The Status of the Beefmaster breed in Thailand
By: M. Doyle Sanders, BBU International Committee Co-Chairman
I recently visited Thailand in January 2014 and I observed several positive results for Beefmaster and Beefmaster cross cattle performing in the country of Thailand, which is located in Southern Asia.
The new Thai beef breed introduced by Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) is increasing in popularity on a business basis. A group of breeders of commercial and purebred Brahman cattle that market their efforts under the twelve breeders brand have had two commercial auctions with groups of Brahman, Charolais, Kamphaeng Sean (KPS), and Beefmaster crossed commercial cattle. Beefmaster crossed calves are bringing a substantial price premium on weight and have higher age weight gains at sale.
There are some ill founded opinions in force such as holding Beefmaster semen to cross with Brahman crossed with Charolais rather than direct crosses with Brahman. This is impacting quicker acceptance for breeders and consumers.
However, current breeding results with Beefmasters debunk this theory. Beefmaster crossed with KPS may show higher gains, but the Brahman and Charolais calves are showing comparable gains with Beefmasters on the crosses.
On January 12, 2014, at the PC Ranch Show near Udon Thani, the age class winners for C-1 crosses favored KPS dams but a Brahman cross won its 14-16 month class. Beefmaster bulls used on these class winners included Angelo on a KPS and a Brahman with D’Vinci, Fusion, Special Edition, and L-3100 all on KPS dams. KPS is a hybrid breed based on Brahman, Charolais and native Thai cattle.
These heifers surprised everyone in Thailand by “early cycling” at 12-14 months of age. Typical practice is not to breed them until at least 20-24 months. They were shocked to hear about annual calving starting by two years of age with typical domestic and North American breeders.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Thailand Department of Livestock Development (DLD) have completed a late 2013 health protocol for importing live animals. The BBU International Committee is working with various Thai breeders to consider US exports of purebred bulls and heifers. This will include high performance animals for weight and milk followed by show competition quality livestock. A first group of bulls and about 50-100 heifers may be shipped the Spring of 2014.
Various Thai breeders are planning to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Beefmaster sales in March 2014. This will be at their full travel expense without any funding from BBU or the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.