Welcome to the Haugestuen Ranches Website!
Kirk, Julie and family breed Black Angus and SIMAngus cattle in Barron, Wisconsin. Established in 1988, the goal to “create the perfect cow” remains their conviction. Staying the course with proven maternal genetics, emphasizing fertility, longevity, docility, a balance of production, maternal, management and carcass traits, all leading to profitability.
A program of artificial insemination and embryo transfer ensures customers will continue to receive the finest genetics in the beef industry today.
Contact Kirk for more information 715-790-4385!
A program of artificial insemination and embryo transfer ensures customers will continue to receive the finest genetics in the beef industry today.
Contact Kirk for more information 715-790-4385!
About Us:
About Us:
(click the link to view catalog)
Ends April 5th, 2025 - 1 p.m.
Thank you to all buyers in the 2024 sale. We are incredibly excited for everything that the upcoming 2025 sale has to offer!
We appreciate the trust and confidence in our genetics! We look forward to delivering you new genetics, meeting old friends and developing new relationships!
Thank you!
If interested in meat orders, call Julie: 715.790.4379
If interested in meat orders, call Julie: 715.790.4379
Testimonials:
"It is always a pleasure working with Kirk and Julie of Haugestuen Ranches. Over the years they have bred an extremely sound herd with top notch genetics through the use of AI and embryo transfer. Their passion, integrity and dedication for balanced cattle and outstanding service to their customers is admirable and well respected throughout the industry."
Dr. Andrew Dietsche
Scenic Hill Embryo Transfer
"It is always a pleasure working with Kirk and Julie of Haugestuen Ranches. Over the years they have bred an extremely sound herd with top notch genetics through the use of AI and embryo transfer. Their passion, integrity and dedication for balanced cattle and outstanding service to their customers is admirable and well respected throughout the industry."
Dr. Andrew Dietsche
Scenic Hill Embryo Transfer
"Over the years' Kirk has developed a herd of beef cattle with superior genetics. He has done this through hard work and paying special attention to details. Kirk is very cooperative, listens to, and performs every task I ask of him. He is friendly, easy to talk to, and I enjoy working with him. I have found him to be trustworthy and honest!"
Dr. Eugene C. Buchner
Core Values
Core Values
Christ, family, and relationships are central values
Females are the heart of the program
Excellence of all facets of production is the goal
Balance of all selection traits are the conviction
Success is based upon customer satisfaction and profit
Experience & Devotion from a Dream
Experience & Devotion from a Dream
Founded in August of 1988 our dream is to create the female of the future, a cow with a deep maternal pedigree which represents early heifer conception, functional maternal characteristics, consumer minded carcass traits, and profitable stayability. Our Black Angus (BA) and Sim-Angus (SA) cows are expected to make their reputation by earning a living on grass, to conceive within 60 days, and raise a replacement heifer or herd sire. We have a conviction to maternal genetics, reflected with rich pedigrees of RA, BA and SA genetics.
We breed 200 cows annually, either by artificial insemination (AI), or embryo Transfer (ET). Our foundation Black Angus cowherd creates Sim-Angus composites. The Sim-Angus genetics provide heterosis, and adds pounds to calves for the commercial cattleman. Please refer to our Donor and Sire page for our genetics. We are partners with Allied Genetic Resources and New Day Genetics. It is through these partnerships our genetics are tested and proven by the most discriminating cattlemen. A main goal of Haugestuen Ranches is to make our customers profitable in their cattle operations.
Finally, trust and confidence in the Genetics, and Customer Service is supported by relationships built upon integrity. Our program is based upon these two principles. We look forward to seeing you at the ranch and thank you for visiting Haugestuen Ranches on the website. Contact us or stop by for a visit!
Birth Weight & Calving Ease
...an explanation
Birth Weight & Calving Ease
...an explanation
Everyone wants a live calf on the ground: however, there are other factors to consider in selecting a sire.
First, understanding Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) is important in the selection process. Birth Weight (BW) is expressed in pounds. Simply, a bull with a -2.5 Birth Weight EPD, and a bull with a 2.5 Birth Weight EPD, on average, will sire calves with a 5-pound difference in birth weight. A BW EPD is an indicator of birth weight only. The lower number is preferred.
Calving Ease (CE) EPDs are greater value to the cattleman as they measure the ease of calving; Calving Ease Direct (CED) and Calving Ease Maternal (CEM). With CED, the higher number is preferred, rather than a lower, as it is based upon percent of unassisted births of a particular bull. Similarly, CEM measures the ability of a bull's offspring to calve easier. Again, a higher number for the CEM is preferred.
Having explained the difference between the Birth Weight EPD and Calving Ease EPDs, other factors must also be taken into consideration. EPDs are the best tool for selecting a bull to breed heifers. If selecting a bull for the cow herd, each producer must look at a "balanced method" to create an animal with maternal characteristics, stayability, performance, and positive carcass traits, in addition to Birth Weight and Calving Ease. Other factors which influence birth weight and calving ease are the cow's calving history, gestation length, extreme cold winter temperatures, nutrition, feed and management. The key in selection of any new addition to the herd, whether selecting genetics for artificial insemination or embryo transplant, or by purchasing another animal, is balancing birth, growth, maternal and carcass traits!
--Haugestuen Ranches