Commercial Genetics
The Kreger Ranch commercial genetic program is founded on feed efficiency, fertility, adaptability, hardiness, strong positive maternal heterosis and carcass merit.
Kreger Ranch has been diligently crossbreeding our top tier Beefmasters with both Angus and Red Angus genetics for more than 25 years. We have carefully sourced outside maternal Angus genetics from top ranch bred programs. We never purchase trade cattle or “put together” cattle. We require the certainty that Angus and Red Angus females that we source outside are from reputation ranches who have been selecting for fertility, hardiness and efficiency for generations.
We have carefully selected outside cows from several legacy northern ranches in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and the Nebraska Sand Hills. We have sourced Oklahoma bred Angus and Red Angus cattle from Express Angus Ranch, Spur Ranch and Chain Ranch. We have culled on these outside cows very hard and have only kept the best producers from each group to utilize in our commercial cow-calf program. All Beefmaster influenced females in our program are Kreger Ranch bred and raised.
On the sire side, we primarily utilize top tier Kreger Ranch Beefmaster bulls. We also utilize Kreger Ranch AI sires in our commercial AI program. We consistently select Beefmaster sires that are positive and high end for both BBU $T (terminal) and $M (maternal) indexes. We develop all Kreger Ranch commercial bulls on a Grow Safe gain test, indexed for ADG and feed efficiency. We believe feed efficiency and longevity in the cow herd are the most critical elements of a sustainable ranching program, so we select very hard on those foundational traits.
We remain committed to the production benefits and economic benefits of crossbreeding, so we purchase outside Angus sires from Pollard Farms at Waukomis, Oklahoma and Red Angus sires from Chain Ranch at Canton, Oklahoma.
Our Essential Beefmaster influenced cow herd brings many highly beneficial economic traits to our commercial cow-calf program. Beefmaster cows are very docile, which serves a significant benefit to all phases of management and production. The cows are highly heat and cold tolerant. We deal with rapidly changing weather extremes in the “Buffalo Commons” of north central Oklahoma. Nothing handles this volatile environment better than Beefmasters. When the Angus cows are timbered up and ponded up, the Beefmasters are out grazing, breeding, nursing and doing their job. The Essential Beefmaster cross female is more disease resistant, handles flies and parasites better, and is simply hardier in all phases of production than her strait Angus contemporaries.
The best element of our program is of course the combined synergy of the early puberty and marbling of the Angus genetics with the extra growth, muscling, milk production and longevity and efficiency of the Beefmaster genetics. This synergy only comes from crossbreeding, which results in a 4 – breed heterosis genetic package.Angus/Red Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn and Brahman.
Feeder Steers
Because we have invested for 5 decades in the genetic base of our commercial calf crop, we have learned that it is more profitable for us to feed out our own calf crop than to market calves at weaning. We have had tremendous success feeding our steers at Hitch Enterprises in the Oklahoma Panhandle and Nextgen Cattle Company – Riverbend Yard in southwest Kansas. Our calf crop consistently grades more than 90% choice. The well-known feed efficiency of Beefmaster genetics, combined with the significant positive heterosis advantage of our calves, keep our cost gain low and our health record very strong.
Replacement Heifers
The crown jewel of our commercial program is without a doubt our outstanding Essential Beefmaster Cross replacement heifers. We have both spring calving and fall calving bred heifers available every year. We sell heifers and pairs at the Maternal Compass Beefmaster Replacement Female Sale on the first Friday of November in McAlester, Oklahoma.
We develop our Kreger Ranch commercial heifers on forage and supplement at our ranch. We AI all the heifers to 4 star calving-ease Angus bulls with superior growth numbers and $B. These heifers are then cleaned up with Pollard Farms high CED, low birth weight Angus bulls. We always make pelvic scores and service sires’ EPDs available to our buyers. We gain a genetic profile on all of our replacement heifers through the Igenity Beefmaster program.
Kreger Ranch is a Noble Foundation/Integrity Beef member/cooperator. The majority of our heifers every year will qualify for the Integrity Replacement Female Certified Program. www.integritybeef.org
Kreger Ranch featured on RFD-TV. Watch below:
Please contact us for more information on our Essential Beefmaster Cross replacement heifer program or schedule a time to come by the ranch and see the heifers in development. The heifers are less than 5 minutes off of I-35.
