Beefmaster Cattle Facts

The Beefmaster breed of cattle was developed in America in the 1930s by a cattle rancher by the name of Tom Laseter. They were bred to be more productive and to withstand the harsh conditions of Texas. Later breeding practices led to them being successfully adapted to colder climates such as Canada. The Beefmaster is America's first composite breed; it is made up of three different cattle varieties.

  1. History

    • Tom Laseter's father, Ed, began the breeding program that would lead to the Beefmaster in east Texas in 1908 when he purchased the Brahman Bulls to use on his Hereford and Shorthorn cattle. Beefmasters are a mix of approximately 50 percent Brahman, 25 percent Hereford and 25 percent Shorthorn. Ed also developed a herd of mainly red shorthorn cattle specifically bred for milk production. His son, Tom, took the Brahman/Hereford mix and crossbred it with the Brahman/Shorthorn breed and developed what he thought was a superior breed of cattle, naming it the Beefmaster.

    Six Essentials

    • The secret to the Beefmaster's success as a breed is based upon what is now known as the six essentials -- Weight, Conformation, Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness and Disposition. These essentials were based solely on the carcass and economic productivity, rather than any additional factors other breeders may have used to determine selectivity such as hide, coloring, height and horns. As such, the Beefmaster is highly productive and known as the "profit breed."

    Characteristics

    • Beefmasters are cattle with excellent maternal instincts and strong growth and carcass abilities. They are also known for being very heat, drought and insect resistant. They are of moderate height and usually reddish is color. They are gentle cattle and are generally considered to be a pleasure to work with. The males are aggressive breeders.

    Profit

    • The Beefmaster is highly productive. The females nearly always produce a well-weighted heifer every year. During the development of the breed determined culling took place of every female that didn't produce a merchantable calf every year. They are thrifty grass eaters and do well in almost any climactic conditions, making them hugely popular with ranchers who appreciate their very profitable characteristics.