Meat
Beefmaster
C tier
Beefmaster is an American composite beef breed developed from roughly one-half Brahman, one-fourth Hereford, and one-fourth Shorthorn, selected under the “Six Essentials” of weight, conformation, milking ability, fertility, hardiness, and disposition. Cattle are usually light red to dark red or dun, medium to large framed, and produce moderately marbled, well-muscled beef suited to harsh ranch and subtropical conditions. Originating on the Lasater Ranch in Texas, Beefmaster cattle are widely used across the southern United States, Mexico, and other warm climates as maternal and commercial beef genetics. The breed emphasises functional performance over colour uniformity and thrives in extensive, low-input systems.
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Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Ed C. Lasater began forming composite herds in South Texas that would lead to the Beefmaster breeding programme.
Tom Lasater closed the herd and applied rigorous selection on the Six Essentials rather than pedigree show points.
The United States Department of Agriculture recognised Beefmaster as a pure breed.
Beefmaster Breeders United organised national pedigree and promotion programmes for the composite.
Expansion into Mexico and Latin America established Beefmaster as a major subtropical maternal breed.
Continued selection for carcass quality and documented fertility modernised commercial Beefmaster herds.