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

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

Quotes:

“I take perverse pleasure in culling.”
“This early data is helping to train the genomics.”
“If we can influence any kind of change with Angus Underground, I would like to see greater transparency. I want to see the ingredients that are going into the cake before it’s baked.”
“Maternal means so many different things to so many different people. It's hard to capture that essence.”
“I think the greatest space left in the Angus business is the proven cow maker. Because nobody’s doing it anymore.”

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

Tools, Transparency, and Making Angus Cattle Better: Mark McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association Mar 25, 2022

Show notes

It’s a big episode this week as Mark McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association joins the show. Mark first talks about how livestock judging gave him critical tools and skills that have served him throughout his extensive career and walks us through how he got to be at AAA. He provides clarity on the role of the American Angus Association, along with a few of the many organizations under the Association’s umbrella. Mark talks about the organization’s foundational pillars, including a diverse membership base, providing tools for breeders, and serving the members to make Angus cattle better in many different ways. Mark also answers questions regarding gene editing, sustainability, and a few listener questions about how AAA plans to expand its share in the marketplace.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

American Angus Association | Angus.Org

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

Mark McCully

Ducks Unlimited

Quotes:

“My passion for livestock judging opened a lot of doors and just like for a lot of other people, it exposed my eyes to the bigger industry.” — Mark
“We talk about driving breed improvement, obviously, that's what this organization is largely about. Building tools, putting tools in the hands of breeders to make the Angus breed better, enhancing membership, experience, and success.” — Mark
“Ultimately, we are a member-centric organization. We’re here to serve the member and make Angus cattle better in many different ways.” — Mark

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

Meet Vince From Shady Brook Angus Farm Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

The crew gets right into a few highlights from the American Angus Board of Directors meeting, including sustained cow fertility research, and what info breeders are wanting to see and why. They then welcome Vince Santini from Shady Brook Angus Farm in Tennessee. Besides being an all-around great guy, Vince is a busy businessman and has some keen insights on running a family operation, getting the optimal phenotype, and what makes Shady Brook so special. As Shady Brook celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, Vince talks about what it is like to run a multi-generational Angus operation, how building your identity within a herd is crucial, and what’s next for Shady Brook.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

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

Breeder Link

Gene Brokers

Shady Brook Angus

Quotes:

“I think that’s what’s fun about this business. I think it’s so fun that we can disagree about biological types or environments or any number of things or EPDs, but this passion for Angus cattle can transcend generations, personalities, and environments.”
“Whenever we get caught up in trying to divide ourselves in the differences, we need to remember the thread that unites us is the Angus cow.”
“That’s really the first step I think into building a herd is building your identity within that herd.”

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

Recap of the Annual Pilgrimage to North and South Dakota Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

This week, David, Joe, and Korbin start the show off by recapping their annual pilgrimage to North and South Dakota where they met some friends of the show and awesome listeners. David shares a few highlights of the visit, including Foxhoven Angus and Koupal Angus, and some disappointing moments including a pizza burger he wishes he hadn’t had. They talk about pedigree, the importance of finding your own direction, and having discipline with your breeding program. Finally, the guys announce the unveiling of the Angus Pathfinders for the year 2022!

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

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

Quotes:

“In my old age, I’m getting rather particular about what I eat, but I am a connoisseur of truck stop food. I'd never had a bad truck stop hot dog until this trip.” [9:00]
“Bud is constantly concerned with producing the right kind of bull for his commercial bull customers.” [17:19]
“Don’t be afraid to be your own program. Don’t be afraid to build your own vision for your customer base and, and go ahead and go after it.” [35:00]

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

Non-Traditional Approach to Semen Sales Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

This week, David, Joe, and Korbin discuss the Angus Underground Facebook Community Forum, and how it is here to provide answers to your burning questions and quench your thirst for new information, all within a welcoming and friendly community. Then, for the first segment, the guys welcome Logan Sampson from Ruby Valley, Nevada to talk about his company, Gene Brokers. Logan talks about how his impulse buying and desire for an open marketplace led to GeneBrokers. He shares the process of going from testing mode to a live site, if GeneBrokers is really like a shopping mall for semen, how the payment process works, along with the nuts and bolts of paying and shipping. Logan talks about the three entities where the semen is stored — the vendor, seller, and shipper, and how customers can use this for their best advantage.

In the second segment, Robert Whitacre from Winchester, VA and Lex Carter from Pingree, ID join the show to discuss all things Breeder Link. They talk about how to use the filters to navigate towards what you want, the options for creating a storefront, and exactly what you can (and can’t) sell. They walk us through a checklist of what you need to list something and give us a glimpse behind the quality control of listing sires into the program.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Angus Underground Ep. 9: “Angus on Dairy with Eddie Veenendaal”

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

GeneBrokers

BreederLink

Quotes:

“I’m not going to tell you how to breed your cows, and no one should either. That’s not our business. Our business is to support you in what you want to do.” — Logan [13:54]
“When it comes to genetics, we’ve made plenty of mistakes, but one thing about ours is that the environment sorts those mistakes out. They don’t last very long.” — Lex
“We want people to think of us as a maternal source. We really try to find bulls that come from strong cow families.” — Lex [45:40]

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

Calving Kits, Safety Protocol, and What a Regional Manager Really Does: Kurt Kangas of American Angus Association® Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

This week, David, Joe, and Korbin welcome Kurt Kangas, Regional Manager of the American Angus Association®. Kurt has really redefined what a Regional Manager does, and he is a great resource with a fresh perspective. He first talks about what is in his calving kit, how weather plays a part in calving, and how to keep out cross-contamination and keep everything fresh and sterile. You will also learn about some pretty cool devices and tools that keep everyone safe and healthy, and Kurt walks us through some of the parallels and differences between working in California and Montana.

Kurt walks through a calendar year, talks about his love of Pearl Jam, why he’s excited about Montana State University’s new teaching herd, and gets really transparent about the difference in the Angus business compared to the past.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Angus Underground Ep. 9: “Angus on Dairy with Eddie Veenendaal”

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

JBS

Certified Angus Beef® (CAB)

National Beef®

Orphan No More

Calf Cradle Digital Scale that went Facebook Viral

ScourGuard

Montana State University

Quotes:

“The most important piece of this is once you get the calf out, make sure that calf gets colostrum. If that calf is not up within an hour nursing the cow, you need to get some colostrum down that calf because that will have long term ramifications on the calf’s health.” — David
“I think the most important piece to the scours problem is prevention.” — David
“It's fun to think about different ways people can do things, and how to impact what's going to be best for your sale.” — Kurt
“The role of regional manager primarily is to assist the breeders in the region in any questions that they have.” — Kurt

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

Ian Vivers of EagleHawk Angus: Great Branding and Running a Family Operation Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back! Hosts David, Joe, and Korbin are excited for a new year and thank you for your continued listenership. They first revisit their holiday celebrations and New Year’s resolutions, then cover some beef and pet peeves trends in social media posts. Then, they welcome Ian Vivers from Eagle Hawk Angus in New South Wales, Australia. Ian talks about how Eagle Hawk is a family operation, and why it’s so great to have family supporting you on this journey. Ian opens up about overcoming the devastating wildfire two years ago, and how Eagle Hawk built back up, thanks to help from their community. He shares why he has been to the U.S. 14 times and his process behind sourcing from the U.S., which should provide inspiration to travel and at the very least, cross state lines.

The hosts talk with Ian about the great job Eagle Hawk does on social media and branding, and the strategies his wife and daughter use to capture all of Eagle Hawk’s important messages, even if it does include Ian’s pillow talk.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Angus Underground Ep. 9: “Angus on Dairy with Eddie Veenendaal”

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

Instagram @EagleHawkAngus

JBS

Certified Angus Beef® (CAB)

National Beef®

Bill Davis

Eagle Hawk Angus

Quotes:

“When the subject matter is really important, we will make sure that we have the importance portrayed in our posts and social media.” — Ian
“As an industry in agriculture, we get attacked for so many things, which mostly, if not completely wrong, mislead people down a wrong path. We actually have to support each other.” — Ian
“I applaud anyone putting anything up that basically builds a network of people in agriculture who are passionate about what they do.” — Ian
“The beauty of social media is simply to form friendships across the world.” — Ian
“There is nothing like having family with you on the journey.” — Ian
“We’re a team. It’s an exciting future when you have the younger ones following through and enthusiastically enjoying what we’re doing.” — Ian
“For us to compete, we need to be aware of what our impact is.” — Ian

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

New Year’s Special: Through the Eyes of Jordan Rhodes Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to today’s special episode of Angus Underground with your hosts, David, Joe, and Korbin! In this conversation, they discuss their personal and professional New Year’s resolutions, thoughts on the industry, and their conversations with Board of Directors members and Angus staff. Additionally, they also tie up the loop around their beef on dairy discussion from Episode 9, share what transpired at the December 15th open-to-the-public meeting in Billings, and discuss sustainability when it comes to CAB.

In the second half of the show, your hosts are joined by a fantastic guest and their first repeat guest – Jordan Rhodes! Jordan is the co-owner of Rhodes Red Angus, located in Faulkton, South Dakota. He is a young, passionate breeder that is truly paving the way for the next generation of cattle ranchers.

Jordan lends some incredibly insightful knowledge on how he matches his bull customers with the right bull. He shares how he maintains relationships with customers, his advice on redirecting your customers to what they actually need vs. what they think they need, how he has grown his ranch from the ground up, how he chooses the ingredients that he’s going to bring into his program for his next breeding generation, and information about his upcoming bull sale.

Thank you for tuning into Angus Underground in 2021! We will see you soon in 2022!

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Montana Bred for Balance Bull and Female Sale — Call David at 406-210-5605 or send an email to Bulls@MontanaRanchAngus.com if you’re searching for semen from balanced trait sires!

Angus Underground Ep. 9: “Angus on Dairy with Eddie Veenendaal”

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