From the Spring 2018 Informer

Isa Heifer Captures Top Spot in Feed Efficiency Test

By Lorenzo Lasater, President

Isa Beefmasters, LLC, of San Angelo, Texas, is proud to announce that one of their Beefmaster heifers, L Bar 7102, recently won the Fall 2017 Efficiency Test at the Genetic Development Center in Navasota, Texas. She had the highest Efficiency Index among 335 animals of 17 different breeds.

Gustavo Toro, Manager at the Genetic Development Center, awarded L Bar 7102 the MVP (Most Valuable Performer) trophy of the test. According to Mr. Toro, “On top of that Isa Beefmasters had four of the top ten animals by Efficiency Index and 6 of the top 11 animals for Residual Feed Intake (RFI). Congratulations to Isa Beefmasters for the outstanding performance of their animals.”

Feed Efficiency is the talk in the beef industry right now. According to the GDC, “It’s no mystery the public wants ranchers to produce more environmentally efficient animals, but just as important is that rancher’s ability to stay profitable. Drought, diminishing land resources and feed costs are all factors that point to the need to develop more efficient and profitable cattle.”

The Genetic Development Center test is a 71-day gain test conducted on Growsafe Technology feeders, which measure each animal’s Individual feed intake. This revolutionary technology allows us to go beyond just assessing what an animal gains in a defined period but also what they consumed to make that gain. More information can be found at www.geneticdevelopmentcenter.com.

Isa President Lorenzo Lasater, the third generation of his family raising Beefmasters said, “This was the first time we had an opportunity to test a set of cattle using the Growsafe Technology, so I was hopeful but nervous going in. To have outperformed so many cattle in so many competing breeds was a wonderful validation of our cattle selection efforts over the past 80 years. My grandfather established a balanced approach through the Six Essentials, and the payoff is cattle that are optimal in all phases of their productive lives—whether that be fertility, efficient gains, foraging, maternal ability, longevity or carcass quality.

L Bar 7102 is a daughter of Escalade, one of Isa Beefmasters’ top semen sires in partnership with Dbl D Bar Ranch of Industry Texas. The bull is currently owned by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. L Bar 7102 will be bred May 1st at 14 months of age. If she breeds successfully in 60 days, she will join her mother in the herd.

For more information on Beefmasters and the Isa Program, please contact Lorenzo Lasater directly at (325) 656 9126.

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