October 24, 2009
Marianna, Fla.

On Saturday, October 24, 2009 Southern Cattle Co. held their annual bull sale at their sale facility located on the ranch in Marianna, Fla. The Less Feed More Gain Bull sale held two firsts for Southern Cattle Co. One being that this was the first time that Brangus bulls sold and the second being this is the first time that Angus bulls sold with a feed efficiency EPD. The feed efficiency EPD has been three years in the making. Southern has been in partnership with the University of Florida for the last three years in testing cattle on their Grow Safe system. Now that 9000 head have been tested an EPD could be generated. As explained in the presentations by Lee Leachman and Dr. Cliff Lamb the night before the sale, this is truly industry changing technology and Southern is a true feed efficiency pioneer.

The Brangus bulls for this year's sale were raised by members of the Southern Alliance Program. This is a group of premier breeders from across the United States that have aligned themselves with Southern to market top quality Brangus genetics to other seedstock producers and commercial cattlemen. Only the best from each program is put into the Alliance offering and it showed. The quality was deep from top to bottom and the buyers responded well.

The top Brangus bull to sell that day was raised by Hengst Brothers Brangus of Giddings, Texas. He was lot 120 SCC HBB Henderson 916U a son of Henderson of Brinks 30S7. This bull has it all, lots of power and eye appeal with a set of EPDs that put him in the top of the breed. Star G Brangus of Canton, Texas outlasted all of the other bidders with a final bid of $10,000.

Select Sires purchased lot 126 SCC Roberts Henderson 409U3 for $5,100. Another son of Henderson of Brinks 30S7. I am sure we have not seen the last of this young herd sire prospect as semen is sure to be on the market soon.

Southern Cattle Co showed they believe in what their alliance members produce by purchasing lot 121 for $5,000 from Indian Hills Ranch of Cranfills Gap, Texas. SCC IH Warrior 222T6 is a volume packed, heavily muscled son of SR Wrangler Warrior R520.

Lot 150, SCC HBB Henderson 49U9 led the Brangus bull yearling offering. What another tremendous son of Henderson of Brinks 30S7. Todd Garrett of Midleothian, Texas won the bid at $4,000.

The top selling Angus bull was lot 1 Southern Rito 75018. He was the most feed efficient bull in the sale and was purchased by Leachman Cattle of Wellington, Colo. and Eagle Pass Ranch, Steve Munger of Mansfield, S.D. for $16,000.

The second high selling Angus bull was lot 6 Southern Predestined 75123. He is a solid well balanced Predestined son that boasts both feed efficiency and outstanding carcass data. The University of Illinois outlasted all of the bidders for a final bid of $10,000.

The next top selling Angus bull was Southern Objective 75217. Amzie Sherling of Fairhope, Ala. won the final bid. This Objective son has it all, a great phenotype with an impeccable set of numbers. He was the top selling $B bull with an impressive +72.36 $B.

Southern Gulf Wind 75203 lead the Charolais bulls. What a way to start! This bull shows it all, a low BW EPD but still packed with performance. Not only are his numbers impressive but he has eye appeal to spare. Terry Weatherly took him home with a final bid of $3,000.