As a freshman in high school, Austin Schweitzer dove into the cattle business. He started his herd of two commercial cows with his late grandpa, Jim Wehrs. Those two cows soon turned into a small herd that he continued to run on family pasture throughout college. While attending the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Austin worked at the UNL’s Research Cow Calf unit in Mead, NE. While working there, he discovered his passion for red Angus cattle and decided to start a commercial red Angus herd. By 2012, that herd grew to about fifty head. Austin soon realized with the effort he was putting towards his commercial herd and his knowledge of registered cattle; it was time to fully commit to the pure-bred business. So, in 2014 Austin switched his herd to 100% pure bred red Angus and Schweitzer Red Angus was born. Today, along with his wife Jamie and their three daughters, Kira, Karissa, and Kenzi, Schweitzers run 175 registered cows, along with a few embryo cooperator herds.
Left to right: Austin, Braxton, Karissa, Kira, Kenzi, and Jamie Schweitzer.
The challenge of developing the best cattle for producers is what drew Austin into the seedstock world. “It’s almost like once we grew out of sports, we needed something to keep the competitive edge. I thoroughly enjoy raising cattle that improve producer’s cowherds and their bottom lines,” said Austin. Red Angus is an excellent breed to accomplish this with their disposition, maternal traits, and calving simplicity, all combined together without sacrificing pounds.
“Most cattle operations want more pounds to sell at the end of the year without sacrificing calving ease and disposition, and we work to provide that in all our bulls,” -Austin Schweitzer
Schweitzer Red Angus focuses on disposition, structure, and maternal traits in their cattle herd. “Most cattle operations want more pounds to sell at the end of the year without sacrificing calving ease and disposition, and we work to provide that in all our bulls,” said Austin. To get this accomplished, Austin focuses on the operation’s artificial insemination and embryo transfer programs, along with EPDs. These tools make it possible for Schweitzer Red Angus to develop bulls and heifers that are true game changers.
Schweitzer Red Angus uses both artificial insemination and embryo transfer, along with EPDs, to develop bulls and heifers that are true game changers.
Like so many in the cattle industry, the drought has forced Schweitzer Red Angus to cull their cowherd. There’s no doubt the drought has impacted the operation, however, increased input costs and rising interest rates are proving to be just as challenging. To deal with these issues, Schweitzers are buckling down and implementing a low-cost feeding strategy, maximizing every cornstalk acre possible.
“The cattle business isn’t easy. I wake up every morning trying to find ways to make the cattle industry work for our operation. I enjoy spreading that knowledge with other working alongside us doing the same thing day in and day out.” -Austin Schweitzer
Schweitzer Red Angus will host their annual sale on Friday, March 17, 2023, two miles from the home place at Tucker Cattle Company in Pleasant Dale, Nebraska. The sale will begin at 1:00 PM CST. Sixty-five age advantage red Angus bulls, ten Angus bulls, and forty registered red Angus replacement heifers, along with twenty bred cows set to calve in April and May will be sold.