Beefmaster cattle were
developed in the early 1930s by Tom Lasater. He crossed Hereford, Shorthorn and
Brahman cattle. The exact mixture of the foundation cattle is not known, but it
is thought to be about 25% Hereford, 25% Shorthorn, and 50% Brahman. Lasater's
purpose was to develop cattle that would be more productive than existing
breeds in the harsh environment of South Texas. The cattle were heavily
selected on what has become known as the Six Essentials - Weight, Conformation,
Milking Ability, Fertility, Hardiness and Disposition.
No selection was made
for characteristics that do not affect the carcass, such as horns, hide or
color. These Six Essentials became the economic strength of Beefmasters and
have made them favorites with ranchers who depend on cattle for a living.
While brownish-red is
the most common color, the breed has no color standards. Beefmasters were
recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a pure breed in 1954.
About Beefmaster Cattle
