re: beefmaster cattle

Beefmasters are 1/2 Brahman 1/4 Hereford and 1/4 shorthorn. When they were originally established reproduction was the most important trait selected for. If the cow didn't wean a calf she was culled out regardless of the reason. Due to that they are quite good on the maternal side and even though the Brahman influence makes them a larger framed animal their maintenance requirements will be no more than say angus or brangus in reality due to the decreased internal organ mass involved in metabolism which is where most of the energy requirement is used.

A couple of things to keep in mind however are that if you are just going to sell calves at a sale barn they will be discriminated against for their breeding. One of the traits Lassiter didn't care about was color so beefmasters aren't uniform. That in combination with the Brahman influence will affect their sale price. In today's market pounds are what pays so I would just do a terminal cross using a continental breed once they are mature and can handle a larger calf. Crossbreed crossbreed crossbreed! Hybrid vigor is natures own implant.

Another thing to remember is that Bos indicus cattle are less responsive to AI and synch programs though there has been a lot Of research trying to figure out the optimal program for these animals.
Wow this is really long and apologize for that. Hopefully you can use some of this. Check out the Florida IFAS edis website and it has lots of articles on management an specifically for you right now on heifer development. I'm sure LSU has a website too but I know ours is good.

You can make a profit on cattle right now on the cow/calf side but be mindful of the costs associated with them. If you go into it thinking they can just sit on a pasture and you rob a big calf each year you may be dissappointed in the results. Good luck and welcome to the fun!

The research is actually pretty old stuff done on breed differences in the 60's if I remember correctly. I don't remember the authors name but I will look in my thesis for it

EDIT: Butler (1956), Lunt (1986), Solis (1988) are a couple

My grandfather used to raise purebred Black Angus and cross with a very expensive register gigantic Brahma Bull.

This was 30-40 years back and he'd fetch $800+ per calf at the sale barn.....

When I get a chance ill drop some knowledge

Cattle thread. I'd love to learn how to run em

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I once read that the average herd in the U.S. was <50. That was several years back though.

To have 20 you can figure on needing a minimum of 40 acres. Half summer/half winter. For that much you need a tractor to put out hay, etc.

Unless you have crop land to rotate them in (rice stubble) it's hard to make money relying solely on permanent pastures. Even summer pastures now, with the price of fertilizer.

Get 3 or 5 head for a hobby. You can feed square bales in winter. You can overseed a few acres of rye without tilling.

Start with VERY gentle ones cause if mom ain't gentle and runs when she sees you, so will baby and it perpetuates itself.

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I have about 45 acres total. I doubt I get up to 20 but I know no more than that. I already have a tractor and easy access to round bales of hay since someone bales some of my property and also my families property.

Be prepared to unload the wallet on a good baler, last time I looked they were as high as eagle pussy. With 45 acres I dont know if I would jump straight to 20 head. Maybe do half that and be real selective on your cows. See exactly what the land will give you and give yourself sometime to learn the ropes. This being that I am assuming you have never run cattle.

Then you are doing good, I would work out a deal with him for your hay, one less thing you have to do.

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Get you some brangus heifers and breed them to a heaford bull.

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Best option imo for down here.

I know some people that run them but we have never messed with them so couldnt tell ya either way. We have found that the black baldies are the most economic and brig the best price so thats what we run for.