Why Braunvieh?

Every breed and crossbred has its strong points. Braunvieh's strength in milk, muscle, marbling and fertility is proven through research and is indisputable.

"When you look at the big picture, the performance of Braunvieh cattle across all traits makes their strongest trait a profitable bottom line."

Carcass Traits

While Braunvieh cattle are more feed efficient than most breeds, they are truly unique in that they are able to lower yield grades while generally not lowering quality grades. This makes them the sire of choice for cattlemen who seek profitability in feeding and grid marketing their calves. English cowherds that are now using English bulls can improve their calf crop one full yield grade without compromising quality grade by switching to Braunvieh bulls

Award winning carcasses - Since 1990, Braunvieh-sired carcasses have been awarded 13 Max Fluscher Awards from the Great Western Beef Expo at Sterling, Colo. The Max Fluscher Award is given to those pens of five cattle that are 100% Choice quality grade or better and 100% yield grade 2 or better. At the Beef Empire Days Carcass competition, Braunvieh-sired cattle have had the Champion Carcass honors since 2003. Braunvieh-influenced cattle have proven, and continue to prove, that they produce carcasses with very desirable quality grades, and yield grades with outstanding rates of gain.

Maternal Traits

Braunvieh and Braunvieh-cross females are excellent mother cows. They have an inherent ability to rebreed regularly and have a reputation for longevity with quality production regardless of their environment.

Crossbreeding for Hybrid Vigor - Braunvieh is the best breed of choice to improve and maintain sought after traits for producers with predominately English based cowherds without compromising English breed traits.

Adaptability - Braunvieh cattle are found in over 60 countries worldwide. They have been reported to thrive in every kind of environment, from the South American tropics to Canada's bitter winters.

Increased Longevity - Recent data from the JHL Ranch, a 1,500 head commercial cow-calf operation, indicates that Braunvieh cows have from 5% to 10% more staying power at 9-11 years of age than other breeds in the ranches’ commercial herd.  Additionally they have found their Braunvieh bulls will last three to four years longer than Angus bulls and service 10 more cows per year.

Increased fertility - Research has shown that on a commercial basis, herd fertility is at least five times more important than growth traits for herd profitability. Braunvieh bulls are noted for their scrotal and testicular development at a young age and are capable, fertile breeders at 12-14 months of age. Additionally, Braunvieh females commonly cycle at a young age. In fact, so young, that some breeders give lutalyse shots to heifers at weaning.

"Four thousand Red Angus cows exposed to Braunvieh Bulls from 1999 to 2003 averaged a 7% higher conception rate than the average of the other herds exposed to bulls of other breeds"

More live calves - In order to show a profit, a high percentage calf crop is essential in today's beef cattle industry. The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC), Clay Center, Neb., has shown that Braunvieh genetics in a crossbreeding program can provide hybrid vigor and increase calf survival 10-15%.