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2005
Cow Creek Ranch introduced the Profit Points
System™ (PPS) in 2002 to assist their customers in the
selection process of bulls. Because of the huge genetic
impact individual bulls have on calf crops including
replacement females, balance in selection is critical. Both
the dairy and swine industries have successfully utilized
selection indices for more than 20 years. Selection index-
es have helped the dairy industry evolve towards a much
more balanced and comprehensive approach to selec-
tion. Cow Creek Ranch never missed an opportunity to
bend the curve or push the envelope and it was always
done with their customers in mind.
Cow Creek Ranch's forage-based genetics rapidly gained respect
among South American cattle producers.
South American cattle-
men recognized and respected Cow Creek Ranch's
requirements of their four-legged factories to earn their
spots on the factory floor by proving she can sustain her-
self on grass, forage in heat and humidity, travel freely,
raise a calf and breed back. For two decades Cow Creek
Ranch further substantiated the efficiency of Cow Creek
genetics through volumes of feedlot data working with
their commercial bull customers.
Cow Creek Ranch remained the largest Brangus and
Ultrablack breeder in the U.S. through early 2010 and
continued to dominate the Brangus bull market. The
emphasis of the cow herd was always production effi-
ciency. For 25 years, Cow Creek has focused on breeding
functional, efficient and profitable genetics. To achieve
this they selected three foundation sire lines with highly
heritable traits and then stacked those genetics within a
breeding triangle. Each point in their genetic breeding
triangle capitalizes function and profit. Fifteen years ago,
Cow Creek began weighing their cows on an annual
basis and began eliminating inefficient females. The
result was an increased stocking rate of 30 percent over
five years.
Three traits difficult to capture in Brangus genetics
are consistency, volume, and muscle, and moderate frame
size and growth. By utilizing the breeding triangle Cow
Creek Ranch minimized genetic variation, which then
maximized predictability, consistency and muscle mass.
During the two and half decades of successes, disappointments
and setbacks were part of the landscape.
Cattle cycles, a failed
beef company to weather conditions, tornados and
drought made for some trying times. Though none
proved more unforgiving than what lie ahead for the
man who became known for his vision.
In the fall of 2008, Reznicek began a 14-month battle
with lymphoma cancer. He succumbed to the disease in
January 2010, the same year Cow Creek Ranch celebrated
its 25th year in business. After intense deliberations, the
Reznicek family made the decision to market the leg-
endary Cow Creek Ranch herd. Southern Cattle Company
of Marianna, Florida, recognized the value of the herd
and in August 2010, owner John Downs and manager
Lamont Ennis, purchased the historic Cow Creek Ranch
cow herd.
Cow Creek Ranch continues to operate under the
ownership and leadership of Southern Cattle Company.
Inevitably, though, change comes to all of us and
Southern Cattle Company is no exception. On Friday,
October 12, 2012, the entire Cow Creek Ranch spring
calving herd will be offered at Cow Creek Ranch near
Aliceville, Alabama. This represents a rare opportunity to
select genetics from the most respected Brangus and
Ultrablack herd in the United States. More than 300
spring calving pairs and yearling heifers will be offered.
The dispersal of the spring calving cow herd in Aliceville
represents a unique opportunity to tap into the largest,
most consistent forage-based Brangus and Ultrablack
cow herds in the U.S.While this chapter of Cow Creek
Ranch is closing, the legacy of Joe Reznicek will live on
here in the states and globally through the Cow Creek
Ranch genetics.
ANNIVERSARY
25
1985 - 2010
th
2002
2010
2010
Ultrablack trade-
mark is sold to the
International
Brangus Breeders
Association.
Ultrablacks become
a registered breed.
January 10, 2010.
Joe Reznicek
loses his life to
Lymphoma cancer.
Profit Point
Indexes
™
(PPS) are
introduced by Cow
Creek Ranch to
assist their cus-
tomer base in their
selection of bulls.
Cow Creek Ranch
celebrates its 25th
year in business and
is the largest
Brangus breeder in
the United States.
Two Brands.
One Direction.
1999
Joe and Joy
Reznicek purchase
Cow Creek Ranch
cow herd and its
operations.
August 19, 2010
Southern Cattle
Company purchases
the Cow Creek
Ranch herd in
its entirety.
2010