The History of Ellis Farms

Ellis Farms originated as R.H. Ellis & Sons in 1948 with the purchase of registered Polled Hereford females and a bull to replace a commercial cowherd that had been in existence.  These cows became the nucleus of a registered cattle venture that has continued for 60 years, in the same location since 1964, just one mile from the original Ellis homestead.  Today, it is still a family-owned operation with Phil & Joyce Ellis and sons Matt & Lisa Ellis and Joe & Lauri Ellis. In addition, son-in-law Dr. Joe Seward serves as veterinarian, while daughter Cathy assists in PR.  This is a fifth-generation (with the 6^th generation on the ground!) Hereford seedstock cattle operation and we plan to leave it in good hands for the next generation.

Today, the cowherd consists of a spring calving herd of approximately 200 Polled Hereford and Angus females.  The operation includes row crop corn and soybeans, hay and pasture spanning two states.  Initially Ellis Farms was strictly a single breed cattle operation.  However, with the construction of a feedlot and the need to diversify during the 1980's to a more complete supply of genetics for the commercial bull customer, two additional breeds were added.  The first Angus cow was purchased in 1978 and the first Salers genetics were introduced in 1983.  The decision for adding Angus and Salers genetics was based on the need to supply the commercial cattleman with outcross genetics for the large proportion of Continental bred cattle that were beginning to influence the herds in our region.

Ellis Farms sells 60% of our offspring as seed stock replacements or commercial bulls.  The 40% of cattle not selected for replacements are fed out and merchandised on an incentive-based grid.  With this birth to harvest data collection and merchandising method we are able to collect; birth, weaning, yearling weights, frame score, scrotal measurements, ultrasound data at yearling time; and complete carcass data at harvest.