Genetics

At Stoddard Ranch, our whole program is to produce cattle that work for the feeder and finisher.  Our cowherd is primarily Angus based as quality breeding stock are widely available in our region.  We purchase all our replacement females rather than raise them.  We then utilize homozygous black and polled Simmental bulls on those females to produce an F1 cross black hided calf that has a tremendous amount of hybrid vigor.  We specifically select bulls with EPD's that rank in the top percentage of the Simmental breed in Carcass Weight, Marbling, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, Ribeye Area, and Yield Grade.  At any time, we have approximately 65 bulls in inventory and their average EPD's for carcass traits are in the top 25% or higher of the Simmental breed.  All our cows are bull bred so this requires a lot of selection to locate that many homozygous black and polled, purebred bulls that meet the EPD criteria we are looking for.

"We find that there is only one thing free in ranching and that is HETEROSIS - the ability of a crossbred animal to show qualities that are superior to both of his/her parents."

These cattle thrive in a grazing environment.  They will eat grass and other natural forage in pastures year around and utilize natural protection such as trees, cutbanks, creeks, and hills to protect themselves from inclement weather.  We supplement them with liquid protein, when necessary, assist with pasture rotation, provide vitamins and mineral as needed, implement a health program with vaccinations, and let them take care of themselves.  By utilizing a rotational grazing strategy, the cattle utilize non-harvestable forage and convert it into protein in the most natural manner possible.  In instances of snow or inclement weather, we have the ability to supplement them with hay as needed.

While our cows are primarily Angus cattle, we purchase Simmental and Simangus bulls with carcass trait EPD's that rank in the top 25% of the Simmental breed.  Over the last five years, we have concentrated on increasing marbling, yield grade, carcass weight, weaning weight and yearling weight average EPD's and have pushed our average Terminal Index on our bulls to reach the top 15% of the Simmental breed.  We also buy our bulls from breeders who have their cattle DNA tested.  Their bull EPD's are genomically enhanced to provide the most predictability in EPD traits.

Seventeen bulls purchased in 2026 for the upcoming breeding season averaged 818 lbs at weaning, had an average Terminal Index EPD of 97.83 (top 7% of breed), and average Weaning Weight EPD of 97.82 (top 6% of breed), an average Carcass Weight EPD of 54.02 (top 6% of breed), average Marbling EPD of .41 (top 18% of breed), and an average Ribeye Area EPD of 1.11 (top 10% of breed).

Our EPD Averages for all 64 bulls for the 2026 breeding season are as follows:

Weaning Weight WW - 95.9 (Top 7% of the breed)

Yearling Weight YW - 147.9 (Top 10% of the breed)

Ribeye Area REA - 1.6 (Top 17% of the breed)

Terminal Index TI - 95 (Top 12% of the breed)

Marbling MB - .37 (Top 22% of the breed)

Carcass Weight CW - 48.96 (Top 11% of the breed)

Average Daily Gain ADG - .32 (Top 12% of the breed)

All Purpose Index API - 149.08 (Top 21% of the breed)