The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Kathleen and Bob Buchanan along with the “Kindergarten Crew” (aka their border collies) don’t just love it, they live for it.
“We make it work,” says Kathleen. “It’s a lifestyle, it’s a love. You have to love the cattle, the good, the bad and the ugly.”
“But you don’t have to own the bad and the ugly!” finishes her husband.
These Klamath Falls, Oregon, producers have strayed away from the bad and the ugly cattle. Instead they raise Angus seedstock that perform for their customers helping them earn Certified Angus Beef ® premiums and grades better than 70% Choice.
Kathleen and Bob describe themselves as “hands on” and “micromanagers.” In order to serve their customers and bottom line the best they can, they are meticulous about each part of their operation.
“Anybody in the industry has access to the same AI sires that we do,” says Bob. “So what has to set us apart is our cow herd, our selection and our management.
(And as a West coast girl, I’ll say that Western hospitality doesn’t hurt one bit, either.)
That’s why this couple travels across the nation to select their herd sires, involved in every step of each animal’s life from selecting the genetics to dropping them off at the customer’s house.
With the Kindergarten Crew tagging along, they feed their own bulls and manage their annual sale so as to be involved in every step of the process from AI to turnout.
“We want to be responsible for everything along the chain,” says Bob.
A reputation for honesty in their product, genetic performance and a sale that exudes “Western hospitality” has kept some customers coming back for more than 30 years.
Their customers who look for thickness, easy keepers, marbling and maternal traits are supplied by a husband-and-wife team who concentrate on breeding cattle that grow to make quality carcasses.
“If we had a mission statement it would be to raise cattle that are good for the industry and good for the breed,” says Kathy.
It’s that mission that has helped them sort through the good, the bad and the ugly to provide their customers with quality Angus seedstock today.
Until next time,
Nicole
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