Beefmaster
Encyclopedia
Beefmaster is a breed of beef
cattle
that was developed in the early 1930s by Tom Lasater from a crossing of Hereford
and Shorthorn
cattle with Brahman
stock. The exact mixture of the foundation cattle is unknown, but is thought to be about 25% Hereford, 25% Shorthorn and 50% Brahman. It was the second new breed of cattle registered in the United States
. The original intention was to produce cattle that could produce economically in the difficult environment of South Texas
. The cattle were selected by using the Six Essentials – weight, conformation, milking ability, fertility, hardiness and disposition. Though there are no standards for color, most are red, however others are paint, dun, roan, white, brown, tan, or black.
Beef cattle
Beef cattle are cattle raised for meat production . The meat of cattle is known as beef. When raised in a feedlot cattle are known as feeder cattle. Many such feeder cattle are born in cow-calf operations specifically designed to produce beef calves...
cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
that was developed in the early 1930s by Tom Lasater from a crossing of Hereford
Hereford (cattle)
Hereford cattle are a beef cattle breed, widely used both in intemperate areas and temperate areas, mainly for meat production.Originally from Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom, more than five million pedigree Hereford Cattle now exist in over 50 countries...
and Shorthorn
Shorthorn
The Shorthorn breed of cattle originated in the North East of England in the late 18th century. The breed was developed as dual purpose, suitable for both dairy and beef production; however there were always certain blood lines within the breed which emphasised one quality or the other...
cattle with Brahman
Brahman (cattle)
The Brahman or Brahma is a breed of Zebu cattle , later exported from India to the rest of the world. The main breeds used were Kankrej, Gujurat, Nelore or Ongole and the Gir or Gyr cattle...
stock. The exact mixture of the foundation cattle is unknown, but is thought to be about 25% Hereford, 25% Shorthorn and 50% Brahman. It was the second new breed of cattle registered in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The original intention was to produce cattle that could produce economically in the difficult environment of South Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The cattle were selected by using the Six Essentials – weight, conformation, milking ability, fertility, hardiness and disposition. Though there are no standards for color, most are red, however others are paint, dun, roan, white, brown, tan, or black.
External links
- History of the Beefmaster breed - Oklahoma State University
- Beefmasters Breeders United homepage