Angus Underground

In this fascinating episode of Angus Underground, David Brown and Jim McWilliam welcome internationally respected cattle evaluator, consultant, and global livestock ambassador PJ Budler. Originally from South Africa and now based in Texas, PJ shares stories from a career that has taken him to more than 120 countries and judging assignments in over 50 nations. From evaluating cattle on icy parking lots in Kazakhstan to consulting operations across multiple continents, PJ offers a unique perspective on what makes cattle profitable, functional, and adaptable regardless of geography. 

The conversation quickly moves beyond travel stories and into a thoughtful discussion on cattle breeding philosophy. PJ argues that profitability begins with the cow on the ranch—not at the feedlot, packing plant, or retail counter. He challenges the industry's obsession with chasing maximum growth and extreme EPDs, advocating instead for balance, fertility, functional efficiency, environmental adaptability, and cattle that work within their production environment. Throughout the discussion, David, Jim, and PJ explore the differences between breeding for optimization versus maximization and why consistent, honest breeding programs ultimately build the strongest customer base. 

The episode concludes with an in-depth conversation about visual appraisal, functional efficiency, tropical adaptation, the influence of the late Jan Bonsma, and the dangers of overcomplicating cattle breeding. PJ emphasizes that successful breeders combine observation, curiosity, and repetition to understand cattle, while warning against treating genomics or any single tool as the only answer. His message is clear: great cattle breeding is still rooted in common sense, balance, and a relentless focus on profitability and function. 

Key Discussion Points

PJ Budler's journey from a South African farm to becoming a globally recognized cattle judge and consultant

Judging cattle in more than 50 countries and visiting over 120 countries worldwide

The creation of the "Champion of the World" livestock competition

Why profitable cow-calf operations start with efficient cows rather than terminal traits

Functional efficiency versus chasing extreme genetic measurements

The importance of fertility, body condition, and hormonal balance in cattle selection

How environmental adaptability should influence breeding decisions

Angus cattle and the challenges of heat, humidity, and parasite pressure

The role of Bos indicus influence in tropical environments

Why consistency and honesty are powerful marketing tools for seedstock producers

Lessons from Jan Bonsma and observation-based cattle breeding

The dangers of treating genomics as the "only game in town"

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Closing Takeaway

PJ Budler brings a rare global perspective to cattle breeding, but his core message is surprisingly simple: profitable cattle are balanced cattle. Whether discussing fertility, function, adaptability, or phenotype, the conversation continually returns to the idea that breeding decisions should prioritize long-term efficiency and practicality over short-term trends. For breeders seeking sustainable success, this episode offers both inspiration and a challenge to rethink what truly matters in cattle selection.

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

After a brief hiatus, David Brown and Producer Seana return with a wide-ranging, passionate episode covering the current state of the beef industry, Angus genetics, market volatility, ranch life, Angus Association politics, and the future direction of commercial cattle production. 

This episode blends personal ranch updates, industry commentary, economic concerns, and David’s candid thoughts on Angus genetics, breed associations, genomics, and profitability in today’s cattle market.

🐂 Main Topics Covered

Ranch Life & Spring Workload Updates

David shares what has been happening behind the scenes at Montana Ranch during the podcast break.

Beef Industry Market Concerns

David dives deeply into concerns surrounding the current cattle market and explains why he believes the industry is at a major crossroads despite record-high prices.

Angus Genetics & EPD Concerns

One of the strongest portions of the episode centers around David’s concerns about:

Extreme numbers

Terminal traits

Functional cows

Longevity

Maternal value

Commercial ranch profitability

David specifically challenges whether genomics and certain modern Angus metrics truly reflect real-world cattle performance. 

American Angus Association Discussion

David discusses financial concerns regarding the American Angus Association. He encourages breeders to become more active in delegate nominations and leadership decisions within the organization. 

📌 Key Takeaways

The cattle industry is experiencing historic prices alongside historic uncertainty.

Efficient, durable cows may become increasingly valuable during the next rebuilding phase.

David believes the industry is moving away from extreme growth-focused genetics.

Angus breeders should focus more on commercial profitability and less on inflated numbers.

Young cattle producers face major challenges entering the business due to land and input costs.

Market volatility and packer concentration remain major concerns.

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Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

In Part 2 of this deep-dive series, David Brown and Dallas Woltemath return to complete their countdown of the top 20 most influential Angus sires of all time, bringing the conversation into its most impactful and opinionated territory. 

Where Part 1 laid the groundwork, this episode sharpens the focus—moving into the bulls that didn’t just contribute to the breed, but fundamentally shaped what modern Angus cattle look like today. The discussion blends personal experience, historical perspective, and practical application, reinforcing that true influence goes far beyond registration numbers or EPD profiles.

A central theme throughout this episode is maternal strength and longevity. As David highlights bulls like Emulation N Bar 5522, the conversation emphasizes traits that stand the test of time—udder quality, fertility, structural integrity, and the ability to produce daughters that remain productive for years. These sires are remembered not just for what they produced in one generation, but for the consistency and reliability they passed down through entire cow families. 

As the countdown progresses, the discussion naturally evolves into a broader reflection on balance in cattle breeding. Dallas frequently points out that the most influential sires weren’t necessarily extreme in one trait—they were complete. Bulls like Rito 707 emerge as foundational figures, acting as a “common denominator” in performance genetics and demonstrating how early advancements in growth, carcass merit, and efficiency helped define the direction of the breed. 

The episode also highlights how timing plays a critical role in influence. Many of these sires rose to prominence because they met the needs of the industry at exactly the right moment—whether that meant increasing frame size, improving carcass quality, or strengthening maternal lines. Yet despite changing trends, both David and Dallas repeatedly emphasize that many of these bulls could still be relevant today, reinforcing the idea that good cattle never go out of style. 

As they approach the top of the list, the conversation becomes even more personal. Stories of seeing these bulls in person, working with their progeny, and observing their long-term impact give the episode a sense of legacy. 

By the end of the episode, it’s clear that this project is more than a ranking—it’s a reflection of decades of experience, observation, and respect for the cattle that built the Angus breed. The discussion leaves listeners with a deeper understanding of what true influence looks like: cattle that work, last, and leave something meaningful behind.

Sponsor & Ad Mentions

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Focuses on real-world ranching insights

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Shares firsthand experiences integrating Akaushi genetics into Angus programs

Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and GotAnyCows.com

Closing Notes

David wraps up the series by emphasizing that every sire discussed—regardless of ranking—has a place in the conversation and, in many cases, could still be relevant in today’s breeding programs. 

Listeners are encouraged to:

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast

Join the Angus Underground Facebook community

Reach out with questions (or strong opinions!)

This episode concludes a multi-year “labor of love” project that captures not just rankings—but the history, philosophy, and future of Angus genetics.

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

In this “labor of love” episode, host David Brown welcomes back Dallas Woltemath for a deep and highly intentional conversation centered on one of the most important questions in Angus genetics: which sires have truly shaped the breed—and why?

Building on the success of their earlier episode on influential dams, David and Dallas take on a much bigger challenge—identifying and ranking their favorite and most impactful Angus sires across roughly the last 50 years. Rather than relying on association-generated rankings or purely statistical definitions of “influence,” they intentionally frame this project through lived experience, practical observation, and long-term industry perspective.

Each of them independently compiled a list of approximately 30 sires, focusing on bulls born between the 1970s and 2016. They then merged those lists into a composite ranking, which not only highlights shared selections but also exposes differences in opinion—creating a richer, more layered discussion about what influence actually looks like in the real world. 

Throughout the episode, the conversation moves beyond simple rankings and into storytelling. David and Dallas reflect on cattle they’ve seen, pedigrees they’ve studied, and moments in time when certain sires shifted the trajectory of the breed. They explore how different eras prioritized different traits—frame size, muscle, maternal strength, carcass merit—and how key bulls helped push those transitions forward.

What becomes clear is that “influential” isn’t just about widespread use or registration numbers. It’s about lasting impact—bulls that left daughters that worked, sons that propagated consistency, and genetics that held up across environments and management styles. There is a recurring appreciation for cattle that brought balance and functionality, rather than extremes, reinforcing a core theme of practicality over trend-driven breeding.

The episode also captures the evolution of data and record-keeping in the Angus industry. Earlier generations of cattle often lacked the depth of recorded data that modern breeders rely on, yet many of those sires still rise to the top of these discussions because of what they actually did in production settings. That contrast adds another layer of depth, reminding listeners that numbers alone don’t tell the full story.

Ultimately, this conversation feels less like a definitive ranking and more like an oral history of the Angus breed—shared between two cattlemen who have spent decades observing what works, what lasts, and what truly matters. Part 1 sets the foundation, walking through the early portion of their list and preparing listeners for a continued countdown in the next installment. Part 2 coming next week!

Sponsor & Ad Mentions

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Closing Notes

David wraps the episode by noting that this is just the beginning—covering the first portion of their sire rankings—and invites listeners back for Part 2, where they will continue the countdown toward their top selections. 

Listeners are also encouraged to:

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast

Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.

After opening the episode with pointed commentary on current breed association messaging and the direction of Angus genetics, host David Brown shifts into a grounded, practical conversation with Montana cattleman Jed Polk. What follows is a thoughtful, transparent look at what it truly takes to build a cow herd — and now a seedstock program — from scratch.

Jed Polk and his wife Angel operate Polk Cattle in the heart of Montana’s cattle country near Rainesford. The ranch itself dates back to 1886 and represents Angel’s fifth-generation family operation. But Jed did not grow up in ranching. Raised in Helena, Montana, he joined the U.S. Air Force at 18 and served both active duty and in the Guard before ultimately transitioning back home. His entry into ranching came through marriage, mentorship, and a willingness to ask questions — a lot of them.

What makes Jed’s story compelling is not that he stepped into an established operation, but that he and his wife built their herd methodically, one cow at a time. Starting with just two cows, Jed expanded strategically year by year. He paid close attention to markets, bought cattle during drought-driven selloffs, and used disciplined budgeting to ensure growth without overleveraging. In years when calf prices were strong, he focused on paying down debt and upgrading infrastructure. In difficult years, particularly during severe drought, he made tough culling decisions — often selling older cows to preserve younger genetics and long-term viability.

Jed runs between 350 and 500 commercial cows depending on environmental conditions, all in a demanding Montana climate. With no irrigation and largely dryland hay production, his cattle must travel, graze, and endure weather extremes. Longevity, fertility, foot quality, and udder soundness are non-negotiable traits in that environment. He places heavy emphasis on cow families and proven maternal lines when selecting bulls, prioritizing real-world production records over flashy numbers.

In recent years, Jed’s passion has expanded into registered seedstock production. After early trial-and-error purchases, he recalibrated his approach — moving away from bargain registered cattle and toward embryos and proven older cows with established track records. His goal is consistency. He wants cattle that perform under commercial pressure, not just cattle that look good on paper. For Jed, integrity, predictability, and long-term reputation matter more than chasing trends.

The conversation dives into practical realities: developing bulls properly, building facilities to support a seedstock operation, managing herd replacement rates, and balancing commercial stability with registered ambition. Jed is candid about financial planning, market cycles, equipment investment, and the importance of preparing for downturns even during strong markets.

Ultimately, this episode is less about theory and more about stewardship — of land, genetics, capital, and relationships. Jed’s vision is to build a seedstock program rooted in functionality and trust, with the long-term goal of hosting his own production sale and marketing cattle backed by consistency and integrity.

Sponsor & Ad Mentions

🎧 Got Any Cows Podcast

Hosted by Seth Christensen

Topics include:

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Embryo transfer & IVF

Production practices

Marketing strategy

Incorporating Wagyu influence into Angus programs

Available on:

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Learn more about our sponsor, Montana Ranch, by visiting MontanaRanchAngus.com.