In 2009 I had the opportunity to have lunch and visit with Beefalo's Founder DC "Bud" Basolo. One of the many questions I asked Bud was which was his favorite Beefalo Bull? Basolo gave me a big smile and said: " Oh, The Best Beefalo and The Best Beefalo Bulls have yet to be bred." Essentially Basolo was saying "Even though I started Beefalo there is so much more to accomplish with this breed."
Earlier I also had a conversation with a former Beefalo Breed Association President. He had left Beefalo and sold off his stock. Why? It was his opinion that there was absolutely no uniformity in the Breed, and unless there was some criteria to establish a breed color and using only a few select cattle breeds to improve Beefalo, the breed would have no future.
Currently Beefalo seems to be doing just fine even though there are many colors of Beefalo registered, and different breeds contributing to their genetic make up. This gives breeders a wide latitude to create some outstanding cattle and not be restricted in their Breeding methodology. Years ago we saw Charolais, Hereford, Simmental, and even Holstein being used in improving Beefalo, with the emphasis on 3/8th Bison content. Now we are seeing some more of the exotic European Breeds being used to create better Beefalo: Belgian Blue, Limousine, and Aubrac to name a few, and a reduction in the amount of bison truly necessary.
Some are reducing the amount of bison in Beefalo to 1/4 as compared to the 3/8th bison content norm, in order to infuse larger amounts of these exotic breeds. The focus seems to be on improving carcass weight and meat quality. As long as Beefalo maintains it's 17 to 37.5 percent bison content there is no reason to dictate a given breeding policy to the unique cattle being created.
Basolo was right. The Best Beefalo have yet to be bred.
Earlier I also had a conversation with a former Beefalo Breed Association President. He had left Beefalo and sold off his stock. Why? It was his opinion that there was absolutely no uniformity in the Breed, and unless there was some criteria to establish a breed color and using only a few select cattle breeds to improve Beefalo, the breed would have no future.
Currently Beefalo seems to be doing just fine even though there are many colors of Beefalo registered, and different breeds contributing to their genetic make up. This gives breeders a wide latitude to create some outstanding cattle and not be restricted in their Breeding methodology. Years ago we saw Charolais, Hereford, Simmental, and even Holstein being used in improving Beefalo, with the emphasis on 3/8th Bison content. Now we are seeing some more of the exotic European Breeds being used to create better Beefalo: Belgian Blue, Limousine, and Aubrac to name a few, and a reduction in the amount of bison truly necessary.
Some are reducing the amount of bison in Beefalo to 1/4 as compared to the 3/8th bison content norm, in order to infuse larger amounts of these exotic breeds. The focus seems to be on improving carcass weight and meat quality. As long as Beefalo maintains it's 17 to 37.5 percent bison content there is no reason to dictate a given breeding policy to the unique cattle being created.
Basolo was right. The Best Beefalo have yet to be bred.
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