Taubenheim Gelbvieh History
Breeding cattle to work for the commercial cattlemen
~ by Nikki Krien of The Nebraska Cattleman's magazine
Feeling his family's operation wasn't au courant, a second-generation dairy producer from Nebraska took the initiative to research the industry and evaluate different breeds, choosing an alternative to take his family's business into a new era. In 1981, Mike Taubenheim was re-evaluating his family's 130 head dairy operation in Amherst, Nebraska. As a freshman, he just didn't think raising and showing dairy cattle was very 'cool'. Looking to diversify, Mike studied different breeds of beef cattle and interviewed other producers. He found what certain breeds had to offer - the look, performance and longevity.
For Mike, one breed stood out. A combination of all the qualities he desired, and that he believed the industry was gravitating toward - Gelbvieh. Mike’s first purchase was a pair or heifers from Wilson's Broken Bar Ranch, Mankato, Kansas. The two heifers were bred, resulting in a set of bull calves. Those calves later sold for $2,000 a piece. Encouraged by the success, the Taubenheims worked for the next 11 years to build their new herd. They were regulars at production and dispersal sales, buying to accumulate numbers. By 1992, they were entirely Gelbvieh. Today, Mike, along with his wife, Renee, and his parents, Dale and Jeannette, own and operate Taubenheim Gelbvieh. Mike and Renee's children, Justin, 10, Tanner, 8; and Sydney, 6, are becoming more involved as they get older.
Although running the business is a family affair, each individual has his or her area of expertise. Dale is the farming expert of the bunch. Mike is in charge of the ranch's extensive artificial insemination (AI) program. When Jeannette and Renee aren't out tending to the cattle with the rest of the family, they keep tabs on the administrative center of the business. Jeannette keeps the books for the operation; Renee's niche is technical support, and can often be found tapping away on the keyboard on behalf of Taubenheim Gelbvieh. It requires a special dedication to successfully manage the 400 females and 1,000 acres of farmland that make up their operation. In terms of the cattle, the Taubenheims are very diligent in protecting the integrity of the herd they've established.
The Taubenheims AI approximately 300 head each year. Even with such a large number to play with, they rarely use new, heavily promoted sires. Rather, they prefer proven genetics from bulls that have persevered in the breed because of the consistency they offer. Mike even went so far as to say they use many sires others consider 'has beens'. They use new bulls from time to time, but when they do they only breed a handful of females, then wait a year to see how the calves turn out. This approach must be working. Taubenheim cattle have found their way to the front of the class at show after show, and the operation has been honored at both the State and National level. Their herd bull, SLC Freedom 178F, perhaps the most influential red bull in the breed today, was purchased as a yearling and went on to be named National Champion at the 1999 National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colorado. Mike said Freedom is one of the most widely used red bulls in the breed, and he's making some definite changes. Freedom's progeny are strong-topped and square-hipped, helping Freedom to be a standout. 'Talk to any Gelbvieh breeder', Mike said. 'He is one bull that's changed the breed.' One only needs to look back at the championship line-up of females at the 2002 National Western. All five were Freedom daughters. But that's not where it ends. The Taubenheim's have had four National Champions in all. In addition, they were named Premier exhibitor at the 1999 National Western and have secured the title of Premier Exhibitor at the Nebraska state fair 8 out of the last 10 years. Being competitive is important to the Taubenheim's.
Mike said he is enjoyed seeing their ascent in the breed. He delights in being the little guy with the standout string at the shows they attend. 'I like making the big guys sweat,' he said. 'But we’re getting to the point where we’re more than the little guy.' The Taubenheims are making strides in every aspect of their operation. The average at their annual sale has risen a steady $50 / year for the last eight years. This can be largely attributed to customer satisfaction. Mike said one of the ways they know their cattle work is when they see the same people coming back year after year, and those repeat customers start bringing along friends.
'Customer service is very important,' Mike said. 'We realized that without the customer, we wouldn’t be here.' The Taubenheims are gearing up for their 13th Annual Production Sale scheduled for February 11th, 2003. The sale, featuring 100 bulls and 30 females is a huge undertaking for the group, who handles the management of the sale with the help of family and friends. One aspect of the operation that Mike highlights is their attention to the commercial cattlemen. Not only do they incorporate bulls favored by commercial producers in their breeding program, but they are also strong proponents of Balancer bulls. These are halfblood bulls recognized by the American Gelbvieh Association. The Taubenheim’s produce Balancer bulls by using Angus bulls on their Gelbvieh females. Mike said that many of their customers who buy these halfblood bulls have used Gelbvieh bulls heavily in the past. Commonly, Balancer bulls are used on halfblood females. This combination is producing progeny that find favor in the commercial arena. 'There is no reason for the commercial cattlemen not to take advantage of heterosis,' Mike said. 'The market is demanding it.'
The Taubenheim’s have made a name for themselves by producing sound, functional cattle. Fleshing ability is the main focus in their production of females. In fact, before Mike will consider and new herd bull, he has to prove himself a producer of cows. The concern - hard doing females are harder to breed. 'Fleshing ability, in my mind,' Mike said, 'is the most important trait in a cow herd.' Another focus of the Taubenheim management is producing cattle with plenty of muscle to satisfy the market. Making an admittedly bold statement, Mike said that they have built their cow herd to have more muscle than most in the breed. In just two decades, the Taubenheim’s have rerouted and rebuilt their operation, becoming one of the premier producers in the Gelbvieh breed. By emphasizing the production of quality cattle and maintaining a vigorous dedication to their customers, along with lofty personal goals for their operation, Mike, Renee, Dale and Jeannette are fulfilling their customers demand, both seedstock and commercial, and, ultimately, the industry's. ~ WLR
Feeling his family's operation wasn't au courant, a second-generation dairy producer from Nebraska took the initiative to research the industry and evaluate different breeds, choosing an alternative to take his family's business into a new era. In 1981, Mike Taubenheim was re-evaluating his family's 130 head dairy operation in Amherst, Nebraska. As a freshman, he just didn't think raising and showing dairy cattle was very 'cool'. Looking to diversify, Mike studied different breeds of beef cattle and interviewed other producers. He found what certain breeds had to offer - the look, performance and longevity.
For Mike, one breed stood out. A combination of all the qualities he desired, and that he believed the industry was gravitating toward - Gelbvieh. Mike’s first purchase was a pair or heifers from Wilson's Broken Bar Ranch, Mankato, Kansas. The two heifers were bred, resulting in a set of bull calves. Those calves later sold for $2,000 a piece. Encouraged by the success, the Taubenheims worked for the next 11 years to build their new herd. They were regulars at production and dispersal sales, buying to accumulate numbers. By 1992, they were entirely Gelbvieh. Today, Mike, along with his wife, Renee, and his parents, Dale and Jeannette, own and operate Taubenheim Gelbvieh. Mike and Renee's children, Justin, 10, Tanner, 8; and Sydney, 6, are becoming more involved as they get older.
Although running the business is a family affair, each individual has his or her area of expertise. Dale is the farming expert of the bunch. Mike is in charge of the ranch's extensive artificial insemination (AI) program. When Jeannette and Renee aren't out tending to the cattle with the rest of the family, they keep tabs on the administrative center of the business. Jeannette keeps the books for the operation; Renee's niche is technical support, and can often be found tapping away on the keyboard on behalf of Taubenheim Gelbvieh. It requires a special dedication to successfully manage the 400 females and 1,000 acres of farmland that make up their operation. In terms of the cattle, the Taubenheims are very diligent in protecting the integrity of the herd they've established.
The Taubenheims AI approximately 300 head each year. Even with such a large number to play with, they rarely use new, heavily promoted sires. Rather, they prefer proven genetics from bulls that have persevered in the breed because of the consistency they offer. Mike even went so far as to say they use many sires others consider 'has beens'. They use new bulls from time to time, but when they do they only breed a handful of females, then wait a year to see how the calves turn out. This approach must be working. Taubenheim cattle have found their way to the front of the class at show after show, and the operation has been honored at both the State and National level. Their herd bull, SLC Freedom 178F, perhaps the most influential red bull in the breed today, was purchased as a yearling and went on to be named National Champion at the 1999 National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colorado. Mike said Freedom is one of the most widely used red bulls in the breed, and he's making some definite changes. Freedom's progeny are strong-topped and square-hipped, helping Freedom to be a standout. 'Talk to any Gelbvieh breeder', Mike said. 'He is one bull that's changed the breed.' One only needs to look back at the championship line-up of females at the 2002 National Western. All five were Freedom daughters. But that's not where it ends. The Taubenheim's have had four National Champions in all. In addition, they were named Premier exhibitor at the 1999 National Western and have secured the title of Premier Exhibitor at the Nebraska state fair 8 out of the last 10 years. Being competitive is important to the Taubenheim's.
Mike said he is enjoyed seeing their ascent in the breed. He delights in being the little guy with the standout string at the shows they attend. 'I like making the big guys sweat,' he said. 'But we’re getting to the point where we’re more than the little guy.' The Taubenheims are making strides in every aspect of their operation. The average at their annual sale has risen a steady $50 / year for the last eight years. This can be largely attributed to customer satisfaction. Mike said one of the ways they know their cattle work is when they see the same people coming back year after year, and those repeat customers start bringing along friends.
'Customer service is very important,' Mike said. 'We realized that without the customer, we wouldn’t be here.' The Taubenheims are gearing up for their 13th Annual Production Sale scheduled for February 11th, 2003. The sale, featuring 100 bulls and 30 females is a huge undertaking for the group, who handles the management of the sale with the help of family and friends. One aspect of the operation that Mike highlights is their attention to the commercial cattlemen. Not only do they incorporate bulls favored by commercial producers in their breeding program, but they are also strong proponents of Balancer bulls. These are halfblood bulls recognized by the American Gelbvieh Association. The Taubenheim’s produce Balancer bulls by using Angus bulls on their Gelbvieh females. Mike said that many of their customers who buy these halfblood bulls have used Gelbvieh bulls heavily in the past. Commonly, Balancer bulls are used on halfblood females. This combination is producing progeny that find favor in the commercial arena. 'There is no reason for the commercial cattlemen not to take advantage of heterosis,' Mike said. 'The market is demanding it.'
The Taubenheim’s have made a name for themselves by producing sound, functional cattle. Fleshing ability is the main focus in their production of females. In fact, before Mike will consider and new herd bull, he has to prove himself a producer of cows. The concern - hard doing females are harder to breed. 'Fleshing ability, in my mind,' Mike said, 'is the most important trait in a cow herd.' Another focus of the Taubenheim management is producing cattle with plenty of muscle to satisfy the market. Making an admittedly bold statement, Mike said that they have built their cow herd to have more muscle than most in the breed. In just two decades, the Taubenheim’s have rerouted and rebuilt their operation, becoming one of the premier producers in the Gelbvieh breed. By emphasizing the production of quality cattle and maintaining a vigorous dedication to their customers, along with lofty personal goals for their operation, Mike, Renee, Dale and Jeannette are fulfilling their customers demand, both seedstock and commercial, and, ultimately, the industry's. ~ WLR