HTTL Livestock is rooted in a herd with history. These cattle have been run in everything from large desert outfits spread across thousands of acres to small groups kept in corrals since the 1960s. In 2017, Brennen and his family moved to Austin, Nevada, thinking it might be a short-term stay. A year later, they bought ten head from their employer to run in common. By 2021, they had taken over the remainder of the herd and secured the pasture leases that came with it.

From day one, Brennen has focused on building cattle that work in the real world. Through a careful linebreeding program, he’s zeroed in on fertility, calving ease, sound feet and legs, smaller frame size, proper hormonal expression, and balanced structure. Calm dispositions are a must, and every animal in the herd earns its place by performing without special treatment.

The program runs a mix of cow/calf, seedstock, and grass-finishing. Cattle are rotated to fresh pasture as often as conditions allow, sometimes multiple times a day. Calving begins May 1 to match peak grass growth. Year-round grazing is the goal, with cattle utilizing stockpiled forage, crop stubble, and desert range. Hay is only fed when there’s nothing else to graze.