How to Make Beefmaster Cattle

Beefmaster cattle are a pure cattle breed. The Beefmaster cattle breed began in the United States in the 1950s. The breed was developed by the Lasater Ranch of Texas. The breed comprises a composite of 50 percent Brahman breed cattle, 25 percent Hereford breed cattle and 25 percent Shorthorn breed cattle. The breed is noted for minimal calving problems, heavy ween rates, disease and pest resistance and drought hardiness. The culling process is based on a "six essentials" formula for fitness, which does not include horns, hide or color.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select Brahman bulls and cows, Hereford bulls and cows and Shorthorn cows to start your herd. Keep bulls separated in accordance with breeding expectations. Brahman bulls should only be kept together with Hereford cows and Shorthorn cows, but kept from Brahman cows to prevent breeding. Hereford bulls should be kept separate from Hereford cows.

    • 2

      Mate the Brahman bulls with the Hereford and Shorthorn cows. Mate the Hereford bulls with the Brahman cows only. The offspring produced should comprise Brahman-Hereford and Brahman-Shorthorn cattle.

    • 3

      Select Brahman-Herefords and Brahman-Shorthorn cattle in accordance with the "six essentials." The six essentials are the breed selection process for producing Beefmaster cattle. Cattle should be chosen based on weight, conformation, milking ability (cows only), fertility, hardiness and disposition. Heavy weights and high growth rates are preferable in selecting for weight. Conformation is evidence of a bull's large muscular build and a cow's more feminine delicate build. Milking ability reflects sufficient milk production to ween a hefty calf. Fertility should be based on the ability to produce a calf each year. Hardiness is determined by health, heat tolerance and disease resistance. Cattle with good dispositions are easier to handle and to breed.

    • 4

      Mate the selected Brahman-Herefords with selected Brahman-Shorthorns.