From the Fall 2005 issue of the Isa Informer

“I won’t bother you about black bulls again”

I’d like to share with you a funny story involving our longtime friends and customers, the Wedgeworths of Carthage, Texas. They raise straight Beefmaster commercial cows and have bought excellent-quality Isa Cattle Company bulls for years. They keep all their heifers and feed all their calves in the Panhandle.

Last year, their feedyard had a new manager, fresh from Kansas. When he saw the calves, he started in about how they needed to use black bulls, how the cattle would have a high cost of gain, etc., etc. Jody said, “Thanks. Now feed them.”

About halfway through the feed period, the manager called and was surprised to report that the Wedgeworth calves were boasting a cost of gain of around .48 cents, placing them in the top 10% of all calves in the Panhandle!

You Beefmaster folks know the rest of the story—the Wedgeworth Beefmaster steers hit a home run! Of the 164 head, only one died, they gained 3.8 pounds per day at a cost of .47 cents. They sold for $84 and netted the ranch $652 after interest. The first pen was bought by National Farms, and, unfortunately, Jody wasn’t able to get the carcass data. He knows it was good, though, because National Farms returned to buy the other pen a week later.

After it was all over, the feedyard manager from Kansas told Jody, “I’m not going to bother you about black bulls anymore.”

Congratulations to the Wedgeworths on not chasing fads, not taking discounts and maximizing their profitability in all phases of their business!

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