Hello All:

Preparations for our upcoming bull and bred heifer sale continue. On March 11, 2023 we plan to offer around 60 bulls and 40 bred heifers for sale to the highest bidder. They look fantastic! Over the Christmas break we’ve been delighted to have Ashley home, and she has helped sort, tag, weigh, tattoo, measure hip height, evaluate and video the bulls and heifers. If you want to know about a particular animal, she is the one to contact. I manage the forest as she takes care of the trees. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Now, one reason it’s hard for me to market is because I basically need to explain to people why our product is better. That, to me, is kinda like boasting. I wrestle with that. However, when I know what is true about our program and compare that to what I see, have experienced and weigh as motivations for other programs, I can’t simply market by saying, “Please buy our bulls.” It is my OBLIGATION to point you to a better way. I suppose it’s bovine evangelism of sorts. If you really care about someone you will point out the booger on their face and hand them a Kleenex.

ICE Cattle is RELENTLESS when culling animals. An animal with problems MUST NOT end up in your herd and produce more animals with problems, especially bulls (50% of the genetic makeup of your herd replacements). We start with top notch and proven grazing genetics (that finish as the best beef anywhere in our grass-fed and grain-fed beef programs). We then apply more pressure than any other seedstock producer (and probably many commercial producers) in our development program. Finally, we cull…HARD! During evaluations we did even more culling. Our motivation is two-fold: Prevent problems from multiplying AND provide animals to our grass and grain fed beef programs. Because my marketing skills are so poor (I haven’t been able to convince large numbers to buy our bulls), we actually make nearly as much off of our beef sales (per animal) as we do our seedstock sales. I hope one day that changes (otherwise producing seedstock is too much work compared to producing beef), but I realize it takes time to reputation build.

Big encouragement to me: Over the past couple of years, we have developed a valuable friendship and professional relationship with a customer who is also a DVM. I have asked him to write out his thoughts regarding our program. I plan to share those thoughts starting in this update. As per his request, I will keep the source confidential. His quotes:

“Per our discussion, your goals in the herd selection process are to pursue a set of genetics that will provide elite maternal females to producers’ herds and identify the best genetics to convert forage to meat.  These, of course, go hand-in-hand. 

“I think many seedstock producers attempt to market the ‘perfect combination of maternal and growth/carcass traits.’ Some have built strong programs.  On a track team, there are 300 lb, big powerful throwers, 180 lb, muscular sprinters, and 125 lb, slightly-built distance runners.  There are also some 165 lb decathletes that are pretty good at a lot of things.  I think some breeders have done a good job of producing “decathlete” cattle, but what appeals to me about your operation is that you are pursuing elite forage-system beef animals, not decathletes.  Rarely does a decathlete beat the specialists in their event. Now with that said, I’m confident you haven’t neglected carcass traits either, as your expanding freezer beef program shows.  But you have an established goal, which I think is critically important.”    Customer/DVM

Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’”

Are you ever stunned at how easily you anger? I hope not…but I am. By God’s GENEROUS provision I have nothing to complain about yet do so constantly. I do not have because I am wise or mighty but because God is the Author of wisdom and might; His will and decrees come to pass. EVERY decision is from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33). WHATEVER situation you find yourself in, high or low (especially high perhaps), repent, believe, and PRAY. May God’s grace be with you and your family, and may you see His finger writing the story of your life.

Lanny