Ranch It Up Radio Show & Podcast

Episode: Top Simmental & SimAngus Genetics & Beef Industry News
Hosts: Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt & Rebecca “BEC” Wanner
Date: November 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into major happenings in the beef industry, spotlighting both the challenges and the evolving practices among ranchers. Tigger and BEC begin with impactful news on beef processing plants and market dynamics, then shift focus to breeding strategies and business restructuring, highlighting the case of Keller Broken Heart Ranch and their innovative approach to Simmental and SimAngus genetics. The show also features industry voices, current cattle market insights, and useful ranching tips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beef Plant Closures, Meat Pack Pricing, and Industry Impact

[00:42 – 04:10]

• Tyson beef plant closure (Lexington, NE): Recent closure sparked concerns over pricing, market dynamics, and beef supply security.
• Industry concentration: The “Big Four” (JBS, Cargill, Tyson, National Beef) command 85% of U.S. beef processing.
  • “…up from just 36% in 1980. Two of these companies, including the largest meat packer in the world, are either foreign owned or have significant foreign ownership…” – BEC [01:43]
• Price-fixing accusations: President Trump called for a DOJ investigation; Tyson/Cargill settled a price-inflation lawsuit for $87.5M.
• Expert analysis:
  • Dr. David Anderson (Texas A&M):
    • Packers are losing money due to tight cattle supply and rising live cattle prices.
    • “If they had real market power, they wouldn’t be losing money…The core issue…is tight cattle supply.” – Anderson quoted by BEC [02:42]
  • Herd rebuilding is slow—biological limits mean high prices will persist.
  • “A calf born last spring won’t have its first calf until 2027…We can’t beat biology.” – BEC summarizing Anderson [03:34]
• Price snapshot: Ground beef averages $6.33/lb, up 11% year-over-year [02:34].

2. Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) Update

[04:10 – 06:28]

• Outbreak at WPRA World Finals (Waco, TX): 29 confirmed EHV-1 cases across multiple states.
• Transmission & Impact: Highly contagious; causes fever, coughing, aborted pregnancies in mares.
• Biosecurity reminders: Strict hygiene, isolation, and contact with veterinarians for abnormal symptoms are critical.
• Event impact: Some rodeo and equine events have been canceled or put on alert, including the Wrangler NFR.

3. Ranch Restructuring—Case Study: Keller Broken Heart Ranch

[08:19 – 18:52]

Tradition vs. Change in the Cattle Business

[08:19 – 11:20]

• Tigger notes two main rancher mindsets—sticking to tradition or innovating to adapt:
  • “The ultimate is really a blending of the two, in my opinion.” – Tigger [08:45]

Keller Broken Heart Ranch’s Big Shift

[11:20 – 18:52]

• Interview with Luke Keller:
  • The ranch is moving from its traditional spring bull and female sales to launching a new “Heart of the Herd” Elite Female Sale [13:48].
  • Reason for change: Managing herd growth more sustainably, financial considerations (cash flow, debt), operational flexibility.
    • “Sometimes you grow too fast… It gives us a chance to not calve out quite so many cows this coming spring.” – Luke Keller [11:35]
  • Sale focus: Entire top group of replacement bred heifers—“These would be the future herd… basically the top end of the very youngest, precious, best genetics in our herd.” – Luke Keller [13:48]
  • Genetic innovation:
    • The importance of maternal lines in advancing genetics, since most everyone can access the same leading AI bulls.
      • “The female is what makes the genetic difference…this sale gives people the opportunity for top maternal genetics.” – Luke Keller [14:12]
    • Special inclusion of elite young donor cows and representation cows to showcase maternal strength.
• Impact on future sales:
  • Bull sales will adjust (selling slightly fewer bulls, moving to offer more aged bulls in future).
  • “We’d like to move into selling more of that 18 month plus animal and probably having that [with] a red heifer and aged bull type sale.” – Luke Keller [17:39]

Notable Quotes

• “There’s not a darn thing wrong with restructuring…Step back and analyze where we’re at, what we’re doing, why we’re doing it in the first darn place.” – Tigger [12:30]
• “What an opportunity to come in and…cherry pick, because here we’ve got a hundred females that in the past you would have kept…now you’ve said, we’ve got to draw the line somewhere.” – Tigger [15:17]

4. Cattle Markets Recap with Kirk Donsbach

[21:06 – 24:12]

• Major news:

  • Trump removes Brazilian beef tariffs.
  • Tyson plant closure echoes prior market disruptions.
  • Cattle on Feed Report: “placements at historically low levels, but generally neutral news” [22:07].

• Weekly statistics:

  • January Feeder Futures: $314.30, down $5.87 from last week.
  • December Live Cattle: $214.25, down $4.65.
  • Slaughter numbers higher than previous week yet below last year.
  • Carcass weights at historic highs: 890 lbs, up 33 lbs from last year.
  • Production down year-to-date: -7.1%; slaughter down 4.4%.

• Quote:

  • “…The old adage that Thanksgiving is for the bears and Christmas is for the bulls seem to be like that’s going to come true.” – Kirk Donsbach [24:05]

5. Ranch Tips & Practical Innovations

[24:12 – 25:47]

• Cold weather cattle care:
  • Clip from Shea Warner (Casual Cattle Conversations) and Rocky Brown about innovative winter watering solutions.
  • Discusses Watson Manufacturing’s continuous flow water system for preventing tank freeze.
  • “It’ll keep just a little bit of a ring of water around the outside of this valve so it doesn’t freeze in…” – Rocky Brown [25:19]

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On market challenges:
  • “If they had real market power, they wouldn’t be losing money. Right now, ground beef averages $6.33 a pound…” – BEC quoting Anderson [02:42]
• On ranch adaptation:
  • “There’s not a darn thing wrong with restructuring…analyze where we’re at, what we’re doing, why we’re doing it in the first darn place.” – Tigger [12:30]
• On genetic advantages:
  • “The female is what makes the genetic difference…this sale gives people the opportunity for top maternal genetics.” – Luke Keller [14:12]
• On innovation in water systems:
  • “You want to keep [the copper tube] like 4 to potentially even 6 inches below your float here so that it doesn't freeze in...” – Rocky Brown [25:19]
• On herd rebuilding:
  • “A calf born last spring won’t have its first calf until 2027…We can’t beat biology.” – BEC [03:34]

Key Takeaways

• The beef industry faces complex challenges: high prices, supply constraints, market concentration, and shifting operations.
• Tradition meets adaptation: Keller Broken Heart Ranch exemplifies strategic restructuring—leveraging top genetics for the broader industry.
• Maternal genetics are increasingly valued as key differentiators, given widespread access to popular AI bulls.
• Wider trends and practical tips are shared, from managing herd growth to dealing with cold weather challenges.

Important Segment Timestamps

• Beef industry & plant closures: [00:42 – 04:10]
• Equine Herpesvirus update: [04:10 – 06:28]
• Keller Broken Heart Ranch interview (Luke Keller): [11:20 – 18:52]
• Cattle Market recap (Kirk Donsbach): [21:06 – 24:12]
• Winter watering innovation (Rocky Brown): [24:37 – 25:37]

This episode is rich with insight for ranchers, industry professionals, and anyone interested in the future of beef production—balancing time-honored tradition with forward-thinking strategies.