INSIGHTS FROM DONNELL
D ear Friends,
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the test of time. At R.A. Brown Ranch, we believe our role is to help you do just that. Our focus is on cattle that balance fertility, efficiency, and profitability. Goldilocks-sized cows—not too big, not too small, but just right—fit the environment, rebreed on time, and raise efficient calves. Marbling con - tinues to be the most reliable driver of premiums, and we see no reason to stop selecting for it. Efficiency matters, whether it’s reproductive or feed efficiency, because profit continues to resonate around “doing more with less.” Our bulls are developed for lon - gevity, on a high-fiber, low-starch diet that strengthens their rumens, joints, and feet. None have had their feet trimmed. We want them to thrive on grass and go to work in real-world ranch conditions with your cows. It is a tradition to give fine china and other long lasting momentos as wedding gifts. I have heard it said: Paper plates serve a meal; fine china serves a heritage. Thirty-four years ago, people blessed us with keepsakes we still enjoy, but more importantly with their prayers and presence. While planning our honey - moon we called a friend in the real estate business searching for a great place to stay while in Montana. He said he had the ideal spot and he assured us: “the price will be right.” We arrived to find the most immac - ulate home with gorgeous mountain views, a wood burning stove and flowing hot springs that filled a hot tub. Worried that the price would be well out of our budget, he simply said, “Just leave the woodpile a little higher.” That life-lesson stuck with us — always leave things better than you found them. I’m thankful for the four generations before us who did just that. And I’m thankful for the chance to work
Ranching is a great life and a great way to make a living. We are in the most profitable times in history to be in this business. Market fundamen - tals point to something we rarely see—sustained strength that could last several years. Why? The reasons are clear: 1. Strong Demand. Consumers love high-quality beef, and they’re willing to pay for it. In less than 20 years, we’ve moved from 55% Choice & Prime to nearly 85%, and produc - tion of Prime beef has quadrupled to 12%. At R.A. Brown Ranch, our carcass test herd recently graded 78% Prime. 2. Low Supply. U.S. cowherd num - bers are at record lows. Add in the closure of the Mexican border and limited imports from other coun - tries as well as the fact that global supplies are tight. It will take several years to change the global supply and we still haven’t seen strong evidence that heifer retention has started yet. “PAPER PLATES SERVE A MEAL; FINE CHINA SERVES A HERITAGE.” 3. Record Prices Expected to Stay. Economists predict high cattle prices for at least two to five years. With phenomenal grass growing weather and today’s calf to bred-female price ratio among the best in history, it looks like a good time to rebuild cow herds. 4. Produce What the Customer Wants. When supply eventually rises again, the gap between high-quality cattle and everything else will only widen. That’s why it’s wise to invest some of your record profits in genet - ics and management that will stand
alongside our children and grand - children as they learn the same les - sons. Our ranch is a living laboratory where they experience birth, growth, maturity, and sometimes even loss in a variety of ways—and where they learn that hard work, wise decisions, and faith build character and strong communities. We invite you to join us October 7–8 here in Throckmorton. Come share a chuckwagon meal, visit with our crew, and see nearly 1,000 head of bulls, females, and horses designed to improve your profitability. Join us for lunch Tuesday and stay for our educational program covering market updates, screw worm status, replacement heifer selection with DNA tools, EPDs made simple, and our Rancher’s Sustainable Angus Alliance calf buy-back program. Whether you are a longtime cus - tomer or considering us for the first time, thank you for letting our family be part of yours. Together, let’s leave the woodpile higher.
With gratitude,
“Keeping the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch.”
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