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About Our Name:
We calve out on a
quarter that has been in our family since 1885.
There is a sodhouse that still stands there today.
My father was born there. I named the ranch
Sodhouse Cattle Co. I guess to honor my ancestors.
They endured a lot of hardships to settle this country.
They survived blizzards, the 30's, the 50's and some
tough times. My hats off to them.
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About Us:
Craig Hoyt was born
in 1959 and has lived in Sherman county basically all
his life. He is a 5th generation farmer/rancher.
He graduated from Brewster, KS high school in 1977.
He graduated from Fort Hays State with a degree in
animal science. He then came home to work on the
farm and ranch.
At the age of 32 he married Billie Dewey. Billie
and her son Dan really took to the cattle. It has
become a family operation with everyone working together
to make it work. Dan had a very successful career
showing shorthorn cattle as a junior exhibitor.
Dan has developed a small herd of cows and runs them
with us.
The cow herd is basically generated from 5 heifers that
Craig bought in 1972 as 4-H projects. We have
always tried to be cattle breeders and not cattle
traders. We try and breed cattle that work here in
short-grass country. They are practical and will
work anywhere. We have bulls and show prospect for
sale.
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Philosophy:
Our goal is to
produce easy keeping Shorthorn and Durham Red cattle
that fit our environment. We are located in
short-grass country. Our average rainfall is 17
inches a year. We run cattle on buffalo grass in
the summer and cornstalks in the winter. We try
and run our operation like a commercial operation.
We let the environment apply strict selection pressure
for common sense traits like fertility, dispositions,
and udder quality. We tend to raise our own herd
sires because we don't like surprises and we have a
better handle on their potential.
We have fed cattle in the American Shorthorn
Association's "Proof Positive" feedlot trials in order
to get data back on our cattle. We have done the
DNA marker Bovigen-Genestar testing on our herd sires to
evaluate them. We select for multiple traits and
try to reach a common sense balance. Our cattle
grade well and are plenty maternal. We have never
won a major show, but our heifers are competitive and
make good cows after their show-ring careers. Our
Durham Red bulls are solid red and should work as
outcross genetics to maximize heterosis in various
crossbreeding programs across the country.
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Our Durham Red
Program:
I was exposed to Red
Angus at Fort Hays State and their Beef Management
Center in 1979. I really liked the cattle.
So when the American Shorthorn Association announced the
Durham Red program I became very excited! Durham
Red cattle are Red Angus-Shorthorn composites. It
is the only officially recognized (all British breed)
composite. Composites aren't for everybody, but
they have a place in the industry. We think the
Durham Red cattle will be powerful. We use strict
natural selection pressure to sort our cattle. A
cow must raise a calf every year with no excuses.
Our cattle are good uddered and good dispositioned.
We hope to linebreed these composites. We think
they are tailor made for the commercial industry.
I think people are finding out that black hides don't
necessarily mean profitability and grading ability.
Stop by and look at our Durham Reds, we think you'll
like them.
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Photos:
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Sodhouse Government
Mule 812
Our lead off bull from our pen of 5. 3.15
wda, frame 5.2, scrotal 32, 14.7 rea,4.07
imf, with only .24 fat. These are some
pretty elite numbers under a growing ration.
Full brother to 606. |
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Sodhouse Little Man
His actual BW was 78#. His dam was an
1100# cow with excellent fleshing ability.
He is siring moderate framed easy keeping
cattle. Super disposition. His
daughters are very moderate and are a lot
like gismo daughters (allthough a complete
outcross). |
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Sodhouse Pepper Ann
A full sister to Sodhouse Little Man.
Our son Dan showed her successfully. |
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Here is a
typical Durham Red bull we are producing.
The Durham Red program is a Shorthorn
composite program. Cattle are strictly
a Red Angus and Shorthorn combination.
Durham Reds are the only recognized all
British composite breed. |
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He is LJC Valiant
R233
This Red Angus bull is the base for our
Durham Red program. He is really
moderating our herd and is lowering BW's. |
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Sodhouse Lancer 606
XDROO151
He is registered Durham Red. We bred him to
21 heifers this last summer. |
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One of
our cows with a Durham Red calf at side. We
are in a semi-arid environment. Our main
grass is buffalo grass with some western
wheat grass. Yucca plants are on the
sidehills. |
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Cattle For Sale:
Durham Red Bulls
available like what are pictured above.
More Information Coming Soon!!
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