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Why Beefmasters?

Our family has been following a very balanced approach to cattle selection for more than 80 years. We call our road map the Six Essentials, and we have tried doggedly to share it with anyone who will listen for three generations. So it’s refreshing to see a renewed interest in practical and productive cattle and a focus on economics rather than aesthetics.

Breeders sometimes ask, “Why Beefmasters?” It’s an important question because these wonderful cattle often don’t get enough credit for all the subtle things they do so magnificently. Following are a few of the things that make Beefmasters truly unique in beef cattle production.

On the Ranch

• Low-maintenance females
• Gentle and responsive handling
• Excellent mother cows
• Heat, disease and insect resistance
• Longevity
• Built-in heterosis
• Outstanding replacements

In the Beef Chain

• High weaning weights
• Fast-growing yearlings
• Low sickness and death loss
• Incredible feed conversion
• Long-feed efficiency
• Grade and yield
• Lean, tender and tasty BEEF

From the Spring 2024 issue of the Isa Informer

Harnessing the power of ranching’s new A.I.

By Lorenzo Lasater, President

Full disclosure: I asked Chat GPT (A.I.) to research this article. If you haven’t tried it out, do so. It provides information similar to a Google search, without the dozens of ads you have to sift through to find the answer.

I’ve written a lot about A.I. (artificial insemination) through the years, but the other A.I.—or artificial intelligence—is all the buzz lately. But what does it mean for an ancient craft like cattle raising? That’s still a bit fuzzy, but the possibilities are intriguing.

A.I. excels at analyzing tons of data and spotting trends, irregularities or anomalies. It can complete this analysis very quickly, and that information can then be harnessed to make routine decisions or anticipate trends or automate processes that used to require a person. As you can tell from past discussions on technology, I am a huge fan of using available tools to improve processes and move things more efficiently. But A.I. is still in its infancy and hard to wrap our minds around.

What do possible applications look like for the cattle rancher in the future? Following is a list of ways that A.I. could assist in herd management:

• EPD analysis
• Genomic selection
• Grazing management
• Counting and tracking cattle
• Analyzing customer buying habits
• Anticipating market trends
• Health management
• Optimizing nutrition levels and feeding schedules
• Weather and environmental data to anticipate drought
­­­­• Automated sorting for weight and finish
• Drone cameras
• Heat detection and breeding timing
• Pregnancy detection, including fetal age and sex
• Analyzing herd historical records to find outliers

I created this robot cow graphic using A.I. on www.copilot.microsoft.com. I literally said “draw a robot cow” and got this image 12 seconds later.

Cool, huh? But what about its actual uses today? Following are some real-world A.I. examples Isa Beefmasters employs:

We began using Ranchbot (www.ranch-bot.com) remote water monitoring devices last year and love the technology. The windmill in the image is about an hour and a half from my house, at the absolute back of the ranch over rough ranch roads. Someone must drive all the way back there several times a week, just to be sure it is pumping. Now, we get an automated alert if it falls below a critical level (indicating windmill down) or falls rapidly (leak). We can also utilize the technology to switch pumps on and off automatically at predetermined levels. It also functions as a rain gauge. Checking rainfall from my bed is a new favorite!

At the recent NCBA convention in Florida, we visited the 701X booth (www.701x.com). They have developed GPS tags specifically for bulls. The tag tracks their location, movement, and breeding information. It uses accelerometers to know when a bull mounts, so you can see remotely which bulls are working and which are not. If they stop moving you are alerted to a problem immediately, and if they get out of the pasture, you can find them more easily. We will be implementing this technology for the spring breeding season. Watch for updates!

Additionally, we use CattleMax software (www.cattlemax.com) for managing our herd inventory. I put a lot of thought into herd information and collect a lot of data on each calf crop, but then we file those spreadsheets away at weaning. Traditionally, there was not a connection between the years. Cattlemax reporting has helped us deep-dive into the historical data to highlight trends in growth and fertility, as well as identify outliers in the cow herd.

Ranchbot remote water monitoring provides us with real-time readings for our hard-to-reach tanks.

Drovers magazine recently published an interesting piece on using facial-recognition cameras to predict pinkeye in confinement cattle 99.4% of the time and several days before veterinarians were able to detect symptoms. (Editor’s note: Beefmasters have a natural resistance to pinkeye.)

According to Mike Clawson, a USDA Agricultural Research Service molecular biologist and project researcher, “Early detection of disease is critical to healthy herd management—giving producers the chance to separate sick animals, control spread and judiciously use antibiotics before a large outbreak occurs.” You can read the complete story on www.drovers.com in the article titled “Study Confirms Facial Recognition Technology’s Success in Disease Prediction.”

Artificial intelligence is the new frontier in data management. While still in the very early stages, this incredible technology can wield much power in beef cattle production. Isa Beefmasters is proud to be “early ­­­adopters” of new technology, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds. The possibilities are limitless, and I think the Beef industry needs to embrace the change to remain competitive.

From the Fall 2023 issue of the Isa Informer

Building on a Beefmaster legacy

By Isabel Lasater Hernandez, Vice President

A 1994 article in The Cattleman magazine called our dad, Laurie, “the Conservative Keeper of the Flame.” An interesting premise at the time, the term has gained even more significance in the ensuing 30 years as our family has worked tirelessly to expand upon the legacy of our predecessors.

120 Years Ago  

In the late 1800s, our great-grandfather Ed C. Lasater began amassing land and cattle in the rugged brush country of South Texas. He helped establish Brooks County and the town of Falfurrias and was one of the first cattlemen in Texas to use Bos Indicus cattle. Eventually he owned 380,000 acres of ranchland, approximately 20,000 registered Hereford cattle and at one point the largest herd of Jersey cattle in the world.

In addition to ranching, he served as president of TSCRA in 1911–1912 and frequently traveled to Washington, DC, to lobby for the beef industry.

Sadly, much of Ed’s business was lost when he died in 1930 and the ranch suffered during the Great Depression.

90 Years Ago

After Ed Lasater’s death, our grandfather Tom Lasater withdrew from Princeton University in 1931 and returned home to the Lasater Ranch in Texas to begin picking up the pieces of the family business.

In 1932, Tom initiated his crossbreeding program that would eventually lead to Beefmasters: He crossed his father’s Brahman herd with the Hereford herd, as well as with Shorthorn cattle Tom had purchased. He then crossed those two F1 herds and quickly discovered that the three-way Brahman/Hereford/Shorthorn composite outperformed the two-way crosses. Tom closed his herd to outside genetics in 1937 and christened his breed of efficient cattle Beefmasters.

A 1956 article in The Farm Quarterly called Tom a “straight-talking, controversial figure in cattle circles with a bagful of off-beat ideas that leave the conventional cattle breeder in a state of shock.” I’d like to think Granddad would have laughed when he read that description. We in the Beefmaster breed know that regardless of public opinion, Tom unapologetically stuck to his (then) unorthodox ideas: ruthless culling, competitive multi-sire breeding, defined breeding seasons, performance testing, weighing calves and, of course, his cornerstone principles, the Six Essentials.

60 Years Ago

While Tom forged a new path in his quest for highly efficient cattle, his oldest son, Laurie, blazed new trails in expanding Beefmasters’ reach. Nearly 60 years ago, our parents, Laurie and Annette, began their Beefmaster career in Mexico with a wedding gift of 35 Beefmaster cows and two bulls from the Foundation herd. Laurie’s dream was to carve out his own niche and establish a market for purebred Beefmaster cattle in Mexico. Today Beefmasters have the highest number of registrations of any beef breed in that country.

In addition to opening new markets, Laurie wrote The Lasater Philosophy of Cattle Raising in 1971. He started writing during a drought when he needed a distraction to occupy his mind. The book, which explains the family’s cattle-raising ideas, still sells 50 years later, and in the book’s preface Laurie calls it the “great accomplishment of my career.”

30 Years Ago

Thirty years ago our family experienced a banner year of celebration and change. In May 1993 we gathered for two graduations and one wedding: I graduated from Vanderbilt University, the next week Lorenzo graduated from TCU Ranch Management School, and a week later he and Leslie married. It was certainly a whirlwind month!

With our newly minted degrees, Lorenzo and I both assumed new roles in the company: I took over the advertising for Mom, and Lorenzo, full of new ideas from Ranch Management, joined as the Vice President of Operations.

During his 30 years, Lorenzo’s role has evolved with his goal of expanding the Beefmaster footprint worldwide. He has traveled to six continents and 15 countries to promote Beefmasters and educate cattlemen around the world. Today, there are L Bar Beefmaster genetics in at least 25 countries.

Tom Lasater remained laser-focused on innovation and improvement throughout his career, and his generation did the tough work of creating and refining Beefmasters into the high-performing animals they are today. Building on those successes, Lorenzo has worked to increase our herd’s uniformity. For the past 20 years, he has streamlined our herd by eliminating the off colors frowned upon by the beef industry and ensuring our customers’ feeder cattle will grade well, all within the demanding focus of the Six Essentials.

Of all his initiatives, Lorenzo is most excited about seeing the Beefmaster breed expand and gain respect worldwide.

Today

Exactly 30 years after Lorenzo and I started at Isa Beefmasters, we are excited to announce another milestone for the company: Lorenzo’s son, Beau, has joined the operation, taking the reins for the fifth generation.

After graduating from TCU, Beau worked at American Airlines and Aldi Grocery Stores, gaining invaluable and diverse corporate experience. He then decided he was ready to return to his childhood roots. The sixth generation is also on the ground in Beau’s and Paige’s children, Jaxon and Ellie.

While we are proud of our family’s 131-year Legacy and Longevity, we are most excited to look to the future with the next generation in place.

L Bar Beef now available in San Angelo

2023 bull sale averages $6101

Press release

Isa Beefmasters LLC’s 62nd Beefmaster Bull Sale was held on Oct. 7, 2023, in San Angelo, Texas, with 37 buyers from 11 U.S. states and five states in Mexico taking home 122 Beefmaster bulls at an average of $6101. Isa’s President, Lorenzo Lasater, stated the sale was their highest average to date, with excellent demand for good Beefmaster genetics. Auctioneer Joe Goggins of Billings, MT, sold the 122 bulls in the blistering time of 2 hours, 15 minutes.

The high-selling bull, L Bar 1098, sold to Jose Rodriguez of Aguas Calientes, Mexico, for $16,000. This awesome young herd sire prospect is the son of L Bar Momentum and L Bar 3404 and was one of at the top performers in the offering. He is headed for immediate collection at Elgin Breeding Service before being exported to Mexico.

Jose Rodriguez of Mexico bought the 2023 high-selling bull, L Bar 1098.

The second high-selling bull, L Bar 1095, sold to Holmes Ranch of Decatur, TX, for $12,500. This excellent bull was another top performer and sired by L Bar 4519. It is worth noting that both high sellers are sons or grandsons of the great L Bar En Fuego, who sold in this sale in 2011. He has sired many high sellers since, and now his descendants are ringing the bell. A truly remarkable genetic line.

Volume buyers included: Corona Ranch, FL—17, Diamond and a Half, NM—12, Wedgeworth Clan, TX—9, Alamo Ranch, NM—8, Lykes Brothers, FL—8, A. Duda and Sons, FL—8.

Semen and Embryo agreements were also made with buyers from Mexico, Costa Rica and Venezuela. Additionally, private treaty females were purchased by buyers in two Mexican states.

Current Isa president, Lorenzo Lasater, and his sister and partner, Isabel Hernandez, represent the fourth generation of the family dedicated to breeding performance Beefmaster genetics. The breed was founded by their grandfather Tom Lasater in 1937. This year marks the 86th anniversary of the breed. It is also the 131st anniversary of the L Bar brand, first used by Ed Lasater in 1892 in South Texas. It has been used continuously since then by five generations of the family in Texas and Mexico.

Isa Beefmasters is very proud to announce that Lorenzo’s son Beau Lasater has joined the team. The fifth generation of the family’s Beefmaster project is in place, and the sixth generation is on the ground.

According to Lorenzo, “This set of bulls represents over 80 years of consistent, balanced selection for economically viable cattle. These bulls will produce excellent feeder calves and replacement heifers in any environment, but especially the tougher ones. With more pounds at weaning, lower input costs, more longevity and the best mother-cow on the planet, Beefmasters can’t be beat.”

Beau Lasater, Lorenzo Lasater and ranch foreman Todd Bannert

The Lasater family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone in attendance, especially the many repeat customers, including several second-generation buyers. We are already working hard to bring you our 63rd set of Beefmaster bulls on October 5, 2024.

Announcing a historic Beefmaster offering

September 20, 2023

Dear Friends,

We have made a deal to market the bulls from the Foundation herd of the Beefmaster breed. This is the herd that our grandfather Tom Lasater closed in 1937—and it remains closed today. It is thought to be the oldest closed herd in the world.

Our 62nd sale on October 7, 2023, will feature approximately 35 of the top end of these bulls. The Foundation herd is truly the embodiment of the Six Essentials, having been strictly managed according to these principles for over 86 years.

This will be the first time ever that the two historic Lasater herds have been offered together in one location—on one day. Please make plans to join us in San Angelo. We look forward to having you be a part of it!

—Lorenzo Lasater, President

Click here to learn more about our bull sale

From the Spring 2023 issue of the Isa Informer

Beefmasters grading 94% choice silences critics

By Lorenzo Lasater, President

Isa Beefmasters is pleased to report some exciting results in two separate research projects. The results are a testimony to the investment we have placed in pushing the genetic envelope and making L Bar Beefmaster genetics ever more useful to the beef cattle industry worldwide. I’ll examine in this article the Noble Research Institute study in Ardmore, OK, which focuses on replacement females and carcass data.

When we talk to commercial cattlemen about using Beefmaster bulls in place of their current breed, they often raise two common concerns:

1. Will they color up the calves?

2. Will they grade?

As our customers know, Isa Beefmasters has been working on color-uniformity for most of my career. We have eliminated any kind of paints, brindles or other color patterns the commercial sector dislikes. About 5% of the bulls we sell annually might have a small amount of white on their belly or face, but that is the extent of it. If you breed L Bar bulls to solid black or red cows, you will get solid-colored calves.

This Beefmaster x Angus cross heifer is part of a study at the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

As to the second question, the prevailing thought is the Brahman-influenced or Bos Indicus-influenced cattle will have low-quality grades. This issue is true in some breeds, and certainly true of some genetic lines within breeds. As we’ve heard it said: There is more quality variation within one breed than between quality cattle of different breeds. Overall quality can vary significantly depending on the program and what the herdsman considers important.

At Isa Beefmasters, we believe the success of the commercial beef cattle producers who buy our bulls is important. We want them to provide calving ease, adaptability, growth, and heavy, healthy calves to the weaning pen. We want the feeder steers to gain fast, convert efficiently, be sickness free, and grade and yield well. We want the replacement females to be fertile, early maturing, easy-keeping, gentle, and have long productive lives raising big calves. To me, these things make beautiful and profitable cattle. The loyal customers who buy our bulls feel the same.

In order to answer the quality grade question more directly, we are in the process of feeding several groups of sire-identified calves in order to get the hard data. We have always had customers say, “My calves graded 75%,” so we knew L Bar Beefmasters were not hurting the grade, but those numbers are anecdotal, not scientific.

In 2020, we began a collaboration with Beefmaster Breeders United and the Noble Research Institute. They used two leading Beefmaster bulls (L Bar En Fuego, C988569, raised by Isa Beefmasters and owned by Gene Haymon; and CF Nueces, C1059662, raised by Collier Farms and owned by Jim Colvin). The sires were A.I-bred to Noble’s commercial Angus herd. Noble’s initial intent was to develop and study the replacement females, which is still ongoing.

In 2022, BBU was able to buy, feed and harvest the steers, with some truly fantastic results. As you can see in the chart on p. 1, the steers gained 4.47 pounds per day, finished in 160 days (30 days faster than projected), had 0% death loss, yielded 62.6% and graded 94% choice (industry average 75%). Additionally, West Texas A&M University conducted Warner Bratzler ­­Shear Force (WBSF) tests, and the steers averaged 3.86kg. (Anything under 4.6kg is considered tender.) This phenomenal performance shows what can be achieved utilizing performance Beefmaster genetics in your crossbreeding program.

In summary, the fact that these steers graded 94% choice (against an industry average of 75%) clearly answers the “will they grade” question. But we have long maintained that there is more to profitability than just quality grade. These results show that true success lies in a combination of feedlot performance, health, grade and yield, and the critical, but hidden, trait of tenderness. These Beefmaster-sired steers absolutely rang the bell in every phase.

From the Spring 2023 issue of the Isa Informer

Study finds Beefmasters thrive in tropics

By Roderick Gonzalez Murray, Ph.D., IDIAP* Panama
and Sergio Riveron Ponomarenko, Isa Beefmasters

The Beefmaster breed has proven through various studies to be the most efficient breed for beef cattle production in the many diverse ecosystems of the United States—from the arid desert to subtropical Florida, to the northern states with their harsh winters. But a new study in Panama shows Beefmasters achieving excellent results in the hot and humid tropics, one of the most difficult environments for cattle production.

A Beefmaster-cross cow in Panama.

The Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Panama of Panama (IDIAP), at its Gualaca Research Station located in the province of Chiriquí, ­carried out a research project between 2000 and 2022. Researchers studied the effect of crossbreeding 14 different beef breeds on IDIAP’s herd of crossbred commercial cows. Scientists recorded 2,843 data points to evaluate the Age at First Calf (AFC), Calving Interval (CI), Birthweight (BW) and Weaning Weight (WW) performance.
We are pleased to report the excellent results of Beefmaster production in the tropics, as well as the specific performance of Isa Beefmaster’s herdsire L Bar En Fuego in this study (results outlined at right).

After analyzing the results, IDIAP researchers concluded that 50% crossbreeding of Beefmasters in commercial herds has a positive influence on the indices studied. They also found that as the percent of Beefmaster blood increases in the same commercial herds, reaching 75%, the improvement of all the indices is much higher.

This study is the first to evaluate the impact of Beefmaster genetics on beef cattle production in the tropics. The cattle clearly performed well in all the phases most relevant to profitability. These results demonstrate that the Lasater Philosophy, with its Six Essentials, is the best method to maximize economically important traits in any environment.

* Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Panama

From the Fall 2022 issue of the Isa Informer

Artificial insemination: a natural winner

By Lorenzo Lasater, President

One of the most valuable genetic tools available to ranchers is artificial insemination, or A.I. In fact, there are so many benefits, using A.I. is a natural choice, even in a commercial operation. For example, A.I. allows the use of the very top genetics, it groups the calves closer in age and front-loads the calving period, and it means fewer bulls have to be turned out.

In addition to these advantages, A.I. enables an operator to multiply the influence of a top sire—beyond what that bull could contribute naturally, and maybe best of all, operators gain more predicable genetic movement using higher-accuracy EPDs.

At Isa Beefmasters, we have been incorporating A.I. into our herd planning for decades. Dad first learned the technique in 1964 at the Graham School in Garnett, Kansas. He began using A.I. in our registered herd in Mexico in 1965. This year marks 57 years of continuous use of this incredible technology!

Thisbeautiful A.I. daughter of L Bar Momentum recently sold for a premium at the Red River Performance Group Heifer Sale.

To quantify our R.O.I. on A.I., I did a little analysis on two groups of cattle, recently sold, in which Isa Beefmasters was involved.

The first sale occurred at the Red River Performance Group Heifer Sale held May 21, 2022. We were pleased to consign three L Bar heifers to the sale, which featured 76 excellent quality, performance-tested open heifers. The sale averaged $3567, a tremendous price for that number of open heifers. The high seller brought only $7300, making this an honest average.

In a previous article published in the Fall 2020 Isa Informer, I estimated that it costs around $82 to A.I. a registered cow, including semen. In this case, that was $82 well spent, yielding a net gain of $116 on the heifers on the sale. L Bar-sired heifers fared even better, netting an additional $494 over the sale average after the cost of the A.I.

LBarMomentum brings extremely balanced EPD power to his progeny. A.I. allows any-sized operator to harness the same genetic power that large seedstock producers use.

I want to congratulate the Red River Group on their “Genetic Partnership,” in which they have partnered with breeders who have semen sires they believe will help the program and have made the semen available at a discounted price to their members. Isa Beefmasters is proud to have L Bar En Fuego and L Bar Momentum included in the partnership. Red River encourages their members to A.I., which in turn improves the quality and consistency of the bulls and heifers sold. That value extends to their own replacement heifers, with the accuracy and quality of their herd EPDs increasing rapidly. To learn more about the program, visit: www.redriverbeefmastersale.com

We experience a similar financial boost in our own annual bull sale. At Isa Beefmasters, all our cattle are generically named L Bar plus a 4-digit number (e.g., L Bar 2104). We only name the semen sires, so they are easily identifiable. Though most of the bulls we sell each fall go into commercial operations, the buyers recognize the additional value and predictability of those A.I.-sired bulls and will pay more for them.

The chart at right details our 2021 bull sale results. You can see a $484-per-head advantage for the A.I.-sired calves, which is a welcome boost to the bottom line.

Bullbuyers recognize the value of A.I.-sired bulls and are willing to pay more to gain the genetic insights and predictability that A.I. offers.

Producers often cite cost, labor and facilities as the usual reasons why they do not use A.I. I will admit that it is a bit labor intensive, with most protocols requiring three or four trips down the chute. But the rewards far outweigh the work, and you will likely be working them at least once pre-breeding anyway. At $82 per head, the cost is manageable, especially when you crunch the numbers.

A.I. is a tremendous tool for making faster genetic progress in any operation that is willing to put in the extra effort. You will be able to use superior genetics, tighten your calving window, increase your pregnancy rates and reduce your bull needs. It is not without some extra labor and expense, but it really is a winning strategy that more than pays for itself and yields many important benefits. In these two examples, you can see how the effort was well rewarded, adding significant value the final product—a financial boost I will gladly pocket any year.

L Bar genetics excel in progeny studies

Press Release—January 12, 2023

Isa Beefmasters is pleased to report on the culmination of two significant research projects. Each one is a testimony to the investment we have placed in pushing the genetic envelope and making L Bar Beefmaster genetics evermore useful to the commercial cattle industry worldwide.

In both studies, we will provide full details in our upcoming Spring Isa Informer newsletter. But we wanted to give a sneak peek at this tremendous news.The first involves a collaboration with Beefmaster Breeders United and the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, OK. They used two leading Beefmaster bulls (L Bar En Fuego, C988569, raised by Isa Beefmasters and owned by Gene Haymon; and CF Nueces, C1059662, raised by Collier Farms and owned by Jim Colvin). The sires were A.I. bred to their commercial Angus herd. Noble’s initial intent was to develop and study the replacement females, and that is still ongoing. But BBU was able to buy, feed and harvest the steers, with some truly fantastic results.

Steers at Nextgen Cattle Feeding, KS.

The Executive Summary: The steers gained 4.47 pounds per day, finished in 160 days (40 days faster than projected), had 0% death loss, yielded 62.6% and graded 94% choice (industry average 75%). Additionally, Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) tests were conducted by West Texas A&M University, and the steers averaged 3.86kg. (Anything under 4.6kg is considered tender.) This phenomenal performance shows what can be achieved utilizing performance Beefmaster genetics in your crossbreeding program.

Isa President Lorenzo Lasater commented, “We have long maintained that there is more to profitability than just quality grade. These results show that true success lies in a combination of feedlot performance, health, grade & yield, and the critical but hidden trait of tenderness. These Beefmaster-sired steers absolutely rang the bell in every phase.”

The second progeny test took place in Panama between 2000 and 2022. The program included 13 breeds and measured 2843 calves. Ten Beefmaster sires were used on native Zebu or Brahman-cross cattle. The intent of the study, which is ongoing, is to examine improving reproductive efficiency and increased growth as a means of improving profitability for beef cattle producers in the tropics. The study was conducted at the Gualaca Livestock Experiment Station by IDIAP.

The Executive Summary: The study showed that for AFC (age at first calf) Beefmaster crosses were the best among the 13 breeds, while birthweights held steady, and growth was significantly increased. The scientists are very excited about the significance of the results as it pertains to beef production in the tropics, where 80% of the world’s cattle reside. More importantly from our perspective, Isa Beefmasters sire L Bar En Fuego was the number one Beefmaster sire for both AFC and weaning weight.

Isa President Lorenzo Lasater commented, “The cattle industry often loses sight of the fact that profitability at the cow-calf level is predicated on low-input cattle that can handle their environment, reproduce efficiently, and wean heavy calves. No female is better at this than a Beefmaster.”

We look forward to sharing the full results in our Spring Isa Informer. We are proud of how well Isa Beefmasters genetics performed in both progeny tests. While they encompass very different aspects of Beef Cattle production, they examine several fundamental concepts in successful operations: reproductive efficiency, adaptability, growth, health, and carcass quality.

Lasater named Performance Breeder of the Year

By Isabel Lasater Hernandez, Vice President

Congratulations to Isa Beefmasters President, Lorenzo Lasater, on being named BBU’s Performance Breeder of the Year! The award, announced at the recent BBU convention in Oklahoma City, OK, recognizes a breeder who employs “superb management practices.”

Lorenzo is the second Isa Beefmasters leader to be recognized by BBU: Isa Beefmasters founder Laurie Lasater was chosen as BBU’s 2000 Breeder of the Year.

From the Beefmaster Breeders United press release:

BOERNE, Texas (Oct. 24, 2022) – The 61st Annual Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) Convention was hosted in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel on October 21 and 22, 2022. During the convention several member awards were presented to outstanding Beefmaster breeders who have excelled over the past year and decades before.
…

The BBU Performance Breeder of the Year award was created to recognize members who are whole herd reporting (WHR) breeders, collect performance and ultrasound data, as well as have superb management practices within their breeding program. Lorenzo Lasater of L Bar Beefmasters in San Angelo, Texas, was announced as the 2022 Performance Breeder of the Year. Lasater has been a BBU member since 1995 and is the grandson of the founder of the Beefmaster breed, and a fifth-generation rancher, so he has spent his entire life around Beefmasters. He is the President of Isa Beefmasters, LLC, and the company holds a 140-head bull sale each October, sells 50 private treaty bulls each spring, offers females for sale private treaty, and sells semen and embryos both domestically and internationally.
…
For more information about Beefmaster Breeders United and its membership awards please contact the BBU office at 210-732-3132 or visit www.beefmasters.org. Stay connected to BBU through Facebook, follow us on Instagram, view our videos on YouTube, and follow us on Twitter. Receive our news updates through joining our mailing list.

From the Fall 2022 issue of the Isa Informer

Building brand equity for 130 years

By Laurie Lasater, Founder

It’s hard to fathom, but our family’s use of the L Bar brand dates back almost to the Civil War, with it first appearing in the 1870s. Since then, four generations of Lasaters have branded tens of thousands of cattle with the iconic mark, both in Texas and in Mexico.

Starting in South Texas

In 1892, my grandfather Ed C. Lasater first registered the L Bar brand in Falfurrias, located in South Texas’ rugged cattle country. Ed founded the town of Falfurrias, as well as Brooks County, which he named for his friend Judge John Brooks. He was determined to build his empire there and began amassing land and cattle.

At its height, Ed’s La Mota ranch measured 380,000 acres, making it one of the largest in Texas. Ed became well known for his large herds of high-quality Hereford and Shorthorn cattle, and he imported the first Brahman cattle into South Texas. In addition, he owned the largest Jersey herd in the world and founded Falfurrias Creamery Company, and the name Falfurrias became synonymous with its sweet, creamy butter.

Ed C. Lasater first registered the L Bar brand in 1892 in South Texas.

Surviving the unthinkable

Ed died in 1930 and much of the ranch and cattle were swallowed up by the Great Depression. His youngest son—and my father—Tom Lasater left Princeton University in his sophomore year to return home and salvage what he could of the family business. It was during this period of economic catastrophe that Beefmasters were born: Tom experimented with crossing various of his father’s remaining cattle. He quickly discovered the Shorthorn/Hereford/ Brahman three-way cross was far superior to other crosses he tried. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and Beefmasters were tested and honed during this most dire economic period of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Lasater ranch sign near Falfurrias, Texas.

In 1937, Tom closed his herd to outside genetics, and in 1948, he relocated his Beefmasters to Matheson, Colorado, to escape the ongoing frustration of Hoof and Mouth disease coming across the Mexican border. He purchased the former Matheson Ranch on the eastern plains near Colorado Springs and continued his development of Beefmasters. The USDA formally recognized Beefmasters in 1954, making it one of the first American composite breeds.

Heading south of the border

Ten years later, I picked up the mantle of the brand, taking L Bar, my new bride and 35 Beefmaster cows to Mexico. In 1964, I registered the brand in the northern state of Coahuila.

Tom Lasater, youngest son of Ed C. Lasater, returned home after his father’s death in 1930 to try to save the family ranch and cattle.

I sold my first L Bar Beefmaster bull calves to three ranchers for $5,000 pesos ($400) each. The neighborhood could not believe the high price paid by prominent ranchers! Each year I bought 50 weaned bull c­alves from The Lasater Ranch and sold them to Mexican ranchers in several areas.

In 1966, with backing from investors in Midland, Texas, I bought the 31,500-acre Rancho Santa Cruz near Múzquiz, Coahuila, and we expanded our herd to 400 cows. When we decided to return home after 10 years, I sold the cattle to Guillermo Osuna and the ranch to Vidal Gonzalez, both neighboring ranchers.

Laurie (far left) vaccinates cattle on Rancho Santa Cruz near Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico. c. 1967

Returning home to Texas

When we relocated back to Texas in the 1970s, I registered the brand in Irion County in West Texas.

Today, our children, Lorenzo and Isabel, are the fourth generation of Lasaters to raise cattle under our beloved brand. They have reg­­istered the L Bar brand in the nine counties in which they operate, ranging from Sutton County, south toward Mexico, to Titus County, northeast of Dallas.

I am proud of the fact that I was able to use the L Bar brand for 50 years in Mexico and Texas and be part of its storied, 130-year history.

Lorenzo, Annette, Laurie and Isabel after a roundup near Mertzon, Texas. c. 1978

2022 bull sale averages $5840

Press release

Isa Beefmasters LLC’s 61st Beefmaster Bull Sale was held on Oct. 1, 2022, in San Angelo, Texas. It was an excellent sale, with 33 buyers from six states and Mexico taking home 100 Beefmaster bulls at an average of $5840. Isa President Lorenzo Lasater stated the sale was their highest average to date, with excellent demand for good Beefmaster genetics. Auctioneer Joe Goggins of Billings, MT, sold the 100 bulls in the blistering time of 1 hour, 45 minutes.

The high-selling bull, L Bar 0501, sold to Danny Major of Chino Valley, AZ, for $18,000. This awesome, young herdsire prospect is the son of Schneider 0481 and L Bar 8440 and was one of the overall top performers in the offering.

The second high-selling bull, L Bar 0548, sold to San Pedro Ranch of Carrizo Springs, TX, for $16,000. This excellent bull was another top performer and sired by L Bar 6105.

Laurie (left) and Lorenzo Lasater (right) with Danny Major, who bought the high-selling bull in the sale, L Bar 0501.

It is worth noting that both high sellers are sons and grandsons of the great L Bar En Fuego, who sold in this sale in 2011. He has sired many high sellers since, and now his descendants are doing it. A truly remarkable genetic line.

Volume buyers included: Rafter T Ranch, FL—12; A. Duda and Sons, FL—10; Ray Corona, FL—10; and LE Ranch, NM—9.

Current Isa president Lorenzo Lasater represents the fourth generation of the family dedicated to breeding performance Beefmaster genetics. The breed was founded by Lorenzo’s grandfather Tom Lasater in 1937. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the breed. It is also the 130th anniversary of the L Bar brand, first used by Ed Lasater in 1892 in South Texas. It has been used continuously since then by four generations of the Lasater family in Texas and Mexico.

According to Lorenzo, “This set of bulls represents over 80 years of consistent, balanced selection for economically viable cattle. These bulls will produce excellent feeder calves and replacement heifers in any environment, but especially the tougher ones. With more pounds at weaning, lower input costs, more longevity and the best mother-cow on the planet, Beefmasters can’t be beat.”

The Lasater family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone in attendance, especially the many repeat customers, including many second-generation buyers. We are already working hard to bring you our 62nd set of Beefmaster bulls on Oct. 7, 2023.

From the Spring 2022 issue of the Isa Informer

The mathematics of bull selection worth closer study

By Lorenzo Lasater, President

As breeding season approaches for many U.S. ranches, I often hear conversations about how much we should pay for a bull, and the budget range that folks feel comfortable spending varies quite a bit. Obviously, open cows are highly detrimental to the bottom line, but beyond just freshening cows, a quality bull also delivers a great deal of hidden value to the operation.

The old rule of thumb is that a bull is worth four or five times the value of a weaned calf. Let’s look at that math based on the market today:
600-pound feeder calves at Producers Auction in San Angelo on 3/9/2022 averaged $1.81 a pound, or $1086. If we factor a bull’s value at four steers, we could pay $4344. If we choose to view him as being worth five steers, we could pay $5430. This method appears to reasonably approximate a bull’s value. Each ranch must examine their own budget and genetic needs and find a value that feels comfortable.
We can conservatively project a bull to produce 125 calves in his lifetime, breeding 25 females a year over five years. Obviously, this can be leveraged higher with multiple breeding seasons and greater breeding ratios. But you can see very quickly that if he improves key traits in your herd, he will add significant value through these changes.

The ripples of a bull’s impact on the herd, whether good or bad, will continue for almost 20 years.

For example, consider a bull’s impact on weaning weight. The Beefmaster average WW EPD is 25. If you were to invest in a bull with a WW EPD of 40, you could expect to receive an additional 15 pounds over those 125 calves, yielding an additional 1875 pounds at weaning. At today’s price of $1.81, that translates to $3393 in additional revenue as compared with breed-average bulls. We can apply this simple analysis to the EPDs for many other critical traits, such as calving ease, carcass merit, longevity, etc. It becomes readily apparent that not all bulls are created equal.

We used a 600-pound weaning weight in the value analysis above. But if your calves weigh less than 600 at weaning, maybe you should look at the breed or the breeding establishment. Are they genetically able to provide that type of production efficiency? Does the breeding program place enough emphasis on growth?

A bull also impacts a herd more subtly through traits such as disposition. Disposition is partly inherited (and partly learned), so he will pass that bad attitude to his sons and daughters. If a bull is difficult to handle or even dangerous, what is the cost? Disposition is one of our foundational principles embodied in the Six Essentials. Our family has been selecting for it since 1937, which has resulted in gentle and responsive cattle.

Bulls also deliver a great deal of hidden value if your operation keeps replacement females. Bulls that sire daughters that can breed early and remain in the herd a long time are extremely valuable. We see a lot of customers who are looking to Beefmasters for the first time because they are frustrated that the females out of their previous breed of bulls don’t last long enough or have too many health problems that knock them out of production. They were promised a premium—and probably paid a lot for the bulls—but inherited expensive repercussions on the production side.

The chart at right shows how long a bull’s contribution carries on after purchase. It is amazing that the bull you buy this year will still be having a genetic impact on your herd through his daughters 16 years later!

Often breeding establishments don’t emphasize the early fertility trait. Many outfits choose to breed heifers at a later age. There are several reasons to do this out of expedience, but is it the right decision genetically? Isa Beefmasters breeds at 14 months to calve at 24 months in a 60-day breeding season. This program can be costly in terms of losses due to open females, but with each generation we are moving the needle forward for early maturity and fertility, keeping only the best genetics in our herd.

A good bull can make a critical contribution to profitability, and his impact lasts significantly longer than we might think. Clearly, bulls are a significant expense, but we also receive a lot of downstream value out of the right one. Each operation must identify a price they can live with and a breeding establishment that provides the right genetics to help them achieve their goals. Just keep in mind that not all bulls—or breeds—are equal when it comes to the grass-based production of beef calves.

From the Fall 2021 issue of the Isa Informer

Deploy population genetics to improve herd

By Lorenzo Lasater, President

At Isa Beefmasters, we view females in the herd a little differently: Rather than being a collection of fancy individuals, they are integral parts of the larger factory. This well-oiled machine is comprised of high-performance cows, and we measure the overall performance of the factory by the strength of its calf crop.

We call this concept population genetics. Laurie Lasater best illustrates this concept in The Lasater Philosophy of Cattle Raising: “This program is called ‘population genetics’ and involves mass selection for clearly defined principles combined with rapid turnover in both males and females.” (p. 62)

So how do we implement population genetics into our breeding strategy? First and most importantly, we breed in a short season to calve at 24 months and raise a calf every year from then on. No exceptions. Magically, it turns out that cattle born out of this program are efficient, fertile, growthy and productive. This simple and free tool can be applied to any cow herd, anywhere, to make huge genetic improvement. The ad (pictured at right) from July 1955’s The Cattleman magazine shows how long these principles have been at work improving our gene pool.

1955 ad from The Cattleman magazine.

The use of multiple-sire breeding differentiates Isa Beefmasters from our competitors’ programs. This pressure is one of population genetics’ secret weapons. Our commercial customers breed in large, multi-sire herds where bulls must fight for order and compete to breed. We believe that the extended use of single-sire breeding by the seedstock industry has decreased the libido in the bulls of many breeds. Our bulls compete to breed, ensuring high libido is built into the gene pool. Also, while we carefully choose our herd sires, nature chooses the individual matings. We trust the factory and the system to produce the best product.

Semenbull L Bar 4519’s dam, L Bar 1417, was a Pacesetter that also raised another herd sire plus two top embryo donors. The value of her genetic impact is immense.

At Isa Beefmasters, we strongly believe that females should prove themselves as capable members of the herd before their genetics are replicated through embryo transfer beyond what is naturally possible. We would never flush a heifer before she’s raised a calf nor choose donors based solely on pedigree or phenotype. We always choose them through the lens of herd performance and the Six Essentials.

Sometimes in this system, you can lose remarkable individuals before you realize how incredible they are. That was the case of L Bar 1417. This cow quietly raised four calves and achieved Pacesetter status, before coming up open and heading to town. She was long gone before we knew how outstanding those four calves were: she raised a herd bull, a semen bull (L Bar 4519), and two elite donor females (L Bar 6435 and L Bar 3404). It is virtually unheard of that a single female could have that much impact naturally.

L Bar 9496 is another hidden success story. I really hadn’t given her much thought until weaning this past spring, when I took the picture above. That calf at side is her 10th in a row, starting at two years old. Look at her perfect udder! And she just had her 11th calf last month. All three daughters she raised are still in the herd, with the oldest being nine years old. This level of fertility and longevity perfectly illustrates what I mean by being a productive member of the larger factory.In summary, many of the policies of traditional registered herds run counter to the function and productivity of the cow herd. The emphasis on the individual loses sight of the power of the team. Using single-sire breeding removes critical breeding instincts and libido in bulls over time. Selecting individuals to artificially replicate based on pedigree or phenotype loses sight of their most important job—productivity in the herd.

LBar9496, who weaned this outstanding bull as her 10th calf this spring, exemplifies the fertility and longevity honed through years of population genetics.

For more than 80 years and many generations of cattle, we have strived to utilize population genetics to move the genetic needle for critical production traits. Come see for yourself the difference these traits can make in your own herd.