Hornung Livestock 6th Annual Production Sale
Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he’s the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Gaston Hornung, Owner of Hornung Livestock. In this episode, Gaston and Gale will dive into the Hornung Livestock 6th Annual “Conception to Carcass” Production Sale, held on March 11th, 2026, at 1PM MST, in Stratton, Colorado. 
More now than ever, Hornung Livestock believes cattlemen are getting rewarded for their investment in high-quality genetics. As they continue to build their program, feeling like this is the most consistent set of bulls they have offered to date, and they are bred to improve your bottom line and perform for you from conception to carcass!
Gaston explains that he is a third-generation farmer-rancher whose grandparents homesteaded the family place, which now includes a feedlot and expanded cow herd. After earning an animal science degree at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he returned home with a strong interest in seedstock and carcass-focused genetics, aiming to capture premiums on cattle that perform on the rail while keeping other traits in balance.
Gaston outlines the Hornung Livestock breeding philosophy, emphasizing balanced traits over extremes. He targets practical calving ease rather than ultra-light calves, along with solid growth, structural soundness, fertility, and strong carcass merit, especially for marbling, ribeye area, and carcass weight. Phenotype remains critical: cattle must be functional and attractive, as buyers and sale barn markets still judge what they see. He has built much of his program around two key donor cows and extensive IVF work, creating a very consistent maternal base and groups of full and half siblings that help commercial customers market uniform calf crops.
The sale offering includes a deep set of yearling Angus bulls that form the core of the program, age-advantaged and mature Angus herd sires, and a significant group of SimAngus and purebred Simmental bulls designed to add hybrid vigor and terminal performance. Gaston highlights several sire groups and standout individuals, explaining how he uses his own bulls back in the herd to prove their value before offering similar genetics to customers.
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit: www.americancattlemen.com.
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
