About A & B Cattle
Proven Genetics. Practical Performance. Sandhills Raised.
For more than 30 years, the Sawyer family has remained committed to producing efficient, functional Angus cattle that thrive in the demanding conditions of the Nebraska Sandhills. Our focus has always been on developing cattle that work for commercial cattlemen—cattle that combine performance, maternal strength, and longevity without requiring extra inputs.
Our herd of approximately 600 registered and commercial Angus cows is managed under the same practical conditions as other ranching operations throughout the region. Cows spend their summers grazing native Sandhills pastures and their winters utilizing nearby crop residue fields. Generations of selection in this environment have shaped a cow herd designed to make the most of the resources nature provides.
At A&B Cattle, performance is earned, not manufactured. Our calves receive no creep feed, and cows are not supplemented while grazing summer pastures. This management philosophy allows us to evaluate each animal's true genetic potential under real-world conditions. Females must consistently raise a quality calf, breed back, and remain productive. Those that fail to meet our standards are removed from the herd.
The result is a functional, productive cow herd characterized by deep-bodied, easy-fleshing females and stout, thick-made bulls with strong growth potential and practical maintenance requirements.
Bulls Built to Work
Each year, approximately 150 of our top-performing bulls are selected for our annual production sale following extensive performance evaluations and a rigorous selection process. Our offering includes bulls from both our spring and fall breeding programs. Spring-born yearling bulls born after April 1 are retained for marketing to fall breeding programs rather than offered in the annual sale.
Beyond our annual bull sale, A&B Cattle markets age- and source-identified feeder steers, including steers from the lower end of our bull calf crop. We also offer a select group of commercial bred females each December, with registered Angus bulls and females available through private treaty sales throughout the year.
Our Commitment Hasn't Changed
While the tools and technology behind genetic selection continue to advance, our breeding philosophy remains firmly rooted in the same principles that built A&B Cattle. We strive to produce moderate-framed, efficient Angus cattle that combine superior early growth, controlled birth weights, exceptional maternal ability, and valuable carcass traits.
Our goal is simple: raise cattle that work harder, last longer, and add value to our customers' operations.
The Sawyers
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Becky Sawyer, alongside her son Adam, daughter-in-law Jenessa, and daughter Jessica, continues to own and operate A&B Cattle, remaining actively involved in the ranch's daily operations and carrying forward the family's longstanding Angus legacy.
Before his passing in September 2019, Becky's husband, Arlen, was a respected leader in the Angus industry. He served two terms on the American Angus Association Board of Directors, chaired the Certified Angus Beef Board, and served as president of both the Nebraska Angus Association and Area II Nebraska Cattlemen. Together, Arlen and Becky also served as advisors to the Nebraska Junior Angus Association.
Today, Becky remains dedicated to the operation she and Arlen helped build, preserving their commitment to quality Angus cattle, family, and the future of the beef industry.
Adam and his wife, Jenessa, work alongside Becky in managing the daily operations of A&B Cattle, continuing the family's commitment to raising quality Angus cattle in the Nebraska Sandhills.
Adam has a lifelong passion for the cattle industry and continues to develop his own herd of registered Angus females. Jenessa divides her time between the ranch office, working outdoors, and serving their local community.
Together, they are raising the fifth generation of Angus enthusiasts, their sons Augustus James (2018) and Truett Richard (2021). The boys are growing up immersed in ranch life, learning the value of hard work, family, and the Angus tradition.
Jessica and her husband, Brian, share deep roots in the cattle industry. Jessica is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Richard Young Behavioral Health in Kearney, Nebraska, while Brian and his family own and operate a backgrounding feedlot in Overton.
Together, they maintain a small herd of registered Angus cattle in Bassett and enjoy staying involved at A&B Cattle. Jessica is a former National Junior Angus Association board member and remains passionate about the Angus industry. Brian is actively involved in the cattle business and frequently helps out at the ranch in critical times.
Their continued involvement reflects the Sawyer family's longstanding commitment to the Angus breed and the ranching way of life.