I
“We’ve been selling our feeder calves after backgrounding them
n the early 1970s, Charles Langdeau, of the Langdeau Brothers
for 60 days post-weaning,” said Langdeau. “What we’ve found is our
ranch, was raising commercial horned Herefords on the South
buyers recognize that Limousin-cross cattle have tremendous feed
Dakota prairie alongside the Missouri River near Fort Pierre. He
conversion rates; it sure doesn’t take as much feed as other breeds to
wanted to find a way to add pounds to his Hereford calves, and the
put weight on them.”
Limousin breed was just the ticket.
A few years ago, the South Dakota Limousin Association recognized
“Dad wanted higher weaning weights, better rates of gain and
Langdeau as the Commercial Producer of the Year, and it’s a testament
improved carcass merit, and he found all that in the Limousin breed,”
to his commitment to choosing
said Charles’ son, Jay Langdeau,
Limousin genetics for his own
who owns and operates the South
“Those
Dandy
calves
were
tame
as
can
be,”
operation, as well as his support of
Fork Ranch also in Fort Pierre. “Dad
Limousin seedstock producers across
always said the best cows he ever had
said Langdeau. “You could practically
the country.
were the red brockle-face Hereford-
walk right up to them in the pasture and
“I think I’ve bought bulls from
Limousin cross.”
pet them. Yet, we had ornery bloodlines
nearly every Limousin breeder in
By the early 1990s. Langdeau was
back then, too. The breed has come
South Dakota, as well as out-of-state
breeding most of his herd to Limousin
operators like Wulf Cattle, Lonely
bulls, using artificial insemination to
a long way in terms of disposition; we’ve
Valley, Hunt Limousin, Magness
obtain some of the hot genetics at the
improved this trait by leaps and bounds.”
Land & Cattle, Liberty Ranch,
time—Dandy, Eclair, Pompadour
Running Creek and Hager Cattle
and Packman, just to name a few.
Co.,” said Langdeau. “As a buyer, I tend not to jump on the trendiest
“Those Dandy calves were tame as can be,” said Langdeau. “You could
new herd sires. Instead, I like to sit back and see if there are females
practically walk right up to them in the pasture and pet them. Yet, we had
being made and kept out of him first. I aim to select bulls that are
ornery bloodlines back then, too. The breed has come a long way in terms
in the top 20% of the breed for EPDs, and ultimately I am looking
of disposition; we’ve improved this trait by leaps and bounds.”
to raise daughters that are good-doers, good milkers with excellent
Today, Landgeau is a second-generation Limousin breeder. He runs a
structure and docility.”
commercial herd of Limousin females, in addition to a purebred herd.
With this wishlist in mind, Langdeau isn’t afraid to put on the miles
Raising feeder calves and seedstock bulls, Langdeau is passionate about
to find the right herd bull. Each year, he travels to both the National
the breed and the advancements he’s made to his cow herd over the years.
Western Stock Show and the Black Hills Stock Show, where he enjoys
“When I first got started running cattle with my dad, I was trying
evaluating the cattle and visiting with his Limousin friends.
to build our red herd up; however, it seemed like our market was
Over the years, Langdeau has invested in bulls including LFLC Dollar
wanting black,” said Langdeau. “In recent years, we’ve bred for black
Bill, B Bar Cognac 1B, B Bar Bentley 8D, LVLS Fortnite 798F, B Bar
Limousin and Lim-Flex calves, and it seems to be working for us.”
Langdeau ranches with his wife, Avany, and their five children,
continued on page 56
Bailee, Cash, Utah, Elias and Oaklee.
The Landgeau family pictured left to right: Jay, Avany, Oakley, Cash, Elias, Bailee and Utah.
• JANUARY 2020
55