Data Decides The Bulls At Keller Broken Heart Ranch & Beef Checkoff Updates

Join me Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and my crew as we find out how data decides the bulls at Keller Broken Heart Ranch.  Using technology to provide the top bulls to customers.  Plus sale recaps, cattle sale info and market commentary that you will only get on this all new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.

Season 5, EPISODE 226

Data Decides The Bulls At Keller Broken Heart Ranch & Beef Checkoff Updates Using Technology At Keller Broken Heart Ranch For Bull Selection Genetics That Combine Data & Functionality

At Keller Broken Heart Ranch, great cattle are more than just numbers—they must also look and function well. This philosophy has produced standout donor cows like WS Miss Sugar C4 and BarCK 106Z, whose offspring consistently lead the herd and excel in other breeding programs nationwide.

These cows and their progeny have shaped the Keller herd’s genetics, with their descendants now leading the charge in improving carcass traits and maintaining physical quality. Sons of these donors are used in AI programs, and daughters have become foundational to future breeding success.

A Vision For Continuous Improvement

The Kellers embrace the mindset of lifelong learners, always striving to improve their herd. By mating cattle on paper and analyzing performance data, leveraging RightMate by Allied Genetic Resources, the Keller Broken Heart Ranch achieves uniformity in their herd without sacrificing performance. Focus on data-driven decision-making has become the cornerstone of their success.

This commitment to innovation and adaptability ensures that Keller Broken Heart Ranch remains a leader in the Simmental and SimAngus industries, producing cattle that excel in data, performance, and visual appeal.

The Future Outlook 

The ranch remains steadfast in its mission: to improve the herd. By annually selling 120 bulls and 80 heifers, the Kellers stay dedicated to producing cattle with high marks on the ASA (American Simmental Association) All-Purpose Index (API) and Terminal Index (TI).

Some Say The DOGE Should Look At The Beef Checkoff

According to Meating Place, the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America or R-CALF, CEO Bill Bullard encouraged ranchers and cattlemen to reach out to President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to request the agency audit the USDA’s Beef Checkoff Program.  Bullard said that we’ve long argued that the beef checkoff program, which is a USDA program that requires cattle producers to pay $1 for every head of cattle they sell; and it collects about $70 million each year, which he says, much of that comes from producers who do not support the mandatory government program.  He went on to say that while the beef checkoff program is supposed to fund education, promotion and research for beef, and not fund lobbying, evidence of abuse has surfaced and an independent audit report found that $216,000 of mandatory producer contributions had been misspent.

The Beef Checkoff has strong cattle producer support, according to The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and undergoes annual audits and posts that information on their website.

NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane told Meating Place that the Beef Checkoff is an example of individual farmers and ranchers coming together to create a program that conducts research, educates consumers and builds demand for beef with a return on investment to producers of $13.41 for every $1 invested—all while operating with annual financial audits, strict oversight and at no cos