Our Herd
The BRP herd has been building a composite herd over the last 15 years. Prior to 2013, the primarily Brahman herd had been altered with British Red Poll genetics, Red Brangus, and back to pure Brahman through bull selection. Today, we select the best genetics through bull and female selection to achieve our breed goals, which can be summarized as follows:
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High fertility: this trait provides the highest economic return for the genetic investment.
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Climatic adaptation: this demands our animals be heat tolerant, fly tolerant, and parasite tolerant.
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Fleshed: our animals need to have a high meat yield developed on low-quality grass pastures.
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Wanted: our stock needs to meet market specifications, providing high-quality, tender, and palatable meat.
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Low input cattle: grass-efficient cattle without expensive inputs.
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The composite herd provides us with a series of benefits over a single breed herd, including the wide genetic base to select the best animals for our dry tropical conditions. It will provide us with resilience under our changing conditions of drought and flood. The increased heterosis/hybrid vigor provides an animal performance increase to the herd.
The composite herd is now being built around 5 breeds from two principal groups. The African genetics are selected for hardiness, and the British breeds are selected for their meat quality. The African genetics include Drakensberg, Nguni, and Mashona. The British genetics comprise British White and Angus.
Brahman
Brahman cattle are a breed of beef cattle known for their resilience in hot and humid tropical climates. They possess many desirable traits that make them ideal for such conditions, including heat and parasite tolerance, drought resistance, and high fertility. Their genetics have been instrumental in breeding cattle that can withstand the challenges of tropical and subtropical environments, providing economic benefits for farmers and a source of high-quality beef for consumers.
Red Poll/Angus
British Red Poll and Red Angus cattle are two breeds of beef cattle that have been bred for their meat quality and adaptability to a variety of environments. British Red Poll cattle are known for their docile temperament, easy calving, and high fertility, making them a popular choice for small-scale farmers. Red Angus cattle, on the other hand, are known for their marbled meat and excellent taste, making them a popular choice for beef production. Both breeds are adaptable to different climates and grazing conditions, making them a versatile option for farmers looking to breed cattle for beef production.
Drakensberg, Nguni, and Mashona
African cattle breeds such as Drakensberg, Nguni, and Mashona are known for their adaptability and hardiness in challenging environments. These breeds possess many desirable traits that make them ideal for tropical and subtropical regions, such as heat tolerance, resistance to parasites and diseases, and drought tolerance. In addition to their resilience, African cattle breeds are also valued for their high-quality meat and milk production. Their genetics have been instrumental in developing cattle breeds that can thrive in harsh conditions, providing economic benefits for farmers and a source of nutritious food for consumers. Whether you are a small-scale farmer or a commercial beef producer, African cattle breeds offer excellent genetic potential for your herd.
British White, Speckle Park &
Angus
British White, Speckle Park, and Angus. Each breed offers unique characteristics that make them ideal for beef production, and we have carefully selected individuals that embody the best traits of their respective breeds. The British White cattle bring docility, high fertility, and adaptability to our herd, while Speckle Park cattle offer excellent meat yield and marbling, perfect for satisfying the demands of high-end restaurants and discerning consumers. The Angus cattle in our herd provide tender and flavorful beef with marbling that has made them a popular choice among beef producers for generations. By combining these three breeds, we have created a composite herd that offers genetic diversity, resilience, and exceptional meat quality, making it an excellent choice for both small-scale and commercial beef production.
