On the road with Dusty: Missouri - August 2026

Just last week I made a set of consulting herd calls that were truly exciting for so many reasons. First, I truly appreciate the confidence that others place in us that allows us to be a part of their journey as great seedstock producers. These breeders are just that, they are hard decision makers that put themselves on the line and have moved the needle so much in the several years since I had been there last. Also, I found it remarkable to see a small group of neighbors that each breed their cattle with a different direction in mind all while sharing certain genetics.

While the best cattle all have basic traits in common (structural correctness, muscling, capacity), there is always room for a little variation in type. Further, in a three-breed composite it is definitely possible to select full and half siblings that can bring a unique piece into a breeding program.

Within this group of Beefmaster breeders this was abundantly obvious as they managed to select and sort so many sibling matings into herds with a set type and kind. In one herd replacements were kept that are more in line with a “Foundation” look. These are hardy females that may not always be the flashiest nor trendy in type but they possess the basic requirements of productive cow. In this herd they do so without being common looking but rather having excess muscle, capacity, bone, etc. Another end of the spectrum was a much flashier make and model of cow. These possessed similar basic parts but did so with a higher neck attachment, a little more femineity, hook and pin bones that were a little more squared. These females had a ton of eye appeal and had a similar performance profile to boot.

In the end, it was such a fascinating set of herd calls because of these standout breeders. They all manage to chart a course for themselves while building off of a similar set of genetic building blocks. As they continue to select their next replacement females, and their future herd sires, I’m proud to stand alongside of them to keep objectivity while they pursue the future of their programs!