
Breed characteristics
- The breed has a smooth sleek coat, basically red and white in colour. ...
- Some degree of Brahman inheritance is evident in their appearance, the breed having a hump, a low-set pizzle, a loose dewlap and droopy ears.
- Brafords have hooded eyes and good pigmentation around the eyes, providing protection and resistance to eye cancer, pinkeye and blight.
What is a Braford cow?
Conversely, it can also be a cross between a Brahman breed bull and a Hereford cow. The Braford is a highly adaptable beef breed with good disease resistance. The Braford breed was created to provide a consistent and efficient product for beef production. The makeup of the Braford breed is 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford.
Where did the Braford breed come from?
The Braford breed originated at ‘Edengarry’ north of Rockhampton in Queensland in 1946 when the Rea Brothers introduced Brahman bulls into their Hereford breeders to help combat the effects of drought and ticks. The breed is now established with 50% Brahman and 50% Hereford blood.
Are Braford Cattle good for rodeo?
Although not bred for rodeo, the Braford cattle breed is often used for that purpose in competition. Physically, the Braford cattle breed sports the red-and-white coloring of the Hereford but is far stockier. The Braford’s breed, size derives from the Brahman ancestry. Cost of Brafrod Cattle:
What are the disadvantages of Braford Cattle?
Disadvantages of Braford Cattle Breed: 1 Not all Herefords breeds are calm, docile animals. 2 Milk production is deemed poor by majority breeders. 3 Not exactly suitable for areas which produce good-quality forage on a consistent basis. These cows are more for the... More ...

What are the characteristics of a Braford cow?
Some degree of Brahman inheritance is evident in their appearance, the breed having a hump, a low-set pizzle, a loose dewlap and droopy ears. Brafords have hooded eyes and good pigmentation around the eyes, providing protection and resistance to eye cancer, pinkeye and blight.
Are Braford cattle horned or polled?
Brafords have a small hump, loose skin and a short coat that is red and white, possessing a colour pattern similar to that of Hereford cattle. Australian Brafords may be horned or polled. The genetic background of the breed is approximately 50 per cent Hereford and 50 per cent Brahman.
Where did the Braford cow come from?
The Braford breed originated at 'Edengarry' north of Rockhampton in Queensland in 1946 when the Rea Brothers introduced Brahman bulls into their Hereford breeders to help combat the effects of drought and ticks.
What size are Braford cattle?
Braford is a medium-framed beef breed that can thrive on even low-quality veld and wean calves at an average of 45% to 50% of the cow's weight. Average birth weights are between 30kg and 36kg and weaning weights are between 200kg and 270kg.
What two breeds make a Hereford?
History. The origin of the Hereford has been lost over time but it is generally agreed that it was founded on the draught ox descended from the small red cattle of Roman Briton and from a large Welsh breed once numerous along the border of England and Wales.
What is a bull without horns called?
If the horn is missing, it is called polled. In some cattle breeds, the polled gene has been a part of the breeding program for many years; hence, many of the animals in the breed are polled.
What is an F1 heifer?
If the offspring is a female, she'd be an F1 heifer, and the results are no joke. The first generation of any crossbred cattle is known as F1, and F1 dairy heifers are likely to produce more milk with less feed than their parents.
What is a Braford mix?
The Braford is a cross between a Hereford bull and a Brahman cow. Conversely, it can also be a cross between a Brahman bull and a Hereford cow. The make up of the Braford is 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford.
What is a true F1 Braford?
The Braford breed was created to provide a consistent and efficient product for beef production. The makeup of the Braford breed is 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Hereford. Even though a true Braford breed meets those standards, 1/2 Brahman and 1/2 Hereford cross are known as F1 Brafords or F1 Baldies.
Where are Braford cattle found?
Bringing quality Braford breeding stock to the commercial cattlemen of the world. Brafords are bred from the Atlantic to the Pacific with the highest concentrations of U. S. Braford breeders currently located in Louisiana, Texas and Florida. UBB members are also found in Mexico, Australia, and several other countries.
What cattle breed is 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus?
The Brangus breedThe Brangus breed was developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. The combination results in a breed which unites the traits of two highly successful parent breeds.
What are f1 cows?
Golden Certified F-1 — a female that is the progeny of two registered parents. Certified F-1 — sire must be registered and the dam must be a qualified cow, which is a purebred cow with physical characteristics that have been inspected by an ABBA representative.
Are Shorthorn cattle polled or horned?
Shorthorns are a distinctive red, white or roan in colour, and can be polled or horned.
How do you know if a cattle breed is going to be polled or horned?
Cattle with H/H genotype will be horned and cannot transmit either of these polled variants to their offspring. Cattle with Pf/H or Pc/H genotype will be polled and are heterozygous for the trait.
What breeds of cows are naturally polled?
Cattle Breeds: List Of Polled BreedsAmerican White Park. The American White Park is a large white breed with black or red points (ears, nose and eyes). ... Angus. Angus cattle (Aberdeen Angus) are a breed of cattle commonly used in beef production. ... Belted Galloway. ... Brangus. ... British White. ... Galloway. ... Murray Grey. ... Red Angus.More items...
Do Simmental cattle have horns?
The breed is naturally horned although breeders are producing polled Australian purebred cattle. Simmentals are well-muscled animals, being long and deep-bodied with strong bone. They have good temperament and high milk production.
What are the characteristics of a Braford?
Characteristics. The Braford is red like a Hereford with white underbelly, head, and feet. It is stockier than a Hereford, getting the stockiness from the Brahman. The Braford is primarily used for beef, but sometimes used for rodeo. Brafords are known for superior maternal ability.
What breed of bulls did Adams Ranch use?
They began experimenting with various types of Brahman-Hereford cross bulls. Eventually he identified Braford bulls that were producing calves that met his needs and he used these bulls and their offspring to form what is recognized as the Foundation Herd of the Braford breed in the United States. By basing bull selection on weaning and yearling weights and allowing natural selection to eliminate calving problems, Adams Ranch Brafords improved through the years to the point that Adams Ranch began to think of breed development and recognition.
What is Braford cow?
The Braford was created to provide a consistent and efficient product for beef production. The breed was made by a cross between a Hereford bull and a Brahman cow. They carry the characteristics of both breeds. This was first done by Partin and Hudgins breeding, Alto Adams Jr. in Florida, 1947.
Why are Braford bulls so popular?
Brafords have always been recognized for their superior maternal ability. Early puberty, fertility, calving ease, optimum milk production, maternal aptitude and productive longevity are attributes that have earned Braford females this distinguished reputation. Using Braford bulls on adapted purebred or crossbred cows allows cowmen to produce excellent replacement females with the Braford maternal edge.
When were bulls first bred in Florida?
This was first done by Partin and Hudgins breeding, Alto Adams Jr. in Florida, 1947. It took a few attempts to get the right genetics as the first bulls suffered with poor feet and eyes and were not used to the Florida climate. Photo Courtesy of Stanton Braford Ranch, www.stantonbrafordranch.com.
Where is Braford made?
The Braford has been created in the US and Australia, it is growing in reputation and has been exported to countries such as Malaysia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Western Samoa, South America, South Africa and China.
Is Braford bull a sire?
Braford bulls are not terminal sires. Braford breeders have been careful to increase growth rate in their cattle while avoiding associated large increases in mature size that can reduce the ability of Braford bulls and females to function in everyday conditions. By avoiding the "bigger is better" syndrome that has plagued the purebred cattle business for years, Braford breeders have also avoided associated problems of difficult calving and market steers that are too big to fit industry needs when finished.
How much Bos indicus is needed for a Braford bull?
Some markets specify a maximum of 25% Bos indicus for some grades. This can be achieved by using a registered Braford bull over Hereford or English breeds, or by using a Poll Hereford bull over Braford cows, thereby maximising the great traits of the Braford female.
How much does a Braford cow weigh?
Braford sires have tremendous weight for age, with mature bulls averaging 900–1000 kg. Mature cows average 550–750 kg. Carcases from the slightly larger and later maturing animals tend to be well muscled, with a minimum of waste when slaughtered as yearlings and steers.
How many Brafords are there in Australia?
There are now well over 25,000 registered Brafords, mainly in Queensland and New South Wales.
What does a Brahman have?
Some degree of Brahman inheritance is evident in their appearance, the breed having a hump, a low-set pizzle, a loose dewlap and droopy ears. Brafords have hooded eyes and good pigmentation around the eyes , providing protection and resistance to eye cancer, pinkeye and blight.
Where did the Braford bull originate?
The Braford breed originated at ‘Edengarry’ north of Rockhampton in Queensland in 1946 when the Rea Brothers introduced Brahman bulls into their Hereford breeders to help combat the effects of drought and ticks. The breed is now established with 50% Brahman and 50% Hereford blood.
Where is the Braford Society?
The Australian Braford Society was formed in 1962 in Rockhampton. For details on breeder locations or for more information on the Braford breed, contact the Society at:
Is Braford a hybrid?
Brafords are particularly suitable for commercial breeders seeking the advantages of hybrid vigour by direct crossing with any breed. For example, the hybrid vigour gives the progeny from a Hereford × Braford cross a better growth rate and the ability to handle the extremes in hot and cold weather.
What is the future of the UBB?
The future of the UBB is directly related to the expanding interest in the no-nonsense, functional Brafords produced by UBB members. With more members registering more Brafords, the UBB will have the resources to better serve its membership in efforts to improve and promote the attributes of registered Braford cattle.
Why are Braford cows considered extreme?
The Braford breed has been built by cowmen who realize that the purebred business is not a contest or race to see who can produce the most extreme animal to register and promote. Extreme animals have a difficult time functioning under ordinary, or worse yet, challenging circumstances. When the grass gets a little short, or when the extra help or pampering is not economically feasible, extreme cows have a tendency to stop producing altogether while the more moderate, functional, Braford cow keeps on producing to help pay the bills.
What is the superiority of Braford bulls?
The superiority of the Braford-sired females yields dividends for years and generations to come. With hustling, hard-working Braford bulls, you’ll also get steers that are hardy, efficient and the right size for today’s market target.
Why do Braford cows stop producing?
When the grass gets a little short, or when the extra help or pampering is not economically feasible, extreme cows have a tendency to stop producing altogether while the more moderate, functional, Braford cow keeps on producing to help pay the bills.
Where are Braford cattle bred?
Bringing quality Braford breeding stock to the commercial cattlemen of the world. Brafords are bred from the Atlantic to the Pacific with the highest concentrations of U. S. Braford breeders currently located in Louisiana, Texas and Florida. UBB members are also found in Mexico, Australia, and several other countries.
Where are Brahman and Hereford cows found?
Most of this research has concentrated on F-1 Braford cows that have been proven maternally superior in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Nebraska and virtually everywhere they have been evaluated, including Canada.
Is Braford bull a sire?
Braford bulls are not terminal sires. Braford breeders have been careful to increase growth rate in their cattle while avoiding associated large increases in mature size that can reduce the ability of Braford bulls and females to function in everyday conditions. By avoiding the “bigger is better” syndrome that plagued the purebred cattle business for years, Braford breeders have also avoided associated problems of difficult calving and market steers that are too big to fit industry needs when finished. While many breeds are struggling to downsize their cattle to get closer to market demands, Braford breeders have always concentrated breeding efforts on producing moderate-sized cattle that produce optimum fed steers and female offspring that make efficient moderate-sized cows. Braford bulls have developed the reputation for being trouble-free and aggressive breeders that can be used without problems on both heifers and cows.
What are the characteristics of a Braford?from thecattlesite.com
Characteristics. The Braford is red like a Hereford with white underbelly, head, and feet. It is stockier than a Hereford, getting the stockiness from the Brahman. The Braford is primarily used for beef, but sometimes used for rodeo. Brafords are known for superior maternal ability.
What is Braford cow?from thecattlesite.com
The Braford was created to provide a consistent and efficient product for beef production. The breed was made by a cross between a Hereford bull and a Brahman cow. They carry the characteristics of both breeds. This was first done by Partin and Hudgins breeding, Alto Adams Jr. in Florida, 1947.
Why are Braford cows considered extreme?from brafords.org
The Braford breed has been built by cowmen who realize that the purebred business is not a contest or race to see who can produce the most extreme animal to register and promote. Extreme animals have a difficult time functioning under ordinary, or worse yet, challenging circumstances. When the grass gets a little short, or when the extra help or pampering is not economically feasible, extreme cows have a tendency to stop producing altogether while the more moderate, functional, Braford cow keeps on producing to help pay the bills.
Why do Braford cows stop producing?from brafords.org
When the grass gets a little short, or when the extra help or pampering is not economically feasible, extreme cows have a tendency to stop producing altogether while the more moderate, functional, Braford cow keeps on producing to help pay the bills.
When was the Braford breed developed?from thecattlesite.com
The Australian Braford breed was developed in Queensland in the period between 1946 and 1952. It is now a stabilized breed with approximately 50 percent Hereford and 50 percent Brahman genetic background.
Where are Brahman and Hereford cows found?from brafords.org
Most of this research has concentrated on F-1 Braford cows that have been proven maternally superior in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Nebraska and virtually everywhere they have been evaluated, including Canada.
When were bulls first bred in Florida?from thecattlesite.com
This was first done by Partin and Hudgins breeding, Alto Adams Jr. in Florida, 1947. It took a few attempts to get the right genetics as the first bulls suffered with poor feet and eyes and were not used to the Florida climate. Photo Courtesy of Stanton Braford Ranch, www.stantonbrafordranch.com.
Braford
The Braford was created to provide a consistent and efficient product for beef production. The breed was made by a cross between a Hereford bull and a Brahman cow. They carry the characteristics of both breeds. This was first done by Partin and Hudgins breeding, Alto Adams Jr. in Florida, 1947.
Latest Braford Breed News
Friday, August 03, 2007 Foot and Mouth Disease confirmed in cattle, in Surrey, UK UK - DEFRA have confirmed that following an investigation of suspected vesicular disease on a holding near Guildford in Surrey,...
What is a purebred Braford?
One can recognize the registration certificate of a Purebred Braford since the class field will indicate that the animal is a “BRAFORD BULL” or “BRAFORD COW”. On the certificate of a percentage or base Braford, the class field will state the Brahman and Hereford makeup of the animal as in 1/2 BRAHMAN-1/2 HEREFORD COW. Sanctioned Braford shows require that the animals be Purebred Brafords (Braford on the class line) although some shows exist for percentage or base (Louisiana) Brafords.
What are the attributes of Brafords?
Brafords have always been recognized for their superior maternal ability. Early puberty, fertility, calving ease, optimum milk production, maternal aptitude and productive longevity are attributes that have earned Braford females this distinguished reputation.
Is hybrid vigor transient?
Hybrid vigor is transient, that is to say it is continually diminished as you get farther away from the F-1. Braford breeders begin with top Brahman and Hereford genetics and they maintain and enhance Braford superiority with generation after generation of selection for productivity.
Is Braford a hybrid?
While some try to attribute the superiority of F-1 Braford females to maximum hybrid vigor, there is little doubt that the blending of desirable Brahman and Hereford characteristics makes the Braford females extraordinary. Hybrid vigor is transient, that is to say it is continually diminished as you get farther away from the F-1. Braford breeders begin with top Brahman and Hereford genetics and they maintain and enhance Braford superiority with generation after generation of selection for productivity. UBB Braford females, as well as replacements out of your adapted females and sired by UBB Braford bulls, offer a sensible solution to the “breed or buy” replacement female dilemma.
Can Brahmans crossbreed with Herefords?
However, an F-1 Braford cow cannot produce another F-1 Braford. Therefore, the greatest obstacle to using F-1 Braford cows is the difficulty of procuring a consistent supply of quality replacement heifers at reasonable prices. Continuous crossbreeding programs involving Brahmans and Herefords can produce Braford-type replacements. But, the inability to maintain uniform and consistent breed composition, and the problem of the breed composition extremes observed by Lush, have limited the usefulness of Brahman-Hereford rotational crossbreeding.
Can you use Braford bulls on a crossbred cow?
Using Braford bulls on adapted purebred or crossbred cows allows cowmen to produce excellent replacement females with the Braford maternal edge. Breeding combinations to produce purebred Brafords.
Can Brahman X Hereford breeders take advantage of Brahman X Hereford?
Breeders can exploit superior Brahman and Hereford genetics to develop new lines of Brafords independent of the existing Braford population. Alternatively, breeders can take advantage of existing Purebred Brafords and grade up to Purebreds from a base of Brahman X Hereford cattle with known pedigrees and percentages.
