By Lindsay L. Allen

(The following article was published in the January 2023 issue of Brangus Journal.)

If you are looking for Brangus cattle north of the Mason-Dixon line, look no further than Ottmann’s Brangus at Valley View Ranch in Rock Port, Missouri.

As James Ottmann, owner, says about his cattle, “They have that Angus look but are still 3/8ths Brahman with lots to offer!” When it comes to his bull herd, Ottmann prides himself on the short ear, tight sheath and A+ calving ease of his bulls, along with the fact that they are bred for tenderness and docile enough to be hand fed.

“Our family has been feeding cattle for six generations in Northwest Missouri. Our first Brangus was born here in 1968 and our bulls are developed on fescue,” Ottoman said. The ranch is ran near the Missouri River bottoms and includes corn and bean stalk feeds that Ottmann uses as a feed source for his herd as well.

Ottmann runs his operation with the help of one of his three adult children, Chad, and his wife, Mandy. In fact, the family support extends beyond his immediate family and includes Ottmann’s brothers and sisters and their children as well, who are nearby. “I raised all my children to know and understand the value of Brangus cattle and it’s great to have them all nearby and contributing in some form or fashion.”

Ottmann’s involvement with the breed traces back to his relationship with Jesse Dowdy, who was the fourth breeder to register with the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA), and Ottmann refers to as “Mr. Brangus.” Dowdy introduced Ottmann to James Lingle, who managed the Wye Plantation Angus Ranch in Maryland. The cattle from Lingle’s herd at the Wye Plantation ranch had a big impact on Ottmann’s herd and the phenotype you now see in his pastures. One thing Ottmann does face as he raises his cattle north of the Mason Dixon line is fescue foot. “This is something that we and our neighboring states face. I’ve found that the Brangus breed can make a huge impact on reducing or eliminating the fescue foot problem that we face.”

Fescue foot can result from warm fall weather and is detected by the slight swelling in the rear ankles and possible breaks in the skin from the top of the hoof up above the dew claw, and/or detection of limping. By the time hooves on hind feet show to be red in color, gangrene may have set in.

As far as marketing his cattle goes, Ottmann says a buyer wants to know just as much about the seller as they do the cattle and enjoys building a relationship with those he markets cattle to.

Ottmann is very focused on and passionate about parent verification for the breed and advocates for an open book operation to help decrease or eliminate genetic defects. “Fellow breeders need to know where the source of problems is and parent verification is a priceless aspect of this in the purebred business,” Ottmann shared.

Ottmann’s involvement with the breed and the industry as a whole included a tenure as president of the IBBA and he has recently been focused on carcass work. “I helped start a 4-H carcass show at a nearby packing plant and it has been a very rewarding experience to see exhibitors who didn’t get the blue ribbon in the show ring leave with a blue ribbon from the carcass show,” Ottmann said.

For his own herd and carcass value, amongst other traits, Ottmann uses and sells bulls sired by Milam, Patriot, Affirmed B820X9, Ike 596U4 and Lambert 317R3. His herd bloodlines also include WSR Rocky Joe 650, one of the premier foundation sires of the breed in the early ’80s and a sire recognized internationally for his impact on the breed.

When you think of James Ottmann, it’s only natural to associate him and his name with his love for the breed and his passion for spreading the good news about Brangus cattle and what they can do for you. Ottmann Brangus at Valley View Ranch is producing and marketing Brangus cattle that work for the area and bring value, alongside their desire to spread Brangus genetics everywhere they go.