Beef Vision Muscle Growth Marbling Program

The beef industry is rapidly moving to a "case ready" branded product system. This requires coordination, cooperation and "endpoint" focus from the seedstock, cow calf, feeder, processor and retailer. Approximately 50% of the tonnage of beef sold in 2002 will be oriented toward this system and this percentage is growing very fast. This system holds the biggest impact on the cow- calf operator. Not only does he need to know what he is raising regarding the Big 4 economically relevant traits: Tenderness - Muscle (1 & 2 grades) - Growth (weaning, yearling, ave. daily gain, feed conversion) - Marbling (optimum), he needs to know how and where his product should be marketed / directed (grid, program, brand, processor).

Tenderness: There are some genetics more tender than others. Tenderness is as much a process issue as genetics. Weather can affect it as much as genetics. Nonetheless, the cow-calf operator can affect tenderness through genetics.
Muscle: As the market moves to "case ready" marketing, retail product yield will become of major importance to the system. Those genes excelling in ribeye to carcass weight ratio (2.0 or better) will be in high demand by all "product systems" including CAB and other high marbling grids.
Growth: Optimum growth is mandatory in all breeds. The question in the 21st century beef system is "What are you growing? Is it high retail product yield or is it waste once the animal is processed?" Today we have an abundance of examples when comparing 2 steers at 1250# live; one will put 100# more retail product in the box and do it for less feed per pound of live weight. (Refer to A Complement To Angus for more information.)
Marbling: Marbling will continue to be a valuable trait. It will not continue to be the only valuable trait. There is a huge difference in cost of production to the "system" between optimum marbling and extreme marbling. As we all know, anything taken to extreme adds little value to the "system" or end product. As the world becomes more health conscience, extreme marbling will diminish. Standard carcasses, except for Laura's Lean Beef, are a high discount item ($20/cwt).

We at Tomahawk have selected our two breeds to crossbreed. They are Limousin and Angus (red or black). We believe the 21st century commercial cow is the F-1 (Limousin x Angus). No other continental breed can come close to all the advantages this cross offers. We call it the "Best Cross" Tomahawk has concentrated for years developing an animal that Muscles, Grows and Marbles (MGM) . This approach allows us to keep an eye on maternal as well. As a statement in the maternal direction, the #1 Limousin Proven Focus Dam in the Limousin Breed is our 16 year old #652U cow - fourteen straight natural calves (15th on the way) at a weaning ratio of 111 %. We have several Proven Focus Dams.

Our view as a seedstock breeder of the 21st century beef industry is one that is dominated by the "end product." We believe our job is to furnish the best genetics to supply that "end product" oriented system. This includes cost of production. This is why "muscle growth efficiency;" retail product yield, feed efficiency and cow efficiency are all key components. This is where our genes and our crossbreeding system excel.

As your seedstock supplier, we have a very good working relationship with the following marketing partners:

PM Beef: A moderate sized, well-run meat processor and marketer. They specialize in lean, high yielding carcasses that excel in "case ready" yield. They were the first to be USDA Certified for source verified beef. They handle a 55% Choice product line for Amana Industries, a high select-low choice line for their Ranch to Retail Program cattle and are one of the largest Kosher and Halal beef suppliers.
Con Agra Better Beef: Formally Monfort, ConAgra is one of the top three processors of beef in the world. They prefer a 50% Limousin x 50% Angus feeder calf that optimally marbles and yields. Mr. Al Perez is their man mainly seen in Montana.
Laura's Lean Beef: Laura's has proven to be a real niche market and a most successful one. For the right kind of cattle (3/4 Limousin or higher percentage), we have found that their grid pays the highest premiums in the industry by at least two times the next highest average. This is a chemically and antibiotic free source verified product line.

We would be honored to work with you with the above programs and more that may come in the future.