Autry Farms - Lexington, Tn
Call 731-549-0210 or email us at wesautry@yahoo.com
Beefmasters are completely unique in that they are the only beef breed with a guiding production philosophy. These principles are called the Six Essentials, and they give us road map by which to maximize production efficiency and improve our cattle. We talk about the Six Essentials a lot, but what do they really mean?
Disposition—Gentle cattle are cheaper to manage, sell better, breed better, feed better and calve easier.
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.
Weight—Of obvious importance—ranchers sell pounds. Weight is another highly heritable trait. We select for cattle that produce optimum (not necessarily maximum) weight with minimum input.
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.
Milk Production—Next to genetics, milk production is the single most important factor in weight. When asked to describe the perfect cow, Tom Lasater said, “She’ll look like a cow that gives a hell of a lot of milk.”
Breeders sometimes ask, “Why Beefmasters?” It’s an important question because these wonderful cattle often don’t get enough credit for all the subtle things they do so magnificently. Following are a few of the things that make Beefmasters truly unique in beef cattle production.
- Low-maintenance females
- Gentle and responsive handling
- Excellent mother cows
- Heat, disease and insect resistance
- Longevity
- Built-in heterosis
- Outstanding replacements
- High weaning weights
- Fast-growing yearlings
- Low sickness and death loss
- Incredible feed conversion
- Long-feed efficiency
- Grade and yield
- Lean, tender and tasty BEEF
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!
Something to think about...
Your bull is 1/2 your herd, its true..... He makes up 50% of the genetics in your calf crop. This is why it is so important in ANY program to have a very good bull and not just an average bull with your cows.
Did you know that you could put a Beefmaster bull on your commercial herd and his babies will wean 100-150 pounds heavier. How much does that affect your bottom line? In dollar signs that is $150-$225 more per calf at the stockyard.
What else can beefmaster do for you? With today's technology no breed is the same as it was 20 years ago. EPD's have allowed us to focus on the things we want and dont want. A few of the things we focus on are cattle with Low Birthweight, High Weaning weight and High Yearling weight.
Beefmaster are also easy keepers, docile and make the best moms and milkers out there!
With bull prices close to $1 at the stockyard for older bulls this is a Perfect opportunity to upgrade.