Meet The Producers…
Nine Irons Seedstock is a group of cattle breeders who collectively
encompass 190 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 190 years collectively, have been performance
testing innovative genetics. Give any of us a call to visit about
the program.
Butch and Peg Black - 22 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 - 11 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)
Don and Betsy Hineman - 22 years Seedstock Producer
The
Hineman Ranch had its beginnings in 1886 when Don's great grandfather,
H.T. Hineman, traveled to Western Kansas to claim land under the
Homestead Act. Quality livestock has been a family tradition from
the beginning, and in the early days H.T. and his son George raised
Mammoth Jacks, Morgan Horses, Russian Wolfhounds, and Greyhounds.
In 1915 they exhibited the World's Champion Mammoth Jack, Kansas
Chief, at the San Francisco World's Fair. Jacks and mules were
produced on the ranch until 1953, with cattle eventually taking
their place. Don began a registered herd of Gelbvieh cattle in
1994, under the name High Plains Gelbvieh. High Plains P.I., a
widely used AI sire, was produced in this herd. Don is continuing
the bloodline through the use of a superior prepotent son of P.I.,
High Plains Sentinel. Today the cow herd includes registered Gelbvieh,
Red Angus and Angus. The focus of the herd is in producing F1
hybrids by combining the best of Gelbvieh genetics with Angus
and Red Angus. The ranch also includes a small backgrounding lot
and dryland crop production of wheat, grain sorghum, forage sorghum,
and corn. The Hineman family is part owner of Lane County Feeders
Inc., a 42,000 head commercial cattle feeding operation. Don sits
on the board of directors. Don was county commissioner in his
local community for 16 years. In 2001 he served as President of
the Kansas Livestock Association. He presently is on the board
of directors of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Don and Betsy Hineman
Hineman Ranch
116 S. Longhorn Rd.
Dighton, KS 67839
620-397-2504
Karl and Janice Hueftle - 19 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.
Jewel Maker, Karl's Jules and Red Tail have come from the Hueftle
Cattle Co. herd and some of their first calves will be ready to
sell this spring. 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
Pete and Robin Mathews - 20 years Seedstock Producer
Mathews
Farms was originally founded in 1972 for timber purposes, in the
beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin by Jim Mathews,
Pete's father. Horses were first to come, shortly followed by
commercial cows. As Pete's interest grew in livestock and crop
production, so did Mathews Farms. Several more farms were purchased
through the 1980's. 1988 their first 10 Red Angus heifers were
purchased and have now grown to 200 plus registered Red Angus
cows. Pete and Robin have a daughter, Brittany 20 years old who
is attending college at the University of Wisconsin and a son,
Hunter who is 13 years old. The Mathews' are committed to breeding
functional Red Angus cattle that are packed with performance and
integrity.
Pete and Robin Mathews
Mathews Farm
14230 County Road 1
Viola, WI 54664
608-627-1487
Carter Miklovich - 24 years Seedstock Producer
Sioux
Pass Angus is headed up by Carter Miklovich and his sons, Brice
and Brock as well as supported by a dedicated and hardworking
crew, who are much appreciated and thanked. Sioux Pass Angus was
established in 1984 with the purchase of 13 registered heifers.
Cattle are wintered and calved out on the Helene and late Pete
Miklovich Ranch headquarters southeast of Lodge Grass, MT. Pairs
are summered in the Wolf Mountains on the Dan Adolph and John
Schaak places, purchased in 1991 and 1997 respectively. Initially
the QAS Traveler 23-4 and Scotch Cap bulls were used via A.I.
until the purchase of Rito 3M1 of 5H11 GT in 1995. This outstanding
individual further lined out the Traveler/Scotch Cap cross and
became the foundation of our breeding program. 
EXT used on the
Rito daughters refined the power of the 5H11 granddaughters. Style
was added without the sacrifice
of disposition. Although Rito has passed on, more than ever it
is our philosophy to own outstanding natural service sires for
use in conjunction with a strong A.I. program. Following this
philosophy, LCC Rimrock G260M and LCC New Standard G256M, were
added to the bull battery. New Standard has proven to be a fortuitous
purchase. As New Standard has hit a home run in the newest sire
summary, proof of his breeding ability by his calves are on test
at Nine Irons Test Facility. Our cow herd is built on the maternal
traits of calving ease, fertility, udder quality, ease of fleshing,
and disposition. Considering the multi-trait superiority and outstanding
carcass merit of New Design 1407 and his daughters, this has proved
to be a wise investment. We are committed to keeping our herd
on the cutting edge. The coffee is always on if you get a chance
to stop by and have a chat.
Carter Miklovich
Sioux Pass Angus
PO Box 152
Lodge Grass, MT 59050
406-639-2403
Vince and Lori Poppe - 16 years Seedstock Producer
Vince
& Lori left Oregon in 1977 to live in the mountains of Colorado.
Shortly thereafter, Vince hired on the Means Ranch (Cross Bar
Ranch) located on the west side of Monarch Pass. At that time,
the ranch was a Hereford outfit. In 1992, the Cross Bar Ranch
with the new owners, changed genetic direction when Vince implemented
an extensive AI program. Bull testing along with a large bred
female offering was produced and available on an annual basis.
In 1998 Vince and Lori relocated to manage Lindner Ranches in
the Durango/Pagosa Springs area. We continued to expand the breeding
program at Lindner's and would routinely offer 75 bulls and up
to 600 bred heifers annually. The Stabilizer composite females
that were produced became very competitive and shown at the NWSS
most years since 1994 (including at the Cross Bar Ranch). Uniformity
and moderation has been a commitment of our breeding program.
Sorting our show cattle after the replacements were chosen, showed
the depth and quality throughout the herd. Five grand championships
in the final four years (2001-2004) of showing these heifers helped
put the breed on the map. Vince is currently the sale manager
for the Black Ranches, Inc., Nine Irons Seedstock Annual Production
Sale. He and Lori maintain herd of Nine Irons Composite cattle
as well.
Vince and Lori Poppe
PO Box 23302
Glade Park, CO 81530
970-254-3108
Bill and Pennie Slovek - 22 years Seedstock Producer
Bill,
Pennie, Belinda, Brock, and Bo Slovek live 23 miles northwest
of Philip, S.D. Philip is located about 80 miles east of Rapid
City and 90 miles south west of Pierre, the state capital. Philip
has a population of just fewer than 900. Pennie is the art teacher
for the school district, Belinda is a senior in college at South
Dakota State University majoring in agri-business, Brock is a
sophomore at Southeast Vocational Tech in Sioux Falls, S.D. Bo
is a senior at Philip High School and Bill raises cattle. The
country is primarily rolling plains, most of it native grass but
there is some farming. Our average moisture is about 16 inches.
We figure about 23 acres per cow per year during an average year.
We own about 7,650 acres and lease about 7,000 more. We do rotational
grazing with most of our cow herd and most of our pastures. We
have been AI'ing since 1984. Our herd consists of about 25 registered
Red Angus cows, 25 registered Black Angus cows, and 775 hybrid
(Red Angus X Gelbvieh and Black Angus X Gelbvieh) and composite
cows. When I was little, Dad had straight Hereford cows. One year
we bred our Hereford heifers to a Black Angus bull and when we
weaned their calves the next fall they were heavier than the cows
straight bred calves. I have been impressed with crossbred vigor
for a long time and continue to incorporate heterosis in our herd
today. We still finish all the bull calves that don't make the
cut and all the heifer calves that don't make the replacement
heifer pen and try to attain as much carcass data as possible.
Bill and Pennie Slovek
Slovek Ranch
20925 Slovek Lane
Philip, SD 56567
605-457-2311
Darold and Lorna Tomsheck - 37 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
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."
