Finding a good cattle breeder is a very important decision to make. The cattle that you will be buying will be having an impact on your herd’s genetics for years to come. A good cattle breeder should have a very strict selection strategy. Not just with the ones that they are selling but also the ones that they’ll be keeping in their own herd. Here are some tips to help you find a good one:
Visit the breeder’s operation
Before you purchase any animals it is a good idea to visit where they are. I mean, you wouldn’t buy a new truck without checking it out first so why would you with cattle. The general rule of thumb is that you want to purchase cattle from someone that is within 200 miles of where you are. The reason for this is that the animals will be better acclimated to the climate there. This will give you a good indication of the types of animals that they have. Observe the animals moving around the pasture to see if they will be able to handle being out on the range. Visit with the breeder themselves to find out about their selection strategy. This will tell you the type of quality these animals will be in. Of course, there is another side to this. Be sure to avoid any pet cattle like the plague because they will be more trouble than they are worth.
Another thing to look at is not only check out the cattle but also to check up on the breeder as well. It might be a good idea to speak with past customers, if you can. Doing this will tell you what kind of person they are and if they will do right by you. One reference you could use to locate a potential breeder is by visiting a breed associations website or by going to the Cattle Exchange website here.
What sector is the breeder serving?
Finding out what segment of the industry they are selecting for is something useful to find out. If you are a grass-fed operation then you do not want to purchase from one that that caters to backgrounder sector. Look to see if the animals will be a match for what you are wanting. I can’t emphasis this enough, be sure to do your homework and see if they will be a match for your operation’s needs.
Their pedigrees and awards
The animal’s bloodline is a pretty good indicator of their future performance. Looking at the herd that they come from will give you a good idea of how they will be in the future. Select ones with a sire and dam that closely match what you are looking for.
Any awards or shows that the breeder’s animals have won can show the quality of animals that they produce. However do not focus too much on this part because how they do in the show ring may not carry over to the pasture. This should be just one of many criteria you need to look at in order to choose a certain breeder.
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