Angus Cattle Blog & Journal

• What Phenotype Really Means: Function First

  On The Source, Jamie Wolf asked his co-host, Cody Jorgensen, to define phenotype. Cody's answer isn't about what looks good in a show ring.

• How JLC Delivers Bulls: The Whole Process, from Lease Order to Your Gate

  JLC delivers and picks up roughly 6,000 bulls over the year, and close to 3,000 of them in June alone. On The Source, Brian, JLC's logistics and trucking head, walked Jamie Wolf through how it all works. Here's the full process, in order.

• What Exactly Is a JLC Lease Bull?

  Ask Andy Tegethoff what a lease bull is, and he starts at the very beginning: JLC's own registered cowherd. On The Source, he walked through the whole process, "from nuts to bolts, tail to mouth."

• Three Ways to Intern at JLC: Livestock, Crop Operations, and Agronomy

  For summer 2027, Jorgensen Land & Cattle is offering three internships: livestock, crop operations, and a brand-new agronomy position. Reagan Nielsen walked through each one on The Source, with help from Jamie Wolf.

• Five Interns, One Summer: What It's Really Like to Intern at Jorgensen Land & Cattle

  No two days were the same. Our summer interns share what they learned and why the next class should apply.

• Jorgensen Land & Cattle to be Featured on World's Greatest!... Airing Nationally on Bloomberg TV

  Jorgensen Land & Cattle will be featured on the nationally distributed television series World's Greatest!... in an episode airing on Bloomberg Television on Saturday, August 15 and Saturday, August 22, both at 3 PM Central Time.

• The Genetics Behind Every SmartBull — And Why the Data Sets Them Apart

  A mature, proven bull is only half the SmartBull story. The other half is what's behind him on paper. On a recent Field Notes episode, Andy Tegethoff walked through exactly where SmartBull genetics come from — and why every one of them comes backed by real data, not guesswork.

• The Origin Story: How a Florida Winter Created the SmartBull Program

  How a Florida winter and a practical problem turned into JLC's SmartBull program — the real origin story behind these proven, mature Angus bulls.

• What Exactly Is a SmartBull? Breaking Down JLC's Most-Asked Question

  If you've called Jorgensen Land & Cattle in the last decade or so, chances are you've talked to Andy Tegethoff. And if you've talked to Andy, chances are you've asked him some version of the same question: what in the world is a SmartBull?

• The Math Behind Genetic Testing: A Return You Can't Get Anywhere Else

  Jorgensen Land & Cattle doesn't usually lead with cost when explaining the Ideal Beef Evaluation — but the return-on-investment number is worth knowing on its own.

• One Herd, Five Years, No New Equipment: A Real Genetic Testing Case Study

  It's a useful reminder that genetic testing isn't a quick fix — it's closer to a discipline. The return is real, but it compounds over years of consistent decisions, not a single season of dramatic change.

• Why Age Matters — And Where SmartBulls Thrive Because of It

  This is really the throughline of the whole SmartBull program: these bulls have already been sent through the leasing process to places like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska — every type of terrain out there. If a bull makes it through two lease cycles and comes back sound, he's proven himself under real conditions, not just on paper.

• "What Does Your Herd Need?" — How an Evaluation Became a Breeding Philosophy

  Picture a commercial cattleman with none of the tools a seedstock operation takes for granted — no full pedigrees, no EPDs, no scan data, no genomics. What does he have? His eye, and a gate cut down an alley. Maybe a scale, if he's ambitious. Maybe a birth date.

• Reading the AgBoost Wheels: A Complete Guide

  If you've ever seen one of those colorful wheel graphics attached to a JLC bull and weren't quite sure what you were looking at, here's the full breakdown — from the raw data problem AgBoost solves, to the four wheels you'll actually encounter, to how to use them on a whole group of animals at once.

• What 60+ Years of Production Data Can Teach You About Beef Cattle Genetics

  Numbers matter in cattle production, but not all numbers carry the same weight. An EPD calculated from 40 progeny records tells you something. An EPD calculated from 4,000 records tells you something more reliable. A performance database built across six decades of individual animal tracking, in operations spanning 38 states, tells you things that simply […]

• Choosing Angus Bulls: Why Small, Consistent Upgrades Beat Big Swings

  There is a version of bull selection that looks decisive and feels like progress but rarely produces it. It goes like this: a producer has a calf crop that underperforms expectations. Weaning weights come in light, or the cattle do not grade well, or the calves are inconsistent and the order buyers notice. The response […]

• Why We Still Use Genetics from 1958 (And What That Says About Progress)

  In the 1950’s, Jorgensen Land and Cattle started keeping individual cow cards. Handwritten records. Birth weights, calving notes, dam performance, sire identification. Nothing sophisticated by today’s standards. Just the discipline to write it down, every animal, every year, without exception. That practice did not start because someone anticipated DNA testing or genomic EPDs or computerized […]

• How Much Does it Cost to Lease a Bull: Leasing vs. Buying

  The decision to lease or buy a bull is a critical one for any cattle rancher. While both options have their advantages and disadvantages, understanding the associated costs and benefits is essential for making an informed decision. Understanding the Costs of Leasing a Bull The cost of leasing a bull can vary significantly depending on […]

• What Heritage Beef Means to Us: Angus Cattle with a Legacy

  In the heart of the agricultural landscape, heritage beef stands as a testament to the value of tradition, a history of innovation, sustainability, and a deep-rooted connection to the land. This most delicious protein, often sourced from time-honored farms and ranches, offers a unique culinary experience that transcends the ordinary. Angus Cattle: Heritage Royalty The […]

• Motherlode™ Angus Females – A Foundation for Herd Success

  In the competitive world of Angus breeding, herd sires often receive all the attention, however, progressive cattle producers understand that high-quality females are vital to establish a foundation for herd excellence. Superior genetics are not solely transmitted through sires; top-tier females play an equally significant role in shaping the future of your herd. Motherlode™ Angus […]

• Finding the Perfect Bull for Your Herd: Top genetic traits

  John, a Montana rancher with a rich family history in cattle breeding, knows the importance of a herd sire. For years, his prized bull, Maximus, has been stellar. Calves sired by Maximus consistently boast impressive rate of gain and his heifers make beautiful replacement females, contributing to John’s reputation for maintaining an exceptional beef cattle […]

• Yearling Bulls: Powerhouse Potential for Your Herd

  The bull is the cornerstone of any cattle operation. His genetics significantly influence the herd’s future performance and profitability. Selecting the right bull for breeding is a critical decision. Yearling bulls, young bulls between 12 and 18 months old, are gaining popularity for several reasons. Let’s explore the advantages of yearling bulls and the key […]

• Maximizing Cow Breeding Efficiency: The Role of SmartBulls®

  Breeding efficiency is a critical factor for any cattle operation aiming to maximize profitability and herd quality. At Jorgensen Farms, we understand the challenges cattlemen face in achieving this balance. Our SmartBulls® program is designed to address these challenges head-on, providing superior genetics, economic value, and ease of management. Here’s how SmartBulls® can transform your […]

• More than Beef: Exploring the Various Uses of Motherlode Cattle

  The Jorgensen Motherlode™ cow herd is renowned for its exceptional genetics, producing high-quality breeding stock that forms the foundation for countless successful cattle operations. But the impact of these remarkable animals extends far beyond simply producing superior beef. Here at Jorgensen Farms, we take pride in the versatility of our Motherlode™ cattle and the multitude […]

• 2021 Jorgensen 49th Annual Bull Sale – Sale Report

  The weather may have been overcast but seeing so many smiling faces made it a bright day. It was great to see a full-house, to meet face-to-face, and shake hands with friends, again. 2021 marked our 49th Annual Production Sale at Jorgensen Land & Cattle where we have been selecting based on performance and stacking […]

• Win-Win: Jorgensen Land & Cattle

  By: BEEF MAGAZINE “It’s important to us to figure out how to provide a quality product at an affordable, sustainable price,” says Cody Jorgensen of Jorgensen Land & Cattle (JLC) at Ideal, SD. “Unless you have a special calf buy-back deal, I believe it’s difficult for a commercial producer to pay much more than $5,000-$6,000 […]

• Sire Lines & “Y” They Matter – Part 2

  In Part 1 of our blog series on Sire Lines, we established the biological basis of the “Y chromosome, what the Y chromosome does, and why it matters. Now we continue our look at Sire Lines and “Y” they matter. Today, we have a lot of people multiplying Angus cattle, people chasing numbers, fads, and the ‘Populare Sire of the Month’. My thoughts on true beef cattle breeders is that they are operations with a true breeding program; by that, I mean that they have direction for where they want to take their herd, what they want to produce, and what they want their seedstock cattle to produce. A program like that knows where their cattle came from (Sire Lines and Cow Families) and what genetic contributions their lines bring to the table.

• Another Successful Bull Sale at “The Source” – 2020

  Even in a year which has been so crazy that we had to ask people to not attend in-person on Sale Day, many repeat customers and some new customers made the effort to “virtually” attend the Top 100 Bull Sale on April 20th and express their confidence in our program of Stacked Performance GeneticTM. A […]

• Sire Lines and “Y” They Matter

  At Jorgensen Land & Cattle, our breeding program is primarily composed of five separate & distinct foundational Sire Lines. Each sire line makes their own set of genetic contributions to our breeding program, the Angus breed, and cattlemen across America. We put a lot of thought, analysis & effort into improving our Sire Lines, and […]

• Integrating Crop and Livestock Systems: Effects on Soil Health

  As discussed in our summary “Integrating Crop and Livestock Systems” post in February (link in photo at right), the long-held assumption was that hooves on crop land had negative effects to ultimate crop yield and soil health by way of: Increased Compaction Increased Runoff and Erosion Integrating Crop and Livestock Systems Our experience over 5+ years […]

• WE’LL BRING THE SALE TO YOU

  Our 1st Ever Virtual Bull Sale We are Agriculture. We don’t shutdown; we use our common sense, adapt and make it happen. You have cows to breed, calf crops to produce, and families to support – So let’s have a bull sale! Jorgensen Land & Cattle will hold our 48th Annual Production Sale on Monday, […]

• Good Friday Lessons

  To the disciples, friends, and family of Jesus – nothing seemed “Good” about the day Jesus was killed. He was killed during what was supposed to be a time of celebration, the Passover. He had promised that He was the Messiah, the One that had come to save His people … yet He had been […]

• Integrating Crop and Livestock Systems

  Since the 1980’s, the integration of our separate enterprises (livestock, crops and hunting) has been an important part of the success of Jorgensen Land & Cattle. Starting with the adoption of the IRM (Integrated Resource Management) concept championed by Martin Jorgensen in the early 1980’s, we have always tried to un-silo our business and operate […]

• Jorgensen appointed to SD Wheat Commission

  Bryan Jorgensen was recently appointed to the SD Wheat Commission by SD Governor Kristi Noem. Bryan is the Chief Agronomy Operations Officer and an owner of Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, SD. Growing up on the family operation in Northern Tripp County, SD, Bryan has lived in the heart of SD wheat country his […]

• Ideal Pioneers Book Available on Amazon

  Jorgensen Land & Cattle is located on the rolling short-grass prairie of south-central South Dakota. Headquartered in Ideal, SD, Jorgensen Land & Cattle is a unique synergy in which 20,000 acres of cropland and pasture underpin a world-class beef cattle program that annually markets around 3,500 Angus bulls. It’s estimated that 100,000 calves bearing Jorgensen […]

• Jorgensen Land & Cattle Recognized as Historic Angus Herd

  Jorgensen Ranches has raised performance-tested registered Angus cattle for 60-plus years. In 1955, brothers Don Jorgensen and Martin Jorgensen, Jr., started what is now known as Jorgensen Land & Cattle, originally known as Jorgensen Brothers, in Ideal, South Dakota. The American Angus Association® the Jorgensen Land & Cattle herd as a recipient of the Historic Angus […]