Using diversity to raise high-quality replacements
LOCKWOOD, MO. – Trevon Ogden, 38, was raised in the world of cattle ranching. He grew up doing chores with his two brothers, and through this hard work, he discovered ranching was his passion.
“I have always enjoyed working with and taking care of animals, but as I grew older, I became extremely interested in the business side,” Ogden said.
Today, he owns and operates Ogden Cattle Co. with his wife, Melissa, 37, and their three children.
The ranch is operated on 7,500 acres from Jerico Springs to Lockwood, Mo., roughly 60 miles northwest of Springfield in Dade and Cedar Counties.
Ogden Cattle Co. offers high-quality replacement cows, pairs, and heifers, including Black and Red Angus, Charolais, and Hereford.
Ogden said he started the business in 2009 with a goal: to supply customers with quality replacement cattle.
“We are unique because our business offers a wide range of replacement cattle located on one ranch,” he said. Customers can visit the ranch, see their options in person, and determine whether or not the cattle are right for them.
A licensed vet confirms pregnancy after the livestock are confirmed sold. Before they are delivered, all customers have the opportunity to be present while cattle are going through the chute.
The operation also offers delivery options for all livestock sold, using their pots, ground load, or gooseneck trailers.
Currently, Ogden Cattle Co. possesses 2,500 head of cattle.
The cattle are run primarily on fescue and graze most of the year. Ogden said he believes in having cattle on a good mineral program and has chosen Purina for his own.
“I believe in the saying, ‘You can’t starve a profit out of your livestock,’ – you have to take care of them, and they will take care of you,” he said.
That said, herd health is paramount to the farm’s success.
When cattle arrive on the property, they are administered a round of vaccines: Cydectin injectable to prevent worms, Vira Shield 6VL5 to prevent Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), and Bimectin Pour-On to stave off any additional gastrointestinal parasites and lice.
While cattle are the operation’s primary focus, the Ogdens also raise 1,650 head of goats, 1,225 head of sheep, 15 Hangin’ Tree Cowdogs, six Quarter Horses, and two ponies.
“My love and passion for goats and sheep started at an early age,” Ogden said.
The farm ensures their goats and sheep follow close behind or run abreast of their cattle to maintain healthy pastures. Ogden said this process has been efficient in eradicating noxious weeds, and it helps save money, too.
“I used to hear people say that goats are as tough as nails … that statement is about as far from the truth as possible,” Ogden said, “because most farms have turned working goats into backyard pets or barnyard show animals that depend on a human for a barn, feed, and dewormer constantly.”
“So when we decided almost seven years ago that we were getting back into the goat business, we quickly accumulated a large number of goats to control brush, we ended up with a lot that weren’t used to working for a living, and had to transition them but lost a certain percentage in the process. Each year we have been able to improve our program by culling and keeping offspring we raised. We have had to constantly make strategic decisions between sustainability and profitability.”
A balancing act, he said, that is well worth it.
Ogden Cattle Co. attracts much of its business via a personal website that Ogden’s wife, Melissa, launched in 2013. The Ogdens upload photos and videos to this platform to market their livestock to potential customers.
“Most cattle ranchers, like myself, aren’t tech gurus. So you need to have the correct vehicle to get your information out,” Ogden said. “Ogdencattle.com has been an effective tool for that.”
He said that word-of-mouth is still the most effective form of advertising, as it creates a rapport between friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.
Operating a ranch the size of Ogden Cattle Co. requires much time, energy, and money.
“Having the mindset of always being the hardest worker and instilling that in the people you surround yourself with is very important. I have been very blessed with a hard-working wife, a good crew, and my mom, Sherry, who does the majority of the financial bookkeeping,” he said.
In the future, Ogden plans to rise above and beyond for his customers.
“As far as the cattle industry itself,” he said, “it will be interesting. I feel like there’s been a squeeze [sic] on the mid-size cattle operation … it feels like you either have to be a small farm with an outside income or an extremely large corporation.”
Still, Ogden is optimistic; hope lies within posterity.
“I hope [our kids] have big dreams … it will be awesome to see where that takes them,” he said.
For more information, visit the operation’s website at ogdencattle.com
