Santa_Gertrudis_World_Congress_2019

Townsend Cattle Company Louise, Texas Ivan and Debbie Townsend, Owners townsendcattle81@gmail.com

Wendt Ranches Bay City, Texas Gene & Nancy Kubecka and Daniel & Lauren Kubecka, Owners • wendtranches@hotmail.com Dan Wendt and his father, R A., established SGBI Herd No. 621 in 1954. In 1969, the partnership changed to Dan and his wife, Jane, who passed away in 2016. In 2016, Dan and Jane sold the herd to Nancy [Wendt] and Gene Kubecka and their son, Daniel, and his wife, Lauren, who are the fourth generation to operate Wendt Ranches. Daughter Jenna and her husband, Jonathan Sneed, provide communication and legal consulting. The purchase and use of performance-tested bulls provided the foundation for their Santa Gertrudis breeding program. Since the inception of their breeding program, the family has collected and used data, and maintained and utilized comprehensive performance records and feedlot information. They have kept thorough performance records since 1954, which promotes confident choices regarding the direction of their herd. Strict culling programs are enforced to produce herd sires and an elite mother cow herd. Genomic testing and a robust AI program accelerates the realization of key performance targets. Wendt Ranches is known for producing and selling quality females, and has also produced some of the breed’s big herd sires, including Superman and Crackerjack. Wendt Ranches Santa Gertrudis cattle can be found around the nation and in more than 10 countries across the world. Texas A&M University (TAMU) is hosting Santa Gertrudis Beef University on the Texas A&M Campus, Oct. 16-17, as part of Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2019. The two-day seminar will feature presentations from TAMU faculty G.C. Lamb, Head, Department of Animal Sciences; Dan Hale, Ph.D., and Davey Griffin, Ph.D., Extension meat specialists; Reinaldo Cooke, Ph.D., International Beef Academy director; Ron Gill, Ph.D., associate department head; Andy Herring, Ph.D., animal breeding and genetics professor. Over the course of the program, participants will follow Santa Gertrudis steers from feeder calf to boxed beef. Data from these steers will be used to discuss factors that impact cattle value. Participants will learn how they can make genetic improvement in their herds with respect to growth and carcass traits. For more information on Texas A&M University Department of Animal Sciences, go to https://animalscience.tamu.edu/.  Santa Gertrudis  Beef University at TAMU

The Townsend family became involved with Santa Gertrudis in the early 1990s through Ivan and Debbie’s daughters, Tanya and Tana, who participated in the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association. Townsend Cattle Company was established shortly after. Townsend Cattle Company is proud of its 2012 purchase of RDF Sancho’s Never Before 1136. Known as the “breakout sire for the breed,” he was considered the most consistent herd sire in breed history. His consistent, predictable offspring will carry on his legacy as a breed changer. Townsend’s herd is 100 percent DNA tested, and they utilize an extensive embryo transplant program with a select number of elite donor cows, using artificial insemination and natural service sires. While EPDs are integral in their breeding process, cattle must also have phenotypic correctness. Located in the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast, they utilize native Bermuda grass and hybrid Jiggs Bermuda planted during the spring, summer and fall. In the winter, cattle graze ryegrass and oats and are supplemented with hay. Hosting World Congress attendees at Townsend Cattle Company are fellow Santa Gertrudis breeders Buena Vida Cattle Company, Borchers Southern Y Ranches, L.P., Corporron Acres, 4-J Cattle, Pinnacle Cattle Company, Red Doc Farm, Woman Hollerin Ranch andWunderlich Farms. We want our World Congress guests to learn more about these breeders during their visit. Urbanosky Ranch Plantersville, Texas Jerome Urbanosky, Owner • jerome@ameritechsi.com Urbanosky Ranches was founded in 1969 when Jerome Urbanosky purchased his first Santa Gertrudis heifer at the age of 15. Today, Urbanosky Ranches remains dedicated to producing high-quality seedstock for purebred and commercial cattlemen. Urbanosky T6-22 was the ranch’s foundation herd bull for many years, creating the Urbanosky polled cattle that have achieved success in the show and sale ring. Their herd sire Bulletproof 4-30 is from this bloodline. Today, the current SGBI president and his wife, Jane, ranch near Plantersville, Texas, where they raise more than 200 Santa Gertrudis cows. The couple, along with their four children and grandchildren, who all live within five minutes of the ranch, are dedicated to producing high- quality Santa Gertrudis cattle. The operation is the first Santa Gertrudis ranch to have a cloned Santa Gertrudis, offer sexed female semen and have an online production sale.

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GROWING GLOBALLY • Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2019