By Sarah Hill
Photos courtesy Topp Herefords
The North Dakota-based herd has invested in producing high-quality Hereford genetics and customer service.
If there was ever such a thing as a “universal” beef breed for crossing, it would be Herefords, according to Ryan Topp, Topp Herefords, Grace City, N.D.
“Herefords offer longevity, which is the most profitable trait in the beef business,” he said. “They cross really well with several breeds, and you’ll still have a female that’s very maternal, useful and as a feeder calf, adds extra pounds.”
Topp Herefords is truly a family operation. Ryan’s wife, Prairie, manages the office. Their son, Logan, is a senior at Kansas State University and will be managing the May calving herd when he returns this spring. Both daughters, Lauren and Mariah, have their own cattle and help between their full-time jobs. Lauren’s husband, Jordan Staton, manages the commercial heifer development program. Employees Keith Herberg and Jannes de Wet manage the January calving herd and farming/nutrition, respectively. Megan Halvorson works as an office administrator for the operation. The operation includes 1,000 acres of hay and 800 acres of corn for silage. De Wet works with a nutritionist for winter rations.
Simple Breeding Strategy
“Our breeding strategy is very simple. We listen to our commercial customers and what they want,” said Ryan. “Commercial cattle producers are the most savvy, astute cattlemen in the beef industry. If more seedstock providers would listen to them, we’d have a better industry overall. Their goals are pretty much the same - they want fewer problems, better quality and more pounds, all with using fewer inputs.”
Topp Herefords keeps their commercial customers in mind when breeding their cattle, because they know how fertility, longevity and efficiency can add value. All of the females at Topp Herefords are implanted with CIDRs and then artificially inseminated. If their one shot at AI doesn’t work, then they’re turned out with the clean up bulls. The operation also includes 300 recip cows. The January calving group is about 500 head, while the May calving group is about 625. Only the best 15 females get to be flushed each year.
According to Ryan, TH 122 71I Victor 719T is one of the Topp Hereford bulls that’s had the most impact on their herd. As the No. 1 registered Hereford bull for several years in the early ‘10s, 719T provided calving ease, growth and power.
“He changed Herefords as we know them today,” Ryan said. “His daughters lasted forever, with beautiful udders.”
The same calf crop included TH 223 71I Victor 755T, another Topp Hereford bull that’s left his mark on the Hereford breed. TH Frontier 174E and TH Masterplan 183F were also bred by Topp Herefords and have gone on to have successful stud careers as well as being used by their home herd.
This year, Topp Herefords has used TH Innovation 105H, Churchill W4 Sherman 2157K ET, and Harvie Smoke Stack ET 195B. Ryan said that they prefer to use just a handful of bulls for breeding each year, resulting in large contemporary groups that are consistent in type.
Another perk of Topp Hereford bulls is that they come with a four-year genetic guarantee.
“That guarantee allows our customers to buy with confidence,” Ryan said. “It’s well communicated. But a bull purchase from us is just the beginning.”
Marketing Programs
With all of the genomics and technology available in the beef industry today, Ryan wanted to create a full circle program that would mitigate risk for cattle producers. Their system allows cattle feeders to market cattle the same way that grain farmers market their crop and lock in profits. And that’s exactly what they’ve done.
The ranch was an early adopter of genomic testing, because they recognized the practical application of genetic improvement. Topp Herefords has been DNA testing their full calf crop since 2014. However, the Topps have never wavered on the importance of phenotype, real-world performance and practical visual appraisal. The combination of the two, instead of extremes in either direction, is what Topp Herefords relies on to produce the optimal product for the heifer development program and the feeder buyers they contract their customers’ calves with.
“We implemented a feeder calf buyback program 15 to 20 years ago,” he said. “If cattle producers buy our bulls, we make offers to buy calves through 10 to 12 forward contracts per year, starting late February. We’re focused on volume and quality, placing calves with one of seven different feedlots.” If the producer prefers the sale barn or video auctions, Topp Herefords participates there as well.
Topp Herefords also offers their customers a heifer buy back program in conjunction with partner Bill Pitz, Farley, Iowa. Some 90 percent of their customers sell back their black baldy, red baldy or commercial Hereford heifers to the Topp Herefords program. Topp Herefords then develops those heifers, gets them bred and preg-checked and sells them in the fall. “We buy back around 2,500 head per year,” Ryan said.
All eligible females must be vaccinated, and sellers receive a premium for heifers that have been weaned for 45 days. A representative from Topp Herefords visits the producer’s ranch to choose the top of their potential replacements. Some 60 to 85 percent of that elite group end up in the TH Pitz Heifer Development Program. They’re looking for heifers that will make profitable cows -easy-doing, big-middled females that will forage well and maintain condition.
“The results we’ve seen with these heifers is that their disposition and fertility are better,” Ryan said. “They average 15 percent better on AI.”
Only as Strong as the Weakest Link
In looking ahead, Ryan hopes to facilitate continued growth of Topp Herefords and is always looking for ways to expand their portfolio. For Ryan, being a seedstock producer isn’t enough - they want to see their customers succeed with their genetics and realize added value.
“You can’t be content, you’ve got to embrace technology while still keeping your feet on the ground with solid beef production principles,” he said. “A superior cow is the start of the beef industry, and she must be great uddered and good producing for several years, weaning eight or nine calves.”
Ryan is confident that Topp Herefords is poised for success with the next generation, particularly with how they’ve divided up the responsibilities of the ranch.
“I’ve guided them and strengthened them to understand how to work together,” he said. “You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and everyone takes their roles very seriously. It gives Prairie and I satisfaction to know that the ranch is in good hands moving forward.”
Annual Bull Sale:
Friday, February 14, 2025
1:00 pm CST - Grace City, N.D.
learn more at www.toppherefords.com
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