Beefmasters in Asia & Europe

By M. Doyle Sanders- BBU International Committee- Vice Chair Asia & Europe

In the September 2019 issue of The Beefmaster Cowman, BBU Staff Member Lance Bauer provided an update titled “Beefmasters Around the Globe” on his travels this year for Beefmasters in Colombia and South Africa, where our breed has been popular for some time. Our breed is also continuing to be strong in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and other parts of Central and South America.

New interests in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Vietnam have also justified private visits by BBU “Go International” breeders within the past couple of years; without United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE) support due to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) target country procedures. Since introduction to Thailand during 2010- 2012, they have imported live bulls and females with multiple large shipments of Beefmaster semen with visits being planned for Thai guests in Missouri by the end of 2019. In 2018, Missouri exported almost 100 head of Beefmasters to Thailand.

Beefmaster breeders are growing in number in Europe by U.S., exports of European Union (EU) qualified embryos since the breed was initially introduced in 2014-2015.  Beefmaster breeders are now active with embryos and live cattle being developed in Italy, Poland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Austria. Strong interest for new breeders is now coming from Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and areas of North Africa as well.

The Beefmaster International Group (BIG) Rome 2019 Event is scheduled for September 26, 2019 at Civitavecchia (Port of Rome) with guests registered from most of these countries; in addition to the existing breeder countries. Dr. Robert S. Wells of Noble Foundation will discuss “Beefmaster Profitability Opportunities” at this gathering. Heterosis and feed efficiency is driving the focus for Beefmaster benefits in these countries.

The first European Beefmaster calf was born in 2016 in Italy at the DD-Italia Beefmaster Ranch near the Port of Rome. Angelina has grown and is now pregnant with an Embryo Transfer (ET) calf due this year. Her younger purebred brothers, sisters, and cousins are also working with crossbreeding programs along with imported EU qualified US semen and locally collected semen from the first EU bulls developed. The Northern Irish bulls have also matured and being used for collection and crossing with Angus and Hereford cattle. Projects are being planned for ET exports into Turkey and Russia in 2020.

Beefmasters are leading other American breeds in market development in these regions. Become a Go International Team member and sow seedstock worldwide.

Angelina, first born Beefmaster in Europe has developed from a cutie to a fine “Bella Donna” beauty.