what breeds make a beefmaster

Beefmasters are a composite breed made up of roughly one-half Bos Taurus (Hereford

and Shorthorn

Shorthorn

The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual-purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however, certain blood lines within the breed always emphasised one quality or the other. Over time, these differen…

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) and one-half Bos Indicus (Nelore from Brasil, Gir & Guzerat from India). Tom Lasater closed his herd in 1937, and no outside genetics have been introduced into the Foundation Herd since that time.

Full Answer

What breeds make up Beefmaster cattle?

Beefmaster is a breed of beef cattle that was developed in the early 1930s by Tom Lasater (the breed founder), from a systematic crossing of Hereford cows and Shorthorn cows with Brahman bulls. The exact mixture of the foundation cattle is unknown, but is thought to be about 25% Hereford, 25% Milking Shorthorn and 50% Brahman.

Who invented the Beefmaster?

Ed Lasater got the ball rolling in 1908 for what would eventually become the Beefmaster cow from southern Texas. His son, Tom, perfected the breed that was a mix of 50% Brahman (Bos inidus), 25% Milking Shorthorn, and 25% Hereford (Bos taurus). The original intent was to selectively breed an animal that could handle the harsh Texas climate.

Is the Beefmaster the right breed for You?

If you are a grass-based rancher who likes thrifty cattle that raise profitable calves in any climate with a minimum of attention, Beefmaster is the breed for you! For a complete history of the creation of the Beefmaster breed and Lasater’s philosophies, please see The Lasater Philosophy of Cattle Raising.

What are the characteristics of a Beefmaster cow?

The Beefmaster is a great range cattle breed that can handle adverse environments and climates. They are very hardy, fertile and strong breed of cattle with a good quality of beef and milk. They meet six essential qualities which are namely, fertility, milking ability, conformation, hardiness, disposition and weight.

What crosses make Beefmaster?

Beefmaster is a breed of beef cattle that was developed in the early 1930s by Tom Lasater (the breed founder), from a systematic crossing of Hereford cows and Shorthorn cows with Brahman bulls.

What makes a Beefmaster bull?

The Beefmaster was developed in Texas and Colorado by crossbreeding and careful selection, with the cattle carrying about one-half Brahman blood and about one-fourth each of Hereford and Shorthorn breeding.

Who created the Beefmaster breed?

Tom LasaterBeginning in the early 1930s, Tom Lasater, the breed's founder, developed Beefmasters from a systematic crossing of Hereford, Shorthorn and Brahman cattle.

How can you tell a Beefmaster cow?

Coloration: Beefmasters can be any color, and may have white mottled colouration on their head, and even have a little white over their shoulders, in front of their hips, but mainly on their bellies. There really is no set colour pattern like what you'd get with Hereford cattle.

What is the difference between Beefmaster and Bonsmara?

For one, both breeds comprise 25% Hereford and 25% Shorthorn, but the Bonsmara has 50% Afrikaner, whereas the Beefmaster has 50% Brahman.

What makes a Santa Gertrudis?

Santa Gertrudis, breed of beef cattle developed in the 20th century by the King Ranch in Texas. It originally resulted from crossing Brahman bulls of about seven-eighths pure breeding and purebred Shorthorn cows.

Are Beefmasters good cattle?

The breed has a lot to offer on all scores. They are fast-growing for beef cattle, with outstanding meat quality and marbling. The cows are low-maintenance with a long productive life. It's worth noting that the Beefmaster makes a profitable choice for ranchers interested in crossbreeding their herd, too.

How much is a Beefmaster cow?

Robbins Cattle#Beefmaster CommercialAverage15bred heifers$3,9674bred cows$4,92512fall pairs$3,87958total lots$4,3881 more row

What is the Beefmaster known for?

For seedstock producers to commercial cattlemen, Beefmasters are the choice for Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability! Hardiness, longevity and growth with added muscle. Brahmans are known for their ability to function under extremely high temperatures where many other breeds struggle to perform.

What is the best bull to breed with?

Black Angus. The Black Angus is one of the most popular breeds of cattle for beef in America because of its unique carcass characteristics. ... Charolais. Originally from France, the Charolais is a hardy breed of medium to large-framed cattle. ... Brahman. ... Texas Longhorn. ... Red Angus. ... Limousin. ... Holstein. ... Simmental.

Can Beefmaster cattle be black?

The Rieders have had many types of cattle in their lives, but in recent years, have found their pleasure in black Beefmaster cattle. “We currently have a black Beefmaster ratio of around 90 percent of our herd,” explained Charles. The black color in the breed has been harder to come by than one might think.

What are the pros and cons of Beefmaster cattle?

Beefmaster. Pros: Well adjusted for harsh environment. Original herd was culled on The Six Essentials: Weight, Conformation, Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness and Disposition. Cons: Like the angus the beefmaster has few cons but the beefmaster is a lesser known and not as well marketed breed.

What is beefmaster cattle?

The Beefmaster cattle breed is one of the first American composite cattle breeds and was specifically bred as a dual-purpose breed. It is a composite breed that is made up from three different cattle namely 50% Brahman, 25% Hereford and 25% Shorthorn cattle. When the program was started in the early 1900s there were one or two other breeds used ...

Where did beefmaster originate?

HISTORY. The Beefmaster is a relatively new purpose bred breed that has been predominantly bred and designed in the United States of America. Its roots are quite easy to trace back as its lineage comes from that of the Brahman, Hereford and Shorthorn cattle. Mainly 50% Brahman, 25%Hereford and 25% Shorthorn cattle.

Why are beefmaster cattle called profit breeds?

They are known as “The Profit Breed” due to their essential six traits. They withstand extreme heat and cold in fact when you find other cattle seeking shade or standing in puddles Beefmaster cattle will just carrying on crazing unfazed by the temperatures.

Who developed Beefmaster cattle?

These being Fertility, Weight, Milk production, Hardiness, conformation and disposition. Thus in the 1930s the Beefmaster cattle was developed by Tom Lasater over the years since the breed has been improved and can now withstand diverse temperatures from the heat to the coldest of winters.

Who was the founder of the breed?

Tom Lasater was the founder of the breed and he believed that a breed should not be selected for its, horns or color but rather for its genes that depicted how good a milk producer or meat producers was. He believed that the cattle should conform to six essentials criteria.

How often do cows calve?

Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. Cows only calve once a year and should have 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. The cows are extremely fertile have calves with good birthweights and weaning weights.

Beefmaster Cattle Breed Origins

Ed Lasater got the ball rolling in 1908 for what would eventually become the Beefmaster cow from southern Texas. His son, Tom, perfected the breed that was a mix of 50% Brahman ( Bos inidus ), 25% Milking Shorthorn, and 25% Hereford ( Bos taurus ). The original intent was to selectively breed an animal that could handle the harsh Texas climate.

Beefmaster Cattle Breed Characteristics

The Beefmaster is a gentle animal, both cows and bulls. Its disposition is one of its defining qualities. One can call it easygoing because it’s less likely to cause problems. Its hardiness also makes it an economical choice. It is a fertile animal that will calve once a year. The cows make excellent mothers.

Beefmaster Cattle Breed Uses

While its primary purpose is meat, the Beefmaster also produces a decent amount of excellent milk for dairy products and high-quality leather for other uses. The breed has a lot to offer on all scores. They are fast-growing for beef cattle, with outstanding meat quality and marbling. The cows are low-maintenance with a long productive life.

Beefmaster Cattle Breed Appearance & Varieties

The Beefmaster is a medium-sized animal with thick legs and a well-proportioned body. The breed standard calls for bulls to have a masculine appearance and cows feminine. The cattle should have a muscular back and neck with a clean dewlap.

Population, Distribution, & Habitat

The Beefmaster is a hardy range animal that can live in most climates. That makes it a popular choice for range managers. Its population is primarily in the United States. However, you’ll also find the breed in Mexico and South Africa for the same reasons that it is raised in this country.

Are Beefmaster Cattle Breed Good for Small-Scale Farming?

The Beefmaster is a well-adapted animal that can make an excellent economical choice for small-scale farming. Its tolerance and robust health are desirable traits that can help novice farmers get a profitable start in this industry. Perhaps its best qualities are its docile temperament and multi-purpose use.

Who is Beefmaster cattle?

Beefmaster cattle have been developed by the Lasater Ranch then headquartered in Texas. The breeding program leading to their establishment was started by Ed C. Lasater in 1908, when he purchased Brahman bulls to use on his commercial herd of Hereford and Shorthorn cattle. The first of these bulls that he used were principally of Gir breeding, although some of the Nelore breed were also used. In 1925 he introduced Guzerat blood into the herd.

What are the six essentials of beefmaster cattle?

Lasater and are now known as the Six Essentials - Weight, Conformation, Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness and Disposition. Considerable progress has been made in selecting cattle that give very satisfactory levels of production under the practical and often severe range conditions. Satisfaction by ranchers and creditable performance in feedlots indicate the value of stressing the important utilitarian points in developing breeding herds.

What breed of cattle did Tom Lasater breed?

In both his Brahman and Hereford breeding, milk production was stressed. Following his death in 1930, the breeding operations came under the direction of his son, Tom Lasater, who began to combine the breeding of the Brahman and Hereford cattle and also used some registered Shorthorn bulls. After making crosses of Brahman-Hereford and Brahman-Shorthorn, he felt a superior animal had been produced and called the cattle "Beefmaster." The exact pedigree of the foundation cattle was not known. The breeding operations were carried on in multiple-sire herds nd rigid culling was practiced. The Lasater Ranch estimates that modern Beefmaster have slightly less than one-half Brahman blood and slightly more than one-fourth of Hereford and Shorthorn breeding.

What is the Lasater Ranch breeding program?

The Lasater Ranch breeding program provided an interesting example of the use of mass selection in reaching a goal. Critics should recall that other breeds have been established in a similar way - a blending of breeding followed by selection for economically important points Uniformity in many breeds has been achieved only after many generations of selection.

What is a beefmaster?

Beefmaster. For the breed of tomatoes, see Beefsteak tomato. Beefmaster is a breed of beef cattle that was developed in the early 1930s by Tom Lasater (the breed founder), from a systematic crossing of Hereford cows and Shorthorn cows with Brahman bulls.

What is the most common color of beef cattle?

While brownish-red is the most common color, the breed has no color standards. Over the past decade, the Beefmaster breed has become very popular among herd managers using the breed in their heterosis programs for hybrid vigor. These cattle are a versatile breed and adapt to many climates.

What is the mixture of foundation cattle?

The exact mixture of the foundation cattle is unknown, but is thought to be about 25% Hereford, 25% Milking Shorthorn and 50% Brahman. It was first recognized by the USDA as a new breed in 1954. The original intention was to produce cattle that could produce economically in the difficult environment of South Texas.

What breed is Beefmaster?

Beefmasters are a composite breed made up of roughly one-half Bos Taurus ( Hereford and Shorthorn) and one-half Bos Indicus (Nelore from Brasil, Gir & Guzerat from India). Tom Lasater closed his herd in 1937, and no outside genetics have been introduced into the Foundation Herd since that time.

When was Beefmaster cattle first introduced?

Beefmaster cattle are the first American composite breed (combination of three or more breeds). They were developed by Tom Lasater in south Texas, beginning in 1931. The Beefmaster breed was recognized in by the USDA in 1954, and today Beefmaster Breeders United is the fifth-largest breed registry in the United States.

What are the six essentials of beefmaster cattle?

The thing that probably most differentiates Beefmaster cattle from other breeds is the Six Essentials, which were the founding selection principles on which the breed was formed: Fertility, Weight, Conformation, Milk Production, Hardiness and Disposition . Lasater’s concept was that you select for cattle only based on these six traits of economic relevance, to the exclusion of many traits that other breeds have expended genetic energy on like color pattern, horns, height, etc. This unique approach is why Beefmasters are known by the slogan “The Profit Breed.”

How old do heifers have to be to calve?

He required heifers to breed at 14 months and to calve as two-year-olds in a 90-day season at a time when many ranches left the bulls out year-round. Perhaps most importantly, he culled every cow that for any reason did not wean a merchantable calf every year.

What is conformation in cattle?

Conformation —This refers to the visual appraisal of a live animal with regard to carcass merit. We select for long, trim, well-muscled bulls, and smooth, feminine cows that meet industry demands. Hardiness —It is critical for cattle to be able to thrive under tough conditions. Beefmasters excel in calf livability, low death loss, low maintenance costs and resistance to disease and parasites.

What is Beefmasters' philosophy?

These principles are called the Six Essentials, and they give us road map by which to maxim ize production efficiency and improve our cattle.

Is it viable for a cow to have a calf every year?

Fertility —This is the first among equals and the cornerstone of the philosophy. Cows that do not have a calf every single year are not economically viable.

Where was Beefmaster born?

Through following a well thought-out breeding program that utilizes a cross of Hereford, Shorthorn and Bos Indicus genetics, then selecting the most adaptable, performance oriented animals and breeding only the best, the Beefmaster breed was then born in the harsh brush country of South Texas.

What is Beefmasters conversion?

In today’s beef industry that demands efficiency, Beefmasters answer the challenge by being exceptional convertors of feed. In multiple all-breed bull development facilities that measure feed efficiency and residual feed intake, Beefmasters consistently rank as the most efficient convertors when compared to other breeds in the same facilities. In commercial feedyards, dry matter conversions in the five pound range are typical for Beefmaster sired steers. Ask any cattle feeder and they will tell you the importance of feed conversion and performance. While maternal heterosis is the main calling card for Beefmasters, it should be noted that carcass merit is not overlooked in this versatile breed. Given the prominence of black-hided commercial cows in today’s industry, it is interesting to look at a Beefmaster progeny test performed by Texas A&M University (TAMU) from 1998-2001.

What is a terminal crossbreeding program?

To maximize heterosis potential and to keep a crossbreeding program simple, many ranchers use a terminal crossbreeding program. A great example is Angus x Beefmaster to produce a crossbred female that is designed to maximize maternal heterosis. Then those Angus x Beefmaster crossbred females would be mated to Continental bulls such as Charolais to maximize performance potential in their calves. This mating system leverages the genetic diversity across British, Continental and American breeds resulting in higher performance at every level and exploits breed complementarity needed to maximize production and profit.

What breed of beef was developed in the 1930s?

When Tom Lasater developed the Beefmaster breed, the beef industry of the 1930s–1950s was very different than today. There were no modern selection tools such as EPDs (Expected Progeny Differences), ultrasound for live animal carcass evaluations or Genomics (DNA) to help identify superior animals. Making genetic progress was difficult, but over time it helped develop the Beefmaster breed. Through following a well thought-out breeding program that utilizes a cross of Hereford, Shorthorn and Bos Indicus genetics, then selecting the most adaptable, performance oriented animals and breeding only the best, the Beefmaster breed was then born in the harsh brush country of South Texas.

What is heterosis in breeding?

Heterosis or hybrid vigor, is the result of crossbreeding. Heterosis leads to performance advantages in crossbreds over the average of their straight-bred parents. When used properly, as in a well-planned crossbreeding program, heterosis can lead to big improvements in performance and efficiency. That in turn leads to more profit for the beef producer.

What is the genetic makeup of beefmaster?

The unique genetic makeup of Beefmaster yields 63% Retained Heterosis, a vital statistic for the profitability of commercial cattlemen. USDA recognized Beefmaster as a breed in 1954.

What are the six essentials of a beefmaster?

Known as the Six Essentials: Fertility, Disposition, Weight, Conformation, Hardiness and Milk Production are the core traits that the entire Beefmaster breed was selected for and developed upon. Those Six Essentials are what makes the Beefmaster breed such a powerful crossbreeding tool for today’s U.S. beef industry.