Who We Are

Effertz EZ Ranch is a family operation located north of Bismarck, North Dakota along the historic Missouri River. We imported the first Aberdeen heifer to the United States in 1996. We now run about 250 fullblood and Moderator Aberdeen cows on our ranch.  Since we started raising Aberdeens, our operation has become much more efficient and much less labor intensive.

Early in the development of the Aberdeen breed in the US, we made five trips to Australia and several importations of fullblood Aberdeen bulls and females as well as embryos and semen. Strategic matings, based on a lifetime of experience in the cattle business, have helped develop our high quality Aberdeen herd to offer our customers more selection, more genetic diversity and exceptional customer service.

We enjoy this business, largely because we have always worked together as a family. Our five children have all been closely involved with the ranch and we credit this experience with helping them find success in all areas of life. They have traveled the United States exhibiting cattle and have made friends from around the world. 

We also enjoy the people side of this great breed.  We particularly enjoy visits from our Aberdeen friends across North America during our annual Focus On Efficiency Breeders Seminar and Production Sale, held the first weekend of June.

Neil has raised cattle all his life. He has been breeding and marketing purebred seedstock since 1969 when his family was among the first registered Charolais breeders in North Dakota. He has experience in several other breeds of cattle – his family was a founding member of the North American Limousin Foundation and were importers of the first Salers bull to the U.S. and have bred and marketed some of the first Chianina, Maine Anjou and Wagyu cattle in the Northern Plains. He says, “Aberdeen breeding stock have the most profit potential and are one of the most exciting opportunities in animal agriculture that I have ever seen in my 35 years of marketing purebred seedstock.” He graduated from North Dakota State University with an animal science degree.