ABS began 2026 in Denver, Colorado, at the National Western Stock Show—a week that continues to set the tone for the year ahead in the beef industry. From commercial-focused education to record-setting sales and championship-level genetics, the week highlighted the value of proven performance and smart genetic decisions.
Commercial Cattleman’s Day & Maternal Merit Sale
Wednesday centered around the commercial cattleman.
The morning featured a lineup of respected industry voices, including Troy Marshall, Dr. Clay Burson, and Dr. Ryan Rathmann, who addressed topics impacting today’s cow-calf operations. The session concluded with a panel discussion on “Differentiating Your Calf Crop,” moderated by Kevin Ochsner and featuring Jason Hoffman, Troy Marshall, Steve Gabel, and Rick Machado.
The conversation reinforced a common theme: commercial profitability is built on intentional genetic decisions and long-term strategy.
That afternoon, the ABS-sponsored Maternal Merit Sale drew a record-setting crowd. All bred heifers were AI-bred to ABS sires, reflecting continued confidence in predictable, performance-driven genetics.
Highlight lots included Red Angus females sired by STOCKYARD and AI-bred to DEFINITIVE. The sale averaged $5,701 on commercial-bred heifers—a strong indicator of demand for maternal-focused genetics backed by data and real-world performance.
Pen & Carload Show
The historic Pen & Carload Show once again showcased cattle that balance phenotype, structural integrity, and performance. ABS progeny were represented throughout the event, with sires including REALITY, MAN IN BLACK, JAMESON, VALIDATION, and DYNAMIC.
The highlight came with the Champion Carload of the Angus Bulls from Circle B Farms, Nebraska. The winning pen featured sons of JAMESON and DYNAMIC, reinforcing the consistency and market acceptance of those bloodlines.
Foundation Angus Sale
Friday’s Foundation Angus Sale continued the week’s momentum.
Sons and daughters of Connealy Validation were well received, drawing attention from progressive seedstock operations. The high-selling highlight of the sale was the flush opportunity on LT Elite Lady 2022, the dam of LT ANCHOR, which brought $72,000.
A Strong Start to the Year
National Western continues to serve as a meeting point for commercial cattlemen, seedstock producers, and industry leaders. For ABS, it’s an opportunity to stand alongside customers, see genetics perform in competitive environments, and engage in conversations that move the industry forward.
If Denver is any indication, 2026 is positioned to be another strong year for cattle producers focused on disciplined, data-backed genetic progress.
Curious about ABS genetics that were successful at the National Western Stock Show? Reach out to your local representative or fill out the form below.
