Let’s visit the family-run Sonne Farms from Mt Vernon, South Dakota! Cole Sonne is changing the way the world looks at farmers by inviting us behind the scenes into his life at Sonne Farms. He has amassed nearly 230k subscribers on YouTube and is referred to as, “someone to follow for all things farming.” The legacy of Sonne Farms begins with brothers who emigrated, without their parents, from Denmark to America through way of Ellis Island. George, a young teen at the time, served in the military for a number of years, and then dedicated his life to building a farm in South Dakota. George ..read more

This week’s story begins with a man named Robert Meyer who dreamed of one day becoming a successful ranch owner and registered Red Angus beef producer. He established Meyer Company Ranch in 1990 on an original homestead from the 1800s in Montana, and then quickly expanded with several land acquisitions in the following years. Meyer realized early-on in his career that his vision of consistently producing above-grade beef was possible through scientific intervention using embryo implants and artificial insemination. Having the power to manipulate the process gave Robert the control to develop ..read more

In this week’s edition, we will learn more about a family-run ranch in Rogers, New Mexico called Dewbre Cattle. Brandon and Julie Dewbre have owned and operated their cow-calf operation, Dewbre Cattle, since December 2011. The ranch’s emphasis is on producing high-quality replacement Angus females, registered Angus bulls, and beef shares.   In 1994 the ranch was owned and operated by a man named Randy Davis who, after working hard in the construction industry, was finally able to fulfill his life’s dream when he purchased the ranch for his family in New Mexico. After expanding the ranch ..read more

The Boss Vaccine Cooler by CattleVacBox is a favorite among our customers, and for good reason! The double-insulated cooler boasts a patented lift-out 6-compartment tray, three syringe holsters, and three heavy-duty metal latches (to name a few of its best features).   Thomas A. Edison famously said, “There’s a way to do it better – find it.” And so, armed with your feedback and a drive to create the best-possible product for customers, their vaccine investments, and their animals, we set out to innovate and improve The Boss cooler. Introducing: The New Boss Vaccine Cooler!   The ..read more

We are so excited to introduce Dr. Marissa Hake, a veterinarian from Ohio who specializes in cattle and calf care. As if her credentials as a veterinarian weren’t enough, Dr. Hake and her husband also own and operate Black Label Farms – a British White Park cow herd!   Farming is not new to the Hake family, as Dr. Marissa’s husband, Travis, is a 7th generation farmer! He works with his brother, father, and uncle farming corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa, in addition to hogs and cattle. Black Label Farms is, “a registered herd of British White Park cows, a beef brand, and a future ..read more

Is it your first-time using Sagebrush tags? We’re highly recommending using Sagebrush applicators because they are specifically designed for their own 1-piece and 2-piece tags. However, this does not mean that Sagebrush tags can only be applied with Sagebrush applicators. Other applicator brands can also be used for Sagebrush tags application.     SAGEBRUSH APPLICATORS (FOR 1-PIECE and 2-PIECE TAGS)    The Sagebrush 1-piece tag applicator comes in black and priced at $25 a piece. For 2-piece tags, the Sagebrush 2-piece tag applicator flaunts a black-red color combin ..read more

Between readability and retention issues, there doesn’t seem to be any perfect ear tags on the market. The tags that one rancher raves about might not work at all for the next. Here we go over the most common causes of low retention, and what you can do about it. Figure 1: Cattle Ear Tag and Tattoo Diagram (Source: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/beef/beef-cattle-record-keeping-basics/)   The root cause of most retention issues is man-made structures tearing out tags. What do I mean by that? Bale feeders, fencing, and other small spaces that cows can work their heads into can catch t ..read more

Disbudding or dehorning cattle is generally performed to minimize the risk of injuries to:    People – avoid any harm during feeding, handling, or transport  Other Cattle – reduces injury or death and loss of carcass  value at slaughter   Other Animal – reduce risk of harming your other animals such as horses or dogs     Ideally, the process should be performed while the calf is at its youngest age (before the horn buds grow and become fully attached to the frontal bone).     Disbudding vs. Dehorning  Disbudding is the remov ..read more

The needle exchange system is designed with 3 things in mind – safety, efficiency, and containment.   Here’s a step-by-step guide:   Insert old needle into the empty side of the needle exchange Rotate the syringe a quarter turn counter clockwise to unlock the old needle. Remove the sterile plastic cap on the new needle. Insert the tip of the syringe into the new needle, and turn it clockwise until the new needle is tight. Dispose of needle exchange with dirty needle in approved container.   Reminders: You can safely remove the old needle by inserting it into the removal si ..read more

You’ve probably done your research whether to brand your cattle or not, and you’re here in this article because you’ve decided to give it a go. Now, the next pressing matter that’s probably in your head right now is what branding process is better: freeze branding or hot branding? Let’s weigh in the pros and cons of each.   Hot Branding   Hot branding, hot-iron branding, or fire branding signifies the traditional way of pressing a hot iron to your cattle. This removes the hair and leaves a burn scar on the hide.   Pros: It’s easier, faster, and simpler than other branding pr ..read more