SALE REPORT
SPITZER RANCH SALE SHOWS STRONG DEMAND FOR BRANGUS

SALE SUMMARY                                                                      Average 32 Yearling Brangus Bulls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,363 46 Open Yearling Heifers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,113

February 25, 2006
Pelzer, S.C.

The largest crowd ever attended the Spitzer Ranch sale on February 25th 2006 at Double H Livestock Barn in Pelzer, S.C. The Spitzer family, along with their Partnerships for Quality Cooperators Willard Huffman of Three Creeks Brangus, Alan and Shannon Wooten of Wooten Farms and Will Taylor hosted cattlemen from six states. These bulls, developed from weaning in the Spitzer Ranch Performance Growth Testing Program, are the result of the Spitzer's 25 year focus on delivering Profitable Genetics from Performance Cattlemen to the cattle industry. As usual, commercial cattlemen represented the vast majority of those in attendance and they were sure not afraid to bid against those few registered Brangus breeders in the audience.

Bidding on the high selling bull, SR Wrangler Warrior R520, was swift with Indian Hills Ranch, Buck and Sydney Thomason, Cranfills Gap, Texas having the winning bid for 2/3 interest and possession at $6,750. An Aces TF Wrangler 145/8 son out of a super performing Cadence of Brinks 535D3 cow, R520 was the lead-off bull for the sale as his EPD and performance profile were right on target for today's market and, he “iced the cake” with a 13.6 sq. in. REA and an IMF of 3.88 percent.

Alan and Shannon Wooten of Wooten Farms, Rembert, S.C. selected the stout SR Cadence Warrior R574 as their new resident herd sire at $5,750 for 2/3 interest and possession. This calving ease prospect son of Cadence of Brinks 535D3 came into the world at 77 pounds with a BW EPD of 1.1. However, he also has a YW EPD of 54.6 predicting him to be a true “birth to yearling spread sire” with low birth weights and explosive growth. R574's REA of 14.4 sq. in. added to his popularity with all bidders. Also bringing $5,750 for 2/3 interest and possession was TCB Catawba Warrior R532, consigned by Partnerships for Quality Cooperator Willard Huffman's Three Creeks Brangus, Stony Point, N.C. A double bred Cadence son, he sold to the syndicate of Quail Creek Brangus, Johnny and Donna Vines, Steele City, Ala. and Salacoa Valley Farm, David and Susan Vaughn, Fairmount, Ga.

Bar T Ranch operated by the Richard Taylor Family, Honea Path, S.C. was recognized as the 2006 addition to the Spitzer Ranch Customer Honor Role. The Taylors purchased their first Spitzer Ranch bull in 1986 and have been loyal customers ever since. In many years they have consigned sale topping pens of Black Gold females to the sale and have always bought bulls out of the top end. Bar T Ranch has also provided the Spitzers with a lot of carcass data on offspring of their bulls as they always send their Brangus sired calves to feedlots in Southwest Iowa to be fed and processed. The Taylors additionally operate a commercial custom backgrounding program for cattlemen from the Southeast, with those calves also ending up in Iowa feedlots. Many of the Spitzer Ranch bull customers utilize their Taylor Livestock Services to background calves. Each year Spitzer Ranch honors those outstanding progressive cattle producers who profitably utilize the Spitzer Ranch program and their genetics.

Volume bull buyer was many time repeat customer Wes McAllister, Blue Branch Farms, Mt. Carmel, S.C. Thirty-two yearling Brangus bulls averaged $2,363 selling to Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virgina, and Texas.

The Black Gold commercial females were consigned by repeat bull customers Graham DuBose, DuBose Cattle Company, Rembert, S.C. and Wes McAllister's Blue Branch Farms. The 46 open yearling heifers, all sired by Spitzer Ranch Performance Tested Brangus Bulls set a new sale record as they averaged $1,113. The heifer sale is a service provided both to Spitzer Ranch customers looking for a marketing outlet for daughters of Spitzer Ranch bulls as well as those individuals in need of top quality Black Gold replacement females. Volume heifer buyers were Blake Reynolds, Kershaw, S.C purchasing 20 head and Chad Hadden, Warrenton, Ga. who left the sale with 12 head.

Plans are already underway for the next edition of the Spitzer Ranch Performance Tested Brangus Bull Sale and Black Gold Customer Female Sale to be held the last Saturday in February, 2007. The Spitzers send out a newsletter several times each year. To be added to the mailing list, call 864-972-9140 or email spitzeranch@ mindspring.com.