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History
The history of
EGGS starts with John and Jackie Edwards. John was born in
Texas and raised on a cattle ranch in Ft. Sumner, NM. Jackie
was born in Kerrville, Texas and raised in Ozona and Iraan,
Texas and has a sheep background. They married in 1978 in
Iraan, Texas. John was managing the William B. Wilson Ranch,
raising Limousine and Angus cattle. In 1979, Dr. Bob Long
told John about a ranch in California, Ankony Shadow Isle
Angus, that had an extensive embryo transfer program. At the
time, one of the only programs using both surgical and
non-surgical procedures. The Edwards moved to California for
John to head the artificial insemination program and to
learn about E.T.
The ranch sold and moved to Minatare, Nebraska. John was promoted
to Field Manager, responsible for the breeding program, the
bull evaluation center, nutrition, sales, and heifer
development programs. The ranch consisted of about 2500
registered Angus and 500 commercial cows. While in Nebraska,
both John and Jackie became addicted to riding and showing
cutting horses.
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The Edwards
Family
Left to right:
Col on Cookie Crisp;
Kelly Jo on Mouse; Jeremy on Pocohontas; Lisa on
Fanny;
Jackie on Miss Brigand;
John on Jae Bar Pearl |
After two Nebraska
winters, Jackie decided it was time to head back to Texas
and a warmer climate. The next stop was McKellar Ranch, Mt.
Pleasant, TX. John was General Manager of about 800 head of
Red Brahman cows and several thousand head of recipient
cows. McKellar Ranch produced close to 1000 embryo
pregnancies and five production sales annually.
Several years later, the chance for a partnership with McWilliams
Ranch saw the Edwards moving further east. While partners
with the McWilliams, they continued raising Brahman cattle
and opened a custom embryo transfer / semen collection
facility.
Jackie's step dad, Rod Richardson, a world renowned sheep breeder,
had John and Jackie constantly scouting for A.I, E.T., and
semen collection programs for sheep. Eight years later,
after dissolving the partnership and selling the cattle, the
Edwards made the move to Stephenville, TX. Stephenville was
picked because more of their cattle E.T. customers were
located in central Texas. The fact that Stephenville was the
unofficial cutting horse capital, I'm sure was never
considered!! Stephenville is located in Erath county. Erath
General Genetic Services--EGGS-- was founded.
John and Jackie
continued doing embryo transfer work on cattle and horses,
primarily cutting horses. When the first Boer goats came
into the U.S. from New Zealand, they were the only ones in
the area with experience in semen collection on sheep or
goats. They were able to evaluate hundreds of bucks. When
the first South African imports, via Canada, came to EGGS, (Mzuri,
Ubora, Nelson, Martin, Johaan, Hudson, etc.) the Edwards
knew they had to have some. Greg Coalson is a cutting horse
breeder and trainer and a cattleman. Greg raises Romagnola
cattle. Jackie and Greg made the trip to Canada in the early
fall of 1995. They visited many Canadian goat facilities.
They bought several goats, six head to keep and some to
resell. The “keeper” goats consisted of four Venter does,
one Lukas Burger doe, a Nico Botha buck (Sasquatch), and a
Van Zyl buck (Top Gun No. 2 ). Greg and Jackie, working
together, had a very good eye.
One Venter doe, Nkai bred to Sasquatch, produced EGGSpensive, the
1997 ABGA National Champion Jr. Doe. The Venter doe, Lukuni, bred to Ubora, produced
the 1997 ABGA National Champion Jr. Buck, owned by Downen
Livestock. Top gun No. 2, owned by Bobby and Ida Ogle, sired
the 1998 ABGA National Reserve Champion Jr. Percentage Doe,
owned by Pete and Beverly Warlick (Hilltop Ranch). The Lukas
Burger doe, Midnight, bred to EGGSfile, produced the 1999
ABGA National Reserve Champion Jr. Doe and the ABGA National
Champion Pair of Doe Kids. John and Jackie are members of
the American Boer Goat Association, International Boer Goat
Association, American Meat Goat Association, National
Cutting Horse Association, American Quarter Horse
Association, and the TS&GRA.
John served on the ABGA Board for 9 years until he elected
not to run again. He served as Vice President for one year.
John and Jackie are both ABGA judges. They have judged
across the U.S. as well as Jamaica and Canada.
The Buck Barn |
The Buck Barn |
Some
Lab Equipment |
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