Having a Great Disposition
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Some of our Beefmaster cattle.
Over a decade ago, Cross Creek Cattle Company decided to raise the Beefmaster breed. Beefmasters are a combination of the Shorthorn, Brahman, and Hereford breeds. There are “Six Essentials” of the breed. Beefmasters are known for their disposition, fertility, weight, conformation, milk production, and hardiness.
My dad calls them “fertile and functional”, especially in our climate. Being able to withstand the heat in the summer and tolerate the cold in the winter is an important characteristic of Beefmasters.
Since this is a family-owned and operated ranch, many different generations help out on the ranch. From the grandparents to the grandchildren, we all work together to work the cattle. Therefore, the safety of our family is the most important to us.
I personally have five children ranging in age from 14 to 2. We live on the ranch. We enjoy roaming the pastures on walks and bike rides. We ride horses all over the property. In doing so, we also mingle with the cattle while they are being rotated from pasture to pasture.
The Beefmaster breed is known for having a great disposition. It is the number one essential characteristic. They are naturally docile. I do not worry about my children amongst the herd. I do not fear for them when they are helping work the cattle.
Has anything bad ever happened to us in the pasture with the herd? No. The cattle are not phased by our presence. When my husband brings hay in the winter or refills their free-choice minerals, they come greet him. Even the bull does not make us uneasy.
Have we ever had an accident while working cattle? Yes, but only a few in all the years we have raised them. This is the most dangerous time around cattle. You are moving them. They are stirred up. You are pushing them down a narrow alleyway or in a squeeze chute. They outweigh you about 5 times. Something is bound to happen every once in a while.
Without the great disposition of the Beefmaster breed, many more accidents would occur. We would not feel comfortable with our children helping and working by our side. Working cattle would be much more dangerous, limited to only older, stronger, and experienced cowboys.
If you are looking into different breeds of cattle for your ranch, we recommend Beefmasters, especially if you are planning to involve your family in the venture. To learn more about the breed, go to Beefmaster Breeders United. Being a family operated ranch is very important to us at Cross Creek Cattle Company. Raising the next generation of ranchers is near and dear to our hearts.
