Meitler History

Meitler Cattle has been in the family for five generations. August Meitler homesteaded in North Central Kansas in the 1880’s. His son Fred and grandson Armin farmed and raised cattle for many years. Armin started in the registered Hereford business in 1932. Armin passed his love for Hereford cattle on to his son, Gene. Gene’s life passion was the genetics behind his pursuit of the perfect Hereford female. In the 1970’s, Gene went into some of the great Line 1 cow herds in Montana searching for the power cow families. He purchased older cows that had been proven in the famous herds. His photographic memory of pedigrees and cows was like a superpower. He researched to find the common ancestors that were most potent in carrying the maternal traits he desired. Gene then linebred these cow families more and more intensely. Many fell out over time. The ones that succeeded the environmental and linebreeding pressure continued on the ranch.

What Gene ultimately created was one of the great maternal cow herds in the country. He became widely respected for his knowledge in linebreeding and Bonsma trait selection. As the cattle industry chased terminal traits, show ring banners, and EPD numbers, Gene never wavered in his belief of breeding maternal cattle. Start with the momma cow and the rest will fall in place. In 1986, Jim McDowell and Bow Creek Angus brought the first Angus cattle to the ranch. These Angus cows are the foundation of the angus

genetics within the herd today. 

Present day owners of Meitler Cattle are Gene’s two sons Darris and Clint Meitler. Today the cowherd is comprised of over 600 Horned Hereford, Angus and Black Baldy cows both spring and fall calving.  The purebred Hereford and Angus heifers are kept as replacements, and the black baldies are marketed with their superior maternal genetics.  Only the very best bulls are kept and sold or used back into the herd. Steers are sold at a premium for their quality and uniformity. The cowherd has expanded over the years, but the maternal core has remained constant. Our longstanding program is simply based on the mother cow. Maternal, feminine, good uddered, docile, long-lasting cows. Carefully selecting the correct maternal genetics to bring into the herd is always top priority. Our program was built on generations of hard work and grit. Our cows are built on this same foundation to work hard and stand the test of time.