After the bulls are grown out on pasture, in July they come into our bull test facility near San Angelo and go through a comprehensive gain test. We collect numerous data on the bulls and offer that data for prospective buyers at the sale. Besides providing an outlet to sell his best bulls, Matt is also able to purchase other top bulls for his own herd through the Isa program. Matt also sells 20-30 females every year, but most of the females he raises go back into the herd, other than those that don't produce. The Browns sell from 25-40 bulls every year, depending on the conditions, and all the bulls are sold through Isa Cattle Company's bull sale.
Emphasis is placed on animals that are gentle and easy to handle.
Animals that fail to breed in a short period of time and raise offspring are culled. All replacements are selected for heavy weaning weight and further selection of yearling weights are considered. All replacement animals are selected for good milking ability but they cannot have large sagging udders or large teats. It's been very difficult. We've been fighting an uphill battle.