American Cattlemen Podcast

The Big Texas Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the Owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Joe Pettit, the Owner of Stud Wagyu Auction and Kentucky Stud Wagyu. In this episode, Joe and Gale will dive into the Big Texas Sale, held at 6:30 PM CT on May 30th, 2026, at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, Texas.  Joe details the Big Texas Sale, which serves as both a premier Wagyu genetics event and part of the Texas Wagyu Association’s annual gathering. The 2026 sale marks the third year in Fort Worth and is held at Billy Bob’s, where a dedicated building can accommodate several hundred attendees. Cattle are sold from their home operations via photos, videos, and comprehensive genomic data, allowing consignors to offer elite genetics without transporting animals to town. The offering includes approximately 60 females and 15 bulls, with the front end of the catalog featuring some of the highest-indexing, high-genomic heifers in North America. Many of these females are open and near flush age, giving buyers the opportunity to accelerate their genetic programs through embryo production. Several influential AI sires will also be available, including a semen straw from the top indexing genomic bull in North America. Joe emphasizes the value of Wagyu genetics for both seedstock and commercial producers. He notes that when fullblood Wagyu bulls with strong pedigrees are crossed on conventional commercial cows, calves retain growth and appearance similar to the base herd while dramatically improving carcass quality, marbling, and overall grading. He also highlights the breed’s longevity, structural soundness, fertility, and docile temperament, describing Wagyu cattle as long-lasting and highly functional. The conversation concludes with an overview of sale logistics and shipping, underscoring that sellers coordinate health paperwork and work with buyers to move cattle efficiently once the auction is complete.   For previous episodes of Genetics & the Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Ceres Tag with Shane White

Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Shane White with Ceres Tag.  Shane grew up on a cow-calf and seedstock operation in Wester Colorado. Educated at Colorado State University, Shane has been engaged in some facet of the beef supply chain his entire life. Shane describes Ceres Tag as the world’s first direct-to-satellite animal intelligence system, using solar-powered, smart sensor ear tags equipped with a 3D accelerometer and geolocation capabilities. The tags continuously capture behavioral data such as minutes spent grazing, resting, ruminating, walking, and drinking. This information feeds into algorithms that estimate forage intake with approximately 95% accuracy by combining animal behavior, satellite geolocation, and NRCS grass-type data. The resulting insights allow producers to evaluate individual animal efficiency, such as how much forage it takes a cow to wean a given calf, and to make more precise genetic selection, culling, and management decisions based on real unit economics rather than decades-old assumptions like standard animal unit metrics. The discussion also highlights the platform’s role in reproductive management. The ear tags automate estrus, calving alerts, and mounting scores, enabling producers to better time synchronization, avoid wasting expensive hormones and semen on poorly timed animals, and track return-to-estrus and predicted next estrus windows through intuitive dashboards. On the grazing side, Shane explains how integrating Ceres Tag data with range management software such as RangeView by INVU allows producers to combine biomass estimates with real-time utilization patterns. This supports more accurate stocking decisions, grazing rotations, and use of leased ground, which is increasingly important given high land prices and drought pressure. Shane emphasizes that Ceres Tag operates as an open-platform, API-driven system compatible with multiple ranch management and range software solutions. Producers can choose and change software partners while retaining their historical data. He stresses that the goal is not to replace producer knowledge, but to provide unprecedented, peer-reviewed, externally validated data that helps ranchers improve efficiency, profitability, and ultimately the long-term viability and legacy of family ranch operations.   For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Cattle Empire LLC

Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Trista Brown Priest, Chief Executive Officer for Cattle Empire. Cattle Empire, LLC is a family owned and operate custom cattle feeding operation in Satana, Kansas. Cattle Empire has been a leader in the industry for nearly 50 years and is in the third generation of Brown Family Management.  Trista describes growing up in Satanta and initially intending never to return after attending Kansas State University, where she earned degrees in management, marketing, and an MBA in agricultural economics and finance. Graduating during the 2008 financial crisis brought her back to the family’s enterprises, first managing a dairy repair business and ultimately committing to Cattle Empire. She recounts the company’s origins in 1978, when her grandfather Paul Brown began feeding cattle as a hedge to farming. A pivotal moment occurred during a failed Alabama backgrounding partnership, where thousands of supposed cattle did not exist. Her father, Roy Brown, then an agricultural bankruptcy attorney, navigated the legal aftermath while Paul secured financing to make customers whole. That decision, widely noted in the cattle community, fueled rapid expansion from roughly 12,000–15,000 head to a peak capacity of about 250,000 head, making Cattle Empire the fifth-largest cattle feeder in the United States. Following the deaths of Trista’s grandparents, the family executed a major restructuring. To buy out Roy’s siblings, three-quarters of the business were sold in 2018, and the operation was right-sized to roughly 50,000–51,000 head, now owned by Roy and Laura Brown and daughters Trista and Becca. Today, Cattle Empire primarily feeds customer-owned heifers, manufactures its own feed, and runs a notable resale program that backgrounds and resells cattle to clients, supported by an educational blog series. Trista highlights several technological and management innovations, including a water reclamation system that recycles overflow tank water and reduces annual usage by about 20 percent, a new mill that improves steam-flaking efficiency, and the Alenco Pinpoint camera system for data-driven sorting into optimal marketing groups, adding carcass weight and value for customers. She ties these operational decisions to broader themes of succession planning, work–life balance, and the emotional work of separating personal identity from the family business, while still leading a team-oriented, family-focused feedyard culture.   For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Welter Bros Inaugural Production Sale

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Aaron McKinney, he's the Field Editor for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits own with Jake and Nick Welter, Owners of Welter Bros Angus. In this episode, Jake and Nick will dive into the Welter Bros Inaugural Production Sale, held on May 15th, 2026, at 6PM CST, in Onslow, Iowa.  At Welter Bros Angus they've built their herd to deliver maternal strength, longevity, performance, and the kind of phenotype that stands out in the pasture. They believe maternal merit and pounds drive profitability, and take a practical, commercial-minded approach to their seedstock operation. Their motto is "If it doesn't work for our customers, it doesn't work for us". Jake and Nick describe how the dairy background of previous generations shaped their philosophy toward maternal function, fertility, structure, and longevity. As teenagers, they began AI’ing commercial cows, gradually building a purebred Angus herd and moving to a closed bull battery based entirely on their own genetics. Today, their program emphasizes proven cow families, embryo work from elite donors, and cattle that balance phenotype with carcass and performance traits that work for commercial customers. Much of the discussion highlights specific sale offerings for the May 15, 2026, evening sale at the farm near Onslow, Iowa. The brothers walk through key bulls, beginning with Nobility sons that are maternal siblings to PA Ultra, followed by War Buck progeny out of a high‑carcass donor and several bulls backed by influential cows like PA Rita 079, the C 773 line, and the 955 Pathfinder matriarch. They stress strong EPD packages, carcass merit, ribeye and IMF ratios, and structural quality, frequently referencing multi‑generation performance records. The interview also covers Musgrave Colossal and related sons, Woodhill Evergreen and blueprint-related cattle, power bulls like Magnum 28 from the Morning Jill 539 cow family, and a group of mature bulls consigned by Foots Brothers, including maternal and full siblings to Cracker Jack. Jake and Nick then outline five elite open heifers, led by a Nobility daughter that is a full sister to lead bulls in the sale, along with Pinnacle, Commerce, and Isabelle-line females designed to generate future herd builders. The episode concludes with practical sale details, including the May 15 sale date, free trucking within 250 miles, bulls ready to ship immediately and held until June 15, and the availability of online bidding through DV Auction, supported by the CK6 crew and other industry professionals.   For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Ectoparasites with Dr. Will McCauley

Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Dr. Will McCauley, Director of Industry and Government Relations Manager for Medgene. In this episode, Dr. McCauley and Dustin will dive into everything ectoparasites including, some examples of ectoparasites, how they harm cattle, and some preventative measures producers can take to minimize their damage.  A three-time graduate of Texas A&M University, Dr. McCauley earned his DVM and MBA in 2012 and 2010, respectively. His career spans clinical practice, regulatory leadership, and corporate relations, including his previous role as Director of Corporate Relations at the Texas A&M Foundation. He is heavily involved in professional advocacy, serving on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors and maintaining active roles with the AVMA and the Brazos Valley VMA. Dr. McCauley explains that ectoparasites cause harm in two primary ways: as vectors transmitting infectious diseases and as a direct drag on performance. He highlights ticks as a major economic concern, noting that they cause billions of dollars in losses globally, largely due to the diseases they spread rather than their feeding alone. A timely example is Theileria, a blood-borne protozoan transmitted by the invasive Asian longhorned tick, which is spreading across parts of the United States and producing clinical signs similar to anaplasmosis, including anemia, lethargy, respiratory difficulty, and jaundice. Ectoparasites also reduce productivity even when they are not transmitting disease. Horn flies illustrate this second category of harm. These flies are widespread and feed aggressively, biting cattle dozens of times per day. High fly pressure leads to behavioral changes—such as bunching in corners, seeking shade or brush, or standing in ponds—that reduce grazing time, slow weight gain, and decrease milk production, resulting in substantial economic losses for producers. Dr. McCauley reviews traditional control methods such as medicated ear tags, pour-ons, and fly bags, noting that their effectiveness has declined over time due to parasite resistance and longer parasite seasons associated with milder winters. He then describes Medgene’s prescription platform vaccines, which take a generational approach by reducing parasite populations over time, largely by decreasing reproductive output rather than causing an immediate knockdown. Because these are prescription products, he emphasizes the importance of a strong veterinarian–client–patient relationship and a multi-tool strategy that combines vaccines with other management practices to sustainably manage ectoparasite pressure and protect herd productivity. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]