McBee Cattle

RON & TERI MCBEE
221 State Route H
Fayette, MO 65248
Cell: 573-228-2517
Fax: 660-248-9966
email: McBCattle@aol.com
Website:
www.McBeeCattleCompany.com
Craig Ludwig, Marketing Agent
913-522-9701

McBee Cattle Company - Braunvieh Program

Our Braunvieh program began in 1992 when we were looking for bulls that would add milk to our crossbred commercial cowherd. In this search, we were led to Ron Franken, Linn, Mo, the closest Braunvieh breeder we could find. From Franken we purchased some bulls and 21 halfblood bred heifers. While the bulls worked just fine, it was those 21 crossbred heifers with three-quarter calves due in January that got us hooked on Braunvieh. All 21 heifers calved, claimed their calves, bred back on time and weaned a large, healthy calf at weaning. Growing up in the Polled Hereford business, we were not used to such timely and efficient performances. Ever since 1992, McBee Cattle Company has been hooked on Braunvieh and Braunvieh influenced cattle.

Our registered Braunvieh are run with our commercial cattle under the same conditions and pastures. We feel that if the registered cattle can produce a quality high-performing calf under these commercial conditions, then our customers can use the same genetics with confidence. All our cattle are raised on fescue year-round under our intensive grazing system. Replacement females, both registered and commercial, are raised and then culled if they do not perform well on grass.

Braunvieh is one of the oldest pure breeds of cattle. Braunvieh are produced in three varieties in the US - fullblood, purebred and percentage Braunvieh or Braunvieh Beef Builders. Fullblood means every animal in the pedigree traces back to its original Swiss genetics (where Braunvieh were developed). These brown cattle typically have a prominent white band around their muzzle and have established a solid reputation for branding their offspring with outstanding fertility, adaptability, and excellent weaning weights through above average milk production with sound udders and small teats, a quiet disposition, exceptional feedlot performance and superior carcasses.

Performance records are maintained on every Braunvieh in our herd. These records include birth date, birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight and their ratios. We also utilize the Braunvieh Association’s Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) values for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk and milk plus growth. Other EPD values calculated by the Braunvieh Association and used by McBee Cattle Company are Calving Ease Direct and Calving Ease Maternal. McBee Cattle Company has many of the breed’s leading calving ease sires, both for direct and maternal calving ease.

Other records maintained on every McBee raised bull and female include carcass measurement ratios for ribeye area and intramuscular fat (IMF) at yearling and scrotal circumference for bulls at yearling. These detailed records are required if we want to maintain the proper emphasis on all the important production traits.

The registered Braunvieh herd is divided into a spring and fall calving herd. This has allowed us to provide both long yearlings and 18-month old bulls for our annual SELECTION DAY Sale every April. The spring and fall calving seasons allows us to better utilize the ranch’s natural resources throughout the year.

Bulls offered for sale are developed on a high roughage ration to gain about three pounds per day from weaning to one year of age. They are not pushed to obtain the highest weight possible, but are fed enough to accurately measure genetic differences for gain and growth. Bulls developed under these conditions stay viable for a longer period of time for our customers.

A typical McBee Braunvieh Yearling

A typical McBee 18-month Braunvieh

Our experience with the Braunvieh breed has shown that the breed has fewer faults than any other breed we know of. Research at some major experiment stations bear this fact out as well. Data from the US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska compared Braunvieh cross females with five other breed cross females, including the well known industry standard cross cow Hereford X Angus. In this study, the pregnancy rate for the Braunvieh cross females was equal to any of the other breed crosses in the comparison and 6% higher than the Hereford Angus cross females. The pregnancy rate for the Braunvieh cross females was 10% higher than the Simmental cross females, 17% higher than the Limousin cross females and 18% more than the Charolais cross females.

When the US Meat Animal Research Center compared the breed cross females for pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed, Braunvieh cross females weaned 4% more calf weight than the Gelbvieh cross females, 5% more than the Hereford Angus cross females, 9% more weaning weight than the Limousin cross females, 9% more than the Simmental cross females and 11% more weaning weight than the Charolais cross females.

Every commercial cattleman dreams of an increased pregnancy rate combined with extra weaning weight per cow exposed. This research data clearly shows the MATERNAL EXCELLENCE of the Braunvieh female.

A typical McBee Braunvieh cow calf pair

Using Braunvieh Genetics in a Commercial Program

Braunvieh genetics in a commercial crossbreeding program will pay dividends, especially when Braunvieh bulls are used on another breed of cow to produce crossbred calves. These crossbred calves, typically known as F1 calves, will produce between 10% to 15% more weaning weight than the calves from either of the two pure breeds used to produce the F1 calves. The reason for this increase in weaning weight is heterosis or hybrid vigor. Hybrid vigor is achieved by taking two purebred parents (of different breeds) and crossing them to get 1/2 blood animals, also known as F1s. Hybrid vigor is one of the easiest and cheapest ways a beef producer can add income to his bottom line. In today's market, the 10 to 15% increase in weaning weight results in $30 to $50 more income per calf.

MCBEE BRAUNVIEH BULLS

MISTER FF 102 (C102) - OB6982 - Fullblood

C102 - Our senior herd sire that continues to influence the longevity and usefulness of the females in our cowherd. One of the most consistent breeding bulls in the breed for calving ease and useful females C102 is now deceased,
but his legend lives on through A.I. He can be used through his semen on any kind of cow and his offspring will be the right kind.

MR FF H106 (BOXCAR) - OB24617 - Fullblood

Boxcar - One of the few true “heifer” bulls that we have produced. A calving ease sire out of our famous A113 cow, the mother of herd bulls and herdbuilding females. We use Boxcar on every type of female, including heifers, for low birth weight, easy calving and stylish offspring.

DEPTHCHARGE - OB18296 - Fullblood

Depthcharge - A maternal brother to Boxcar, Depthcharge is a bull that we have selected to add growth and volume. Being a C102 son and out of A113, his consistency comes honestly.

MCB FF MR C102 106P - OB52282 - Fullblood

With the passing of “C102”, we have selected one of his very best sons, MCB FF MR C102 106P. Out of a Double Erle daughter, MS FF G175 ET, who is from a dam sired by David JR. “C102” is by David JR, making “106P” a double bred David JR. His first calves were sired in a commercial herd and they were very good for performance and quality. Thus we went back and purchased this bull and are now using him in our registered herd. We look forward to his first calves!

SBI EXCALIBUR F14 ET - OB17966 - Fullblood

Excalibur - This bull was purchased to use on C102 daughters and has since been used on a cross section of our cow herd. He has proven to be one of our positive carcass trait sires. His offspring consistently ratio at the top of the traits that we use to measure our bulls and females.

MCB EUREKA CHIEF 396N - PB48379 - Purebred

Eureka Chief was the high selling bull in our 2005 SELECTION DAY Sale with 1/2 interest going to Brink Livestock, Piedmont, Kansas. This C102 son was a very
high performing individual and his calves seem to have the same kind of performance. Some of his first daughters were the high selling open heifers in the 2006 Herd Builder Sale and some of his first male progeny placed seventh and ninth as steers in the 2007 Beef Empire Days. Total steers in the contest was 102 head.

MCB MR H106 A506R - PB55197 - Purebred

Our second high selling bull in the 2006 SELECTION DAY Sale with one-half interest selling to Olson Brothers Braunvieh, Pomona, Kansas. Sired by “Boxcar”, this prospect has a “can’t miss” type pedigree and performance. We look forward to having his first progeny to sell soon.

MCB MR F6193 573R - PB55135 - Purebred

573R - Sired by “Spittin Image” and out of the same dam as Eureka Chief, he has the pedigree to be an outstanding herd sire. His growth ratio was 120, his REA ratio was 112 and his IMF ratio was 102 thus giving him the performance
and conformation to be an elite sire.

MCB MAXIMUS 6014 - PB58621 - Purebred

Maximus, one of our best from the 2007 SELECTION DAY Sale, is owned with Bean Cattle Company, Stevenson, Alabama. This double bred C102 son is thickly made and we look for him to pass on the uniformity, consistency, usefulness and value of the C102 line.

Other McBee Cattle Company Braunvieh Bulls
we don’t have pictures of are:

KWC QUINTO F020 - OB14245 - Fullblood

F020 is another calving ease fullblood bull that has some excellent progeny in our herd. He is getting some age on him now, so much of his influence will be carried on through daughters that are good and the outstanding son we kept from our 2006 calf crop, MCB MR F020 6013.

GLB POLLED PLUS 5003 - PB10650 - Purebred

Polled Plus was used AI as an outcross calving ease bull. Used on some of our larger, growthier cows, he has produced some excellent bulls and females. His first daughters in our herd are now just starting to produce. He produced our high selling bull in the 2006 SELECTION DAY Sale, MCB MR 5003 A518R.

MCB MR 5003 A518R - PB55180 - Purebred

“A518R” was the high selling bull in our 2006 SELECTION DAY Sale, going to Bodine Bros., Voltaire, North Dakota. As a yearling, this double polled son of Polled Plus had a 123 growth index, 112 ribeye ratio, a 100 IMF ratio and a birth
weight of 74 lb. and 96 ratio. His first calves are on the ground and seem to have the attributes of their sire - low birth weight with good growth.

MCB MR J22 5138 - PB55158 - Purebred

MCB MR J22 5138 - the highest growth ratio bull from our 2005 fall born calves offered in our 2007 SELECTION DAY Sale. Besides high growth, this bull was 10% below his contemporary group for birth weight and above average for yearling ribeye ratio. This polled purebred is owned with Bean Cattle Company, Stevenson, Alabama.

MR MCB 440P - OB51313 - Fullblood

This fullblood bull was the high selling calf in the 2004 Herd Builder Sale going to Breshear Farms, Halfway, Missouri. This MR FF E104 son has all the attributes
cattlemen want in a herd sire - thickness, easy fleshing, sound feet and legs, and performance records that stack up with the best of them.

MCB MR F020 6013 - PB58614 - Purebred

This is the son of KWC Quinto F020 ET that we saved from our spring 2006 calf crop. With our F020 herd sire having some age, we wanted to maintain some of his blood in our herd because of his progeny’s overall performance from birth through carcass. This Quinto son is out of a MR Prime daughter. MR Prime is one of Braunvieh’s best carcass sires so we felt with his pedigree and performance, he was a keeper!

Our 15 Braunvieh sires are all being used on commercial cows as well as the registered herd. Vista Polled Precision is the only sire used exclusively on our commercial females.