Fellow Seedstock Breeders,
To Be, Or Not To Be?
This is a famous line from
Shakespeare. Since my last name
is Tobe, a close friend and I have
been saying for more than 30
years, the best is yet to be.
I t h i nk t h i s i s t r ue fo r
Englewood Farms, but under the management of my
grandchildren. I am moving to commercial cattle and selling
400 of our 1,200 acres to help make this easier for them.
Since my age exceeds the Interstate speed limit by 6, I
thought it was time to focus on the needs of the future
generation. I still like both the Limousin and Red Angus
breeds, but I think it will be easier for the next generation to
be involved in commercial cattle.
My thanks to the many friends I have made in the seedstock
cattle business. It has been a great ride and I have enjoyed the
experience. I have told many business types that farmers and
ranchers are the same as the past generations that made the
United States great through their hard work and integrity.
I hope to maintain my seedstock relationships through the
bulls I will buy for the commercial cattle.
On a final note, I think these are the best seedstock cattle
we have ever produced. I hope to see you on sale day.
Thanks,
Joanne and John
“Tobe or Not Tobe”
John Ethington - Manager - 859/533-1301
Nathan Hicks - Herdsman - 859/576-6738
John Tobe - Owner - 859/621-4411
761 Engleman Lane - Lancaster, KY 40444
John E. Tobe started Englewood Farms in 1981. A decade later,
while building Laura’s Lean Beef Co., a local cattle buyer suggested
they try Limousin bulls on commercial females.
During the Laura’s years, the company had shear-test and taste
panels done and the results on the steaks from Limousin-cross cattle
were amazing. They tested equally tender as compared to Choice
and Prime steaks, and more tender than other exotic-cattle breeds.
When the decision was made to run registered cattle alongside
the commercial herd, fullblood Limousin cattle with above-breed-
average EPDs in growth, milk and ribeye were chosen.
When he sold his interest in Laura’s in 2007, Tobe decided to get
more involved in the Limousin seedstock business and invested in a
herd of purebred Limousin cattle. John Ethington also joined Tobe in
2007, with a primary focus on building the purebred herd, one at a
time, from some great Limousin cattle.
The initial focus with the purebred cattle was to maintain muscle
so when crossed with other breeds they could consistently produce
Choice carcasses and eliminate most Yield Grade 4s and 5s, while
keeping the increased feed efficiency and carcass characteristics the
Limousin breed is know for.
The next step in the evolutionary process was the purchase of
several Black Angus and Lim-Flex females that were very high in
marbling. The Lim-Flex cattle produced by these females added
considerably more maternal and marbling without sacrificing
inherent breed strengths.
Registered Red Angus cattle were added to the Englewood Farms’
stable in 2013.
The Red Angus breed was chosen because of its maternal and
carcass quality characteristics. Red Angus cattle currently
enjoy tremendous demand among both commercial producers
and seedstock breeders across the United States and Canada.
Additionally, they complement the Limousin breed nicely when
mated to create red Lim-Flex.
True to form, the Englewood Farms Red Angus herd was built
from a nucleus of elite females with exceptional EPD profiles
and phenotypic superiority. The cowherds were split between
fall and spring calving, with a heavy emphasis on both AI and
embryo transfer, allowing them access to the most elite of Red
Angus genetics.
When Tobe and Ethington made the decision to add Red Angus
cattle to the program, they went about it with the same enthusiasm
and stringent selection criteria as in the past. The resulting Red
Angus cowherd assembled in this catalog represents a unique cross
section of the breed. The Red Angus cattle featured in this dispersal
are the fruits of their early labor and serve as a fine example of the
direction the Englewood Red Angus herd was headed.
Regardless of the breed or the percent blood, since day one the
Englewood Farms’ vision has been to breed and raise the very best
Limousin and Red Angus seedstock possible. We invite you to join us
and take advantage of the truly unique set of genetics that will be
available for your appraisal.
ENGLEWOOD FARMS THE FINAL CHAPTER
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