As we begin a new year, we are excited to present our purebred Charolais bulls for your consideration. We believe these bulls showcase some of the most outstanding genetics currently available in the Charolais breed. For your evaluation, we have included the performance data and Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs).
Please pay special attention to the Terminal Sire Index (TSI) for both the sale bulls and herd bulls. The TSI is a formal calculation that combines several performance EPDs, specifically Calving Ease (CE), Birth Weight (BW), Weaning Weight (WW), Yearling Weight (YW), and Carcass traits. The TSI does not account for any maternal characteristics and is presented as a dollar index. For instance, if Bull A has a TSI of 250 and Bull B has a TSI of 200, the progeny of Bull A would be expected to generate $50.00 more return per head than Bull B (250-200=50). The TSI for our bulls is listed along with the breed rank, and the Charolais breed average TSI for non-parent animals is $269.00.
Last fall, one of our long-standing bull customers, with over 30 years of experience, sold nearly 1,000 commercial calves. The majority of these calves were Charolais crosses, while the remainder were black calves. The Charolais cross calves averaged almost $140.00 more per head compared to their black counterparts, even though the black calves were, on average, one month older. This underscores the value of performance-driven genetics.
We are offering four top bulls for sale by auction at 12:30 PM on Thursday, February 12, 2026, in Watertown, South Dakota, at the South Dakota Charolais Breeders Association State Auction Sale (bulls 5235, 5245, 5367, 5373). The auction will also be available online through Liveauctions.tv for viewing and bidding. Please register early to ensure you are approved for online bidding. Additional information and photos can be found on our website. The remainder of our bulls are available at reasonable private treaty prices. Our purchasing policy requires half of the purchase price when you select a bull, with the balance due upon delivery. If you would like to leave your bulls here until after they have been semen tested and ultra-sounded for carcass data, you are welcome to do so. Extended stays for bulls can also be arranged to meet your needs.
As in previous years, we kindly request that customers who sell their calves as feeders inform us about the location and timing of their sales. Keppen Charolais will relay this information to cattle feeders interested in purchasing calves with quality Charolais genetics. We hope this service will benefit all parties involved, allowing everyone to capture the advantages of superior Charolais genetics.
We sincerely thank our repeat buyers for their continued confidence in our breeding program. We also appreciate new customers considering our genetics. Through artificial breeding, embryo transfer, and natural breeding since 1987, we have worked to place our genetics among the top in the Charolais breed, offering greater profit potential for cattlemen. Please feel free to call or visit us to view the bulls available for your selection. You are welcome to select now for later delivery.
Sincerely,
Keppen CharolaisE-Mail Address: keppenchar@valleyfibercom.net
Web Site: www.keppencharolais.com
605-690-0680 (Greg)
The following Keppen Charolais bulls will be offered for sale at the auction on February 12, 2026 (EPDs as of January 11, 2026):
| Performance | EPDs | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BULL | M# | BD | BW | WW | CE | BW | WW | YW | MILK | MAT | SCR | CW | REA | FAT | MARB | TSI/rank% | ||
| 5235 | M1015446 | 02/21/25 | 86 | 870 | 10.9 | -1.8 | 77 | 141 | 28 | 66 | 1.4 | 34 | 0.85 | 0.042 | 0.31 | 284.5/20% | ||
| 5245 | M1015450 | 03/29/25 | 83 | 832 | 8.8 | -1.2 | 71 | 134 | 29 | 64 | 1.4 | 34 | 0.89 | 0.032 | 0.23 | 283.5/25% | ||
| 5367 | M1015448 | 02/08/25 | 74 | 827 | 14.4 | -3.1 | 82 | 152 | 29 | 70 | 1.6 | 41 | 1.14 | 0.04 | 0.32 | 305.5/4% | ||
| 5373 | M1015449 | 03/08/25 | 80 | 815 | 16.5 | -4.5 | 70 | 131 | 29 | 64 | 1.3 | 37 | 1.06 | 0.026 | 0.23 | 300.4/6% |
(Additional bulls are available for private treaty sale. Please contact us for more information.)
| Performance | EPDs | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BULL | M# | BD | BW | WW | CE | BW | WW | YW | MILK | MAT | SCR | CW | REA | FAT | MARB | TSI/rank% | ||
| 5955 | M1016320 | 02/24/25 | 77 | 691 | 12.7 | -2.8 | 53 | 109 | 19 | 45 | 1.4 | 27 | 0.74 | 0.034 | 0.25 | 276.2/35% | ||
| 5255 | M1016314 | 03/01/25 | 79 | 587 | 7.2 | -0.8 | 51 | 93 | 16 | 42 | 0.8 | 21 | 0.71 | 0.03 | 0.18 | 258.5/75% | ||
| 5947 | M1016315 | 03/01/25 | 92 | 728 | 7.6 | -0.5 | 53 | 109 | 27 | 53 | 1.1 | 27 | 0.83 | 0.029 | 0.25 | 273.6/40% | ||
| 5125 | M1016305 | 04/20/25 | 98 | 855 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 66 | 133 | 25 | 58 | 1.5 | 29 | 0.8 | 0.041 | 0.3 | 269.3/50% | ||
| 5299 | M1016326 | 02/12/25 | 80 | 771 | 7.7 | -1.5 | 64 | 127 | 27 | 59 | 1.2 | 34 | 0.87 | 0.012 | 0.23 | 286.3/20% | ||
| 5304 | M1016318 | 02/28/25 | 60 | 828 | 17.5 | -5.6 | 65 | 128 | 34 | 66 | 1.2 | 30 | 0.69 | 0.007 | 0.17 | 283.2/25% | ||
| 5254 | M1016309 | 03/20/25 | 95 | 710 | 9.3 | -0.4 | 62 | 134 | 32 | 63 | 1.4 | 36 | 0.83 | 0.019 | 0.21 | 288.3/15% | ||
| 5296 | M1016307 | 03/31/25 | 90 | 700 | 9.3 | -1.9 | 61 | 121 | 25 | 55 | 1.1 | 32 | 0.76 | 0.019 | 0.17 | 278.8/30% | ||
| 5935 | M1016306 | 04/17/25 | 88 | 764 | 13.1 | -2.6 | 62 | 137 | 30 | 61 | 1.2 | 37 | 0.87 | 0.013 | 0.2 | 294.8/9% | ||
| 5206 | M1016330 | 04/24/25 | 94 | 762 | 8.6 | -0.2 | 62 | 123 | 26 | 57 | 1 | 27 | 0.81 | 0.02 | 0.2 | 272.0/45% | ||
| 5378 | M1016316 | 03/01/25 | 86 | 716 | 12.7 | -1.6 | 63 | 130 | 36 | 67 | 1.2 | 40 | 0.94 | 0.014 | 0.26 | 302.8/5% | ||
| 5399 | M1016322 | 02/17/25 | 83 | 711 | 7.5 | 0 | 71 | 130 | 24 | 59 | 0.9 | 30 | 0.8 | 0.017 | 0.19 | 273.9/40% | ||
| 5273 | M1016312 | 03/14/25 | 96 | 731 | 9.1 | -0.3 | 59 | 128 | 32 | 61 | 1.1 | 34 | 0.9 | 0.008 | 0.19 | 288.5/15% | ||
| 5635 | M1016328 | 02/07/25 | 68 | 700 | 18.4 | -5.6 | 61 | 125 | 28 | 58 | 1.5 | 33 | 0.77 | 0.02 | 0.22 | 291.5/15% | ||
| 5397 | M1016319 | 02/27/25 | 70 | 683 | 14.5 | -3.3 | 80 | 146 | 38 | 78 | 1.4 | 49 | 1.04 | 0.021 | 0.25 | 316.4/2% | ||
| 524 | M1016310 | 08/19/25 | 70 | 751 | 17.4 | -5.3 | 70 | 132 | 33 | 68 | 1.3 | 41 | 1.08 | 0.025 | 0.21 | 306.3/4% | ||
| 5393 | M1016325 | 02/12/25 | 78 | 822 | 14.2 | -2.7 | 80 | 143 | 28 | 68 | 1.5 | 35 | 0.92 | 0.017 | 0.14 | 286.8/20% | ||
| 5107 | M1016329 | 02/15/25 | 88 | 808 | 6.9 | -0.3 | 71 | 122 | 31 | 67 | 1 | 22 | 0.72 | 0.052 | 0.25 | 254.9/80% | ||
| 5042 | M1016313 | 03/10/25 | 78 | 718 | 14.1 | -2.5 | 67 | 113 | 21 | 54 | 1.1 | 30 | 0.81 | 0.024 | 0.25 | 282.4/25% | ||
| 5241 | M1016311 | 03/16/25 | 99 | 807 | 5.4 | 2 | 77 | 137 | 24 | 63 | 1 | 39 | 0.76 | 0.001 | 0.22 | 287.8/20% | ||
| 538 | EM1016308 | 03/22/25 | 98 | 722 | 12.9 | -1.7 | 58 | 123 | 33 | 61 | 1 | 39 | 0.97 | 0.007 | 0.21 | 303.4/5% | ||
| 5906 | M1018878 | 04/13/25 | 90 | 807 | 9.3 | -0.8 | 62 | 122 | 21 | 52 | 1.2 | 26 | 0.85 | 0.032 | 0.3 | 273.4/40% | ||
| 53 | P1515608 | 03/24/25 | 88 | 779 | 9.5 | -1.1 | 71 | 129 | 24 | 60 | 0.8 | 44 | 1.1 | -0.001 | 0.25 | 311.0/3% | ||
| 5621 | P1515610 | 03/26/25 | 88 | 753 | 11 | -1 | 64 | 101 | 26 | 58 | 0.9 | 14 | 0.64 | 0.013 | 0.01 | 240.6/100% | ||
| 5849 | M1016327 | 02/09/25 | 82 | 744 | 12.1 | -2.7 | 60 | 113 | 24 | 54 | 1.2 | 28 | 0.83 | 0.036 | 0.28 | 278.0/30% | ||
| 5993 | M1016324 | 02/12/25 | 97 | 920 | 5.3 | 0.5 | 79 | 140 | 25 | 65 | 1.3 | 31 | 0.85 | 0.021 | 0.22 | 272.4/45% | ||
| 5946 | M1016323 | 02/15/25 | 92 | 755 | 8 | -0.7 | 64 | 129 | 22 | 54 | 1.2 | 32 | 0.9 | 0.036 | 0.25 | 280.6/25% | ||
| 5185 | M1016321 | 02/19/25 | 84 | 760 | 8 | -0.4 | 69 | 135 | 22 | 56 | 1.5 | 36 | 0.91 | 0.031 | 0.25 | 287.7/20% | ||
| 5845 | M1016317 | 03/01/25 | 90 | 804 | 7.8 | 0 | 65 | 124 | 24 | 57 | 1.2 | 30 | 0.87 | 0.029 | 0.24 | 276.9/35% |
Herd Sire: EC Cracker Jack 234 PLD (M896459) is a homozygous polled son of Ace-Orr Lock’n’Load 243 X WCF Lois 234. His WW was 898 and YW was 1488. His first calves hit the ground in 2019and looked great! Currently, his calves are our most popular sire group. Outstanding EPD’s with a TSI in the top 1% of the breed and total maternal epd in the top 6% of the breed. He checks all of the “boxes”!
Herd Sire: PC Missouri Bob 1227 (M801740) is a homozygous polled son of former multiple trait leader Oakdale Duke 9003P X PC Miss Blue Grass 9210. “Bob “has been a several time multiple trait leader. He is easy calving and his calves are cleanly made with high performance. (Pictures of a few of his sons are on the “herd and sale bulls” page of our website). He ranks very high in the breed for both performance and maternal traits. A proven walking sire at age 11.
Herd Sire: ACE-ORR Makers Mark 689 (M738574) is a past National Bull Calf Champion and a several time Yearling Weight Trait Leader. At age 10 Makers Mark 689 settled a set of cows on pasture. He is a many time milk trait leader and hot carcass weight leader. He adds extra length with great performance and carcass data. His daughters have been outstanding. At one time in 2018, the number 1 and 2 bulls for Total Profit Index came from cows sired by Makers Mark 689.
Herd Sire: KC Dakota Bob 8147 is a homozygous polled son of PC Missouri Bob 1227. His dam is 11 years old and is a top ACE-ORR Makers Mark 689 daughter. We liked what we saw in his first calves and decided to use him more heavily. He has not disappointed in calving ease and high growth in a neat package.
Herd Sire: RW Western Spur 691 (M727438) is a past several time Weaning Weight Trait Leader. He is currently used as an AI sire. From birth to weaning to feedlot to carcass, his progeny are excellent.
Herd Sire: EC Revelation 5030 PLD (M834660) is a homozygous polled son of multiple trait leader M6 New Standard 842P ET X EC Miss Gretchen 5030. His progeny have calving ease and thickness.
Herd Sire: KC Dakota Bob 4167P (M850342) is a homozygous polled son of multiple trait leader PC Missouri Bob 1227. He sires calves with extra length, excellent growth and carcass data.
Herd Sire: KC Ledger 6421 (M888538) is a homozygous polled son of LT Ledger 0332. His dam is a 689 daughter. 6421 had an 88 pound BW, 827 WW, and 1397 YW. We used him on a set of heifers.
Herd Sire: PF EL Duke 9021 (M499452) has proven calving ease with balanced EPD’s. He has exceptional marbling with big REA. He sired a set of 30 cows at age 9. 9021 is the sire of several champions. One of his daughters was the 6th place show dam of the year for 2014-15 and produced a National Champion Female, TR Miss Kaycee. A full sister to Miss Kaycee is TR Miss Kay 30A ET who was the 2014 Grand Champion at the NAILE and the Reserve Grand Champion at the 2015 NWSS. She was also the number one show female of the year for 2014-15.
Herd Sire: KC Impressed 152 (M620174) is a past Birth Weight Trait Leader. He is a 9021 son. One of his daughters produced KC Queen 7373 who was a division winner in the NWSS in 2008. She is pictured on the females page of our web-site.
Herd Sire: KC Impressed 61ET (EM729783) has calving ease with balanced EPD’s. He is a 9021 son and his progeny are easy fleshing with good carcass data. He is a full brother to KC Design 4246, who had been a milk trait leader for several years working at Wienk Charolais.
Herd Sire: WCR Sir Duke 9046 (M299938) is a several time Weaning Weight and Multiple Trait Leader. He was our main foundation herd sire. He was a walking bull at age 10 settling a set of 30 cows. Easy fleshing with balanced EPD’s.
Herd Sire: KC Design 4246 (M679384) is a several time Milk Trait Leader. Part interest sold to Wienk Charolais where he was an AI sire and walking sire. Semen sold in the Thomas Ranch Dispersal for $950.00 per straw. His genetics have worked well in commercial herds, pure bred herds, and in club calf operations.
AI Herd Sire: Ace-Orr Lock-n-Load 243 P (M836295) is a LT Ledger 0332 son out of an Ace-Orr Makers Mark 689 daughter. In 2018 Lock-n-Load was the number 1 proven sire in the charolais breed for TSI.
AI Herd Sire: LT Ledger 0332 (M791626) is proven with well over 7000 progeny registered in the charolais breed. Calving ease, performance, and carcass quality. His TSI is in the top 30% of the breed.