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East Texas breeder likes Simbrah

published: September 18th 2008

John Purnell, Marshall, Texas has had Simbrah and Simmental cattle almost since they were introduced into the United States.
    Purnell was in the dairy business in the 1960’s and then ran a John Deere dealership for years in Marshall. He remembers when Simmental genetics first entered the country and while attending AI school In Illinois in the late 60’s was introduced to Simmental. He began AI’ing to Simmentals and developed his herds from that introduction to Simgenetics.
Today he maintains two commercial herds, one of Simbrah and one of Simmental and breeds them back the same way. At one time he was in the registered business, so about 75% of the females in each herd originated from the registered programs.
    He particularly likes how the Simbrahs handle the heat and humidity of East Texas and the performance he gets from the Simgenetics. He also likes their disposition, the gain he gets on his calves and the way they convert feed to pounds. He also finds the Simbrah female to be a great milker and a very good momma cow.
    For the past 12 years he has been selecting his bulls from Pine Ridge Ranch, Dallas, Texas.
    “We select bulls for length, depth, thickness, capacity and muscle. We like our bulls to look like bulls,” explains Purnell adding they personally go through Pine Ridge’s bulls and make their choices.
    “Obviously the Pine Ridge bulls have worked real well for us and we enjoy doing business with the Travis’,” he describes.
    Purnell selects his replacements females first, then sells some of the females to local cattlemen.
    “We have a good following for our Simbrah females. People recognize the value she has in a program and they want them,” describes Purnell.
    They also sell the top end of their bulls to local cattlemen.
    Then the remaining calves are marketed through the local sale barn.
    Purnell is joined in his ranching operation, named Hermitage Ranch, by his wife, Betty, son, John M and his wife, Janet, and son Albert and his wife, Linda. He also has two granddaughters and one of them, Kimberly and her husband also live on the ranch. His other granddaughter is currently studying abroad.