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The Beefmaster Pay Weight
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to increasing carcass quality.
decisions he saw significant improvement in percent prime carcasses.”
Carcass trait emphasis within registered and commercial beef herds benefits not just individual breeding programs but the entire Beefmaster breed as well. According to Pendergrass, “Beefmasters are uniquely positioned within the beef industry because of the overwhelming volume of Choice product our industry is producing. Thanks to the impressive amount of marbling genetics that have been infused into the nation’s cowherd, commercial cattlemen can buy Beefmaster bulls with confidence knowing that our carcass EPDs will keep them in the Quality Grade premium range they are accustomed to.”
It is important to note replacement heifers should be culled for phenotype and performance qualities such as weight, height, disposition, color, structure and other factors prior to collecting carcass ultrasound data. Worrell says, “Replacement heifers have to first fit your environment; ultrasound data should serve as the final selection criteria.” The combination of using high carcass bulls and females along with proper management should result in calves that offer carcass predictability for buyers at all production segments. “This is due to the high heritability of carcass traits,” says Worrell. He acknowledges cattlemen should not single trait select for carcass characteristics but at the same time suggests the sky is the limit when it comes
Consumers continue to demand quality beef at retail and food service outlets. This makes it imperative for cattlemen to understand the strong link between beef
www.beefmasters.org
Foundation 712
Hargis Ranch Chris Hargis
5710 E. 2030 Road, Waurika, OK 73573 Chris: 580.313.1356 hargisranch@yahoo.com
www.HargisRanch.com
Come buy our consignments! Beef On Forage Performance Bull Sale October 15, 2016 Brenham, Texas Texoma Beefmaster Sale March 18, 2017 McAlester, Okla.
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Sierra’s Love
Billy & Laura J. Richerzhagen Falkville, Alabama 256.990.5615 billyal2@aol.com “We don’t sell what we don’t love”
Lasater 4248
Jim Deal 615-308-8128 j.deal@comcast.net 778 Princeton Hills Drive, Brentwood, TN 37027