44 Farms and Ankony Farms
Merge Angus Cattle Operations
Merger represents 166 years in agricultural production
Houston - 44 Farms and Ankony Farms announced today the merger of their Angus cattle operations. The new combined Angus cattle program represents a total of 166 years in agricultural production in the United States and creates an inventory of over 3,000 registered Angus cattle.
The merger provides grassroots purebred Angus operations from the Pacific coast in Terrebonne, Oregon, to the Atlantic coast in Clarkesville, GA, to a home in the heartland of America in the sand hills of North Platte, Nebraska, to the rich river bottom land of 44 Farms deep in the heart of Texas.
It is the vision and mission of 44 Ankony Farms to provide consumers around the world with the very finest eating experience through nutritious and delicious Angus beef. 44 Ankony Farms is blessed to be able to provide the highest quality Angus genetics and responsive customer service to cattle breeders throughout the United States and the world.
The genetically strong and high performing Angus herds of 44 Farms and Ankony Farms were further enhanced by the 2007 acquisition of the entire Angus herd of Bill and Barbara Rishel of North Platte, Nebraska. Their lifelong devotion to the Angus breed, teamwork and friendship have been and continue to be instrumental in the furtherance of the quality of the 44-Ankony Farms program and the Angus breed. The Rishel prefix of B/R is found in more than 1,500,000 current Angus three-generation pedigrees.
"We are very excited about the opportunities, extraordinary product quality and outstanding service that this alliance provides our customers. The knowledge, integrity and commitment to customer service that Virgil Lovell, Tom Hill and Bill and Barb Rishel possess inspires us all," said Bob McClaren, CEO of 44 Farms.
The quality and strength of the 44 Ankony Farms Angus genetics program is evidenced by the performance of many of its cattle in the American Angus Association Fall 2008 Cattle Evaluation. The merged operations of 44 Farms and Ankony Farms includes the ownership of several sires and females that rank in the top ten in the Fall 2008 Cattle Evaluation EPD (Expected Progeny Differences) categories of the Angus breed, including:
Dollar Beef Index for Proven Angus Sires:
Ranked No. 1: B/R Ambush 28
Ranked No. 6: B/R 65R Genesis
Dollar Beef Index for Young Angus Sires:
Ranked No. 1: B/R Future Direction 4268
Ranked No. 2: B/R Destination 928-547
Marbling EPD for Proven Angus Sires:
Ranked No. 2: B/R Ambush 28
Ranked No. 5: B/R 65R Genesis
Marbling EPD for Young Angus Sires:
Ranked No. 1: B/R Future Direction 4268
Ribeye Area EPD for Young Angus Sires:
Ranked No. 5: B/R Future Direction 4268
Ranked No. 9: Three Trees Crossroads R0638
Dollar Beef Index for Proven Angus Females:
Ranked No. 7: B/R Ruby 9114
Ranked No. 10: B/R Ruby 419
Dollar Beef Index for Non-Parent Angus Females:
Ranked No. 1: B/R Ruby 7130
Ranked No. 7: B/R Blackcap Empress 6253
Marbling EPD for Non-Parent Angus Females:
Ranked No. 8: Circle A Primrose 7088
Percent IMF Measured by Ultrasound for All Angus Bull
Highest Measured Percent: IMF Summitcrest Grid Buster T096
The merged Angus programs of 44 Farms and Ankony Farms also includes the ownership of over 220 registered Angus females that record a Dollar Beef Index of $60 or more, which places those females in the top one percent (1%) of the Angus breed, and more than 274 females that score a Marbling EPD in the top two percent (2%) of the Angus breed.
"I have been in Angus business all of my life and these combined operations represent some of the finest cattle that I have ever seen. It is a credit to Bill and Barb Rishel, 44 Farms and the wonderful men and women of Ankony Farms. These proven Angus genetics can help cattle breeders around the world and provide consumers a great tasting product," said Virgil Lovell, CEO of Ankony Farms.
With the increased number of animal units, 44-Ankony Farms will be able to further enhance its ability to gather structured carcass data through its association with Prather Ranch in California. The merger also provides opportunities for the furtherance of marketing alliances with Niman Ranch Meat Company, Oregon Country Beef, Painted Hills Beef, Superior Livestock Auctions and Western Video Market.
44-Ankony Farms welcomes cattle breeders from around the world to share in these exciting Angus genetics by attending in person, or online, one or more of the following sales:
Upcoming 44-Ankony Farms Angus Sales:
Ankony Top Cut Angus Female Sale
September 20, 2008 at 3:00PM
Terrebonne, Oregon
Open and Bred Angus Heifer Sale
The Sale at 44 Farms
October 28, 2008 at 12:30PM
Cameron, Texas
Angus Female Production Sale
The Sale at 44 Farms
October 29, 2008 at 12:30PM
Cameron, Texas
Bull and Registered/Commercial Female Sale
Ankony 2008 Female Production Sale
October 31, 2008 at Noon
Clarkesville, Georgia
Ankony Angus Bull Sale
February 18, 2009
Terrebonne, Oregon
44 Farms Spring Turn-Out Bull and Commercial Female Sale
February 27, 2009
Cameron, Texas
Bull Sale at Rishel Ranch
March 23, 2009
North Platte, Nebraska
44 Farms Angus and SimAngus Show Heifer Sale
March 28, 2009
Cameron, Texas
Those interested in acquiring semen from 44 Ankony Farms Angus herd sires can do so by calling 541-990-5479 or 979-451-2003.
The corporate headquarters for 44 Ankony Farms is in Houston, Texas, with ranch operations in Terrebonne, Oregon; Clarkesville, Georgia; North Platte, Nebraska; and Cameron, Texas. Bob McClaren and Virgil Lovell will serve as joint Chief Executive Officers , Thomas W. Hill will serve as President and Doug Slattery will be the Chief Operating Officer.
44 Farms has been in agricultural production since 1909 along the Little River of Milam County near Cameron, Texas. In its fourth generation of operation, 44 Farms was founded by Sherwood McClaren.
Ankony Farms has a rich history in the Angus business. For more than 70 years Ankony has been at the forefront of quality Angus genetics. New York businessman Allan Ryan (former Chairman of Royal Typewriter Company) founded Ankony in 1935. Ankony was acquired in 1975 by Dr. Armand Hammer, founder of Occidental Petroleum. After the death of Dr. Hammer in 1990, Dr. Hammer's friend, Virgil Lovell, acquired Ankony. Mr. Lovell has since taken Ankony to new heights and has been a leader in providing the finest Angus genetics and customer service.
For further information, please call 713-650-9090 (Houston); 706-754-6000 (Georgia); 541-990-5479 (Oregon); or see us at 44farms.com and ankony.com.
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