Breed Opinions for Grass Fed Beef Operation

I am trying to help a friend that wants to start up a beef operation with the intentions of raising grass fed beef and also he may run seperate entity that will be club calf production. Please give me opinions on what breeds of cattle you have used or know are successful in running on a grass fed operation. Please no breed biases just give me the facts. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Sunset Ridge Farm

What are the thoughts on Murray Grey Cattle? Belted Galloway?

contact renfarms on here 

They run a grassfed beef program in Emporia KS, utilizing Galloway Cattle (non belted)

Sold a Belted Galloway bull this summer to a guy near Chicago that is straight grass fed. 
He sells halves, quarters and some retail beef.
Told me he averages $5000 gross income per steer (packaging costs included) he sells.

Grass fed Beltie steers are usually 24-30 months at slaughter and weigh 1000-1100 with 1/4" backfat or less.
Many will go Choice grade on grass.  Yield grade 1 is the norm on grass.

There is a good niche market established for Beltie beef.

Check it out on the web.

Good luck to you.

For your friends operation they need to look at British breed cattle which lay down fat more easily than Euro or their crosses. The type and breed of the British cattle will depend on the target harvest weight, availability of feed through the animals life and time frame needed to turn these cattle off.

Murray greys hands down. I have raised everything from longhorns to Watusi, Galloway's, Angus, shorthorns Maine's, chi, simmi, and wagyu. By far the best have been the grays. I sell at farmers markets and get $10.50 for a 1 1/4 lb of pattys our steaks sell from $18-$45 per steak. I cant get that for my other beef. I actually have a waiting list a year in advance for them, which includes restaurants.  I recently did an 11 year old cow, that hung a better carcase then my grain fed show steers have. Thant animal was on grass her entire life. I finish on grass/hay around 18 months. I have attached a photo of one of my grey cows 9 years old shes the brown one behind the calves.

also ill add that In 2008 or the first time in the history of the Midland Bull Test and sale in Columbus, Montana, a Murray Grey bull scored a perfect 10 on the genetic test for marbling and a near perfect 9 on the genetic test for tenderness. No bull of any breed has ever performed so well before.

which they usually have maybe 15-20 entrys a year by the greys compared to the other breeds

the ever-so-hardy longhorn!  (lol)

and how they love to use them horns...

I agree the Murray Greys will work.  I have sold Galloway bulls to Murray Grey commercial operations, the cross works great.


What Galloway bloodlines did you use?

I agree they do make a nice cross a guy who buys bulls from me runs them on his belted Galloways, they come out silver with s white band. I , have to pull out my old reg. this is going back a few years.

Lowline....

I absolutely hate this breed but South Devons preach a lot about being grass fed and easy feeders.  Contact Dar Giess if you are interested.  He is out of Pierz, MN.  You could look his number up on White Pages.

The right type of shorthorns will work well - and do for me.  Moderate easy doing type - I'd stay away from the maine influenced show cattle (which kind of makes the club calf side operation completely antagonistic to their goals in my opinion).

Generally as was said small / moderate framed easy doing British based cattle will work.  Just buy from a breeder (of whatever breed) that is actually producing grass fed beef (and try it first too).  If it is working for them it'll take the guess work out of it.

David

Lowlines...take the time to look at this farm.  Very nice cattle, and great people!  Sadly the best bull, in my opinion died, but the kryptonite is nice too.
www.crosscreekcattle.com

This is the way the company I buy for do grass fed beef. http://www.capegrimbeef.com.au/. Our brand Cape Grim is now the most recognized grass fed in the country.

Lowline, Beefmaster, or a British Cross.