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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 . . .
(6/2/24 updated)
Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Association
*6/1/24 to 8/12/24 --- Membership to plan consignments for fall sale with focus on pairs/3n1’s
*6/1/24 to 6/4/24 --- Bull consignors to decide which bulls to stay in the development program
*7/15/24 --- Consignors to complete nominations for fall sale
*7/24/24 (tentative) --- Grade Spring Born Heifers for fall sale
*7/25/24 to 7/29/24 (tentative) --- Consignors to select heifers for fall sale
*7/30/24 to 8/2/24 (tentative) --- Trim and tag heifers
*8/6/24 (tentative) --- Video and take pictures of heifers for fall sale
*8/8/24 to 8/10/24---BBU Convention in College Station
*8/16/24 --- Start planning breeding heifers for Spring March 2025 Sale
*9/27/24 --- Grade all cattle for Fall Perfect Pair Sale
*9/28/24 --- Fall Perfect Pair Sale (4th Saturday in September)
*10/28/24 to 11/4/24 (tentative)---Deliver fall born heifers to Landair for Spring Sale
*11/6/24 (tentative)---Grade bulls for 2025 Bull Sale
*11/11/24 to 11/12/24 (tentative) --- Test Bulls
*11/13/24 (tentative)---Open scan day, make sure fall bulls dob September 1 (439 days)
to November 7 are scanned (will not qualify for January scan date)
*11/13/24 to 11/18/24 (tentative) ---Trim and tag bulls
*11/19/24 to 11/20/24 (tentative)--- Video and take pictures of bulls
*1/10/25 --- Grade and select Grand Champion Bull
*1/11/25---Bull Sale (2nd Saturday in January)
*1/29/25 (tentative) --- Scan Fall Bulls (442 days from 11/13/24)
*3/15/25 --- Spring Showdown Sale
*4/16/25 (tentative) --- Scan Spring Bulls (442 days from 1/1/25 and 410 days from 5/31/25)
*4/17/25 (tentative) ---Open scan day for membership
THE BEEFMASTER STORY
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)
2024
Collin Osbourn
2021
Lieke
2020
Kasper
2023
Tony Psencik
2019
Siddons
2022
Kito Saenz
2018
Larkin Jr.
2017
Chapman
2016
Carrillo
2015
Long
2014
Walker
2013
Welkener
2012
Martinez
2011
Wittenburg
2010
Carr
Legend Award Recipients . . .
2024 Legend Award - Collin Osbourn
2024 - Collin Osbourn
2023 - Tony and Karen Psencik
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
2023 - 2024 LIVE OAK YEARLY AWARDS....
Legend Award 2024 - Collin Osbourn
Member of the Year - Mackie & Norma Jean Bounds
Member of the Year - Kristopher Fore
Breeder of the Year -
Diamond M - David Moore
New Member of the Year - Rocking RB Cattle Co.
Camaron & Erin Cox
Performance Breeder of the Year - L2 Ranch - Judy Long
Past LOBBA Yearly Awards
Legend Award 2022 - Tony & Karen Psencik
Performance Breeder of the Year - Golden Meadows
Environmental Award - Tim & Debbie Chapman
2021 Member of the Year - Elton Lieke
2021 New Member of the Year - Jennifer Halepeska Hahn
Member of the Year - Melvin & Marilyn Scherer
Breeder of the Year - Flying B Ranches
2021 Breeder of the Year - Santa Ana Ranch
New Member of the Year - Pro Ventures
2021 Director Emeritus - Billy Welkner
LOBBA 2023/ 2024 Heifer Development & Marketing Program.
Revised 10/22/23
Heifer Development and Marketing Program
Mission Statement:
Provide a means of developing heifers on an equal/comparative basis to all LOBBA members. By establishing contemporary groups that are treated the same, present a uniform, quality set of heifers to meet customer demand. The heifers will then be marketed at the annual LOBBA Spring Sale in March or the Fall Sale the last Saturday of September.
Program Description:
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Heifers will be developed and marketed in two separate programs, Fall born heifers for the Spring Sale and Spring born heifers for the Fall Sale. Date of birth for Fall heifers is from September 1 to December 31. Spring heifers date of birth is from January 1 to April 30.
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The program will be conducted at Landair, Inc. in Beeville, Texas.
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Arrival date of heifers and program schedule will be established and published separately. Arrival dates will be based on available scan dates and an approximate development period of 5 months from start to Sale date.
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After approximately 3 months into the program, the heifers will be evaluated and graded at Landair to initiate the process for the respective Fall or Spring Sale. Average daily gain and weight per day of age will be recorded at that time. The heifers will be graded by an independent panel of judges. The grading will also include a record of any defects or injuries.
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The process for selecting the heifers for the sale will then be initiated. Each consignor will have the opportunity to decide if their heifer(s) will be nominated for the sale. It is the consignor’s responsibility to indicate which of their heifers will be in the sale. Consignors are limited to a maximum of 3 heifers for the respective sale. The selection of the final sale group at Landair will then allow for clipping, pictures/video, cataloging, etc.
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Heifers that do not qualify for the Elite Heifer Group or are not nominated or selected by the consignor for the sale can be consigned to the regular part of the sale, or other sale, or other use as determined by the consignor.
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Since the heifers continue to change considerably throughout the program, the final grading and sale order will be established at the sale site the day before the sale by a panel of judges. Grading will be based on the phenotype grading/evaluation only.
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The heifers will be cataloged in age order.
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The heifers will be promoted and advertised for the great sale that it will be.
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The heifers will be marketed in the respective LOBBA Fall or Spring Sale.
Requirements:
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Each consignor must be a LOBBA member for the development year and the sale year.
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A program fee of $25.00 per heifer will be charged by LOBBA.
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A contract/agreement must be signed with Landair, Inc.
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Arrival of heifers at Landair must be completed by the date established. Heifers qualifying for the sale must remain in the program thru the sale date. If a heifer’s arrival date to Landair is outside of the required delivery dates, it is the consignor’s responsibility to ensure the heifer is moved into the program. This will help ensure data collection including scan data is obtained.
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Delivery of heifers or removal of heifers must be coordinated thru Landair. Inc.
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All contacts with Landair, Inc must be coordinated thru Austin Brown III (361-597-0373).
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Heifers must be backgrounded before arrival at Landair. A suggested health vaccination and protocol is available from Landair. The protocol includes a modified live (ML) viral vaccine, 7 or 8 way blackleg, deworming, pasturella vaccine, and weaned minimum 45 days.
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Heifers must meet the age requirements for each program.
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Heifers must be scanned per BBU age requirements. Scan days are tentatively planned for each November and April to accommodate the heifer program.
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Upon arrival, heifers must have a legible holding brand and ID (brand or tattoo).
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Upon arrival, heifers must be identified with date of birth. They must also be accompanied by their BBU certificate “C” number or “P” number.
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The “C” number must be provided prior to the grading at Landair approximately 3 months after arrival. If the “C” number is not provided, the heifer will not be allowed to participate with the special elite group for the sale.
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To facilitate data setup and entry, provide complete data on delivery to Landair. Delivery at Landair must be accompanied by the attached form “Required Delivery Information”.
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Consignors are responsible directly to Landair for feed costs, health requirements, chute charges, etc.
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Consignors are responsible directly to the veterinarian for health papers, etc. Consignors are also responsible for the scan technician. These costs will be billed directly to the consignors.
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Consignors are responsible for completing and submitting all sale applications and nomination fees to the sales manager.
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Consignors are responsible directly to LOBBA for membership fees, program fee, etc.
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The normal protocol for the Spring sale will not be changed with bulls, pairs, 3n1’s, breds, and opens. The elite set of heifers from the Development and Marketing Program will be high-lighted, promoted, and advertised as the special group that it will be. Heifers from the program that do not make the elite group can still be placed in the normal sale, or other sale, or other use at the owner’s discretion.
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The normal protocol for the Fall sale featuring “The Perfect Pair Futurity” will not be changed with bulls, pairs, 3n1’s, breds and open heifers. The elite heifers from the Development and Marketing Program will be high-lighted, promoted and advertised but will follow the primary sale goal of the Perfect Pairs. Heifers from the program that do not make the elite group can still be placed in the normal sale, or other sale, or other use at the owner’s discretion.
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Compliance with these requirements is mandatory. Any requirement not met could lead to the consignor’s heifer(s) being removed or not eligible for the program and respective sale.
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It is recommended that consignments have DNA on file. New requirements at BBU will be implemented in the future (July 2024) for all AI calves. This is probably going to be dictated for all in the future. Please take notice.
LOBBA 2023/ 2024 Bull Development & Marketing Program.
Revised 10/22/23
Bull Development and Marketing Program
Mission Statement:
Provide a means of developing bulls on an equal/comparative basis to all LOBBA members. By establishing contemporary groups that are treated the same, present a uniform, quality set of bulls to meet customer demand. The bulls will then be marketed at the annual LOBBA Bull Sale held the second Saturday of January.
Program Description:
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Bulls will be developed in two groups, Fall bulls and Spring bulls. Date of birth for Fall bulls is from September 1 to December 31. Spring bulls date of birth is from January 1 to April 30.
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The program will be conducted at Landair, Inc. in Beeville, Texas.
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Arrival date of bulls will be established each year. Arrival dates will be based on providing a scan date in January for fall bulls that have not been previously scanned and start of the gain test around February 1.
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A scan date for Spring Bulls will be provided in the April time frame.
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The gain test will last from 100 – 120 days. At that point in time in late May, the bulls will be evaluated and graded. Average daily gain and weight per day of age will be recorded. The bulls will be graded and ranked in order by an independent panel of judges to provide information at that point in time to each consignor. The information will also include a record of any defects or injuries.
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At that time each consignor will have the opportunity to decide if their bull will remain in the program. It is known that the bulls can and will change a lot until the final grading in the late October/early November time frame.
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The Bulls will continue to be developed through the summer and fall.
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A second phenotype grading and evaluation of the bulls will be made by an independent panel of judges in late October/early November to initiate the process for the January sale.
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Grade order will be established based on a combination of the second phenotype grading/evaluation and performance ranking. The performance ranking will be based on the bull’s performance during the development period and scan data.
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Bulls will be identified as a “Top 20” bull or grade order Lot 21 and below.
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A BSE will be performed on each bull in the November time frame. Bulls failing the BSE will not be eligible for the sale.
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The consignors will be responsible to indicate which of their bulls will be in the sale. Consignors are limited to a maximum of 6 bulls.
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The bulls will be prepared for cataloging and the sale by tagging, clipping, and videoing. The “Top 20” bulls will be tagged and cataloged in age order. All other bulls will be tagged and cataloged in sale order starting with Lot 21.
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Since the bulls continue to change considerably throughout the program, the final grading and the final sale order of the “Top 20” bulls will be determined at the sale site the day before the sale.
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The bulls will be promoted and advertised for the great sale that it will be.
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The bulls will be marketed in the annual LOBBA Bull Sale.
Requirements:
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Each consignor must be a LOBBA member for the development year and the sale year.
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A program fee of $50.00 per bull will be charged by LOBBA.
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A contract/agreement must be signed with Landair, Inc.
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Arrival of bulls at Landair must be completed by the date established. Bulls qualifying for the sale must remain in the program thru the sale date. If a bull’s arrival at Landair is outside of the required delivery dates, it is the consignor’s responsibility to ensure the bull is moved into the program. This will help ensure data collection including scan data is obtained.
-
Delivery of bulls or removal of bulls must be coordinated thru Landair. Inc.
-
All contacts with Landair, Inc must be coordinated thru Austin Brown III (361-597-0373).
-
Bulls must be backgrounded before arrival at Landair. A suggested health vaccination and protocol is available from Landair. The protocol includes a modified live (ML) viral vaccine, 7 or 8 way blackleg, deworming, pasturella vaccine, and weaned minimum 45 days.
-
Bulls must meet the age requirements for each category.
-
Upon arrival, bulls must have a legible holding brand and ID (brand or tattoo).
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Upon arrival, bulls must be identified with date of birth. They must also be accompanied by their BBU certificate “C” number or “P” number.
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Bulls must be scanned per BBU age requirements. Scan days are provided in November, January and April.
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Fall bulls previously scanned by other, must have a “P” or “C” number to be accepted into the program.
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Any bull that needs to be scanned in either January for fall bulls or April for spring bulls must have at least the “P” number, otherwise the bull will not be scanned.
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The “C” number is required to be provided prior to the grading of the bulls in late May or early June. If the “C” number is not provided the bull will not be graded and will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the Development Program.
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To facilitate data setup and entry, provide complete data on delivery to Landair. Delivery at Landair must be accompanied by the attached form “Required Delivery Information”.
-
Consignors are responsible directly to Landair for feed costs, health requirements, chute charges, etc.
-
Consignors are responsible directly to the veterinarian for health papers, BSE, Trich test, etc. Consignors are also responsible for the scan technician. These costs will be billed directly to the consignors.
-
Consignors are responsible for completing and submitting all sale applications and nomination fees to the sales manager.
-
Consignors are responsible directly to LOBBA for membership fees, program fee, etc.
-
Compliance with these requirements is mandatory. Any requirement not met could lead to the consignor’s bull being removed or not eligible for the program and sale.
-
It is recommended that consignments have DNA on file. New requirements at BBU will be implemented in the future (July 2024) for all AI calves. This is probably going to be dictated for all in the future. Please take note.
Below you will find the documents describing the LOBBA 2023/ 24 Bull & Heifer Development and Marketing Program.
The documents include Mission Statement, Program Description, Program Requirements,
Important Dates, Required Delivery Information Form, Letter from Landair, and Landair's
recommended vaccination and weaning protocol.
All members and participants are encouraged to read the documents carefully.
All participants are encouraged to fill out all the information on the Required Delivery Forms when the bulls are delivered to Landair.
Vaccination protocols should be completed or in progress for the bulls that will be delivered to Landair.
If there are any question please call:
Gary Halepeska - 361-649-5043
Feed Agreement
Vac/ processing for Weaning Calves
Bull Development& Marketing Program
Bull Delivery Information Form (Required)
Heifer Development& Marketing Program
Heifer Delivery Information Form (Required)
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.
2024 Top Ten High Grading Bulls
1. Lot 1 - B&L Cattle, Goliad, Tx
2. Lot 20 - Swinging B Ranch, Axtell, Tx
3. Lot 4 - WW Beefmasters, Edinburg, Tx
4. Lot 17 - Diamond M, George West, Tx
5. Lot 5 - Bowman Farms, Itasca, Tx
6. Lot 21 - Golden Meadows Ranch, Helotes, Tx
7. Lot 3 - AK Beefmasters, Magnolia, Tx
8. Lot 2 - G4 Ranch, Bigfoot, Tx
9. Lot 6 - A5, Mineola, Tx
10. Lot 13 - Apalachee Beefmasters, Bethlehem, GA
2024 Top Graded Bull - Sarco Ripster's Dimension 38/22 - B&L Cattle
Top Grading Bulls from Years Past . . .
2024 - Bob & Linda Smith, B&L Cattle, Texas
2023 - Collier Farms, Brenham, Texas
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
Grand Champion Bull for the 2024 LOBBA Bull Sale
consigned by Bob & Linda Smith, B&L Cattle.
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 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.
2023 Top Ten Heifers from Development Program
Lot 1 - Chris Cooley - Golden Meadows Ranch
Lot 2 - Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
Lot 3 - Leon Anderson
Lot 4 - Kolton Plant
Lot 5 - Donald Kasper
Lot 6 - Gary Halepeska - Halepeska Cattle Company
Lot 7 - Jim Colvin
Lot 8 - Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
Lot 9 - Jim Colvin
Lot 10 - Dave Moore - Diamond M Ranch
2023 Top Heifer from the Heifer Development Program
LIVE OAK BBA BOARD MEMBERS
President
Gary Halepeska
Goliad, Texas
Vice President
Dave Moore
George West, Texas
Secretary/ Treasurer
Don Kasper
Three Rivers, Texas
Ex - Officio
Melvin Scherer
Fannin, Texas
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Billy Welkener
BOARD MEMBERS
Chris Cooley
Kris Fore
Clay Howell
Ruben Gutierrez
Tyler Gwosdz
Elton Lieke
Lauren Lyssy
Tony Psencik
Tim Pollok
Kito Saenz
Bill Wilson
Joe Wittenburg
ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS
Ernie Chapa
Camaron Cox
Sarah Davis
Jim Woolman
LOBBA Membership dues are $30 a year and payable to:
(Form can be found under Member and Helpful Forms Section)
Mailing Address:
Live Oak Breeders Association,
Attn. Donnie Kasper
PO Box 1169
Three Rivers, TX 78071