Bulls can be viewed at Eric Bowman’s feedlot, 1 mile south of Rhame, ND, until three days prior to the sale.
Welcome
Welcome to our 2026 annual bull sale!
On behalf of our operation, we would like to extend this catalog of information that contains our offering of Red Angus genetics to you. We hope that you find the information provided useful in sorting through the bulls we are offering this year. If there is additional information that you need that is not provided, please let us know, and we will get you the material needed to help you make the best decision possible.
We began our venture into Red Angus in 1985 and have been developing our genetics to flourish in our eastern Montana environment through the genetic selection of a specific type of cattle that will thrive in our conditions. We allow the pressure of the environment to aid in our genetic selection. Cattle that can’t breed in a short breeding season or raise an acceptable calf, all while not having any issues (feet, udder, disposition, fleshing ability), and bulls that can’t handle covering large numbers of synchronized cows or heifers work themselves out of a place to stay. We also spend time on the road viewing other operations that are like minded and place an emphasis on the economics of the cow/calf producer as a high priority. The time we spend seeing other genetics thriving in other operations and also producing all the traits we feel are necessary for profitability is what we consider to be a very valuable investment back into our operation.
Many will notice that we use some sires for many years. When we find sires that fit well, we will try to pull as much as that sire has to offer into our base herd to improve our genetics. This also breeds consistency into our herd with many half-sisters producing offspring that are uniform in type and kind. On the other hand, we are always bringing in new genetics that we have found to offer something different genetically while still aligning with our genetic model for profitability.
The year of 2025 has been a year of extremes in many aspects. The ranch was close to a drought most of the growing season but experienced above average moisture in late July and early August. These late rains provided a green up in our pastures that allowed our genetics to express their growth characteristics for the first time in many years. Our weaning weights are 50 + pounds better than they have been, which has carried over to the yearling weights in our offering being higher as well. The extremes were also experienced in the cattle market with the highest market prices seen ever!!! It is nice to see a beef market that allows the cow/calf producer to be profitable, but when we consider the costs of everything that we purchase to operate a ranch, the beef price hasn’t kept up with the expense side of our business equation.
The bulls in this offering will sell in catalog order. This order is arranged to begin with a pen of high-performance cow bulls followed by a pen of high-performance heifer bulls. The remaining of the sale is pens of bulls by sire group that allows for good bulls suitable for heifers and/or cows to be distributed throughout the sale.
Later measurements such as scrotal circumference and hip height will be available on our website and DV Auction as they are taken. As in the past, some of the bulls in the offering might be removed from the sale due to not passing a BSE (breeding soundness examination) prior to the sale. These bulls will be retested and offered private treaty once they pass their BSE.
May the Lord Bless you,
Bruce, Tena, and Jaclyn Ketchum Jeff, Cele, Blaze, and Ember Menees
As servants of the Lord, we are striving to be stewards of the land and cattle that He created and allowed us to manage so that we may glorify Him.
Bruce, Tena & Jaclyn Ketchum Jeff, Cele, Blaze and Ember Menees
Milk Creek Reds Bull Sale Saturday, March 21, 2026
1 p.m. MDT • Milk Creek Reds Ranch • Plevna, MT
SALE DAY LUNCH:
Complimentary lunch and pie will be served at 11:30 a.m.
SALE LOCATION:
At the Ranch (see map on page 2 for directions) 2093 Plevna Road South, Plevna, Mont. 406-778-3819
CATTLE VIEWING:
The bulls can be viewed at Bruce and Eric Bowman’s feedlot 1 mile south of Rhame, N.D., until March 18th. After this time the bulls will be at the ranch.
SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET
Supplemental Sheet with Updated Carcass EPDs, Scrotal Measurements, Frame Scores will be available online a few days before the sale and on sale day.
SALE VIDEO
The video of the sale cattle will be available to view by March 1, 2026 at www.milkcreekreds.com or www.dvauction.com. If you don’t have high speed internet or are unable to view the video over the internet, contact us for a DVD on the sale cattle.
SALE FORMAT:
Once again we will be offering the bulls through a rancher’s auction. We will have an auctioneer that will auction the sale in a relaxed atmosphere. Each interested buyer will be able to bid on the bull of their choice with low pressure and the ability to be comfortable.
Online bidding will take place on DVAuction. Go to www.dvauction.com.
PHONE ORDERS
Buyers unable to attend the sale may call or send their bids to the owners, Bruce or Tena Ketchum. If you would like to discuss the sale offering, call us and describe your needs and budget and we can select your genetics for you. We can bid on the animal for you and you pay only the bid price established by the auction. Bids are handled in confidence on all orders. If there are several people needing to use this method for the sale we will set up a conference call for you to call into during the sale. Please call a few days in advance if this is needed so that we may set this up and get you the necessary phone number and information ahead of sale time.
SALE CONTACTS:
Milk Creek Reds
Bruce and Tena Ketchum ............................................. 406-778-3819 (Home) 406-978-3819 (Cell)
Auctioneer: Scott Weishaar 701-872-5299
Videos: DVAuction ......................................................................... 406-978-2124
DV Auction: Jay Rost 406-978-2124
RAAA Commercial Marketing Specialist: Elizabeth Caskey 706-513-4951
AIR TRANSPORTATION
Billings, Mont.
Rapid City, S.D.
Bismarck, N.D. ................................................................................
230 miles
190 Miles
230 miles
LIABILITY
All persons who attend the sale or view the cattle do so at their own risk. The owners assume no liability, legal or otherwise, for any accidents that occur on the sale or viewing premises.
Sale Information
Selling: 100 Yearling Red Angus Bulls
ACCOMODATIONS:
Baker, Mont.
(If planning to stay please reserve early as the oil field activity can cause room shortages.)
Montana Motel
Red River Inn
Miles City, Mont.
Sleep Inn & Suites
Miles City Inn & Suites
TERMS
406-778-3315
406-778-3321
406-232-3000
866-599-6674
The terms of the sale are cash. All settlements will be made with clerks of the sale immediately following the conclusion of the sale and before any cattle will be released. We will follow the Terms and Conditions set forth by the Red Angus Association of America. Announcements made by seller on sale day take precedence over any statements printed in this catalog or advertisement.
DELIVERY
We will provide delivery up to 500 miles. Over 500 miles we will work with the buyer to make arrangements on delivery. A $100 credit per bull will be applied to the purchase price of the bull if the new owner picks up the bull(s) on the day of the sale. Delivery of the bulls will start the week after the sale.
BULL HEALTH PROGRAM
The bulls received Vision 7 at branding, preconditioned in August with Bovishield Gold One Shot and Vision 7 Somnus. The bulls were boostered with Bovishield Gold in September. They were drenched with Safe-Guard and poured with Protectus in November. In December they were given the first Fusogard vaccination. The bulls in January were poured with Clean-Up II. In February, they received their booster vaccination of Fusogard. Semen evaluations were performed by Fallon County Vet Service prior to the sale, and all the evaluation forms will be available sale day. Bulls that do not pass the semen evaluation will be available for sale after they have a satisfactory evaluation.
BULL DEVELOPMENT
The bulls are fed on a ration to develop them into sound functional useable bulls that will work in every environment. The ration consists of rolled corn (6.25 lbs. average), corn silage 17 lbs., dry distiller’s (3.5 lbs.), and the balance of chopped hay that consists of ground grass, alfalfa, and barley hay, along with a vitamin & mineral supplement. This ration is developed to use 1% of the feed base being grain to reach our goal of 2.5 lb. gain. They have been developed at Eric and Andrea Bowman’s feedlot which is located 1 mile south of Rhame, N.D.
SEMEN INTEREST
Milk Creek Reds is retaining one-half revenue-sharing semen interest in all bulls in the sale. The retained semen interest by Milk Creek Reds allows us to collect semen, use semen on the bull in our herd, as well as share in semen revenue if the bull would develop interest to be used in other herds or semen marketing companies. Any semen collection would be at the buyer’s convenience in the off-season use. Full possession and full salvage value sells on all bulls in this sale.
CATALOG & PROMOTION:
Cow Camp Promotions ................................ www.cowcamppromotions.com
A big thanks to Tracey and Kacey!
Sale Information
WATCH AND BID ONLINE AT DVAUCTION.COM
Can’t make the sale?
We are pleased to bring you real-time Internet bidding and a live broadcast of this sale through DV Auction. To watch or bid online, simply complete the following steps:
• Visit the DVAuction web site at www.dvauction.com
• Click on the “Register” tab
• Enter a user name, password and your contact information.
• Click on “Apply for Bidding.”
• Select the sale from the list of other auctions and click “Apply”.
• Complete the process by filling out the Banking & Lending information requested.
Be sure to include a personal contact at your bank, we will contact them in order to get a credit reference.
If you would prefer to be approved using your credit card, call (402) 474-5557.
Please be sure to apply for bidding at least a day in advance of the saleevery effort will be made to process your application in a timely manner. DVAuction will contact you once you have been approved to bid. We do not provide buyer numbers until you have purchased a lot in the sale, and that number is only usable for that auction. After the sale contact the sale owner or manager to make arrangements for payment and delivery of your online purchases.
Please Note: High speed Internet access (DSL, T-1, or Broadband) is required to be able to bid successfully during the sale. If you have any questions, please contact DVAuction at (402) 474-5557 or email support@dvauction. com.
Proxy Bidding: If you can’t access a computer during the sale, you can now place a “proxy bid” through DVAuction. Simply follow the instructions listed above, and as the sale date nears there will be a “Proxy Bidding” link under the sale listing on the main page of DVAuction. You can then place the maximum amount that you’d like to bid, and our system will represent your bid just as if you were there.
REDS RISING
Red Angus boosts profitability with docile temperaments, environmental resilience, premium carcass quality and exceptional maternal traits. Registrations have surged by 24% over the past decade, underscoring Red Angus’ significance across all segments of the beef industry.
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
We are now only using Ridge Admiral in our ET program because of our limited semen supply. Last year we AI bred a handful of cows to him and we have one bull in the offering. The bulls have been well received by our commercial as well as registered customers and the oldest females are now 11 years old and bringing in good calves while functioning very well in our environment. You will see some of his daughters bringing bulls to this offering. While this bull does well on all the indices, when you study the numbers, his growth EPDs that are not what some people would say are ideal, yet it is where we like them to be for the female to fit our eastern Montana environment. Owned with Sandbur Ridge Red Angus.
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK SHEBA 900 ANDRAS IN FOCUS
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
Fusion 5202 is a bull that the Lelands selected out of our 2016 sale. He has been a good calving ease bull for them and has provided both bulls and heifers that have been well received by their customers. After calving five sets of heifers that were bred to him, we have been pleased with the calving ease, but the nugget in these genetics are going to be the females that he produces. He has numbers that are very attractive to the industry, minus his growth EPDs. His growth numbers; however, will allow his daughters to thrive on less inputs which equates to a better profit margin for the cow/calf producer. Owned with Leland Red Angus. REG. # TATTOO: BD: 3468393 [ [ [
RED U2 MONEY TALKS 530F
RED U2 MONEY TALKS 530F
U-2 ANEXA
After three trips to Canada studying the cow herd at U2, we concluded we needed to sample a pedigree that worked multiple times in their program. After studying bulls and cows both spring and fall, we selected Money Talks. We used Money Talks (530F) on both heifers and cows AI and then turned him in with 50 plus head of first-calf heifers for natural service and had only three opens. He has now recorded 374 progeny in six calving seasons and we are very pleased in the balance of birth, performance, carcass and phenotype. We are calving his fifth set of daughters and they are displaying excellent udders and feet while being good mothers. As you study this offering you will find that these daughters are bringing in some powerful offspring.
Advocate 0401 combines multiple generations of great functional cows with longevity. After calving the last three calf crops out of him, we used him as a cleanup bull on heifers. He offers calving ease with above average growth and good carcass traits. We lost him due to an injury that would not allow him to breed naturally so we are using him AI.
5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
MUSHRUSH APOLLO J836
MUSHRUSH APOLLO A382
MUSHRUSH APOLLO D291
BECKTON LAKME Y400 N
MUSHRUSH IMPACT Z352
MUSHRUSH ZENA IP C531
MUSHRUSH ZENA TJ A475
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 4587451 [ [ [ [
BECKTON JULIAN X321 E4
MUSHRUSH ROBIN RT X489
BECKTON NEBULA T398 V3
BECKTON LAKME R626 LN
MUSHRUSH IMPRESSIVE CA U236
MUSHRUSH ZENA JL X320
MUSHRUSH TROJAN X332
MUSHRUSH SIERRA RT X496 J836 MUR 9/4/21
We purchased Apollo to bring a different line of calving ease genetics into our lineup. We are calving our third set of heifers bred to him and like the calving ease that he offers but also appreciate that his progeny have some thickness on their moderate frame.
MUSHRUSH APOLLO J836
RIDGE SUMO 2104
RIDGE SUMO 2104
BODY BUILDER 4434-68D RIDGE DORA 2040-5007 5L BLOCKADE 2218-30B
5L RED BIRD 411-4434
5L ADVANTAGE 3267-221Y
RIDGE DORA 280-2040
Sumo 2104 is a moderate framed 5L Bodybuilder son that we picked out of the Flatwater Gang sale in 2023. His progeny are moderate, easy fleshing and have good performance. His first daughters are calving this spring and full of capacity with that easy keeping look. We will be using this sire more as we collected him this past fall to be able to use him A.I. as well as natural.
MLK CRK COPENHAGEN 2223
REG. # TATTOO: BD:
MAY 112M
CROWFOOT 0102X
PRINCENE 6554S
6H MINBURN MAY 90G RED CROWFOOT MOONSHINE 8081U XO CROWFOOT BLACKBIRD 8810U
CROWFOOT 3500N
CROWFOOT PRINCENE 2681M
Copenhagen 2223 is a bull that we kept back out of the Princene 338A cow we had purchased from the Crowfoot dispersal. His progeny have an attractive look to them with good performance and the females should be as good as it gets.
MLK CRK REDSTONE 2412
Our ET program has produced another sire that we are using to perpetuate good genetics out of proven cows. As a yearling, 2412 was ran in a large group of heifer calf pairs with Money Talks. Out of 107 pairs, we had five opens in the group but the DNA only provided us with two progeny out of this good young bull. Money Talks didn’t let the competition work his pasture at all. We have continued to use 2412 in a multi-sire pasture with Money Talks and in this calf crop he was able to bring in 4 progeny.
MLK CRK FUSION 2220
REG. # TATTOO:
CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK MERCEDES 049 ANDRAS FUSION R236 MLK CRK SHEBA 900 RED U2 MONEY TALKS 530F J5 L297 MERCEDES 14X
2220 was our high selling bull in our 2023 sale selling to Curt Knight in South Dakota. We used him AI and this is his first offering that has done well from birth through yearling. He ranks well on the indicies and has posted ratios of 99 BW, 103 WW, and 105 YW on his bull calves. His 6 year old Money Talks dam brought in the highest weaning bull calf this past fall.
5L LIFE IS GOOD 1201-52H
BECKTON LIKABLE C643 L3
5L DYNABELLE 1804-2146
BUF CRK THE RIGHT KIND U199 5L RUBY 162-829
5L Life is Good is an AI sire that we used on cows and heifers. He offers calving ease with growth and carcass in a moderate frame package so the females will keep size in check. We have 3 year old daughters in production that are fitting in well.
L5L JELLY BELLY 434-162K
5L TRADESMAN 1715-6237
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X 5L OPAL 2218-434
5L TESS 5166-1134
5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L OPAL 656-2218
5L TRADITION 203-6145 5L LAKOTA 41C-1715
O C C EMBLAZON 854E
This is our first offering of the 5L Jelly Belly progeny. His sire Craftsman has some of the best cows in the industry and we plugged 162k in to produce that right type cow that we are looking for. His sons in the offering are moderate, deep and easy keeping.
5L FOREMAN 2174-370E
We have used four seasons and are calving 4 year old daughters that we are liking. He offers more growth than most of the sires we use but his daughters are staying in the herd under their enviromental constraints.
Reference Sires
N
RIDGE MCCANN 3502
RED RMJ REDMAN 1T
RIDGE HUB MCCANN 1027
RIDGE SHEILA 9015-1123
5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
RIDGE FIREFLY 724-1018
5L FIREFLY 1651-724
RED FLYING K JULIAN 22A
5L NORSEMAN KING 2291
CROWFOOT KURUBA 4033P
RIDGE SHEILA 009-9015
5L BLOCKADE 2218-30B
5L RED BIRD 411-4434
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X 5L FIREFLY 174-1651 ET 3502 OTT
MUSHRUSH LTJULIAN LG S005
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 4808209 [ [ [ [
We found Julian 22a at Flying K in Saskatchewan. He was in a pen just gathered out of cows and looked to be 4 or 5 years old but when we asked Brian how old he was it turned out he was eight. He had great feet and was very fluid in his movement and the daughters we saw were impressive. Sandbur Ridge, Heart River Red Angus and Milk Creek talked Brian and Christine into allowing us to get semen on the bull. These are the first of many offspring that we will offer.
MLK CRK FIVE STAR 2232
5L
Five Star is an Admiral son that sold in our 2023 sale to Rogers Ranch Red Angus and JS ranch in Missouri. With our small semen inventory of his sire we used 5 Star to bring forth the attributes that his sire has provided for us over many calf crops. If you like cattle moderate, thick and tanky, you will like his progeny. REG. # TATTOO: BD: 4630119
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411 MLK CRK LAKOTA 830 5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
5L FIRECRACKER 560-117A MLK CRK LAKOTA 6117
SENN MONEY TALKS 129
We selected Senn Money Talks at Senn Red Angus’s sale. We have used two other sons of his dam in our operation and she has four daughters that brought bulls into this offering. 129 has exceded our expections with producing more performance and carcass.
TJS TERRITORY J033
3SCC DOMAIN A163
5L TERRITORY 5205-114G TJS RED HONESTY C504
5L MATTIE 2161-5205
5L ADVOCATE 817-14W TJS RED HONESTY MA521
BECKTON DOMINOR T122 Z1
3SCC EUCLA X723
5L QUARTERBACK 1205-5337
5L MATTIE 727-2161
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 4522191 [ [ [ [
5L SIGNATURE 5615 5L MARTA 345-817 BFCK CHEROKEE CNYN 4912 TJS RED HONESTY K048
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 2341
RED ANGUS GUIDE TO EPDS
ProS – Profitability and Sustainability is an all-purpose index that predicts average economic differences in all segments in the beef supply chain. This index is a combination of the breeding objectives modeled in the HerdBuilder and GridMaster selection indexes. In this index, replacement heifers are retained from within the herd and all remaining progeny are fed out to slaughter and sold on a quality-based grid. Traits included in this index include CED, ADG, HPG, STAY, MW, DMI, CW, MARB, REA and Fat. Index | Dollars per Head | Higher Value
HB – HerdBuilder is a maternal selection index that predicts the economic differences of animals for traits that are important from conception through weaning. HB is calculated based on the scenario that bulls are mated to heifers and cows, replacement heifers are retained and all remaining progeny are marketed at weaning. This index is a combination of CED, CEM, WW, Milk, MW, HPG and STAY. Index | Dollars per Head | Higher Value
GM – GridMaster is a selection index that predicts the average economic difference of non-replacement calves through the post-weaning phase of production. GM places selection pressure on growth, feed yard performance and carcass traits. GM is calculated based on the scenario that progeny are fed out to slaughter and marketed on a quality-based carcass grid. This index is a combination of ADG, CW, DMI, MARB, Fat and REA. Index | Dollars per Head | Higher Value
CED – Calving Ease Direct predicts differences in the percent of calves born unassisted out of 2-year-old dams. Percent | Higher Value
BW – Birth Weight predicts differences in actual birth weight of progeny.
Pounds | Lower Value
WW – Weaning Weight predicts differences in 205-day weaning weight.
Pounds | Higher Value
YW – Yearling Weight predicts differences in 365-day yearling weight.
Pounds | Higher Value
ADG – Average Daily Gain predicts differences in weight gain between 205 and 365 days of age. Pounds | Higher Value
DMI – Dry Matter Intake predicts differences in daily feed intake as measured in a feedlot during the post-weaning period. Pounds | Lower Value
MILK – Milk predicts differences in weaning weight attributed to the milking ability of the animal’s daughters. Pounds | Higher Value
ME – Maintenance Energy predicts the difference in maintence energy requirements. Mcals per Month | Lower Value
HPG – Heifer Pregnancy predicts differences in the percent of daughters who are able to conceive and calve at 2 years of age following exposure to breeding.
Percent | Higher Value
CEM – Calving Ease Maternal predicts differences in the percent of daughters who are able to calve unassisted as 2-year-old heifers. Percent | Higher Value
STAY – Stayability predicts differences in the ability of an animals’ retained daughters to remain productive in the herd – calve every year – through 6 years of age.
Percent | Higher Value
MARB – Marbling predicts differences in marbling score – amount of intramuscular fat measured at the 13th rib. Marbling Score Units | Higher Value
YG – Yield Grade predicts differences in USDA Yield Grade, which is calculated using CW, REA and Fat. Yield Grade Units | Lower Value
CW – Carcass Weight predicts differences in actual hot carcass weight.
Pounds | Higher Value
REA – Ribeye Area predicts differences in square inches of ribeye area measured at the 13th rib. Square Inches | Higher Value
FAT – Fat predicts differences in the depth of backfat measured between the 12th and 13th ribs. Inches | Lower Value
Yearling Bulls
1
MLK CRK TOONIE TALK 5294
Selecting the bull that starts the sale can be a challenging task. The bull needs to be balanced across the gamut of phenotype, performance, carcass and pedigree. Lot 1 was a calf that caught your eye throughout the summer and still does now. His pedigree is stacked with cows that are performing above average in the herd. His dam has a 105 MPPA, followed by his granddam with a 109 and great granddam with a 102 MPPA and all are still producing on the ranch.
2 MLK CRK FUSION 5237
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143259
ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK SHEBA 900
RED CROWFOOT REDMAN 3107A
MLK CRK THUNDER 9134
MLK CRK THUNDER 4109 ANDRAS IN FOCUS B175 ANDRAS BELLE B167
5L GRAND EXPRESS 453-5655
MLK
Lot 2’s dam has been very consistent in her production bringing in top calves every year earning her a 106 MPPA. This year’s bull is a standout Fusion 5202 son that not only ratios well in growth and carcass but also has a herd bull look. His length, depth, and thickness when added to a respectable EPD and Index profile positions him to fit well in the top pen of bulls.
2146-313F 5L RUBY 829-1201
JACOBSON BLAZIN ON 0057
CRK LAKOTA 709 BECKTON LIKABLE C643 L3 5L DYNABELLE 1804-2146
BUF CRK
Lot 3 is a very balanced Life is Good son backed by generations of good cows. He started with a moderate birth weight, was toward the upper end at weaning and finished at the top of his contemporaries at a year of age. He is smooth made, balanced in length and depth and carries a decent EPD profile. His dam
Lot 2 • MLK CRK FUSION 5237
5243 is a long made, stout, Life is Good son that earned his way to the top pen posting above average ratios for growth while maintaining an acceptable birth weight.
5 MLK CRK FOREMAN 5247
5247 is our largest framed, highest weaning, and 3rd top yearling bull in the offering. His dam is a very moderate framed Money Talks daughter that produced the Fusion 2220 reference sire that we are using AI. He will add performance to his progeny.
Lot
Yearling Bulls
7 JNK SUMO 5150
5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
RIDGE SUMO 2104
RIDGE DORA 2040-5007
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
JNK CORAH 864
JNK CORA 540
3267-221Y
RIDGE DORA 280-2040
5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143009 [ [ [ [
This March-born calf performed very well in terms of his weaning weight (118), yearling weight (121), and ADG (125) ratios while also ranking in the top 11% of the breed for REA and the top 13% of the breed for CW. This bull did well at converting feed into pounds and hopefully his offspring will as well.
Ridge Admiral continues to have his influence through his daughters in our program. Lot 8’s dam is a result of our embryo program where we flushed a top performing 10-year-old cow to Admiral and the result is having daughters bring bulls to the top pen in our sale. 5305 is a smooth, thick-made bull with a nice performance package.
9
MLK CRK COPENHAGEN 2223
MLK CRK HAVEN 5307
MLK CRK LAKINA 1158 RED MINBURN COPENHAGEN 3Y RED XO CROWFOOT PRINCENE 338 5L COW BOSS 3697-34G
CRK LAKINA 991
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143415 [ [ [ [
RMJ REDMAN 1T MINBURN MAY 112M XO CROWFOOT 0102X CROWFOOT PRINCENE 6554S 5L COW BOSS 5684-124D 5L MYDEE MISS 1807-3697 MLK CRK EXPRESS 9127 MLK CRK LAKINA 751
Moderate, thick and attractive describes Lot 9. He is a bit younger than most of the bulls that he is penned with but has earned his way by posting the 3rd and 2nd highest weaning and yearling weights respectively. His dam is a moderate, thick-made 5-year-old 5L Cowboss daughter that consistently brings in calves above average, as has her dam and granddam.
10
MLK CRK TERRITORY 5308
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143345 [ [ [ [ TJS TERRITORY J033 MLK CRK RED TOP 1123 5L TERRITORY 5205-114G
RED HONESTY C504 RIDGE PROVISION 6013
CRK RED TOP 361
MA521 5L ADVANTAGE 3267-221Y
1123, the dam to Lot 10, is a 5-year-old Provision daughter that is showing that she can earn her keep by producing calves that continue to exceed the average and look the type. 5308 offers a different pedigree on the top side yet fits right in the group phenotypically.
11 MLK CRK ADMIRAL 5217
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
MLK CRK LAKOTA 159 5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
RIDGE PROVISION 6013
Lot 11 is our only Admiral son in the offering this year. He combines two sires that we have used extensively, and the result is a balanced individual that hits many of the marks with individual performance while ranking near the top within the breed on the indices. He is a bull that can work either on heifers or cows while producing daughters that will stay in the herd and be profitable.
MLK CRK ALLOY 5262
Starting off at a 62-pound birth weight and finishing in 2nd place at weaning and 1st at yearling and marbling earned Lot 12, a spot in the heifer bull pen. He also brings a nice Index and EPD profile that ranks him in the top 1 % in both the Herdbuilder and ProS.
Yearling Bulls
13 • MLK CRK JULIAN 5268 13
MLK CRK JULIAN 5268
5268 was the standout bull calf in the first-calf heifer pasture and measured it on the scale, bringing in the highest weaning weight in his contemporary group. He combines the calving ease trait of the Julian 22A line with Fusion 5202 which will bring calving ease but won’t sacrifice the growth or the maternal.
14 MLK CRK FUSION 5266
CRK FUSION 5202 MLK CRK BONNEBELL 367 ANDRAS
Lot 14 brings a balance of calving ease with growth and puts it in an attractive package with thickness and length. His pedigree offers proven sires and dams on both sides and his rank within the breeds indices is respectable.
MLK CRK LIFE IS GOOD 5260
Life is Good combined with Fusion 5202 offers calving ease, performance and carcass all in
16 • MLK CRK FOREMAN 5229
16
5L FOREMAN 2174-370E
MLK CRK FOREMAN 5229
MLK CRK EMUMAR 9132 5L BOURNE 117-48A 5L ADINA 1551-2174
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411 MLK CRK EMUMAR 2301
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143239 [ [ [ [
3267-221Y
9132, a 7-year-old Admiral daughter and the dam to Lot 16 has had 5 calves @ 93 birth weight ratio. Her 74-pound Foreman son should work very well on heifers while adding length to his progeny.
FLYING K JULIAN 22A
FLYING K HILLARY 51Y
CRK BONNEBELL 3101 TONGUERIVER JUBILATION WT981
calving ease package.
MLK CRK FOREMAN 5250
5L BOURNE 117-48A
5L FOREMAN 2174-370E MLK CRK BONNEBELL 822
5L ADINA 1551-2174
5L FIRECRACKER 560-117A
MLK CRK BONNEBELL 612
5L ADVANTAGE 3267-221Y
5L ROXIE 854-117
O C
EMBLAZON 854E
ADINA 525-1551
This calving ease Foreman son offers one of the best combination carcass packages in this pen. Ratioing at 131 for marbling and 115 for ribeye while starting at a 75-pound birth weight makes Lot 18 worth taking a look at.
Yearling Bulls
CRK FOREMAN 5271
Lot 19’s dam is currently in our donor program after producing 7 calves with a 92-birth ratio and a 105-weaning ratio. Her daughter last year was selected for the NILE and sold to L Lazy T Cattle Company at Harlem, MT. This Foreman son should be a great heifer bull but will produce progeny with good growth as well as great females.
GOT R
2146-313F
RUBY 829-1201 MLK CRK ADVOCATE 0401
CRK BONNEBELL 786
CRK ADVOCATE 4304
5275
Lot 20 posted the highest ribeye and 3rd highest marbling score in his contemporary group. He fits well in this pen starting life at 70 pounds and ratioing a 107 at weaning and yearling. His dam is a daughter of Lot 19’s dam. REG. # TATTOO:
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK FUSION 5280
MLK CRK THELMA 375 ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK SHEBA 900 5L COW BOSS 3697-34G
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143693 [ [ [ [
This Fusion son has placed all his weight and carcass measurements in the positive where needed and the negative where also needed.
22 MLK CRK TOONIE TALK 5351
Pen
Senn Money Talks
MLK CRK TOONIE TALK 5291
REG. # TATTOO:
Yearling Bulls
MLK CRK TOONIE TALK 5297
Lot 25 has developed a nice ratio profile across all weight and carcass measurements. His dam is a dark red Foreman daughter that breeds on time and brings in above average calves.
MLK CRK TOONIE
TALK 5309
The Senn Money Talks when combined with the Foreman line tends to bring in good performance as well as carcass measurements. Lot 27 measured the largest ribeye while also having the 4th best marbling ratio. He would be closely related to Lot 24.
28
MLK CRK TOONIE TALK 5313
5313 brings a balance of moderate birth weight with above average growth at both weaning and yearling.
30
MLK CRK TOONIE TALK 5355
Yearling Bulls
RIDGE HUB MCCANN 1027
RIDGE MCCANN 3502
RIDGE FIREFLY 724-1018 5L COW BOSS 3697-34G
MLK CRK LAKOTA 3133
CRK LAKOTA 151
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143589 [ [ [ [
9015-1123 5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D 5L FIREFLY 1651-724
5L COW BOSS 5684-124D 5L MYDEE MISS 1807-3697
CROWFOOT REDMAN 3107A MLK CRK LAKOTA 563
Lot 33 was raised by a foster dam because his mom developed pneumonia prior to calving and wasn’t going to make the summer. He is a younger calf that would have ratioed very well and is long and thick made.
34
MLK CRK ALLOY 5257
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK FUSION 2220
MLK CRK MERCEDES 049
5L ULTRA KOOL 1077-86H
MLK CRK CROWFOOT PRINCEN 312
CROWFOOT PRINCENE
[ [ [ [
Combining strong cow families on all sides of the pedigree can build confidence that the progeny produced will have above average performance and great maternal traits. Lot 34 started life at 78 pounds but continued a growth spurt that earned him a 106 weaning and 105 yearling ratio. He is also above average in marbling and ribeye.
JULIAN 5287 REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143631
JUBILATION WT981
FLYING K HILLARY 51Y
CRK SHEBA
37 JNK ALLOY 5289
MLK CRK FUSION 2220
MLK CRK LAKOTA 371 MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK MERCEDES 049
5L LIFE IS GOOD 1201-52H
MLK CRK LAKOTA 147 ANDRAS FUSION R236 MLK CRK
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143739 [ [ [ [
This low-birth-weight bull ratioed above average for both weaning and yearling weights while being in the top 12% of the breed for Marbling and having an ADG of 3.21. He is in the top 18% of the breed for the ProS index and the top 14% of the breed for the GM index. He could easily be used on heifers to produce calves that come easy but grow and do well in a feedlot.
CRK JULIAN 5238
JUBILATION WT981
FLYING K HILLARY 51Y
MINBURN
CRK LAKINA 015
MLK CRK ALLOY 5233
The Fusion 2220 progeny have done very well in this first set of calves. Lot 39 descends from a NILE purchase produced by Clark Red Angus from Fishtail, Montana. He has ratioed well within our herd and is in the top 4% or better for both Herdbuilder and ProS indices.
Yearling Bulls
40 MLK CRK ALLOY 5274
CRK JULIAN 5223
42 MLK CRK JULIAN 5301
Lot 42 ranks toward the top of the breed for both CED and BW EPDs. Combining two sires that we have used successfully on heifers help to build confidence in this heifer bull prospect.
43
MLK CRK SUMO 5344
5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
RIDGE SUMO 2104
RIDGE DORA 2040-5007
MLK CRK THE REAL DEAL 9218
MLK CRK ASTER 132
MLK CRK ASTER 879
5L BLOCKADE 2218-30B
5L RED BIRD 411-4434
5L ADVANTAGE 3267-221Y
RIDGE DORA 280-2040
5L THE REAL DEAL 1687-143B
J5 L297 MERCEDES 14X
RIDGE PROVISION 6013
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143395 [ [ [ [
MLK CRK ASTER 923 5344
Ridge Sumo sires progeny with moderate birth weights and above average growth traits but builds these progeny in a moderate frame with great depth and muscle. Lot 43’s, 5-year-old dam has earned a 106 MPPA by raising progeny that push the scales down.
Lot 42 • MLK CRK JULIAN 5301
46
MLK CRK FIVE STAR 5279
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143157
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
MLK CRK FIVE STAR 2232
MLK CRK LAKOTA 830
MUSHRUSH IMPACT Z352
MLK CRK THELMA 811
MLK CRK THELMA 946
5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
5L FIRECRACKER 560-117A MLK CRK LAKOTA 6117
MUSHRUSH IMPRESSIVE CA U236
MUSHRUSH ZENA JL X320
RIDGE OSCAR
44
MLK CRK SUMO 5378
5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
RIDGE SUMO 2104 MLK CRK EMUMAR 795
RIDGE DORA 2040-5007
MLK CRK ADVOCATE 4304 MLK CRK EMU MAR 422
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143127 [ [ [ [
3267-221Y RIDGE DORA 280-2040
5L
Lot 44 registered the 2nd largest ribeye in this record book, along with a 108 and 105 weaning and yearling ratio. His dam is a 9-year-old Advocate 4304 daughter with a 104 MPPA and is easy to look at.
If you are looking for a moderate framed bull with as much capacity and thickness as you can get you might want to look at Lot 45. Five Star, his sire, stamps his progeny with moderation of frame, depth and thickness.
47 MLK CRK BODY BUILDER 5506
5L BLOCKADE 2218-30B
BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
5L RED BIRD 411-4434
XO CROWFOOT 0102X
XO CROWFOOT PRINCENE 338
CROWFOOT PRINCENE 6554S
5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L OPAL 656-2218
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X
5L RED BIRD 1312-411
RED CROWFOOT MOONSHINE 8081U
XO CROWFOOT BLACKBIRD 8810U
CROWFOOT 3500N
CROWFOOT PRINCENE 2681M
Lot 47 is our only Body Builder son in the sale and is the result of our embryo transfer program. His dam has great feet and udder and produced here until 11 years of age and then was purchased by Lone Tree Angus of South Dakota. He is thick and deep just as you would expect from his pedigree. His females should be exceptional.
Yearling Bulls
48 CMK SUMO 5300
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5142983
5L BODY BUILDER 4434-68D
RIDGE SUMO 2104
RIDGE DORA 2040-5007
MLK CRK ROYAL FLUSH 5368
CMK ESTHER 792
CMK ADA 3103
5L BLOCKADE 2218-30B
5L RED BIRD 411-4434
5L
Rooted in the maternal strength Milk Creek Reds is known for, Sumo is designed to leave productive, long-lasting daughters with functional efficiency. His balanced carcass profile supports end-product value without sacrificing real-world performance.
49
MLK CRK HAVEN 5285
RED MINBURN COPENHAGEN 3Y
MLK CRK COPENHAGEN 2223
RED XO CROWFOOT PRINCENE 338
HRR ADVANTAGE 6120
MLK CRK THUNDER 0159
MLK CRK THUNDER 4109
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143319 [ [ [ [
50 MLK CRK HAVEN 5325
5143093
MINBURN COPENHAGEN 3Y
CRK COPENHAGEN 2223 MLK CRK LAKOTA 669
XO CROWFOOT PRINCENE 338 RIDGE LEGEND 2069
CROWFOOT 0102X CROWFOOT PRINCENE 6554S 5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE AQUILA 552-8066
CRK LAKOTA 446
Combining Lakota 669 and the Princene 338A together provide the genetics to produce exceptional females. Lot 50’s dam and paternal granddam also combine together to produce progeny that ratio above average in performance as well as carcass.
51 MLK CRK HAVEN 5328
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143405
MLK CRK COPENHAGEN 2223
MLK CRK BONNEBELL 192 RED MINBURN COPENHAGEN 3Y RED XO CROWFOOT PRINCENE 338 MLK CRK EXPRESS 9127 MLK CRK BONNEBELL 923
RMJ REDMAN 1T MINBURN MAY 112M
XO CROWFOOT 0102X
CROWFOOT PRINCENE 6554S 5L GRAND EXPRESS 453-5655
MLK CRK SHEBA 043
RREDS SENECA 731C MLK CRK BONNEBELL 432
53
MLK CRK FIVE STAR 5225
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
MLK CRK FIVE STAR 2232
MLK CRK LAKOTA 830
RIDGE PROVISION 6013
MLK CRK THELMA 8103
MLK CRK THELMA 4120
REG. # TATTOO: BD:
54 MLK CRK MCCANN 5296
5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
5L FIRECRACKER 560-117A
MLK CRK LAKOTA 6117
5L ADVANTAGE 3267-221Y RIDGE MONA 8162-2057
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143177 [ [ [ [
5L SECRET AGENT 117-229Z MLK CRK THELMA 927 5225 BTK
RIDGE HUB MCCANN 1027
RIDGE MCCANN 3502
RIDGE FIREFLY 724-1018
RED MINBURN COPENHAGEN 3Y
MLK CRK MERCEDES 3408
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143727 [ [ [ [
We are starting our 6th pen of bulls with a Ridge McCann son that began with a 63-pound birth weight and weaned off 5 percent ahead of his classmates.
5L GOT R DONE 2146-313F
5L RUBY 829-1201
MLK
MLK CRK THELMA 181
CRK LIFE IS
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143383 [ [ [ [ 5L LIFE IS GOOD 1201-52H
THE REAL DEAL 1687-143B
J5 L297 MERCEDES 14X
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411 MLK CRK THELMA 376X
Life is Good continues to bring low birth weight sons to the offering that exceed the average at weaning, yearling and marbling.
Yearling Bulls
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143253 [ [ [ [ 5L LIFE IS GOOD 1201-52H MLK CRK BONNEBELL 923 5L GOT R DONE 2146-313F 5L RUBY 829-1201
RREDS SENECA 731C
bulls at Eric & Andrea’s feedlot.
5L
GOT R DONE 2146-313F
CRK BONNEBELL 645
RUBY 829-1201 ANDRAS FUSION R236 MLK CRK BONNEBELL 416
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143091 [ [ [ [
ANDRAS IN FOCUS B175 ANDRAS BELLE B167 BECKTON EPIC R397
5234 is a bull that is a prime candidate for heifers on account of his birth weight and EPD profile. When you study him phenotypically, he has the length, depth and thickness to look good in a herd of cows.
# TATTOO: BD: 5143119
LIFE IS GOOD 1201-52H
CRK RED TOP 730 5L GOT R DONE 2146-313F
5L RUBY 829-1201
JACOBSON BLAZIN ON 0057 MLK CRK RED TOP 361 BECKTON LIKABLE C643 L3 5L DYNABELLE 1804-2146
BUF CRK THE RIGHT KIND U199
RUBY 162-829 5L DOUBLE BLAZE 1134-8576
FUSCHIA 643-3668
TRADESMAN 6237-0002
CRK RED TOP 013
Yearling Bulls
MLK CRK SHEBA 900 RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
4304
MLK CRK THUNDER 4100
5L SECRET AGENT 117-229Z MLK CRK SHEBA 1014
5L GRAND EXPRESS 453-5655
MLK CRK SHEBA 403
5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
ANDRAS FUSION R236 HRR THUNDER 751 5505 BTK
We selected an ET son of Advocate 0401 to begin our 7th pen of bulls. His dam, an Admiral daughter, earned a 106 MPPA while producing top calves like Lot 64. He ranks in the top 2 % of the breed for the Herdbuilder and ProS indices.
Frosty Morn
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5210
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5204
5143291
CRK ADVOCATE 4304
CRK ADVOCATE 0401
007, the Real Deal dam to Lot 65, has consistently produced low birth weight progeny earning a 96-birth weight ratio. Her Advocate 0401 son weaned off 6% better than his contemporaries and scored in the top 8 on marbling.
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5211
Yearling
5213
71 MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5222
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5213
Lot 69 will work in many different breeding scenarios. He offers calving ease with average and above growth, while ranking at the top of the breed for Herdbuilder and ProS indices.
70 MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5218
842, the dam of Lot 70, is a 8-year-old Dominor daughter that calved on the front end of our calving season again. She has earned a 104 MPPA producing calves that develop into bulls that look like Lot 70 and excel with a moderate birth and above average weaning weight.
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5228
CRK ADVOCATE 4304
CRK SHEBA 900
73
MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5231
74 MLK CRK SPOKESMAN 5256
Stacking 4 generations of sires that we have used on heifers develop heifer bulls that will provide calving ease but not sacrifice adequate growth. Lot 74 also ranks well in many EPDs as well as top of two of the indices.
75
MLK CRK AGENT 5312
5312 started off with a moderate birth weight but then went on to rank above average in every other weight and carcass measurement taken. His young Money Talks dam has earned a 104 MPPA and has calved in the front of the calving season this year.
CMK AGENT 5356
CMK Agent 5356 is a sire prospect built for
Yearling Bulls
Coming out of the creek on a
MLK CRK FOREMAN 5277
We are now 3/4 through the bulls and still have a Foreman son that has calving ease with above average growth and a solid cow family generations deep behind him.
FOREMAN 2174-370E
MLK CRK FOREMAN 5244
CRK LAKOTA 126 5L BOURNE 117-48A 5L ADINA 1551-2174
Lot 78 hits a lot of the bases across both individual performance as well as EPDs and Indices. Ranking and measuring well in Weaning, Yearling, Marbling and Ribeye will help to take a look at him in the pen and then not be disappointed with what you see.
79
MLK CRK JELLY BELLY 5226
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143207 [ [ [ [ 5L JELLY BELLY 434-162K MLK CRK LAKOTA 828
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X 5L OPAL 2218-434 5L FIRECRACKER 560-117A MLK CRK
fun with Colonel Scott!
80
MLK CRK JELLY BELLY 5206
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X
5L JELLY BELLY 434-162K
5L OPAL 2218-434
5L VIGILANTE 2674-11D
MLK CRK LAKOTA 1407
MLK CRK LAKOTA 2115
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143423 [ [ [ [
5L TRADESMAN 1715-6237
5L TESS 5166-1134
5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L OPAL 656-2218
5L BOURNE 117-48A 5L
930-2674
Jelly Belly, the sire of Lot 80, produced the 2nd highest marbling ratio bull while maintaining birth weight and calving ease in the top 3 % of the breed.
CRK JELLY BELLY 5232
82
MLK CRK JELLY BELLY 5248
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X
5L OPAL 2218-434
RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411
MLK CRK LAKOTA 896
MLK CRK LAKOTA 535
5L TRADESMAN 1715-6237
5L TESS 5166-1134
5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L OPAL 656-2218
5L LEGEND 1553-425V RIDGE GRANDIOSE 629-1112
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143183 [ [ [ [ 5L JELLY BELLY 434-162K
MUSHRUSH IMPRESSIVE CA U236
MLK CRK LAKINA 342
Yearling Bulls
83
MLK CRK JELLY BELLY 5265
5L CRAFTSMAN 1134-150X
5L JELLY BELLY 434-162K
5L OPAL 2218-434
5L THE REAL DEAL 1687-143B
MLK CRK LAKOTA 123
MLK CRK LAKOTA 765
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143379 [ [ [ [
5L TRADESMAN 1715-6237
5L TESS 5166-1134
5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L OPAL 656-2218
5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L FIREFLY 275-1687
5L ADVANTAGE 3267-221Y MLK CRK LAKOTA 953 5265 BTK
Talks gets the honor to put a son as the lead off bull in Pen 9. Lot 87’s dam
87
MLK CRK APOLLO 5366
88
MLK CRK APOLLO 5332
Lot 87 is an April bull that has competed well against his classmates, posting a 113 and 110 weaning and yearling ratio.
Apollo brings some calving ease to this balanced, mid-March bull. His dam descends back to our Bonnebell 316 donor cow that sold to Senn Red Angus in South Dakota.
92
MLK CRK APOLLO 5326
MLK CRK MONEY TALKS 5360
93 MLK CRK APOLLO
5282
MUSHRUSH APOLLO J836
MLK CRK BONNEBELL 372 MUSHRUSH APOLLO D291 MUSHRUSH ZENA IP C531
5L
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143689 [ [ [ [
JNK MONEY TALKS 5319
96
MLK CRK APOLLO 5269
MUSHRUSH APOLLO D291
MUSHRUSH APOLLO J836
MUSHRUSH ZENA IP C531
RIDGE OAK CANYON 0072
MLK CRK SHEBA 359
MLK CRK SHEBA 603
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143669 [ [ [ [
MUSHRUSH APOLLO A382
BECKTON LAKME Y400 N
MUSHRUSH IMPACT Z352
MUSHRUSH ZENA TJ A475
RIDGE OAK CANYON 3506
RIDGE DORA 2040-4413
BIEBER H HUGHES W109 MLK CRK SHEBA 200
97
MLK CRK FUSION 5286
ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK SHEBA
MLK CRK LAKOTA 3406
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143729 [ [ [ [
As we enter our last pen of bulls we start with a Fusion 5202 son out of a first-calf Body Builder daughter that balances birth weight with good performance. The genetic combination in this bull should produce some excellent female replacements as well as male calves that perform.
99 MLK CRK FUSION 5255
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143327 [ [ [ [ MLK CRK FUSION 5202 MLK CRK BONNEBELL 040 ANDRAS FUSION R236 MLK CRK SHEBA 900 MLK CRK ADVOCATE 4304
MLK CRK BONNEBELL 6129
AGENT
CRK SHEBA 1014
DOMINOR A038 J7 MLK CRK BONNEBELL 316
100
CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK FUSION 5242
CRK SHEBA 947 ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK SHEBA 900 RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411 MLK CRK SHEBA 1014
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143237 [ [ [ [
ANDRAS IN FOCUS B175 ANDRAS BELLE
Lot 100 combines two strong cow families that have worked on our operation and have stood the test of time. His dam descends back to the Sheba 1014 cow which is the mother to Advocate 4304 and Senn Money Talks 129 and 3 other daughters that have bulls in the sale. His sire’s dam is the mother of the Fusion 5202 bull and Advocate 0401 that are working very well.
Yearling Bulls
102
MLK CRK FUSION 5219
FUSION R236
CRK SHEBA
101
MLK CRK FUSION 5214
MLK CRK RED TOP 024 ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK SHEBA 900 RIDGE ADMIRAL 3411 MLK CRK RED TOP 4108
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143317 [ [ [ [ MLK CRK FUSION 5202
103
MLK CRK FUSION 5320
FUSION R236
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143617 [ [ [ [ MLK CRK FUSION 5202 MLK CRK LAKOTA 3153
104
MLK CRK FUSION 5208
REG. # TATTOO:
5143299
ANDRAS FUSION R236
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK SHEBA 900
5L THE REAL DEAL 1687-143B
MLK CRK SHEBA 010
MLK CRK SHEBA 1014
ANDRAS IN FOCUS B175 ANDRAS BELLE B167
5L GRAND EXPRESS 453-5655 MLK CRK SHEBA 403 5L DEFENDER 560-30Z
5L FIREFLY 275-1687
MLK CRK REDSTONE MLK CRK SHEBA 966X
105
CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK FUSION 5203
CRK THELMA 006 ANDRAS FUSION R236 MLK CRK SHEBA 900
REG. # TATTOO: BD: 5143329 [ [ [ [
RIDGE LEGEND 2069 MLK CRK THELMA 441 5203 BTK
107
MLK CRK TERRITORY 5348
# TATTOO:
5L TERRITORY 5205-114G TJS RED HONESTY C504
MLK CRK FUSION 5202
MLK CRK EMUMAR 161
MLK CRK EMUMAR 979
The second bull from the end of the sale brings in the highest marbling score in the offering. He also earned a weaning weight that was 3 percent above the average of his herd mates.
MLK CRK FUSION TOO 5202
108
MLK CRK TERRITORY 5358
TERRITORY 5205-114G
CRK LAKOTA 054
“In Gate”
The man that opened the “In Gate” at our bull sale for many years was my dad, Otto Sever Enkerud. Yes, his pedigree would read 100% 1A Norwegian!
I could tell you about his character that he was a visionary, a steward of the land, cattle and people or I could tell you about his integrity, his perseverance, or his work ethic. Those of you at the bull sales that he got acquainted with and he so enjoyed visiting with already know these details about him. Instead, I decided to share a few memories.
Dad and I had a very special father/daughter relationship. From the time I was old enough to go with him, he would take me with him. Where we ended up might be checking cows at the Homestead, irrigating, shoveling wheat, out South on the Association or at the Tastee Freeze in town for an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. The times we spent on the Wittmayer Grazing Association that he founded for the cattlemen in the Glasgow area were some of the happiest memories for the both of us. He loved to be horseback working cows in “God’s Country” as he would refer to it. Many nights after a day irrigating, haying, working on the place, you might find Dad and I in the yard playing catch with the baseball (he loved playing sports and in his later years watching sports) or shooting hoops. Sometimes, we would walk down to the riffles (river) and throw a fish line in the water to see what we could catch. He would take me to the bowling alley on league nights where I would keep score and make a few extra bucks. Yeah, I was his sidekick! As I graduated H.S. and became a Bobcat (he loved the Cats) I developed a relationship with Bruce. Dad and I had delivered a horse to Miles City and went back home via Ketchum’s. On the way home, we were talking like we would do on so many other excursions that we shared, Dad asked, “So is this relationship getting serious?” This was just the start of a beautiful bond that the four of us shared. As our girls were born, he enjoyed watching them play volleyball, basketball, showing cattle or pigs and watching them run poles, barrel race or goat tie. He made it to their H.S. graduations and college graduations as education was very important to him. When his great grandchildren, Blaze and Ember, were born he was so happy and enjoyed being able to spend time with them. In 2024, Dad had a fall where he needed to have physical therapy often. He came to Dahl Memorial LTC in Ekalaka. We were blessed to have him close to our family the last months of his life. During this time of his life there were several fond memories. He would always ask, “What is going on at the ranch?” We spent time watching football, talking about old times, his life, mom, the girls, the great grandkids, the cows, but most importantly his faith and the future.
On October 19, 2025, my Dad left this world and opened the most important gate the “In Gate” to heaven. I’m very thankful for the man he was and the qualities he passed on to me!
Ranch Philosophy
The cattle industry is constantly changing and feeders and packers seem to be the drivers in directing that change. Their ability to direct change is related to the concentration of ownership within these two segments of our industry. Both segments keep increasing the size of animal that they want to feed and harvest because of their efficiency of producing more pounds of beef per animal and reducing the costs by feeding and harvesting less head of cattle and leaving them within the feedlot for longer periods of time. What impacts their bottom line is diametrically opposed to what impacts the cow/calf producers bottom line.
In our segment of the industry, most cow/calf producers raise cattle in an environment that has limitations to what it can produce hindering our ability to meet the changes without increasing input feed costs to sustain the larger, higher output cattle that the feeders and packers are looking for. Coupled with this the feed input costs has increased dramatically over the past four years compounding the problems to reach profitability within our segment of the industry.
I am thankful that our Red Angus Association staff is working hard to educate the industry on the quality of Red Angus cattle and how they can reach all the requirements in the branded packer programs that have been set for Angus cattle. Through this effort, the USDA has recognized Red Angus as Angus so that they are able to qualify in all programs with the exception of CAB which is owned by the Angus Association. This education is going to take time to develop traction and will eventually open more marketing opportunities for our cattle. In the meantime, the industry is using excuses to discount red hided cattle so that they can add more profit to their segment of the industry. With the current cattle inventory, we are hopeful that the next three years will see above average feeder cattle demand which will diminish the ability for discounts because of hide color.
We continue striving to produce cattle that will be able to thrive in a grass-based environment without any inputs other than salt, mineral and some hay when needed due to drought or severe winter conditions. When you study the genetics that we are using you might ask, why don’t you use higher growth sires to increase the weights of your calves? The answer lies in what we have discovered when we have attempted to do that very thing. Most sires that we have used to accomplish this, with exceptions of a few outliers, tend to produce females that have a higher percentage chance of failing to breed as yearlings or first-calf heifers because they have a higher energy requirement than what our natural environment can provide. That can become very expensive when you account for the time and dollars invested in developing those females to that stage.
The sires that we are using will still push the envelop of producing offspring with performance that is limited by our environment on any given year because our weaning weights can fluctuate 50-100 pounds based on when and how much rain falls from the sky. We continue to search the breed for the outliers that will push the performance as well as carcass traits but will not give up the fertility and longevity developed within the herd which are the key profit drivers for any cow-calf operation.
Bruce & Tena Ketchum 1721 Plevna Road • Plevna, MT 59344 (406) 778-3819
ketchum@midrivers.com • www.milkcreekreds.com
