NOTE:  The information for this article came from Dwayne Braun, Braun Bros. Cattle, Hampton, Nebraska.  Braun Bros. Cattle uses PFI Braunvieh Genetics in their cattle.

The 80 head of Braunvieh-sired steers fed by Braun Bros. were born in the spring of 1999, and were out of several different breeds and breed cross cows. The cattle were put on feed at 551 lb. and fed for 187 days. Average daily gain for the calves, while in the feedlot, was 3.64 lb. per day, with a feed conversion (on an as fed basis) of 7.11 lb. of feed per pound of gain at a cost of 37 cents/lb. 

Tables I and 2 below provide the harvest data for the two groups. The data is another example of why more and more cattlemen, producers, feeders, and packers, alike, have taken an interest in Braunvieh.   Braun Bros., in particular, feel good about these cattle because of their added value from Braunvieh genetics and the average premium of $47.88 per head over commodity beef. The total premium Braun Bros. received for the 80 head of Braunvieh-sired steers fed equaled $3,830.40. This is not a bad bonus for using Braunvieh genetics!

By combining the two groups of 40 steers and building a percentage quality grade and yield grade, one can review the data as shown in Table 3.

 Of the 80 marketed, 88.75% (71 head) had a quality grade of choice or higher, as compared to the plant average, at the time, of 52%. Yield grade for the 80 head showed 95% (76 head) to have a yield grade of 3 or better, and 42.5% (34 head) a yield grade of 2 or better.

 If one Could eliminate any of the groups in Table 3, it would be to eliminate the 2.50% (2 head) in the No Roll category irrespective of their yield grade. Some might also suggest that the animals grading select should be eliminated also, but most feeders and packers would gladly settle for 8.75% of their cattle to grade select, especially if they are yield grade I or 2's.

 In his letter, Dwayne Braun went on to say, "the carcass grade and cutout advantage of Braunvieh genetics is only a portion of the benefits provided by the breed. Another big advantage of Braunvieh genetics comes through the female replacements. These Braunvieh cross females make as good a mother cow as can be found, as they cycle, breed, and calve on a regular basis."  Dwayne continued, 'The interest in Braunvieh has really picked up in the past year, or so, as many cattlemen have started taking a serious look at the Braunvieh and Braunvieh cross females, as well is the Braunvieh bulls."

 Not long after receiving the harvest data on the Braun Bros. cattle, data was received for 90 head of Braunvieh sired steers fed by Walters Pork Inc., Shickley, Neb. 

The Walters Pork cattle were processed at Dodge City, as part of their US Premium Beef Program. There were two groups, one of 43 steers, July 1, 2000, and one of 47 steers, July 19, 2000. Carcass data as collected on the Walters Pork Braunvieh-sired steers is summarized in Tables 4, 5 and 6.

The total premium Walters Pork Inc. received on their 90 head of Braunvieh- sired steers was $3,344.20, or $37.16 per head, over what commodity price for the cattle would have been. Again, Braunvieh genetics prove their worth in the feedlot and on the rail.

 The two loads put together on a percentage basis for Quality grade and yield grade is presented in Table 6.

The remarkable thing about the Walters Pork Inc. data is that there were no yield grades 4 or 5, especially when the harvest group 7-1-2000 had a live weight of 1,319 lb. In order for 1,319 lb. calf-fed steers not to have any yield grades 4 or higher, one can safety assume that the cattle had ample muscle and not a lot of outside fat. Another remarkable observation on the cattle is that 100% of the 90 steers fed by Walters Pork Inc. had a yield grade of 3 or better, and over 83% had a quality grade of choice or higher. Of the choice quality grade cattle, over 42% were a yield grade 2 or better.

This data on 170 Braunvieh-sired steers owned by two separate cattlemen, fed in different feedlots, and harvested at two separate plants at four different times, is another example of Braunvieh's ability to Genetically Brand cattle from Conception to Harvest. These results, along with past Great Western Beef Expo results, help verify the breed's ability to produce quality carcasses economically and efficiently for both the feedlot operator and packer.

 When one takes the breed's inherent ability to produce good feedlot results and added-value carcasses for the packer and consumer and combines it with reproductive ability in both bulls and females, and Braunviehs early maturity with moderate size and frame score, it's a breed that actually enhances the beef cattle industry from conception to harvest.

 We have all heard people suggest that they don't feel comfortable producing animals with a white ring around their noses (as Braunvieh have). And that marker will many times be passed along to their offspring, even in a cross-breeding program.  Let's consider that, once the cattle discussed in the above article were hanging on the rail, the people doing the quality and yield grading didn't care what color the animal's hide was, or if it once had a white ring around its nose.

 In the future, let us all turn that trademark white ring around to be an asset. It will be the symbol of cattle that are "Genetically Branded for Profitability from Conception to Harvest"!

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