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THE QUALITY BREED air and you’ve got to be pre-
continued from page 21 pared because they’re going to
eat you. Usually with a high-
see in some other breeds, on er-headed animal that animal
average Beefmasters are just is not eating like he’s supposed
stronger, stouter, and healthi- to because he’s always run-
er.” ning to the back of the pen if
Lawrence Makuakane of someone goes by or is washing
Ella Mae Farms is a Beefmas- tanks etc. Then he’s running
ter breeder in Kentucky who back up to the front. If he’s
runs calves through River- running, he’s wasting energy
bend Feedyard. Makuakane and taking weight off. When
began introducing Beefmaster animals are that high-headed,
genetics into his commercial they’re really only comfortable
herd in 2016. He now runs a when we’re shut down at night
cooperative of local commer- and no one is around. We don’t
cial producers. Within a 20- see that in the Beefmasters.
month timeframe, the co-op These cattle are easy to move,
will have run six pot loads easy to work, they’re just easy.
of cattle through Riverbend You may see the occasional
Feedyard. high-headed individual, but
At Riverbend Feedyard, we have less problems with
very few health issues are bad attitudes in Beefmasters.”
seen in the Beefmaster and Beyond their heartiness
Beefmaster-crossbred cattle and docility, Beefmasters are
with only an occasional respi- also known for their gains,
ratory issue. Sebranek says conversions, quality grades
these occasional issues are and dressing percent. Feed-
uncommon and much more yard managers and produc-
infrequent than those in stan- ers alike are taking note and
dard English breeds. looking to increase the profit-
“One of the biggest rea- ability of their operations by
sons I initially transitioned utilizing Beefmaster genetics.
my herd from just running all “Beefmasters are really
black cattle was the Beefmas- strong on dry matter con-
ter’s resistance to disease,” versions. We’ve seen good
Makuakane said. “They’re less performance on Beefmaster
susceptible to disease, to bugs, cattle as well as gains and
and to the climate. All those conversions,” Sebranek said.
things really play out in the “They’re looking awfully good
feedyard. Those are variables on the quality grade side and
you have to consider passing hanging them up too.”
on in your herd as intrinsic Sebranek attributes the im-
value, especially for retained proved quality grade to more
owners.” and more Beefmaster breeders
In addition to being known retaining ownership through
for their health and hearti- the feedyard and consistently
ness, Beefmasters have earned making more informed breed-
a reputation in feedyards for ing decisions.
their disposition. Makuakane “With more Beefmaster
said “Beefmasters are more breeders retaining ownership
docile, and that docility trans- and feeding them, breeders
lates into more profitability.” are paying more attention to
“If a calf can get up to the performance and selecting
bunk and eat, then go lay bulls that will better their
down and not burn off all that animals’ performance in the
weight, he’s doing his job,” feedyard,” Sebranek said. “Be-
Makuakane said. “The Beef- cause of that, we’re seeing the
master influence does that for breed improve. Plus, the bos
us.” indicus side of Beefmasters
Sebranek echoed Makuakane really helps with the dressing
explaining just how much of percent which makes a big dif-
a difference disposition can ference. You know with every
make on gains and therefore one percent increase over the
profitability in the feedyard. plant average for dressing
“Disposition is huge in the percent is $1.20 per pound
feedyard, because we really back on the live price. That’s
have to watch the high-head- huge when you start hanging
ed cattle,” Sebranek said. “I cattle up!
mean we’ll see them come off “When we hang them up on
the trucks and a lot of cattle the grid, and the plan aver-
will have their heads up in the age is 63.5 and a lot of these
The Midwest Cattleman · April 1, 2021 · P25
Beefmaster/Beefmaster-cross- nated heavy to Beefmaster
breds are doing 65… They’re bulls. The benefit of artificial-
1.5 percent over the plan aver- ly inseminating using Beef-
age. On that side of it they’re master genetics is two-fold for
getting about $1.60 to $1.70 my co-op members. One, they
per pound or $15 to $18 over didn’t have to go out and buy
the market just for that. On a Beefmaster bull, and two,
a 1350 lb. animal, that’s $23 they will be seeing the trans-
per head roughly. That’s what lation of profitability in their
you’ll get on dressing percent herds due to the benefits of
alone. Not counting on grade Beefmaster genetics.
or anything. On dressing per- “Previously, most of my
cent alone, you’re adding $23 guys were getting yield grade
per head in value.” three to four,” Makuakane
Makuakane is seeing these said. “One of my guys got
results in his herd and other some yield grade fives and
local producers’ herds who that meant $900. So, he was
have started using Beefmas- looking at a $17 loss on that
ter bulls. The producers in calf. Another one of my guys
Makuakane’s co-op utilize the used Beefmasters on 50 per-
data collected by Riverbend cent of his herd last year and
Feedyard to run cross com- on 100 percent of his herd this
parisons between their pure- year. He hit yield grade two on
bred Beefmasters, crossbred 100 percent of his Beefmas-
Beefmasters, as well as the ter-sired calves.
operations running entirely “Yield grade pays. Yield
black-hided cattle. grade can actually out pay
“Riverbend Feedyard col- prime, because prime animals
lects data and provides feed- are lighter, but if you can get
back to us,” Makuakane said. choice yield grade two, all day
“One of the big things for us, long, you’re talking about an-
that we notice is straight off other $50 to $70 extra prof-
the top, was a consistency in it. Basically, you can out bid
your yield grade. We noticed prime just by more yield. At
that Beefmaster-sired calves the end of the day, pounds on
consistently, yield grade high- the ground and pounds on the
er than other breeds and even hook, that’s what we get paid
other crossbreds. After com- for, that’s where the money is
paring and contrasting that at.”
data, the general consensus Makuakane said his biggest
within our co-op was that ev- complaint with Beefmasters
eryone needed to add some is when it comes to buying
Beefmaster genetics into their calves back. Once producers
herd so they can gain the ad- see what these calves can do,
vantages of heterosis and im- they don’t want to sell them
prove their yield grades.” back.
Makuakane said you don’t “The hardest thing is when
have to give up black-hide you say to your customers,
premiums when using Beef- ‘I’m interested in buying your
masters. Especially on an- calves back,’ but when it comes
gus-based cows, you maintain down to it and they see the calf
a high-rate of black-hided crop they get and those Beef-
calves which can easily reach master-crossed calves are 50
CAB premiums as high as $40 to 70 pounds heavier at wean-
per head. ing…They say, ‘well we’ll just
“You can still achieve those see what we get in the mar-
CAB premiums by using Beef- ket,’” Makuakane said. “If you
masters on black breeds be- tailor your animals right, with
cause the majority of them just that touch of ear, it’s wide
are homozygous black,” open. I mean your buyers in
Makuakane said. “But real- the feedlot or backgrounders
ly where we see the greatest putting those loads together,
margin of improvements in they recognize these animals,
just the raw data, is when and it gets crazy. It turns into
we look at the yield grades of a price-chasing escapade and
Beefmaster-sired calves, spe- I don’t get a chance to buy
cifically that are crossbred. calves back. They’re just that
With this next load the co-op good.”
is sending to Riverbend Feed-
yard we artificially insemi-