cow evaluation and breeding consult
Better Breeding Starts With Better Evaluation
Learn to assess your cow's strengths and weaknesses, understand sire data, and make informed breeding decisions with personalized guidance from an experienced cattle breeder.
Sessions fill 2–3 weeks out. Priority booking available for active listings — see below.
Your Cow's Genetics Deserve More Than Guesswork
You love your cow. That's not the same as knowing what she needs bred into — or out of — her next calf.
Most family cow owners pick a bull based on a pretty picture in an AI catalog, a friend's recommendation, or whatever's convenient and cheap. They don't know how to actually evaluate their own cow's strengths and weaknesses, or how to read the trait data (EPDs, proofs, type scores) that would tell them which bull genuinely complements her. So they guess — every single breeding season.
This consult teaches you to stop guessing.
meet your consultant
Experience Behind Every Recommendation
Brandon Ford holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Kansas State University and has spent his career on both sides of the cattle world — as a Jersey breeder and show exhibitor and as a cattle buyer for a major meatpacking plant. That second half matters more than it might seem: Brandon has seen firsthand what actually gets paid for at the rail, which brings real market reality to any conversation about beef-on-dairy breeding goals.
He leads all genetics, breeding, and herd health decisions for Sunrise Jerseys' own show-winning herd — this consult brings that same evaluation skill directly to you and your cow.
How it Works
01. Photo & Info Intake (before your session)
You'll receive a short photo guide and questionnaire — specific angles, current production info, pedigree if available, and your breeding goal (replacement heifer, show improvement, or a beef-on-dairy cross for calf value).
02. Brandon's Prep
Before your session, Brandon reviews your cow's conformation from your photos and prepares a teaching plan tailored to her specific traits and your goal.
03. Live 60-Minute Session
A direct, honest walk-through of your cow's strengths and areas to improve — and, just as importantly, how to read that same information in a bull's trait data so you can evaluate sires yourself. We'll work through real examples together, using your cow and real bulls from whatever breed and directory you're actually considering. If beef-on-dairy is your goal, we'll cover the specific traits that drive calf value at sale.
04. Written Report + Recording
A full trait evaluation of your cow, a plain-language guide to the specific data points to look for in a bull given her needs, and your session recording — a reference you can use for every future breeding decision, not just this one.
consulting options
Invest in a Confident Start
A wrong breeding decision doesn't just cost the stud fee or straw — it costs you an entire lactation cycle and a calf that doesn't move you toward your goal. This consult is a one-time investment in a skill you'll use every season after, not a fee for a single answer.
WHO THIS IS FOR
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You already own a family cow (or a few) and want an honest evaluation of her traits before you pick a bull this season
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You want to actually learn how to read bull trait data yourself — not just be handed a name you have to trust blindly
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You're interested in a beef-on-dairy cross and want to understand what actually drives calf value at sale
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You want a skill you can use every breeding season, not a one-time answer
WHO THIS ISN'T FOR
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You're still deciding whether to buy your first cow — start with the Family Cow Buyer's Blueprint or a Cow Readiness & Selection Consult instead
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You're looking for Brandon to hand you a specific bull's name across every breed and registry — this consult teaches you to make that call yourself, with confidence, using whatever directory or breed you're working with
Frequently asked questions
Make Your Next Breeding Decision With Confidence
Stop guessing at the catalog. Learn to evaluate your cow honestly and read a bull's data with real confidence — from someone who's bred, shown, and bought cattle professionally.