The Beckton Program
Beckton has used performance teste believe our cattle today are th
Beckton’s Efficiency Gain Relative to the Industry
A major goal of Beckton’s breeding program over the past many decades, has been to develop cattle that would improve overall efficiency. This efficiency can be thought of very simply – how much of the total grass on your ranch is going into maintaining your cows and how much into growing your calves? Beckton’s goal has been to keep mature cow size constant while continually improving the rate of gain in the calves and yearlings. Mature size is directly correlated with birth weight, so we keep mature cow size moderate by keeping moderate birth weights in the sires we add to our breeding program each year. (The nice side benefit of keeping birth weights moderate is easier calving, but that is another story.) The results have been amazing. By continuous genetic selection for growth rate Beckton has increased our calf market weights 128% from 1978 to 2024. This is confirmed because our weaning and yearling weight EPD’s relative to the Red Angus breed have gone up similarly. But in 1978 the average weight of our mature cows (four years of age and over) was 1126 pounds. This past fall it was 1098 pounds. Over that entire time our cow weights have varied a little with annual grass conditions, but never gone over 1137 pounds in any year. We have effectively kept our mature cow size at 1100 pounds for the past 50 years. The U.S. cattle industry overall has paid little or no attention to mature cow size. Based on USDA slaughter weight data,
U.S. Steer +36%
U.S. Cow +31%
Beckton Steer +28%
Beckton Cow -2%
average US cow slaughter weights have increased 131% over the same period. Average US steer and heifer slaughter weights have increased 136%, not much different. The growth and value of market animals have increased, but the increase is being almost totally offset by the increase in feed requirements and maintenance costs of the mother cow herd. The graphic shows the increase in efficiency of Beckton cattle compared to the U.S. beef industry. In the promotion of crossbreds and composites, the impact of retained heterosis on
Beckton Fall Production Sale
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