Herd Dispersals

On the heels of another announcement of a herd dispersal of the Han-Du herd, along with Star Lake Farms dispersal. I know this drought is bad and a lot of us are cutting back, why disperse the herd? I know Star Lake isn't a good representation because they are just getting out while they are on top but Han-Du just kind of dispersed. Any thoughts or ideas?

I'm not familiar with them at all, but there very, very few high end purebred operations that truly make money at it over the long haul.  Drought rarely forces someone to give up if its their way of life.  If its an expensive toy, sometimes they look for a reason to bail.  Plenty of toy Angus ranches come and go all the time, and there's more money in the Angus business than any other.

There is usually a number of reasons that any outfit decides to disperse. I am sure that the Han-du decision is based on several reasons as well. The drought may have been a factor, but it may not have even been a consideration. I'm sure they have legitamite reasons and we have to respect their decisions. Their herd is a small herd, and I think the kids are now grown and possibly not at home now, so that alone may be one of the factors in the decision. Dispersals do not necessarily mean a firm is gone for good. I have seen several operations disperse and come back into a breed ( or different breed) after a few years away. I know that there have been many dispersal decisions brought on by the drought which is probably an economic decision, but as far as I know, they haven't stopped making cows and I am sure that when times get better, many of these outfits will be back in the business. It is unfortunate and kinda sad, but Mother Nature can be a wicked old woman at times.

What is the average life expectancy of a purebred cattle herd?  3 to 5 years?  Maybe less.  If you're chasing a dollar or a ribbon, chances are it won't last long.  Some are started as a 4-H project and scatter when the kids go off to college.  Hats off to those of us that have kept plugging away all those years.  Next year will be the 50th for us.  Next week we'll be showing in our 47th consecutive Iowa State Fair.  I know I'm not looking forward to limping my way to the tieouts again, but I am looking forward to another trip to Ye Olde Mill with the grandkids!  Funny how your priorities change over the years from brushing to family time at the fair.  I know there are lots of herds out there older than ours.  My congratulations.  You are the true backbone of the industry.

What about Limestone Angus in Oklahoma, as well? Neosho Farms Red Angus in Missouri was another sad note, although that was about 6 or 7 years ago.

GB

Limestone really surprises me.  We've got two of their bulls.  But again, example of a place that was funded with big money made somewhere else.  The cow business has to be in your blood to stick it out.

chambero said:

Limestone really surprises me.  We've got two of their bulls.  But again, example of a place that was funded with big money made somewhere else.  The cow business has to be in your blood to stick it out.

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Any example of a place that was funded with big money made on the ranch?

-XBAR- said:

chambero said:

Limestone really surprises me.  We've got two of their bulls.  But again, example of a place that was funded with big money made somewhere else.  The cow business has to be in your blood to stick it out.

Click to expand...

Any example of a place that was funded with big money made on the ranch?

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Gardiner Angus Ranch is really the only one that comes to mind that might fit that criteria.  They were one of the founders out at US Premium (which has made them a ton of money, but wouldn't this be ranch related).

nate53 said:

-XBAR- said:

chambero said:

Limestone really surprises me.  We've got two of their bulls.  But again, example of a place that was funded with big money made somewhere else.  The cow business has to be in your blood to stick it out.

Click to expand...

Any example of a place that was funded with big money made on the ranch?

Click to expand...

Gardiner Angus Ranch is really the only one that comes to mind that might fit that criteria.  They were one of the founders out at US Premium (which has made them a ton of money, but wouldn't this be ranch related).

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Right, I've always been a fan of Predestined.

-XBAR- said:

chambero said:

Limestone really surprises me.  We've got two of their bulls.  But again, example of a place that was funded with big money made somewhere else.  The cow business has to be in your blood to stick it out.

Click to expand...

Any example of a place that was funded with big money made on the ranch?

Click to expand...

Primarily its the thousands of ranches most of us have never heard of who's land has been in their family for decades and multiple generations.  There are a whole lot of very financially successful cattle operations - commercial, purebred, club calf, etc - that don't have to advertise constantly to get their animals sold. 

But some of the better known examples I'm most familiar with on the Angus side include Sitz up in Montana, RA Brown in Texas, and Conneally's in Nebraska.  Particularly in Texas, there's a difference between cattle operations that have had oil windfalls and guys who made a lot of money in the oil busienss and then bought land.  The Waggoner estate is an example of the former.  There's probably a lot of places that were first established 100 years ago off of money from somewhere else but have since been a long-term viable ranch. 

I know one Hereford place that will be dispersing.  They have enough embryos in the tank to be back in with the same genetics in a couple of years.  Dispersal does not necessarily mean gone. 

I have a good friend that every year sends some calves back to the big boys to play with.  He doesn't have a web site or a marketing campaign.  He simply sells a few good ones and has the buyers coming to him.  One of the best club calf mama bulls came from his place.  The bull was old when he was discovered by the rest of the world.  Sent a draft of heifers east that did some winning and everyone was wondering who that bull was.  It is about raising good cattle consistently that makes the difference.