This episode features host Scott Beck interviewing Zach Beutler, founder of Beutler Cattle Company, recorded live at Pender Livestock in Pender, Nebraska — Zach's family's sale barn his grandfather bought in 1969. Zach's Background: Zach grew up in the sale barn business but left home at 18, eventually moving to Tallahassee, Florida to run a supplement/nutrition franchise. He grew it to 6-7 locations, hit an $8M revenue goal, then lost everything — going bankrupt after Amazon and digital advertising disrupted his e-commerce model. He rebuilt, eventually running a portfolio company with 9 home service franchise brands and ~1,500 locations nationwide. Despite corporate success, he wanted to get back to cattle. Getting Into Cattle: Around 2018-2019, Zach moved back to Nebraska, bought an abandoned 20-acre property, and purchased his first 10 registered Simmental cows at the Badger Creek dispersal in Kansas (where he sat next to Dallas Woltemath and fed him jerky so he wouldn't bid against him). He shifted toward Angus for the technology and data advantages, and his uncle Chris Beutler (a well-known Simmental breeder) pointed him toward the famous Patsy cow — a Resource daughter that flushed 20+ embryos per cycle and became the launchpad for Beutler Cattle Company's embryo sales business. Business Model & Buying Philosophy: Zach runs a lean operation without inherited land or deep capital. His strategy: buy interest in proven donor cows, flush them heavily, sell embryos to offset costs, and reinvest. His criteria for buying a cow, in order: Marketability — proven progeny, a story you can build around Phenotype — bigger framed, deep-bodied, wedge-shaped, with power Genomic competitiveness — doesn't chase extreme numbers but needs solid performance Pedigree — strong cow family behind her, clean sire side Structural soundness — good feet and udder are non-negotiable Affordability — creative deals, partnerships, persistenceThe October 19th Frozen Genetics Sale on CCI.Live: The second half of the episode walks through the sale catalog lot by lot. Key donors featured include: LT Nora 0247 — Zach's personal favorite, a Sunny Boy daughter found at Lindskoog's, first-ever embryos offered (by Inevitable)Lawson's Chloe C815 — a 10-year-old matriarch with 70+ daughters in 22 herds, top 1% $M and $WBlair's West Erica 44F — a Renown daughter out of the legendary 74A cowColeman Donna 7100 — a Resource daughter out of the famous 714 Donna, chased for 18 monthsSAV Black Cap May 4136D clone — a clone of arguably the most famous cow in Angus historyMohnen Abigail 7319 — a newer donor partnered on with Scott KatasColeman Donna 439 — dam of Glacier, top income-producing Donna 714 daughterPlus deceased donors: 3525 (dam of Quarterback), 6644 (dam of Panther), and the original Patsy cowThe sale includes heifer pregnancies, grade one embryos, unique semen lots, and partnership embryos from donors Zach doesn't fully own but markets for partners. Notable matings include Chloe x Inevitable, 7100 x High Country, 7100 x Man In Black, and 4136 clone x Inevitable.
