|
|
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.
back to top
|
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.
back to top
|
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.
back to top
|
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.
back to top
|
Photos:
 |
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. |
 |
Sodhouse Fort
Wallace 596
We plan to utilize this bull heavily in the
future. He is a Durham Red composite
bull. He is 50% Red Angus and 50%
Shorthorn. He was our lead bull in the
pen of 3 show at the Kansas Beef Expo in
2007. He had a 74# actual BW. We
think the Durham Red cattle can be very
useful for the commercial beef industry. |
 |
Sodhouse Pepper Ann
A full sister to Sodhouse Little Man.
Our son Dan showed her successfully. |
 |
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. |
 |
Reserve Champion
Steer
Thomas County Fair - Kansas
Full brother to Sodhouse Little Man |
 |
Our son
Dan with Sodhouse Little Pepper after
winning the Tri-State Royal Senior
Showmanship contest in Goodland, KS.
She is a full sister to Sodhouse Little Man.
This little female has raised a couple of
excellent bull calves. She is so easy
keeping. We may try and E.T. her in
the future. |
 |
Here is a
Sodhouse Cattle Co. bred show heifer.
We don't chase showring fads but the
showring is a good place to evaluate things
like structural correctness. |
 |
Here is
another heifer we produced. These
shorthorn heifers are great for smaller
exhibitors as they have super dispositions
and are easy to handle. This heifer
was the Grand Champion at this county fair. |
 |
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. |
 |
Shorthorn
cattle have mild dispositions and make great
junior projects. Super cattle for
super kids. |
back to top
|
Cattle For Sale:
Durham Red Bulls
available like what are pictured above.
More Information Coming Soon!!
 |
We've
decided to roll up our sleeves and try to
sell some cattle. We hope to get to the
Colorado State Fair this year for one thing.
We have three (Durham Red) bulls for sale.
We have them priced at $4,000, $3,500, and
$1,700. We used two of them this year and
they will be at the Colorado State Fair. The
three bulls are TH and PHA tested clean! |
 |
Sodhouse Donna 678
Sire: Sodhouse Little Man
Dam: Sodhouse Donna 405
BD: March 5, 2008
We think
she fits the club calf deal! She will be
selling in the Kansas Shorthorn Futurity
Sale in Wichita, Kansas on September 20,
2008! |
 |
Sodhouse Lady 710
Sire: Sodhouse Little Man
Dam: Sodhouse Lady 450 (x4093126)
BD: April 1, 2008
She also
fits the club calf mold. |
 |
Sodhouse Valor 665
Sire:LJC Valiant R233 (1037016) (red angus)
Dam: Sodhouse Ellie 383 (x4075384)
BD: February 25, 2008
BW: 88lbs
TH and
PHA tests pending. Dam's BW:76. Sire BW: 75
This
calf has the potential to be a good booger!!
|
 |
Sodhouse Fort Wallace 596
BW:74
We used
him on 10 cows this summer as a yearling. He
is priced at $4,000. Billie loves this bull.
TH and PHA clean! We think he is what the
Durham Reds should be about. |
back to top
|
|
|
