Explosive Cattle Company offer high-quality Red Angus
OMAHA, ARK. – Brother and sister team Jake Fowler and Janice Fowler may have only been working Explosive Cattle Company since it started in 2019, but they’ve been around cattle much longer.
“Explosive Cattle Co., was established in 2019, however, Jake and I have had cattle our entire life,” Janice said. “We got our start buying our cows from Pieper Red Angus as well as Lugvigson Stock Farm. Mark Pieper was a great advisor/encourager to us in our endeavors.”
While the Fowlers have mostly done a cow/calf operation, Explosive Cattle gives them the opportunity to do something a little different. Through it all, the siblings agree that they work well together and they enjoy also sometimes working with their dad and brother, both who help on the ranch at times.
The company has between 300 to 400 cows and sells about 80 bulls a yeae a semi-annual online auction, Jake said..
While they do have some Angus cattle, the company largely focuses on Red Angus.
“Red Angus is one of the most versatile breeds and you can cross them with just about anything,” Jake said. “If you’re not already familiar with it, I recommend you take a look at the breed. It can make more money. It doesn’t hurt to think outside the box and explore different options.”
Janice elaborated.
“Jake and myself along with our partner Dane Braden were seeking out a breed that would make good cows, raise big calves, was tolerant to the heat, basically an around breed and we decided Red Angus was the breed,” she said.
From choosing the best breed to embryo transplanting to even how they feed the cattle is all geared to getting the best product possible for their clients.
Their careful breeding and care also provides the opportunity for the highest quality genetics.
“At Explosive Cattle Co., we strive to combine phenotype and genotype to the best of our ability. Our main focus has been feet, low birth weights, high weaning and yearling weights as well as milk,” Janice added.
Both Janice and Jake spoke of their new buy-back program, which they started last fall. They purchase back the calves that are bred from their bulls, which gives them a “great opportunity to get more money to our customers,” Jake said. “It’s been very well received.”
“Through our alliance with Bourbon Barrel Beef in Kentucky, we offer a premium buy back program for calves sired Explosive Cattle Co., bulls,” Janice further explained. “That’s how confident we are in our program that we will see them through all the way to the very end.”
Explosive Cattle Co., has about 1,400 acres of grazing land and cattle are also fed a mixture of silage, grain, corn and hay. With a low number of employees and a large amount of land, they don’t find it necessary to rotate between different fields like many other ranchers do, Jake said.
Both of the Fowlers expressed the demand for higher quality cattle will be the norm. Inflation in prices also makes a difference in the demand.
“The industry will demand better quality cattle to stay in business,” Jake said. “You really have to stay on top of things.”
“I think that with the high cattle prices there shouldn’t be any bad cattle left in production,” Janice said. “These prices have given us all a good opportunity to cull and not feel bad about it when we cash the check.
“I think the industry is headed in an exciting direction. The genetics are out there to improve your herd or sell at the top of the market. I think cattle keep getting better and better, more productive and more efficient with every new calf crop.”
Janice also said in the future, industry leaders and producers need to be more aware of how their industry is perceived and take steps to educate the public.
“I do however think that in the current times we have to be more aware of how our industry is perceived, cattle producers are already being accused of global warming. I think we need to be doing a better job of educating the ‘other side’ by letting them know how truly amazing a cow actually is.”
