Feature Article stock shows. Prior to entering a show ring, cattle are sorted into breed classes, based on their visual characteristics. To classify as Brangus, steers must physically exhibit breed characteristics of a purebred black Brangus, disqualifications include horns, dehorning scars, brindle coloration, and any white above the underline. David Waldrip, of Open Bar Cattle Company, has been using Brangus genetics for several years. The Waldrips’ found their niche breeding show steers and utilizing Brangus genetics. What started as trial and error has grown into many champion slaps. “The main problem in show steers is structural correctness,” Waldrip said. “Using Brangus genetics helps to correct the structural issues you get when using crossbred clubby blood.” This genetic matching also carries the characteristics to classify as Brangus. Not many brothers can say they won San Antonio with two steers that are full sibs and that their family raised. That is exactly what Waldrip’s children, Jake and Chase, have done; both of their Champion steers are out of Doguets Hercules 88S3 the 2008 International Champion and the 2010 Show Sire of the Year. With their headquarters in Beaumont, Texas the Doguet Diamond D Ranch has been breeding Brangus cattle since 1992, focusing on producing good, moderate, easy-keeping cattle that work well for commercial ranchers, but also excel in the show ring. Jake Waldrip won Champion Brangus steer in 2013 at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo; the steer also earned Reserve Champion in the 2013 Quality Beef Contest. Jake’s steer had a live weight of 1,347lbs and a carcass weight of 911lbs, which converted into a dressing percent of 67.6 and an adjusted fat thickness of 0.40, as well as a ribeye area of 16.5, KPH % of 2.5, a yield grade of 2.18, and a quality grade of average choice. Chase Waldrip also won Champion Brangus Steer at San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in 2015. The Waldrip’s also sold the 2013 Reserve Champion American steer at the State Fair of Texas. Growing up in the Brangus breed, Kody Lucherk of Lucherk Cattle has developed an undeniable passion for the cattle industry, specifically Brangus cattle. “The key to Brangus in the club calf market is the way they complement the other genetics used to make club calves,” Lucherk said.
Brangus cattle often possess structural correctness, moderation of frame and muscle, which create an ideal complement of great deal of the club calf genetics. “In the past five years we have witnessed a huge demand from people who breed club calves for Brangus genetics,” Lucherk said. With the demand for Brangus genetics growing into the steer sector, breeders have an opportunity expand their markets, and provide producers with functional cattle that strive not only in the pasture, but also in the show ring. BJ
Brangus Journal
August 2015 | 65