Rain, Snow, Sleet or Hail…Rancher’s Feed without Fail

It seems like all we’ve talked about the past couple of years is the drought and because of that we have experienced some very mild winters.  However, it is shaping up to be much different winter this year.  Just a month or so into what we consider “winter” here in NE Oklahoma, we’ve experienced dramatic temperature swings, episodes of ice and snow and yesterday stared a blustery -6 in the face as we A.I.’ed cows with a wind chill of -20.  Having, said all that, I don’t want it to sound like a complaint for the moisture.  Even the snow we have received has been so dry that you couldn’t even make a good snowball out of it, much less a snowman, which has disappointed young kiddos in the area greatly!

Chopping ice keeps animals with water and from falling through the ice.

But, I think it is important as agriculturalists to really let the public and our consumers, know what it truly means to be a rancher and a caretaker of the land and the four-legged bovines that graze it.  For any of you that have worked an 8 to 5 job in town or for that matter attended public school know that when the weather gets rough, most close unless they are necessary like grocery stores, shopping centers, some government offices, health providers and transportation departments.  And even then, only the necessary employees must report.  If it takes you a little longer to get to work or you need to head out early to beat the refreeze that is typically okay too.  Now, I want to be quick to point out, I don’t want it to sound like I am saying 8 to 5 people shut down, because they don’t.  Many employees take work home with them in anticipation of upcoming weather events. 

But, as much as you may take your work home with you mentally if you’re a rancher, you can’t take it home physically.  You just can’t feed and chop water from the comfort of your living room with a cup of cocoa or coffee.  Just because the weather is bad does not give ranchers a hall pass to stay home.  In fact, it is during those times that we as ranchers work our hardest.  Leading up to the bad weather, when warning is available, we begin by moving cattle to appropriate shelter and putting out extra hay for bedding and for food.  We feed a little heavier, ride pens a little harder trying to stay on top of the health during the inclement weather and once it hits we spend most of our time driving from pasture to pasture and pen to pen making sure the water gets chopped on the ponds, hay is rolled out so that they can bed down appropriately and that they continue to receive the necessary feed to maintain their energy levels.  Extra feed is like a warm bowl of soup to cattle and hay is like putting on a good heavy comforter or quilt on a cold winter’s night when they use it for a layer of bedding between them and the frozen, snow covered ground.

Yesterday was a prime example on how work just does not stop for anything around a ranch.  We set up a group of cows to breed about a month ago for yesterday.  They were all synced to come in heat (or cycle) Monday morning.  Now, it would have been nice to have set at home all weekend and enjoyed the NFL playoffs, but instead knowing what was coming in on Sunday, all our cowboys were out making extra preparations and went ahead and set everything up for the A.I. breed Monday morning on Saturday, leaving nothing to chance.  You see with A.I. breeding, it really makes no difference whether the temperature  is -6 degrees or 110 degrees.  It is a scheduled event and no matter what the elements the show must go on as scheduled.  Now, if you don’t think a few people were vying to be the A.I. tech’s assistant in the breeding box where it is slightly warmer than the outside elements and the wind is blocked off of you, well you would be correct. 

A breeding box controls noise, weather and provides a better environment for  A.I.

Now, it is bitterly cold today and we do have snow on the ground, but this is mild in comparison to the blizzard of 2010, one of the worst in state history in this area.  The news media was pleading with the public to not go out at any cost.  As the snow blew in and the drifts began to build, my husband and I both went to our jobs at the Ranch.  He left myself and our 1 ½ year old son, our daycare was closed as it should have been, at the office to answer the phones and take care of getting things the cowboys needed.  He went out and started around to all the ranch divisions right around Vinita while talking to our two divisions further out in Wann, Okla. and SE Kansas.  At one point the visibility and risk of stranding a cowboy became too great and business was called off for the day, but as soon as the blizzard stopped we each got back out and stared down a daunting list of to dos in very inclement weather.  It was so bad that a piece of heavy equipment staged in town was brought out to get us out of the house so we could return to our daily duties.    As each day passed the roads became more passable and within a few weeks you couldn’t even tell it had been there.  We literally had a 50 degree swing in temperature within three days.

We are not alone in experiencing any of these major winter events or caring for our animals in a similar manner.  We saw Facebook and blog posts from friends and ranchers this weekend all over the Midwest with similar stories, baby calves in back seats of extended and four-door pickups, bathtubs, houses, etc.  Nothing is too unusual to see this time of year and just like you welcome in house guests, we welcome in the four-legged kind.

Hay rolled out for bedding and for grazing purposes.

And yes, owning or running a ranch is a business and cattle are the commodity or the product we produce, however, you can’t shut them down like you can a lumber mill or something else.  And ranchers take this responsibility very personally.   We may not have every hoof on the place named, but many of us have our “favorites” within our herds and we care for these animals just like we do our children to some extent.  And sometimes we fail, just this last fall, we saw a devastating blizzard hit in the Dakota’s earlier than in the past.  Those ranchers through no fault of their own or the weather caster’s for that matter, were simply caught off guard.  This freak event was covered by news media nationwide.  It was devastating to watch our fellow ranchers struggle to get feed to their animals or try to get them out of snow drifts.  Anyone who has raised an animal like that knows the sinking feeling you get when you simply cannot get to them all.  There was a significant loss of cattle during that storm, however, it could have been worse and to add to the blow of that loss was a group of individuals who found fault with the ranchers, not with Mother Nature. 

As you go to the grocery store or as you pull your favorite meal off the grill or out of the oven, think about the coldest, most extreme weather event of recent (for some of you this won’t be hard) and then thank a rancher.  From birth to the point it reaches a consumer's plate, some facet of the beef industry has taken care of that animal for well over 18 to 21 months in wind, snow, sleet and hail.

We would like to personally thank all of our cowboys who work on days like today in freezing temperatures, merciless snow and wind chills, and through the weekend to ensure that our cattle are properly fed and maintained.  We would also like to thank their families for understanding why they go out early and come home late and even many times for their kids and wives that join in on those days and weekends to get the job done.  Ranching is a family affair and it is a way of life. 

Ratcliff Ranches to Host Curt Pate

If you’re throwing a rope, riding a bike or a horse, you know practice makes perfect.  Animal handling is much the same.  With the emphasis of our industry focusing on sustainability from both an environmental and economic standpoint to animal welfare/handling issues, Ratcliff Ranches is proud to have joined with the Oklahoma Beef Council and Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet Medica, Inc. to host Curt Pate.  This two session event will allow for individuals to choose the type of handling they utilize in their own operation and learn from one of the most sought after animal clinicians in the industry.

Both sessions will be hosted Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Ratcliff Ranches.  The first session will be more geared to individuals who solely handle or gather their animals predominately using a horse.  This event will begin at 10 a.m. at Ratcliff Ranches Temple Grandin Designed facility located northeast of Vinita, Okla. and conclude at 2 p.m. The second session will begin with registration and dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Ratcliff Ranches sale headquarters located just 2 miles north of Vinita.   A short animal health presentation will be delivered by Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet Medica, Inc. and at 7 p.m. the demonstration and clinic will begin.  This session will focus on handling cattle on foot or by ATV.



Pate on his own ranch working cattle

For more than a decade, Curt Pate has been holding demonstrations and clinics on stockmanship and safety.  His ability to take his knowledge and communicate it to the industry and public has made him a sought after resource both in the US, but also worldwide.  Handling animals in a safe and humane manner doesn’t only make sense from the animal’s welfare perspective, but also from an economic standpoint as well.  By handling animals in a safe and humane manner throughout their life makes input costs less and makes them easier to process, work and move.

Pate’s personal experience incorporates effective stockmanship principles that supports a “for profit” mindset and focuses on the increased economic benefits of handling stock correctly. 

This philosophy mirrors that of Ratcliff Ranches and its Chief Executive Officer Heath Kohler.  “We (Ratcliff Ranches) are really focused on doing things the right way.  In fact, we made it a priority to contact the local extension office and the Oklahoma Beef Council to offer a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification workshop in our area,” said Kohler.  In October, Kohler had all current day help along with the Ranch division managers attend and achieve BQA certification. 

“I feel this workshop is the next step after BQA certification for our operation.  By adding another layer to our handling/processing skills, we can demonstrate to the public and the consumer that we are focused on producing a quality product as humanely and efficiently as possible,” said Kohler.  In addition, Kohler also stated he felt “Ratcliff Ranches has a responsibility as neighbors and as fellow cattlemen to offer our facilities through this partnership with Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet Medica, Inc. and the Oklahoma Beef Council so that others can have this same opportunity to improve their handling skills.”



Pate teaches a variety of techniques for moving cattle on foot or on horse/ATV

While at a meeting with herd veterinarian Dr. Clint Gardner, Pryor Veterinary Hospital and Kara Jett, Cattle Territory Manager, Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet Medica, Inc., Kohler and the group discussed the need for this type of opportunity in this area.  This discussion resulted in the idea to have a sponsored event similar to that offered at Joplin Regional Stockyards for individuals in NE Oklahoma and the four-state region of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas who would like to attend.

Dr. Clint Gardner, who sees cattle on a daily basis in his practice and out on farm/ranch calls sees first-hand the difference in how animals are handled and how that effects the health of the animal.  “Proper cattle handling is paramount from a cattle stress standpoint.  Stress is directly correlated to respiratory disease and disease in general, for that matter,” said Dr. Gardener.  In addition, he notes “cattle that are handled properly are not only more productive, but are simply safer to be around.”

This cooperative sponsored event by the Oklahoma Beef Council, Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet Medica, Inc. and Ratcliff Ranches is truly a unique opportunity for the producers in the area.  We encourage everyone who can to attend.  The knowledge and skills you will have the opportunity to leave with our numerous and will pay dividends to your bottom line and to the health and safety of you and your herd.

This event is free to the public and industry, however, to ensure enough seating and food, the sponsors request you RSVP to attend.  To RSVP, for more information or directions, contact Kim Kohler by phone at 918-244-8022 or by e-mail at kim@ratcliffranch.com.

Ratcliff Ranches Hosts 10th Annual Customer Appreciation Sale in Conjunction with their Fall Production Sale

You couldn’t have asked for nicer weather or for a better crowd on November 9, 2013 at the Ratcliff Ranches sale headquarters just north of Vinita, Okla.  The crowd was full of seasoned customers and cattlemen, but also had a crowd of younger and new to the industry cattlemen as well.  The Ranch sold nearly 75 Angus and SimAngus bulls, both heifer bulls and production oriented bulls to the crowd.  In addition the Ranch and its customer consignors, Fryin’ Pan Angus Ranch, Pawhuska, Okla; Irwin Cattle Co., Oswego, Kansas.; Lazy K Cattle Company, Bluejacket, Okla; and new consignor Jimmie Hollanback of Jay, Okla.; sold nearly 800 head of females and their offspring through the sale ring to a crowd of ready  to restock cattle producers.



Matt Caldwell and Jeff Hallowell taking bids during sale.

The sale grossed $1.71 million and sold 870 head of cattle in just a little shy of 3 ½ hours. The auction, always quick paced thanks to Auctioneer Matt Sims and the Ratcliff Ranch crew, was more than Ratcliff Ranches CEO Heath Kohler had hoped for.  Going into the sale it was a given that with many areas less drought-stricken than recent years and with the input costs coming down for feeding animals in the near future that folks were looking to restock.  Thoughts were heifer bulls would be in high demand and with producers looking to add spring bred heifers due to carrying costs these ladies would also be right up there.

The females were in high demand and were steady from start to finish.

However, the market was definitely exciting and unprecedented for recent years.  The Angus bulls, both the yearlings and the 18-month-olds, averaged $3460 while the SimAngus bulls, often used for hybrid-vigor, were also in demand and averaged $4538 per bull.  The bull sale grossed $272,350.00.  Ratcliff Ranches offered fall first-calving heifer pairs as well as some mature fall calving cow-calf pairs.  The first calf heifer pairs averaged $2678/pair and the mature cow offering averaged $2563/pair.  Ratcliff Ranches also consigned over 280 head of spring bred heifers that averaged $2164/head.  These females will begin calving in February and end in April. 

“I was very humbled at our Fall Bull sale by the packed house actively and aggressively bidding on a set of quality replacement females, with a strong demand for both breds and pairs and for the high demand for quality genetics with proven performance during this rebuilding stage of our industry,”  said Ratcliff Ranches Chief Executive Officer Heath Kohler.  “As we go forward, Ratcliff Ranches along with our customer consignors, look forward to being an integral part of the rebuilding efforts of the cattle producers in our region.  It is an opportunity we all have within this industry to challenge ourselves to genetically engineer quality cattle at an extreme efficiency level for the ups and downs in the markets,” he further remarked.

Ratcliff Ranch Customer consignor's didn’t have any problem finding a buyer in the crowd for their spring breds as well. These ladies averaged $2153/head.  Their mature cow-calf pairs averaged $2334/pair.   

The stands were full and the bidding quick on November 9th.

The Ranch also consigned some mature spring bred cows for those not wanting to calve out heifers next spring.  They averaged $2022/head and ranged in age from 3-7 years of age. 

The sale concluded with a semi load of Ratcliff Ranches fall open heifers that were ready to breed.  In fact, those ladies recently left and have already been set up for a scheduled A.I. at the end of the month.  The open heifers averaged $1384/head.

The top selling bull, RRJS Upgrade 233Z, sold for $10,000 and the next three top selling bulls averaged over $8834/head.  All four bulls were purchased by long-time Ratcliff Ranch Customers Mike and Beth Perkins, Lee Harris Farms, of Bentonville, Ark.  The top ten buyers of bulls and females included: Ashwood, Jenks, OK; Clyde Thomas, Jay Ok.; Hartley Cattle, Ada, OK; Coal Investments, Miami, OK; Cattlemen’s Choice, Paola, KS; Yazel Cattle Co., Kiowa, KS; Riddle Farms LLC, Cape Fair, MO; Argene Clanton, Vinita, OK; Newton’s RR Ranch, Gentry, AR; and Blackjack Farms, LLC, Seminole, OK. 

Ratcliff Ranches runs over 4,000 head of registered Angus, commercial Angus, registered SimAngus, commercial SimAngus and F1 Hereford Angus Cows on 28,000 acres.  The Ranch also producers a large number of registered bulls for in-herd use and for customers.   Ratcliff Ranches is proud to participate in various reproductive studies with Genex and the University of Missouri to advance not only its herd but the herds of other cattlemen in the US through its participations in these large scale studies.

For more information on future Ratcliff Ranch sales or genetics see our website at www.ratcliffranches.com or contact Heath Kohler at 918-244-8025 or by e-mail at heath@ratcliffranch.com. 

 

Videos Available of American Royal Simmental Sale Lots...These Ladies sell Nov. 2nd!

Ratcliff Ranches has consigned four really, fancy show heifer prospects at the American Royal Simmental Sale.  This sale will be held Friday, November 2nd at 6 p.m. in the Wagstaff Sale Center at the American Royal.

Lot 13 RRJS Miss Upgrade 205Y is one you will really fall in love with.  She is a well-made female that combines bone, muscle and power in a very feminine package.  She has a great disposition, which is a real plus for a junior show person.  She has has had two outs this fall at the Missouri State Fair and the Iowa State Fair where she placed high both times in her class/division.  She drew a lot of attention at both shows due to her super-cool phenotype.  She is out of RR Lady 3403, one of our donors that always has the top-selling lots in our sale.  Her bulls have been awesome and her females have went on to win in the show ring and made great donors themselves.



Lot 14 RRJS Miss Upgrade 708Y is a purebred Simmental female who is the complete package.  She will not disappoint when you see her in person.  A long-skeleton female with lots of power and rib shape.  She is super-sound on the move.  If you're looking for a heifer to be a force to reckon with in the show ring and make a great donor one day, this one just might be for you!



Lot 15 RRJS Miss Upgrade 704Y is an October female and is full of donor potential.  She has a powerful pedigree with Upgrade as her sire and the well known RR Miss Morrision 8020 donor cow from Ratcliff Ranch.  She is moderate in size, feminine made but with the muscle and depth of body that anyone would like to see standing in their front pasture.




Lot 31 RRJS Miss Steel 203Z is a spring born heifer out of Steel Force.  She has all the right pieces to be a successful show heifer.  She is sound, deep-sided and has a cool front.  She has the phenotype to put you in the front of the class at any breed or jackpot show in the spring.  Her look will even compete against the tough cross bred heifers.
 
If you attend in person, please be sure to look up Utopia Genetics for any additional questions you have on these females or feel free to contact Heath at 918-244-8025.

Finishing Touches...

The leaves are turning, the air is thinking about being crisp in the morning and with all of this seasonal change, it is time to get in high gear for the upcoming sale.  The sale catalog will be mailed the middle of next week to our mailing list.  If you're not on it and you would like to be, simply shoot us an e-mail at heath@ratcliffranch.com and we'll get you added.

You're going to like what you see in the catalog.  We have an outstanding set of 45 Angus and 21 SimAngus bulls out of leading sires like Grass Master, Bismarck, Broadside, Grand Torino and Frontman.  The SimAngus offering is no slouch either with an awesome lead-off bull out of donor cow RR Idessa 3651 and Upgrade.  Make sure you pay attention to Lot 50, he is quite possibly the best half-blood bull offered to date here at RR.  The SimAngus sires include Upgrade, Steel Force and the first two Frog bulls every sold at auction at Ratcliff Ranches.  Many of these bulls are out of great donors like the Camilla family, Idessa Family and the Ruth family that Ratcliff Ranch is so well-known for.  In addition, we are introducing a few new donor cows to our auction line-up.  These ladies will be producing bulls for Ratcliff Ranches and our sale for years to come.  The offering includes low-birth weight bulls as well as bulls with high-growth potential.  There is truly something for everyone!

The female offering won't disappoint either!  We're offering nearly 850+ head.  Ratcliff Ranches is consigning 150 Fall 1st calf pairs, many A.I. sired calves by Right answer.  These calves will be selling SAV through IMI Global; 40 Fall pairs (3-Yr.-Old to 8-Yr.-Old); 400 Spring bred heifers, many with A.I. service; 150 3-Year-Old to 4-Year old spring calving cows; 40 Angus Cows (4-Yr.-Old to 7-Yr.-Old - papers optional); And open heifers.

There will be a generous offering of Steel Force daughters and granddaughters in the sale.

Videos will be available online soon as well.  The guys are shooting the female videos today.

Ratcliff Ranch “Right off the Ranch” Spring Production Sale Exceeds $1 M

Ratcliff Ranch’s Spring Production Sale featuring nearly 50 bulls and over 450 females, some with calves at side brought in a little over $1 million in sales during the Saturday April 6th sale.

The much-needed inch of rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the customers in attendance, even with a 15-minute rain delay of sale. The sale was speedy and lasted a little shy of two hours. Auctioneer Matt Sims of MCS Auction, kept the crowds hands high and often, especially during the spring calving pairs and heavy springers.

The high selling bull, RR Pioneer 0517 out of the great Shady Brook Ruth donor cow, rang the bell at $10,000 and sold to Fryin’ Pan Angus Ranch in Pawhuska, Okla. The 47 bulls averaged a little shy of $4,200; the SimAngus bulls averaged nearly $4,600.00/head.

“The demand for 18-month old SimAngus bulls was evident as they held high through almost the entire SimAngus sale,” Ratcliff Ranch Manager Heath Kohler said.

Hands down the most in demand and highest garnered offering were the spring calving cow-calf pairs and the heavy springers. With nearly one-third left to calve out the group averaged nearly $2,800 and the highest lots sold for $3,100 per cow/calf pair.

After just coming out of a drought in most of the region and not very much vegetation guaranteed this year, the price of our spring calving females was hard to believe. “It just made me wish we had consigned more spring pairs,” Kohler jokingly stated after coming off the sale block.

The ranch also offered a set of fall bred heifers ultrasound safe in calf (by sex) to its customers. This offering was a part of a study that the Ranch participated in with Genex and the University of Missouri. These 18-month-old heifers averaged $1,572/head and the open ready-to-breed heifers averaged $1,224/head.

“This is one of the best sets of commercial spring calving cows we have offered at our sale to our customers,” Ratcliff Ranch Owner Jim Ratcliff stated. “At 78, it is nice to have a set of cows sell that well following a drought and it speaks to the value of females in your herd at this time.”

The top 10 buyers at the sale, which was made up of both bulls and commercial female purchasers, were Stonehill Farms, Miami, Okla.; Gray Oaks Ranch, Wagoner, Okla; Wilmoth & Sons, Mt. Vernon, MO.; Motley Ranch, Drexel, MO; Fenske Farms, Monett, MO; Chris Harrall, Springdale, Ark; John Alleman, Quapaw, Okla.; Downing Cattle, Grove, Okla.; Jeffers Cattle Co., Wagoner, Okla.; and Dixon Cattle Company, Paola, Kan.

Ratcliff Ranch Partners with Genex and University of Missouri in Study

Ratcliff Ranch partnered a few months ago with Genex and the University of Missouri in a sexed semen study. Females were A.I.’d to sexed semen at Mark Yazel Cattle, the growyard used to develop Ratcliff Ranch replacements, and at Ratcliff Ranches’ Blackwell facility, just outside of Vinita.

The motivation behind the study came from Ranch Manager Heath Kohler’s interest in the Genex 14-day Cidr protocol. After talking with Stan Lock at Genex in depth about the protocol, Stan mentioned that the University of Missouri was looking to do a study in sexed semen. After some discussion, this intrigued Heath as well as Jim Ratcliff.

“A.I. is really the only way to utilize the best genetics out there,” said Heath Kohler, “Working with Stan and the rest of the Genex crew made it effortless.”

Kohler pointed out that he just guided Stan and his crew in the direction of the cattle to be bred and gave minimum instruction. The chute-side services portion offered by Genex ran smooth, the paper work was in great order and couldn’t have been a better experience.

To find out more about the chute side services offered by Genex or to hear more about this experience and more on Ratcliff Ranch and our operation check out the video on youtube at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KffbHTugpGc

The results of the study will be recapped on our website at a later date. Pregnancy checks were just conducted and are currently being inputted into the study.

For more information on Ratcliff Ranch or this study, please contact Heath Kohler at 918.244.8025.

April Production Sale to Be Held April 7th

Ratcliff Ranch will be holding its annual spring production sale Saturday, April 7th at noon in Vinita, Okla.

This sale will feature some of the best and in-demand genetics anyone in the four-state area has to offer. If you desire ranch-ready bulls and functional females then you won’t want to miss out. The Ranch will be offering 65 service-age Angus and SimAngus bulls, featuring Grass Master, Steel Force and Upgrade genetics among other leading sires.

In addition, the ranch will also be offering 200 spring pairs, 300 fall-bred heifers and one load of open heifers ready to breed. Bred females have had A.I. service to bulls like Right Answer, Dakota Gold and Bismarck. These functional females will lay down and have a calf that will put money in your pocket every time!

“Ratcliff Ranch not only produces cattle for our customers, but also for our self. We demand genetics that are not only phenotypically correct, but also demand premiums for their high grading capability.” Ratcliff Ranch Manager Heath Kohler said.

“Utilizing our generations of proven genetics and constantly testing for traits that are desirable not only in the production side but also the meat side helps the Ranch and our customers stay in the genetic forefront of competitors.”

Catalogs with bull information and pedigrees will be mailed the middle of March. DVAuction videos of both the bull and female offerings will be posted online at www.ratcliffranches.com approximately the same time.

Cattle will be available for viewing all-day Friday prior to the sale. Donuts and coffee will be served sale morning and a lunch will be served prior to the auction start at noon.

To request a sale catalog or to join the mailing list, please contact Kim Kohler by phone at 918.256.5561 or 918.244.8025 or e-mail her at kim@ratcliffranch.com. For more information on the bulls or females in the sale, please contact Heath Kohler at 918.244.8025 or e-mail heath@ratcliffranch.com.

Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?

This time of the year, it seems too at Ratcliff Ranch. As we finish the final details for our trip south to the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Commercial Heifer Show & Sale, Ft. Worth seems to be top of the mind. We finished clipping everything out last week, took videos this week and are currently getting out all the tack to load in the trailer.

With two pens, 20 Angus and SimAngus heifers bred to Dakota Gold, and a crew of three we will head south on Wednesday. Our Angus entry is a very nice, moderate set of big-bellied females that are all granddaughters of the famous Angus great EXT. The SimAngus entry is just as equally nice. These Steel Force Daughters have the look for club-calf production or the front pasture. Both entries were A.I.’d to Dakota Gold, a curve-bending herd sire with a -1.9 for birth EPD all the way to 102 for yearling EPD. These ladies have already began calving and if you have checked out the prices for weaned calves, you know that you already have a nice pocket full of cash with each live baby you get at side! We hope to see you at the Ft. Worth Stock Show and at the Auction on Saturday, February 4th at 3:30 p.m. in the West Sales Arena.

For more information or to meet up with the Ratcliff Ranch crew at Ft. Worth, please contact 918.244.8025 or e-mail heath@ratcliffranch.com.

Females to Sell in Ft. Worth in Conjuction with the FWSS

In addition, Ratcliff Ranch will be participating in the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Commercial Heifer Show and Sale the first weekend in February. The Ranch will be entering at least one pen of pairs and one set close to becoming pairs from high-demand genetics like Steel Force. These females are A.I. safe to Dakota Gold. Ratcliff Ranches has been one of the premier exhibitors and high sellers in this program for a number of years. Unfortunately, due to the extreme blizzard that occurred in February 2011, the Ranch was unable to compete and sell.

The Ranch is looking forward to taking a great offering of females to the 2012 event. For more information, please contact the office at 918-256-5561 or Heath Kohler at 918-244-8025.

Bulls Still Available Private Treaty

Although you might not have had the opportunity to make it to our bull sale, don’t be concerned that you have missed out on the opportunity to purchase Ratcliff Ranch bulls for this breeding season or next. The Ranch has a select group of private treaty bulls that are currently available to the public. These bulls are from popular and desirable blood lines and both Angus and SimAngus breeding age bulls are available.
All bulls are sold with a one (1) breeding season guarantee. For more information on the bulls that are available or to schedule a visit to pick out a bull, please contact Ratcliff Ranch Manager Heath Kohler at 918-244-8025. E-mail inquiries are also welcome at heath@ratcliffranch.com.

Ratcliff Ranch Combines Production & Customer Appreciation Sale

Ratcliff Ranch has combined its annual Fall Production & Customer Appreciation Sale this year. The sale
will be held Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Ranch headquarters in Vinita, Okla. The sale will
feature 110 Angus and SimAngus bulls that are Ranch Ready.

In addition, the sale will feature nearly 1,000 females consisting of Ratcliff Ranch females and Ratcliff
Ranch Customers’ females. Fall pairs, spring bred heifers and cows will also be available for purchase.
“This is by far one of the stoutest bull offerings we have ever auctioned,” said Ratcliff Ranch Manager
Heath Kohler. “We are also selling a significant number of A.I. bred cattle and some Steel Force
daughters during the sale.”

Individual videos of the bulls will be available around October 20th along with a select number of female
videos. More videos will be added every few days after. Opportunities to see the bulls in person will be
available at both the OCA Fall Gathering and the SW Missouri Cattlemen’s events on October 20 and
October 27th.

A more detailed listing of the offering is available on our sale page.
For more information, please contact the office at 918-256-5561 or Heath Kohler at 918-244-8025.

Ratcliff Ranch Hosts Record Crowds and Boasts Record Sales

The field was full of trailers and vehicles as prospective buyers pulled up the flag-lined drive. Although the wind was sharp, it didn’t deter people from getting out in the pens and inspecting the offering of bulls and females.

The stands were full as Mr. Ratcliff introduced the color guard and the national anthem and the prayer were given. Shortly after introductions, the sale began with Matt Sims opening with the Angus bulls. A total of 55 Angus bulls sold for an average of a little over $4,700/head. A few shy of 30 SimAngus bulls sold next and averaged a little over $3,600/head.

Auctioneer Ronn Cunningham co-sold the bulls and the females with Matt Sims. A total of 638 females, with a little over 170 fall calving pairs. The averages for the females ranged from $1730 for fall pairs to a little over $1400 for spring calving cows. A set of fancy spring 11 females were offered and averaged nearly $1400/head.

Genetics that were highlighted in this offering ranged from Grass Master, Anticipation, Final Answer, Steel Force and Upgrade in the bulls. Females were mainly Angus genetics with some Steel Force daughters and Emulation Granddaughters, mainly A.I. serviced to leading breed sires.

For more information or to find out about the next Ratcliff Ranch sale offering, please contact the office at 918-256-5561. Bulls are available by private treaty year round, or as long as they last.

Long-time Customer Feature: Larry Skeets – Branch, Ark.

Larry Skeets, Age 70 Skeets Ranch, Branch, AR

Background: Larry and his wife, Linda, have been in the cattle business on a full-time basis for nearly 25 years and prior to that on a part-time basis. Larry and his son, Mac, also operate 10 poultry houses in addition to 200 head of cows. Their commercial cow-calf operation is located in the Arkansas River Valley, 10 miles off the river in the Ozarks. The grass is 75% Bermuda and 25% fescue. The Skeets utilize all the litter from their poultry houses to fertilize their pastures.

What made you decide to become a commercial cattleman? We were in the crossbred cattle business, raising Brahman/Hereford cross cattle. We found they were ineffective to market. We had excellent quality cattle, but couldn’t get what we deserved for the quality, so we sold out.

We were going to replace them with Angus cattle, and we had the idea that we could just go out and replace them with a 100 Angus cattle and be back in business the next day. It wasn’t that easy.

How did you become a customer of Ratcliff Ranches? I had several bulls go bad at the same time and it was about to be a train wreck. We were right in the middle of breeding season. I kept seeing ads for Ratcliff Ranches and so I called Billy Hall one day right in before a sale. We purchased several bulls in 1999 and have been a repeat customer ever since.

Do you purchase just bulls? No, we have a 60-day calving window in the spring and fall. We buy the majority of our replacement heifers through Ratcliff Ranch and their sales, mostly bred heifers. Since we have good grass, we can develop a heifer pretty good and put her into our breeding program.

How have you got along with Ratcliff Ranch cattle? Great, fantastic, like I said we have two calving seasons, spring and fall, and I can’t remember when Ratcliff Ranch didn’t buy my calves since 2001. In addition, I asked Billy about marketing some of his bulls in my area, to develop a local market. It’s been successful for both parties. Some are repeat customers; others will buy a bull and then purchase a bull or females direct from Ratcliff Ranch the next time. It has gotten the Ratcliff Ranch name out in my area and we have served a multitude of people, probably 50 or 60. It’s been very good.

Do you have any support on the ranch? My son, Mac, is an integral part of our operation. He handles the majority of the day-to-day operations. He has two boys Tyler and Slade. He is a full-time Dad, full-time rancher and a full-time chicken grower.

How important is it to have a program that you market to? It’s imperative; you just have to do it. You can move from one program to another, but you need to find your niche and stay with it. It just takes out some of the responsibility, burden and doubt. Marketing calves through Ratcliff Ranch just eliminates the hassle. If you have a relationship with someone and you buy your bulls from one place and three of them wreck, you simply get in your truck drive there load it up and then your back in business. Having a program, gets me back to doing the things that I do better.

Do you follow you calves through the feedlot? Yes, our calves are fed mainly through Chappell Feedlot and Tom Williams. Our calves grade, we very seldom have a select calf and when we do we will go out and take a look at the cow. When we have looked at the cow, it is amazing to us how nobody noticed she wasn’t giving enough milk or that she didn’t have that great of a calf. It is important for us to realize this also, as it is how we get better.

Ranch to Host Two Cattlemen’s Groups Oct. 20 & Oct. 27

The Ranch will be busy at the end of October. With sale efforts well under way, the Ranch will host the
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s NE District Fall Gathering Meeting on October 20, followed a week
later by the SW Missouri Cattlemen’s Association on October 27.

“In addition to finding out the issues relevant to cattlemen in your area, it’s a great opportunity to get
an in-person preview of the sale offering, as all the bulls will be at the headquarters along with a large
offering of the females,” said Ratcliff Ranch Manager Heath Kohler.

The OCA Fall Gathering event will begin 5:45 p.m. with an open tour of the ranch and the sale cattle.
The meeting will begin with dinner and entertainment at 6:30 p.m. The OCA staff will advise members
of issues they feel relevant to the cattle industry and the legislative issues they will be addressing in the
2012 legislative session. The “Gathering” will also feature a theft update and prevention tips as well as
an animal health presentation sponsored by Merck.

This is the kick-off to the OCA’s annual membership drive. Ratcliff Ranch encourages OCA members and
non-members to attend this informative and informal meeting. Any new members joining during the
OCA Fall Gatherings will be entered to win an ultimate grand prize courtesy of the OCA.

The following Thursday, Oct. 27, the SW Missouri Cattlemen’s Association will also visit the ranch and
tour the Temple Grandin Blackwell working facility around 4:30 p.m., just outside of Vinita. The group
will return around 5:30 p.m. to the sale facility to view sale cattle and to enjoy a meal at 6:15 p.m.
Both events will feature Heritage Ranch Brand meat and more information about the program will be
presented. Representatives from both the Ranch and Heritage will be available for any questions.

We look forward to seeing some of you in attendance. If you are interested in attending, please R.S.V.P.
to the girls at the office at 918-256-5561.

A Career Born of Autism: Grandin Leaves Legacy of Change

We hear a lot these days about people who turn tragedy, illness or disease into a winning situation. In
this case, Temple Grandin turned autism into a career, one that has been filled with success, much in
part to her ability to see and sense as animals do. Although misunderstood and ridiculed most of her childhood and adolescence, Ms. Grandin found her purpose in life while in college, touring slaughterhouses and feedlots. Even going as far as figuring out a way to fit in where only men had fit in before.

Temple was born with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. As displayed in the movie Temple Grandin the noise of a fan or the simply swaying of a curtain would not frighten or evoke unease in others, but to Temple it was terrifying. While on her aunt’s farm she watched the cattle being worked and saw how quickly they calmed down while in the squeeze chute. One day, although very unorthodox, she used the chute to calm herself down and found it to be extremely soothing and relaxing.

While working on her college degree she had the opportunity to tour several slaughterhouses and feedlots and identified areas in which both needed to be improved to handle the animals in a manner that was not frightening or dangerous to their well-being. Over time she started to design working facilities and feedlots and through her connections was able to slowly integrate those plans into actual designs that are still utilized today.

It can be as simple as the radius of a turn in a tub of a working facility or in a feedlot the grid pattern in the concrete floor, but those simple attentions to detail have earned Temple Grandin a reputation second to none on being a foremost expert on animal handling and animal sensory perception. That is why in the late 90s Ratcliff Ranch approached Ms. Grandin about designing the new beef working facility for the Blackwell Ranch north of Vinita, Oklahoma.

“Prior to building the facility, we researched various designers of working facility and determined that Ms. Grandin saw things the way we saw it. We wanted her to design a facility that made working the cattle easier, more efficient with the least stress possible on the animal going through the chute,” said Ratcliff Ranch Owner Jim Ratcliff. She designed the barn, the tub, helped us with the choice of chute and then the half-moon of traps with five doors operated by hydraulics.

The facility is used for everything including weaning, yearly and routine calf working/processing, sorting and readying calves for the feedlot, artificial insemination, pregnancy checks and occasional embryo work.

According to the ranch hands, the attention to detail that Ms. Grandin put in the facility goes as far as even the height of the barn and the length of tin from the roofline to promote an area free from changing shadows based on the time of day the cattle are worked. Those details seem so minute to others, but yet to her are so important and are important to the animal’s comfort as well.

Ratcliff Ranch is planning on utilizing the services of Ms. Grandin again in the near future when they enlist her help in reworking the backside of the sale facility. Auctions are very loud and very quick with lots of abrupt sounds. The more that can be done to keep an animal calm prior to it entering the ring, means ultimately more money in the ranch pocket and less stress to the animal. In addition, a portable working chute and tub will be added for work around the headquarter facility.

It wasn’t inexpensive to build the Blackwell facility, but it has proved to be money well spent and Ratcliff Ranch is proud to have such a premier working facility that is both functional and practical. And more than that Ratcliff Ranch is proud to join Temple in her efforts to promote calm and humane cattle handling. Each of the calves on the ranch are born with a purpose, rather it be to be seedstock, semen sires, replacement females or ultimately a steak on a plate.

But no matter their lot in life, it is the Ranch’s goal to do it in a manner that is non-harmful and stressful to the animal. Ratcliff Ranches is glad Temple Grandin and her family didn’t let people’s perception of autism
deter her from not only a rewarding career, but a blueprint for the humane treatment of animals.

2011 Ratcliff Ranches. All rights reserved.

Grass Master & Okla. Sec. of Agriculture Spark Interest in Argentine Breeder’s Minds Offspring displayed in Genex Tour; Jim Reese speaks to Agriculture’s importance

Ratcliff Ranch was a part of a multi-state tour that was a joint venture between Genex and a major semen distributor in Argentina. Nearly 50 people, including the Argentines, Genex representatives and various legislative staff members joined Ratcliff Ranch to see first-hand the results of the genetic and phenotype footprint that Grass Master is leaving on his progeny.

The group was met by a driveway lined with flags from both Argentina and the U.S. The tour began with a brief welcome from Ratcliff Ranch followed immediately by a field trip to the Blackwell facility located just outside Vinita. This premier livestock handling facility was designed by well-known animal behavior specialist Temple Grandin. The Argentines and guests watched as the cowboys worked through a set of cows in a quick and quiet fashion.

“Building the Blackwell working facility was one of the best investments we have ever made. By handling our cattle in a humane and calm manner allows us to have higher conception rates during breeding, less trauma and stress to the animal at working time and ultimately leads to more dollars in our pocket,” said Ratcliff Ranch Owner Jim Ratcliff.

Upon returning to the RR headquarters, the group was able to truly see the impact of Grass Master through both his daughters and sons that were on display.

Representatives from Sinclair Cattle Company and Ratcliff Ranch were available to answer specific performance questions including the remarkable carcass data his first progeny to be graded have turned in.

Following the viewing of the Grass Master progeny, the group was introduced to the Heritage Ranch program and Unger Meat through a multi-course dinner. This dinner featured some of the fine meat available through this premier source and age verified program prepared by Unger Meat Executive Chef Damion Tittle. The chef prepared meals local in flavor to Argentina. Heritage Ranch Brand Director of Cattle Operations and Ratcliff Ranch Advisor Billy Hall spoke to the group about the premiums available and the quality of the cattle that are a part of Heritage Ranch program.

In addition, he also talked about the ability to trace food from the hoof to the plate, as well as the marketing opportunities to available to ranchers participating in this program. Restaurants and grocers have the ability to “tell the story” of the ranch through various promotional items and menu inserts. Each box has detailed
traceability through a unique bar code that can be scanned. This bar code will identify the exact ranch that produced the cattle that will be served.

The evening concluded with featured speaker Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese. Recently appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin, Reese has previous experience at a national level with the USDA. He spoke on the importance of agriculture in general as well as its direct impact in Oklahoma. “Some industries in Oklahoma just pass around money to each other; but agriculture actually creates money by producing food and fiber,” Reese said. He also stated that the possibility of increased exports of cattle and beef genetics is good for Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma is the second-largest producer of beef cows in the nation at a little more than 2 million head, and we are the fourth largest producer in the nation of cattle and calves at 5.4 million head, said Associate Agriculture Commissioner Blayne Arthur.

The evening concluded with Ratcliff Ranch owner Jim Ratcliff and Sec. Reese presenting each of the Argentines with an “Honorary Oklahoma Rancher” Certificate and a hat token of the state and the ranch.

“It was a true pleasure to show-off our Grass Master progeny and to interact with the Argentine breeders. It is something we look forward to doing more in the future. The opportunities for Ratcliff Ranch and our customers through our genetics and new affiliation with Heritage Ranch are very exciting,” said Ratcliff.