Over the Hump

Brandon and Rachel discuss how partnerships work in the cattle business, focusing on half-interest ownership of bulls and females and why higher-end cattle are often partnered rather than sold outright. They explain BRC’s main reasons for offering partnerships—cash flow during growth, enjoyment of sharing success with friends, bull management, and increasing progeny data through partners’ herds an...

What does it take to ranch in a place where wildfires can move faster than you can react, pastures stretch for miles, and every cow must prove herself? In this episode of Over the Hump, hosts visit with Kyle and Tanya Perez of Perez Cattle Company in New Mexico. From battling devastating wildfires to building one of the region's respected Hereford and Angus seedstock programs, the Perez family sha...

Brandon and Rachel are back on the Over the Hump podcast this week with Garrett Harvey of Garrett Cattle Company. Garrett shares the story behind his family’s Danbury, Texas ranch and its deep roots in the Brahman industry, tracing generations of involvement from his great-grandfather to today. He talks about taking over the remaining cow herd in 2016, rebuilding the program through intentional br...

Brandon, Rachel, and Molly discuss a busy spring of ranch work, including a Louisiana cow work trip, carcass ultrasounding, and preparing for breeding season and an open house, plus recent rain and team member Lynn Castanedo’s cruise. They recap the Cadillac Show in Rosenberg, where Molly won champion Brahman, champion American, and champion supreme heifer with heifer 700, renamed BRC Your Gypsy,...

If you're thinking about getting into the Brahman business, this episode is for you. On this episode of Over the Hump podcast, Brandon and Rachel reflect on a dinner with two new Brahman breeders and discuss how to enter the Brahman cattle business today versus when they started in 2010–2011 amid record cattle prices and higher interest rates. They recount building their operation from zero land a...

This episode of Over the Hump podcast features Derrick Smith of Bullseye Ranch discussing the ranch’s Brahman history from starting with a first female bought in Louisiana in the late 1980s, moving to Brenham, Texas, in 1996, and building the herd by sourcing genetics from multiple programs. Smith explains how embryo work accelerated progress while still requiring cows to have natural calves. He s...

This week on Over the Hump, Rachel welcomes Jake Scott of Krebs Ranch in Gordon, Nebraska, to discuss his path from an Oklahoma FFA program and livestock judging to joining the Angus seedstock business through his wife’s family. Jake describes working at Krebs Ranch, returning to Oklahoma as manager of Roland R3 Ranch, then moving back to Nebraska in 2007. He notes Krebs Ranch’s upcoming 46th annu...

The Over the Hump podcast crew records a Houston wrap-up in their new office, recapping BRC’s 2026 Houston show: Connor’s first year as official herdsman resulted in Champion Bull (Six Gun) and Reserve Champion Heifer, strong group class performances, and praise for a mostly first-time Houston crew and interns Eduardo and Alexis, plus ranch support from Ishmael. They discuss judge PJ’s efficient “...

In this episode of Over the Hump Podcast, Rachel and Brandon share BRC’s Brahman calving strategy—favoring March–May and early fall (Sept–Nov) for optimal weather and forage, while avoiding February and limiting summer calving. They note some January calves are planned for show and sale timing despite winter risk, with records showing most births in March, very few in January, and none in February...

This week on Over the Hump , Rachel talks with Cyler Frost of Frost Farms about building a Brahman herd with patience and purpose. Cyler shares how a champion loaner heifer sparked his move into registered cattle, starting with one bull and three cows while focusing on data, udder quality, and long-term consistency. They also discuss his impact as an ag teacher and FFA coach, his junior heifer lea...

In this episode of the Over the Hump Podcast, Brandon and Rachel sit down with Kolton Thigpen, a notable figure in the Brahman breed community. They explore Kolton's unique journey with Half-Blood Brahman Club calves and his innovative breeding techniques. The discussion also delves into Kolton's entrepreneurial ventures, including his new initiative, Cattle Coach, which blends education and coach...

In the first-ever video podcast for Over the Hump, Brandon and Rachel interview Kyle Hudgins from J.D. Hudgins Ranch. The discussion covers Kyle's background, the J.D. Hudgins operation, and his transition from a wildlife biology major to a sixth-generation rancher. Kyle shares insights on Brahman cattle breeding, including AI practices, and reminisces about significant bulls and cattle practices....

In this episode of Over the Hump, Rachel and Brandon break down Milk EPDs in Brahman cattle breeding after a question from an international client. Rachel and Brandon explore how Milk EPD measures the genetic ability of a bull's daughters to produce milk and its influence on weaning weight. They discuss the challenges in understanding and utilizing Milk EPD, the reliability of EPD data, and share...

In this special Christmas episode of 'Over the Hump,' Brandon and Rachel sit down with BJ Dickens for a nostalgic discussion about their shared experiences in the Brahman cattle world. The episode kicks off with festive greetings and then delves into BJ's childhood memories, including winning trivia as kids, their family's bull, The Redneck, and various Brahman cattle shows. BJ recounts stories of...

In this part one of a special two-part holiday edition of the Over the Hump podcast, Rachel and Brandon sit down with BJ Dickens, a lifelong Brahman breeder from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and part of Lazy D Farms. BJ shares his extensive history with Brahman cattle, detailing the origins and success of Lazy D Farms, influential breeding stock like Caru and the 4 over 5 cow, and humorous stories fr...

In this episode of Over the Hump podcast, Rachel has an in-depth conversation with Jake Dixon, the owner of Dixon Ranches, a Brahman and F1 operation in Dodge, Texas. The discussion delves into the functionality of cattle, particularly the types of cattle that work well for Dixon Ranches. They explore historical aspects, including the use of old Brahman bulls, and discuss the importance of cattle...

In this episode of the Over the Hump podcast, Rachel interviews the renowned cattle photographer, Carlos Guizar. They explore Carlos's journey from filmmaking to becoming a sought-after livestock photographer. The discussion covers his beginnings in the photography scene at MTV, his transition to working with Netflix, and eventually his seamless shift into cattle photography. Carlos shares his exp...

In this episode of the Over the Hump Podcast, Rachel interviews Dr. David Riley, a professor of animal breeding and genetics at Texas A&M University. Dr. Riley discusses his background, including his work with Brahman cattle at the USDA Agriculture Research Station in Florida and his current projects at Texas A&M. One significant project involves investigating the genomics of heterosis usi...

In this episode of the Over the Hump Podcast, Rachel is joined by Keaton Dodd and Brandon as they discuss the differences between marketers and breeders in the cattle industry. They begin by talking about recent activities at the ranch and transition into a detailed comparison of marketing versus breeding strategies. The discussion explores the concept of being honest in marketing, the use of outs...

In this episode of the Over the Hump podcast, hosts Rachel and Brandon Cutrer, along with Keaton Dodd, sit down to preview the highly anticipated Night of Champions Sale, taking place on Friday, October 17th, at the BRC Ranch in Boling, Texas. The sale begins at 7:00 PM, but the day kicks off with barn opening at noon, followed by cocktail hour at 5:00 PM, and a barbecue dinner. Post-sale, attende...

In this episode of the 'Over the Hump' podcast, Rachel is joined by Ignacio Llano, a leading Brahman breeder from Paraguay. Ignacio shares insights into his family business, Las Talas, which was among the pioneers in introducing American Brahman cattle to Paraguay in the 1960s. With over a century of operation and Ignacio at its helm as the President of the Paraguay Brahman Association for the pas...

In this episode of Over the Hump, Rachel moderates a discussion with Keaton Dodd and Brandon about BRC's recent expansion into Hereford and Angus cattle, referred to as their Louisiana Expansion. The conversation delves into the origin and development of their expansion in Louisiana, highlighting the role of strategic meetings, financial planning, and relationships with industry experts. The team...

In this episode of the Over the Hump podcast, host Rachel Re moderates a discussion on polarizing topics in animal breeding with experts Keaton Dod and Brandon Re. The trio delves into recent show results, including standout performances from their breeding program. They address key topics such as the effectiveness of old versus modern genetics, breeding extremes versus aiming for optimal traits,...

In this episode of the Over the Hump podcast, Keaton Dodd and Brandon Cutrer interview Joe Ward about his long-standing Brahman breeding operation. Joe, a fifth-generation breeder, recounts the history of his family's involvement in Brahman cattle, which dates back to the late 1800s. The discussion covers Joe's early life, his return to ranching in 1993, and how his breeding program has evolved ov...

In this episode of the Over the Hump podcast, Keaton moderates as Brandon, and Rachel discuss their experiences as stock show parents. The conversation begins with a recap of the TJBA show, highlighting its relaxed atmosphere and well-run organization thanks to the SAR Wells. The main discussion revolves around the challenges and rewards of being a stock show parent, particularly focusing on the j...