Available for viewing in English/ Spanish
Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Association (LOBBA) welcomes you to our website and hope you will visit often. The LOBBA is one of the oldest satellite association within the Beefmaster Breeders United and started by some pioneer breeders in Live Oak County, Texas, who realized this breed was a perfect fit for the brush and cactus of south Texas. Today our membership includes breeders from across South Texas and beyond. You will find some of the proven and popular genetics lines of cattle in the herds of our members. Bulls produced and marketed by our members are recognized across the breed and industry as some of the best and the Live Oak Bull Sale held annually in January sets the standard for the breed.
Again, we're glad to have you here at our website and we hope y'all will think of Live Oak Beefmasters when you think of Beefmaster Cattle.
Important Dates & Events . . .
April 19, 2022 ----- Scan day at Landair. Spring heifers already at Landair in the Development Program will be scanned and graded. Any spring heifers that will be consigned to the Spring Heifer Marketing Program that will be sold this fall need to be scanned at that time. Any BBU member is welcome to bring cattle to Landair to be scanned. LOBBA members will be charged a $10 chute fee plus the cost of the scan. Non LOBBA members and those not participating in the bull or heifer development program will be charged a $20 chute fee plus the cost of the scan.
If you have any questions contact: Melvin Scherer - 361.877.2577
April 23, 2022 ---- E 6 sale in Brenham.
Last week in May ---- The preliminary grading and evaluation of the 2023 bulls will be done. This will provide information and an initial ranking on the bulls so that consignors can decide if their bulls will be left in the program.
June 15, 2022 ---- Heifers that will be eligible for the Spring Marketing Program and ultimately sold at the LOBBA Fall sale on 9/24/22 are required to be in place at Landair by this date. Details of the program are provided in a separate attachment.
2nd to 3rd week in August --- Spring Marketing Program Heifers will be graded and consignments confirmed for the September 24, 2022 sale.
September 24, 2022 ---- LOBBA Fall Sale, Perfect Pair and Heifer Marketing Program.
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT ......
Welcome to the Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Association website. LOBBA is a satellite organization of Beefmaster Breeders United with a mission to provide marketing, educational, and data collection opportunities for its members. The association also serves as a support group for BBU activities and functions. Membership to our association is open to all and we welcome everyone.
LOBBA was started in October of 1974 by a group of Live Oak County Beefmaster breeders who saw the need and advantage of such a group. In March of 1975 the first Beefmaster sale was held at the Live Oak Auction Barn. In 1977 the present sale barn was built and totally paid for by 1981. In 1984 these generous cattlemen donated the barn to the Live Oak County Fair Association. An agreement was made for both groups to use the barn and through the years the two groups have worked together to maintain and improve the facility. That first board of directors of LOBBA set a remarkable example for others to follow. Through the years, over 195 people have served on the board of directors and there have been 14 presidents.
LOBBA starts the new calendar year with the established and well respected bull sale. This sale is a pioneer in the marketing of Beefmaster bulls. To maintain this reputation, keep pace with the times, and provide valuable data for consigners, members and buyers, a bull development program was started. All bulls in the January sale are fed and cared for under the same conditions. A variety of data is collected and bulls are visually evaluated twice. This development program helps LOBBA members collect the performance information that meets the demands of today's cattle industry and has greatly improved the quality and uniformity of the bulls presented in our sale.
LOBBA also provides two other sales during the year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. The featured lots are generally females and give buyers the opportunity to purchase open heifers, bred heifers, and pairs. Young bulls may at times be part of the offering as well. Many times on the day before our sales, seminars of various topics of interest to cattle raisers are presented. As an association we feel the need to keep our members and any other interested parties educated on the happenings in our breed and in the industry as a whole.
LOBBA invites everyone to join our organization. We have wonderful socials the evening before all of our sales and invite all to come enjoy great food and fellowship. Please come join us.
Melvin R Scherer Jr.
THE STORY: BEEFMASTER
HISTORY OF THE BREED
Tom Lasater, founder of the BEEFMASTER breed, was one of those rare individuals who knew from childhood what profession he was going to pursue. He was fond of saying that ranching is his avocation as well as his vocation. Tom Lasater's philosophies of cattle raising encompasses all aspects of the business from range ecology to merchandising. Perhaps his philosophy can be labeled "creative radicalism." A good manager must be in love with results. A sound breeding program, oriented toward results, should be based on the Five Commandments of Livestock Breeding.
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First Commandment is to select only for the SIX ESSENTIALS; Disposition, Fertility, Weight, Conformation, Milk Production and Hardiness.
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Second Commandment is to strive for reproductive efficiency.
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Third Commandment is to performance test in a constant environment.
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Fourth Commandment is to employ direct selection, which means selecting for the specific traits sought and not for a combination the breeder hopes will produce the desired results.
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Fifth Commandment is to utilize the adaptive powers of nature. Tom Lasater's policy was to ask the impossible of nature.
THE SIX ESSENTIALS
DISPOSITION:
Selecting for disposition is simple. At Weaning time, any difference in individuals is readily apparent in cattle raised under identical conditions. The bulk of animals with poor dispositions can be spotted at that time and culled. Thereafter, disposition is judged continually with any noticeably excitable or high-strung animals being periodically eliminated from the herd.
FERTILITY:
The importance of fertility in the cattle business is obvious, and yet today's ranchmen have failed to produce cattle that are fertile. Selection for reproductive efficiency consists of a short breeding season; males and females bred at 12 1/2 months to 14 1/2 months and a calf from every cow every year - regardless. Reproductive efficiency also involves accomplishing the foregoing while keeping 80 - 90% of each heifer crop in order to intensify culling of the cow herd.
WEIGHT:
The vast majority of cattle are marketed on a weighed basis. The importance of weight is universally recognized. In selecting bulls for weight two factors are involved: (1) weaning weight and (2) post-weaning gain. The weaning weight reflects the milking ability of the mother; the post-weaning gain indicates the individual's own capability.
CONFORMATION:
In selecting for conformation, what is really under consideration is carcass conformation. As Tom Lasater said, "the ideal conformation is exemplified by that animal whose carcass will yield the most pounds of tender, lean beef per pound of live weight." Fortunately, selection for this characteristic is not difficult because, given the chance, nature correlates many of the desirable traits in beef cattle such as body length, weaning weight, fertility, feedlot performance and cutability.
HARDINESS:
"Hardiness is exemplified by those individuals which carry on their relentless production assignment year after year with minimum assistance,". Every environment tests cattle in some fashion whether it is the cold, heat, drought, too much rain, parasites, rough terrain, predators, low quality feed or any other of the many problems that affect the rancher. Cattle should be raised in the environment in which they are to be used. Given that prerequisite, they should be able to adapt to the particular disadvantages of their geographic location. If they do not, obviously they will be unable to breed at 13 months or to wean a heavy, long-age calf nine months old or older every year.
MILK PRODUCTION:
Selection for milk production is a simple matter of evaluating the cow's milking abilities as reflected in her calf's weaning weight. In the case of bulls, herd sires are selected from bulls with top weaning weights thereby perpetuating the blood from heavy-milking females. Heifers are culled on weight at weaning; cows weaning light-weight calves are also eliminated.
LOBBA Legend Award Recipients
Legend articles compliments of Beefmaster Cowman
(Click on Picture to Open Article)
2022
Kito Saenz
2021
Lieke
2020
Kasper
2019
Siddons
2018
Larkin Jr.
2017
Chapman
2016
Carrillo
2015
Long
2014
Walker
2013
Welkener
2012
Martinez
2011
Wittenburg
2010
Carr
Legend Award Recipients . . .
2022 Legend Award - Kito Saenz
2022 - Kito Saenz
2021 - Elton Lieke
2020 - Donnie Kasper
2019 - Bob and Bonnie Siddons
2018 - E C Larkin
2017 - Chapman
2016 – Carrillo Family
2015 – Fred and Judy Long
2014 – Ray Walker
2013 – Dr. Billy Welkener
2012 – J.M. "Joe" Martinez
2011 – Hans Wittenburg
2010 – Bill Carr
2009 – John Newburn
2008 – Melvin Scherer Jr.
2007 – Ed Wicker
2006 – Seymour Wormser
2005 – Anthony Mihalski
2004 – Don Kasper
2003 – Don Moore
2002 – Pat Shannon
2001 – Humberto Garza
2000 – Jack Dunn
1999 – Ascencion “Chon” Martinez
1998 – Joe Hendricks
1997 – Leo Joeris
1996 – Joe Yarbro
1995 – Enrique G. Garcia
1994 - Jim Ed Rhodes
1993 – J.B. Kolb
1992 – Walker White
SALES & RESULTS
Upcoming Sales . . .
March 19, 2022
Spring Graded Beefmaster Sale: Featuring 17 Heifers Developed at LandAir.
Selling Beefmaster Bulls, Three-In-Ones, Pairs, Breds & Open Heifers.
Join us in person or bid online at DVAuctions.
Future Sales . . .
( Click on cover to open )
April 23, 2022 ---- E 6 sale in Brenham.
September 24, 2022 ---- LOBBA Fall Sale, Perfect Pair and Heifer Marketing Program.
MARCH 2022 SALE HIGHLIGHTS
2022 Grand Champion Female - Exposed Pair
Bob & Bonnie Siddons - Arrowhead Ranch
2022 1st Place Open Heifer
Erie Chapa
2022 Reserve Champion - Open Heifer
& 1st Place of the Heifer Marketing Program
Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
2022 Grand Champion Bull
& 1st Place Bred Heifer
Chris Cooley - Golden Meadows Ranch
2022 1st Place Bred Cow
Gary Halepeska - Halepeska Beefmasters
2021 LIVE OAK YEARLY AWARDS....
2021 Legend Award - Elton Lieke
2021 Member of the Year - Elton Lieke
2021 New Member of the Year - Jennifer Halepeska Hahn
2021 Breeder of the Year - Santa Ana Ranch. Dr. Alvaro & Ana Restrepo
2021 Director Emeritus - Billy Welkner
HIGH GRADED BULLS
Even though the Live Oak Association has been hosting the bull sale since its beginning 32 years ago, the graded bull sale began in 1995. The following is a list of previous High Grading Bull winners.
2022 Top Ten High Grading Bulls
1. Lot 1 - 7C Anderson Cattle Company, Victoria, Tx
2. Lot 3 - Bounds Swinging B Ranch, Axtell, Tx
3. Lot 4 - WW Beefmasters - Edinburg, Tx
4. Lot 5 - Golden Meadows Ranch, LLC - Cotulla, Tx
5. Lot 6 - JR Land & Cattle Co. - Pecos, Tx
6. Lot 7 - Golden Meadows Ranch, LLC - Cotulla, Tx
7. Lot 8 - Ray Walker - Big Springs, Tx
8. Lot 9 - Melvin Scherer, V7 - Fannin, Tx
9. Lot 10 - Collier Farms - Brenham, Tx
10. Lot 12 - Flying B Ranches, La Pryor, Tx
2022 Top Graded Bulls - 7C Cattle Company 11/20
Top Grading Bulls from Years Past . . .
2022 - 7C Anderson Cattle Company, Victoria, Texas
2021 - 7C Anderson Cattle Company, Victoria, Texas
2020 - Lyssy and Sons, San Antonio, Texas
2019 - Flying B, La Pryor, Texas
2018 - Karen Hall - Hall and Tate Corners, Tennessee
2017 - Timber Ridge, Livingston, Texas
2016 – Sheldon McManus, Lake Charles, Louisiana
2015 – Ted Cain, Gulfport, Mississippi
2014 – Dr. Norberto & Sara Cantu, Rio Grande, Texas
2013 – Cottage Farm Beefmaster, Jackson, Tennessee
2012 – Toby Lester, Bentonville, Arkansas
2011 – L2 Ranch, Fred & Judy Long, Beeville, Texas
2010 – Lazy Susan Ranch, Savannah, Tennessee
2009 – Harold Hoge, Joshua, Texas
2008 – Collier Farms, Brenham, Texas
2007 – David Joeris, Moore, Texas
2006 – Bobby Melloan, Horse Cave, Kentucky
2005 – Bill & Dusty Carr, Laredo, Texas
2004 – Ted Cain, Wiggins, Mississippi
2003 – Trent Cromer, Axton, Virginia
2002 – Royce and Rose Witte, Giddings, Texas
2001 – Jim and Anita Dunkin, Paige, Texas
2000 – Jerry Vordenbaum, Seguin, Texas
1999 – C.W. Tuma, Premont Texas
1998 – Charles Ragus, Shreveport, Louisiana
1997 – Lyssy & Sons, San Antonio, Texas
1996 – Weldon & Helen Goebel, Cuero, Texas
1995 – Leroy Foerster, Orange Grove, Texas
Donald Kasper presents 7C Anderson Cattle Company & Melvin Scherer an award for consigning the Grand Champion Bull to the 2022 LOBBA Sale.
Melvin Scherer presents award to Mackie Bounds, Swinging B Ranch on consigning the Reserve Champion Bull to the 2022 LOBBA Sale.
HEIFER MARKETING PROGRAM
Live Oak BBA has been Developing Bulls at LandAir for the January Sale the Past Few Years.
In the Fall of 2021 LOBBA started a Heifer Marketing Program which Sold in March 2022. The Second Annual Heifer Marketing Program will Begin June 15, 2022 and will Sell at the Fall Sale in September 2022.
The Mission of this Program is to Grow and Condition Young Heifers on a Silage Based Ration, Obtaining Scan and Performance Data needed by the Current Market and Preparing them to Meet the Needs of Purebred Breeders.
2022 Top Ten Heifer Marketing Program
Lot 1 - Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
Lot 2 - Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
Lot 3 - Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
Lot 4 - Adalberto Gonzalez -
Lot 5 - Jennifer Halepeska -
Lot 6 - Bob & Bonnie Siddons - Arrowhead Ranch
Lot 7 - Bob & Bonnie Siddons - Arrowhead Ranch
Lot 8 - Bob & Bonnie Siddons - Arrowhead Ranch
Lot 9 - Adalberto Gonzalez
Lot 10 - Bob & Bonnie Siddons - Arrowhead Ranch
2022 Top Heifer from the Heifer Marketing Program
LIVE OAK BBA BOARD MEMBERS
President
Melvin Scherer
Meyersville, Texas
Vice President
Gary Halepeska
Goliad, Texas
Secretary/ Treasurer
Don Kasper
Three Rivers, Texas
Ex - Officio
Bob Siddons
Austin, Texas
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Billy Welkener
BOARD MEMBERS
Chris Cooley
Rubin Gitierrez
Tyler Gwosdz
Elton Lieke
Lauren Lyssy
Dave Moore
Tony Psencik
Tim Pollock
Kito Saenz
Bill Skoruppa
Bill Wilson
Joe Wittenburg
ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS
Sarah Davis
Clay Howell
Kris Fore
LOBBA Membership dues are $30 a year and payable to:
(Form can be found under Member and Helpful Forms Section)
Donnie Kasper, Live Oak Breeders Association, PO Box 1169
Three Rivers, TX 78071
MEMBERSHIP AND HELPFUL FORMS
(Click on Images to Open Forms )
Membership Form
Breeding Soundness Exam
Ultra Sound Barn Sheet
HEIFER & BULL DEVELOPMENT FORMS -
Click on BLUE or RED box to open
Heifer Program Letter
Heifer Development Program
Bull Development Program 2023
Beefmaster Weaning Recommendation
LOBBA Consignment Entry Form
LANDAIR Bull & Heifer Feeding Contract
Useful Info....
Body Condition
Foot Scoring Guidelines
Body Frame Structure
Utter Structure
Leg Structure
Hoof Structure
INDUSTRY LINKS
