Luddington
Cattle is a fourth-generation, 500-cow, working ranch located in the scenic hills of northwest
Oklahoma near the rustic town of Freedom.
There is some rather interesting history concerning our ranch. Our ranch headquarters sits on top
of what was once the old Freedom Hotel. In 1919, the railroad came through from Waynoka to
Buffalo along the Cimarron River so the town up and moved to its present location five miles
south. The 160 acres east is the claim my great-grandfather French settled in the Oklahoma Land
Run. My grandfather, Hank French, was the youngest of nine kids raised on that quarter in Old
Freedom. My great-grandfather, Van Erck settled on the quarter west and ran a store and a
filling station.
We began our registered herd in the early nineties by bringing some of the most proven cow
families from top performance herds in Kansas and Montana and putting them in the same
environment our commercial herds were expected to produce in. Our goal was to breed multi-trait
cattle that would continue to improve the bottom line for commercial customers. I wanted it all
functional cattle with structural correctness, calving-ease, fleshing ability, performance,
carcass, fertility and disposition.
We have spent the last several years implementing an extensive A.I. and embryo transfer program.
We have facilitated every available means to do performance and carcass testing and to gather
ultrasound scan data. We then use that data combined with careful evaluations including
structural soundness and fertility to cull, in some cases, complete cow families that
don’t measure up.
Although the cattle industry is constantly changing and single-trait emphasis seems to be
popular, our commitment to breeding functional females will never change. Our livelihood is NOT
dependent on our day jobs, oil wells, stock holdings or inheritance. This is not a hobby, tax
break or a way to relax after a long day at the office. My point being we are totally dependent
on one thing, the productivity of our Angus cows. In our business it’s not what you do
right that’s important, it’s what you do wrong. Complete cow herd dispersions
preceed bankruptcies or follow funerals and as far as talking about what we’re going to do
after we retire no need for that we’re already doing it.
We have made preparations to bid and buy livestock through Superior Productions’
“Call or Click-To-Bid” service for
those unable to attend in person on sale day. Please note th at all of th e lots
in th e sale will also be available for
viewing online prior to sale day at www.superiorlivestock.com.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
Turn in Bids Over the Phone. This is our traditional method of buying
livestock and is the suggested process for anyone
who does not have consistent, high-speed internet. To get started simply go online to www.superiorlivestock.com and
click on the tab titled “Register for a Buyer Number.” Select the registration form for
Superior Productions and print the
registration form. Fill it out and fax it in to Superior Productions at (817) 378-3380
with a signature on it, or scan and
email the form to info@superiorauction.com.You can also
mail it in to the address provided on the form. Upon receipt of this information,
Superior will call
you with a buyer’s number and the bid line phone number that you will use on sale day to
place bids over the phone.
Click-To-Bid
This is Superior’s online bidding platform for cattle buying. Please note that high-speed internet is required – this is not for dial-up or satellite internet.
Registration is free, but you must become a member of www.superiorclicktobid.com to sign up. Becoming a member is easy – just go to the homepage of
www.superiorclicktobid.com and follow the out-lined steps to get started. Input your information and select a username and password. You will receive an
e-mail confirming you are a member. From that point forward you just have to sign in and select the sale you would like to register for and once approved
you will receive an e-mail or call confirming which sale you are now registered for.
Viewing the Auction
The sale will be broadcast via satellite on Dish Network channel 997. Please note that there is a delay if you are watching the auction on television so be sure
to call in a couple lots ahead of the lot you are interested in bidding on. The sale will also be broadcast live on the internet at both www.superiorlivestock.com and www.superiorclicktobid.com. The video feed on the homepage of www.superiorlivestock.com looks the same as the video feed on TV and can be
watched over a smartphone or tablet. Remember you can call in to bid whether watching on the TV or on the internet, but you must be a member of www.superiorclicktobid.com to “click-to-bid”.
Luddington Cattle • Ky Luddington • 19351 Jefferson Road • Freedom, OK 73842