Meet The Producers…
Nine Irons Seedstock is a group of cattle breeders who collectively
encompass 134 years of performance testing. These producers ranch
in varying environments from the sandhills, the plains and the
eastern slope, to the high mountains. The herds are several generations
deep in extremely progressive AI breeding programs, using curve
bending, moderate inputs. The breeds represented include registered
Black and Red Angus, Black and Red Nine Irons Composites, and
Black and Red Angus Hybrids. Selection pressure and criteria are
very tough and competitive to achieve an eventual test approval
for any bull or heifer that enters the program. The strength of
the Nine Irons Seedstock Program is its people. The dedicated
cattlemen, who for over 134 years collectively, have been performance
testing innovative genetics. Give any of us a call to visit about
the program.
Butch and Peg Black - 23 years Seedstock Producer
Our
ranch is located in the Sandhills of Nebraska. I am the third
generation to run the ranch. When grandpa started over 100 years
ago, life was a lot different. The ranch was started by buying
and selling trader cattle. Eventually, they would go on to build
up a herd of Hereford cattle. When dad (Arnold) started running
the ranch, he started introducing Black and Red Angus to the herd.
The Hereford cattle were phased out of the picture.
After several years and a lot of memories, I started managing
the ranch. I have kept working on the genetics very hard. I have
incorporated artificial insemination to the herd. I have used
New Design 1407, New Design 208, Future Direction and Preeminent,
just to name a few of the bloodlines in my cattle. When cattle
are spread over 50,000 acres, you need an efficient and functional
herd. I have more to tell, but won't keep you. If you ever get
the chance, stop in for a visit.
Butch and Peg Black
Black Ranches Inc.
PO Box 37
Lakeside, NE 69351
308-762-4587
Lindner Ranches - 12 years Seedstock Producer
Lindner
Ranches is located in southwest Colorado, near the Durango area
(winter) and Pogosa Springs area (summer). Bob Lindner put these
six ranches together from 1971-1983. The ranches are nestled in
the San Juan Mountains, with elevations running from 7,000 to
10,000 feet.
The cow herd is the Nine Irons Composite Breed. This English X
Continental mix works well at high elevations and fits the environment.
There is 75 miles between the summer and winter ranches. Synchronization
and AI are implemented prior to hauling to the summer country.
For several generations of AI, calving ease/moderate-framed sires
have been used.
Lindner Ranches
Randy Halls - Manager
201 County Road 306
Durango, CO 81302
970-247-2320 (winter)
970-731-2952 (summer)
Karl and Janice Hueftle - 20 years Seedstock Producer
Karl
and Janice were married on July 31, 1949 and that was the start
of Hueftle Cattle Co. We live in the Platte Valley at Cozad, NE.
We are 4 miles south of I-80 and 3 miles south of the Platte River.
Besides the cow-calf operation we raise corn and alfalfa. Karl
and his Dad, Gus raised Hereford cattle until 1970 when Karl bought
his first Red Angus cattle from Sally Forbes. The Red Angus bulls
were bred to the Hereford cows for F-1's. In the late 80's, we
along with our son, Neil purchased a large group of Red Angus
cows. In 1989 we sold our first set of bulls to the King Ranch
in Texas. That was the beginning of raising and selling bulls.
Our operation consists of Red Angus and Red Angus-Simmental crosses,
using the top bloodlines possible. All the family which includes
Karla, Lee, Donnis, Neil, Nolan, Gil and Kim our herdsman , are
involved in the cattle business as all own cattle. In all, our
family consists of the 6 kids, 5 in-law's and 11 grandchildren
along with Kim and his family.
Karl and Janice Hueftle
Hueftle Cattle Company
75610 Highway 21
Cozad, NE 69130
308-784-3251
Sioux Pass Angus - 25 years Seedstock Producer
Sioux
Pass Angus is a family owned and operated seedstock operation.
We are located in the scenic Wolf Mountains of South Central Montana.
Our philosophy is and always has been making the cattle work for
us not us working for the cattle. We put a tremendous amount of
pressure on our cattle to be functional and efficient. Our herd
sire LCC New Standard exemplifies all that is good with Angus
cattle. Our breeding philosophy is to create light birth weight
cattle that perform yield and grade. All while keeping an efficient
productive maternal cow a priority.
We at Sioux Pass Angus believe that it is the duty of responsible
seedstock and industry leaders to see that the Angus breed does
not loose the important traits for which it is known. These include
early sexual maturity, libido, physical soundness, calving ease,
feed efficiency, and strong maternal traits. This is why our heard
bull battery (of which we are very proud) all sees natural service
pasture duty in our rugged Montana terrain.
Our herd sires include: LCC New Standard (ABS), Blue Grass Right
Time 500 (Accelerated Genetics), SQ Credence 27S (Origen), 21AR
Big Spread (Origen), SAV 004 Traveler 5269, KCF Bennett In Demand,
GW Great Wall 704. Introducing our new herd sires are: Hoover
Dam, KCF In Montana, and Stevenson Image Maker.
If your bull desires are heifer calving ease and heavy calf weaning
weights, then just stop by, drop a line, or give us a call. Sioux
Pass Angus will be there to supply you with all your needs.
Carter Miklovich
Sioux Pass Angus
PO Box 152
Lodge Grass, MT 59050
406-639-2403
Poppe Livestock - 17 years Seedstock Producer
Vince
& Lori Poppe have been part of Nine Irons Seedstock Producers
from the beginning and have been selling seedstock with most of
the Nine Irons Producers since 1993. Vince manages the bull/test
and sale along with Blacks Feedlot. Our herd consists of NIS Composites
and purebred Angus located here in Nebraska and Colorado.
Jake & Bree Poppe live east of Colorado Springs where they
raise their herd of Angus and Composite cattle. They both have
been part of our seedstock program, along with our daughter Sara
and her son Cade from the beginning, doing one aspect of it or
another.
Our program consists of Angus and Composite cattle. Poppe Livestock
continues on in 2009 with the same genetic management as in the
past 18 years. Uniformity, moderation and high performance is
still a commitment in our program along with strong maternal traits
and good disposition. You’re always welcome to call or stop
by for a visit.
Poppe Livestock
1436 396 Trail
Ellsworth, NE 69340
970-254-3108
Bill and Chris Johnson - 37 years Seedstock Producer
It
looks like we are the "new kids" on the block, as this
is our first year as a producer in the Nine Irons Seedstock Program.
We are delighted to be included and we think that we have a set
of bulls that will provide a positive impact on the program. We
are also fairly new to the sand hills of Nebraska, having moved
from eastern Wyoming in 2006. We run a small Angus herd just 6
miles south of Lakeside, NE on what used to be the old Herman
place.
We have been raising registered Black Angus for over 20 years,
adapting our breeding program to meet the ever changing demands
in the cattle industry. We have implemented an A.I. program that
produces offspring with improved growth genetics. Our calves offer
superior muscling, extra length and quality performance data.
Some of our bloodlines include: Bon View New Design 1407, Connealy
Dateline and WK Gunsmoke. Our cattle have good dispositions, are
structurally sound and have the right genetics to make them current
with today's Angus breed. If you have questions or just want to
visit, please feel free to give us a call or stop by.
Bill and Chris Johnson
PO Box 38
Lakeside, NE 69351
308-762-3999
Darold and Lorna Tomsheck - 38 years Seedstock Producer
Near
the base of the rolling Sweetgrass Hills of Montana, less than
ten miles from the Canadian border, 300 mother cows and their
off-spring can be seen grazing where the rangeland meets the farmland.
They represent the pride and toil of the Tomsheck family. Darold
attended a school on artificial insemination in 1967 and has been
using that process and performance records ever since to build
the quality of his herd. In the early 70's he started using embryo
transplants to multiply his top genetics more rapidly and now
he has implemented ultrasound measurements to assess his herd
as well. He, his wife Lorna, and daughters Angela, Cherry and
Janna are the Tomsheck crew. All participate in the family business,
be it the AI or the roundups for weaning, data recovery, vaccinating
and the like. Darold also runs a small feedlot operation where
he furnishes cattle to sell as halves of beef to neighbors and
folks in the surrounding area. This provides an excellent source
of information for him on the yield and the efficiency of his
cattle. Although a ways off the "beaten path" the Tomshecks
are always happy to feed visitors and show off their cattle if
you find yourself in Oilmont, Montana.
Darold and Lorna Tomsheck
PO Box 399
Oilmont, MT 59466
406-937-3726
RD and Marianne Sutphen
RD
and Marianne Sutphen ranch South of Lakeside, NE with their two
children, 17 year old Kara and 13 year old Ty. The Sutphen's operation
consists of cow/calf, selling red angus calves off of the cow.
Their calves are usually purchased by buyers for feedlot placement.
Their cows are fed native hay and cake in the winter and run on
native pasture in the summer. They do not creep feed their calves
in the summer, the cows are expected to raise a profitable calf
and rebreed on sand hill grass. There is zero tolerance on the
ranch for open cows, cows with poor dispositions and poor doing
calves. Any cows whether they be commercial or pure bred, that
have any of these problems are culled. The registered cattle were
added in 2005 with heifers purchased from Cross Diamond and Schuler
Red Angus as a way for the kids to build their college savings.
You improve your herd genetically to raise
the "Bottom Line" of your operation. If your goal for
ranch management is to operate in a cost effective manner, the
opportunity to add value then is to raise the return on the cattle
at the time of sale. The majority of outfits still sell pounds
at weaning. The most dependable process to achieve added pounds
at weaning is to take advantage of heterosis (hybrid vigor). The
challenge to the producer who considers a crossbreeding program
is how to maintain the sought after maternal values and consistency
in replacement females that progressive cattle breeders desire.
The beauty of Nine Irons composite and hybrid bulls is we have
paid particular attention to detail. The breeders have used low
birth, moderate framed sires for several generations. Carcass
merit is also a large ingredient in sire evaluation. "The
perfect cow" will always be an unattainable goal. Dedicated
breeders will continue to try to create her. The philosophy at
Nine Irons Seedstock is to raise cattle that will breed and/or
feed successfully. All the performance traits can be used, but
the mama cow still must maintain herself and her calf first. She
also needs to breed back early in her respective breeding season.
Therefore, we will continue to focus on moderation in frame and
birth, along with all the other trait inputs that contribute to
the "Bottom Line."
