It’s the Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff “Tigger” Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and our crew as we hear how Beefmaster cattle are fixing the problems for one South Dakota cow calf producer. Plus, news from beef country you need to hear, feeder cattle sale reports and upcoming sales you don’t want to miss, all wrapped in this 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.

Ranch It Up Radio Show S6 E308 Beefmaster Cattle For The Win In South Dakota Jeff Erhardt Tigger Rebecca Wanner BEC.

Season 6, EPISODE 308

Beefmaster Cattle Work For South Dakota Rancher

South Dakota ranchers Dan & Jessie Hotchkiss were disappointed in weaning weights and calf health in the fall. After trying several different breeds of bulls on their Angus base cowherd, they decided to try Beefmaster bulls from ISA Beefmasters and have never looked back.

Beefmaster is a breed that was developed in the 1930’s by Tom Lasater in South Texas to maximize economic traits like hardiness, fertility, adaptability, and weight. The breed consists of approximately 50% Brahman, 25% Hereford and 25% Shorthorn.

Beef Cattle News

Beef Imports: Facts Behind the 300,000-Metric-Ton Plan

Recent plans to allow up to 300,000 metric tons, or 661 million pounds, of additional beef imports into the U.S. tariff-free have created plenty of attention—and misinformation.

According to Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, the U.S. has imported beef for decades, mainly to supply lean beef used in ground beef products. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico have been major suppliers, while Brazil has recently grown into the number-two source.

Beef imports are up 12.9 percent so far in 2026, as domestic beef production continues to decline.

About 68 percent of imported beef is lean trimmings used as ingredients in ground beef, especially for fast-food restaurants. Imported beef now makes up an estimated 39 percent of the beef used in ground beef production.

Brazil is expected to benefit the most from the tariff changes. However, experts say the U.S. is unlikely to import the full additional 300,000 metric tons.

The policy may shift where imports come from, with South American countries gaining market share. But the increase in total imports is expected to be smaller than the announced amount.

And when it comes to grocery store ground beef prices, the impact is expected to be limited.

REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/peel-understanding-beef-imports/

Cattle Prices Rise, But Packer Margins Keep Growing

Cattle prices moved higher last week, but beef packer profits continued to rise.

According to Sterling Marketing’s Beef Profit Tracker, the average packer margin for the week ending September 12 was $177.16 per head. That’s up from $170.76 the previous week.

Steady beef cutout values and a $2-per-head increase in drop credit helped support packer margins. Slaughter was down 21,000 head, mainly because of the Labor Day holiday.

The average five-area direct fed steer price rose to $222.82 per hundredweight, up from $219.04 the week before.

That helped reduce feedlot losses. Feedlots lost an estimated $307.19 per head, compared with nearly $329 the previous week.

Feeder cattle prices also moved higher, gaining nearly $7 per hundredweight the week ending September 11th.

REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/beef-packer-margins-gain-despite-bump-in-cattle-price/

Tyson Reshapes Beef Business as Cattle Supplies Remain Tight

Tyson Foods says its smaller beef processing network will help the company manage tight cattle supplies and prepare for the future.

Chief Financial Officer Curt Calaway recently said cattle herd rebuilding is happening, but more slowly than in some previous cycles.

Tyson has closed or put plants up for sale this year in Illinois, Nebraska, and Washington state. The company is now focused on three major beef plants: Dakota City, Nebraska; Holcomb, Kansas; and Amarillo, Texas.

Tyson also hopes to restore a second processing shift as Mexican cattle gradually move through stocker operations and feedlots.

Calaway says the company is focused on improving plant efficiency, managing product sales, and meeting consumer demand for seasoned, marinated, and case-ready beef products.

He added that more cattle and continued reopening of the Mexican border could help Tyson in the future.

REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/tyson-closures-where-the-cattle-are-and-where-we-think-theyll-be/

Feeder Cattle Sale Dates & Deadlines

October 2: Prairie View Farms Fall Production Sale, Gridley, Illinois

October 3: Isa Beefmasters Bull Sale, San Angelo, Texas

October 3: Jorgensen Land & Cattle Rancher’s Choice Sale, Aromas, California

October 10: Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch, Online Only

October 26: Heartland Cattle Company Simmental & SimAngus Show Heifers, Online Only

October 29: Jorgensen Land & Cattle Jordan Livestock Auction, San Saba, TX

October 30: Birch Creek Angus Production Sale, Ruby Valley, Nevada

October 30: Wasem Red Angus Heifer Sale, Online Only

October 31: Plyler & Son, Charolais, Simmental & SimAngus, Magnolia, Arkansas

November 7: Jungels Shorthorn Farm, Elite Heifer Sale, Kathryn, North Dakota

November 13: Jorgensen Land & Cattle Arcadia Stockyards Sale, Arcadia, Florida

November 13: Keller Broken Heart Ranch Female Sale, Mandan, North Dakota

November 14: Six Mile Ranch Red Angus Production Sale, Fir Mountain, Saskatchewan

November 14: JYJ Red Angus Production Sale, Columbia, Alabama

December 9: Gill Red Angus, Timber Lake, South Dakota

December 22: Mar Mac Farms Dispersal Sale, Brandon, Manitoba

Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry

Dan & Jessie Hotchkiss

Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation
https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/
Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos

Contact Us with Questions or Concerns

Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via:

Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420
Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com
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YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp

Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms.

Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC

Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production.

Learn more about Jeff ‘Tigger’ Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC.

https://tiggerandbec.com/