The Brangus Project

by Taylor Shackelford

There is no right or wrong way to raise livestock. Many would agree, one of the best things you can do is learn from the successes of others. If that doesn’t work, if you don’t learn what you need, or if you see a trending flaw, start back at the basics. Build your own program the only way possible, from the ground up.

The Brangus Project is just a title given to the actions that are making waves in the purebred and commercial Brangus® circles. Kallion Farms, Bull Bay Farms, and Schaff Angus Valley are working on creating Brangus® cattle from the original Brahman and Angus crossbreeding. The process of breeding up from half-blood to the eventual first generation of 3/8 crosses gives Brangus® cattle their competitive edge in the beef cattle market. The heterosis gained in crossing Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle adds dollars almost directly to the bottom line in the form of growth, performance, hybrid vigor, weather tolerance, and disease resistance.

These producers are taking a traditional approach to the perpetual question: Are genetics becoming saturated with the same bloodlines and would it just be easier to start over? This new bloodline will be comprised of Kallion Farms Brahman genetics, Schaff Angus Valley cows, and a host of the industry’s leading Angus bulls.

Scott Addison, a contractor from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, began the initiative when he decided to raise beef cattle after Hurricane Katrina wiped out his successful endeavors in hunting, fishing, tree farming, and raising Tennessee Walking Horses. Cattle were a way for Addison to get back to his roots in production agriculture and build an investment for his son outside of the construction business.

Addison said he is “a student at everything [he does],” and thus the search began at the university level with council from Mississippi State University and Texas A&M University. Before long, Addison began seeking advice from veterinarians and cattlemen across the nation. Driven by economics and strategy in his personal entrepreneurialism, the Business Breed was a natural place to start. Yet, Angus cattle don’t thrive on the coast and marshlands. Eared cattle, like the ones Addison grew up around, are whom he credits for frame and hardiness.

Grant Vassberg, owner and operator at Kallion Farms in College Station, Texas, runs one of the most progressive Brahman operations in the country. Kallion Farms was an investment started by Vassberg’s father and a business partner. From the beginning, they tracked carcass traits and kept diligent records of expected progeny differences (EPDs). More impressive is their dedication to real-world characteristics, like utter properties, sheath/navel scores, foot quality, temperament, and intelligence. When Vassberg took over operations and breeding decisions, he did so with a raw, out-of-the-box mindset. He had no preconceived notions on how to raise cattle.

“I chose to partner with Grant because he, too, is a self-starter. He’s sharp-minded and knows the industry,” said Addison. “Plus, he has access to facilities where we can separate half-bloods from quarter-bloods, etc.”

Finally, Kelly Schaff came on the scene to provide Angus cows from Schaff Angus Valley in North Dakota. For over 100 years, this top-producing purebred Angus outfit has had some of the best genetics around with the qualitative and quantitative numbers to back it up.

Of Kelly Schaff, Addison said, “he’s a top-notch breeder, gentleman, and a man of integrity.”

“While we were looking through cattle, Kelly said to simply pick a type and he would make it happen,” Vassberg said regarding his cattle buying experience. “He was just as eager to work together as we were excited to work with him.”

All parties involved have attended Brangus® sales and studied purebred and commercial Brangus herds, but a shortcut is not what they’re after. Addison’s plan is to take the time to create a quality product with his guarantee behind it. His money is where his mouth is, because he is prepared to loan cattle out if that’s what it takes to test their worth.

“I’m not looking to get rich quick,” Addison said. “This project is a major investment and I understand most wouldn’t take it on as a hobby.”

The Brangus Project is, sort of, too big to fail. The passion for challenge and improvement is evident across all parties involved. When selecting Angus sires, Vassberg researched over 3,000 bulls from the breed’s most popular genetics. Kallion Farms will be performing much of the embryo transfer (ET) work and that is how the majority of calf crops will be produced. In large part, the Kallion females will be moderate and fleshy, more non-typical of the Brahman breed. However, there are some with more frame.

Vassberg aims at this non-typical, versatile kind of cow in the over-arching goal of Kallion Farms. He culls quickly, believing in faster generational change leading to greater progress.

“I haven’t hit the limit for fertility traits, so why hold back?” Vassberg said. “I’m only performing in vitro flushes (IVF) on the virgin heifers, but that’s how I can change the look and data of my herd with more efficiency.”

Each breed’s improvement is evident and commendable when comparing the quality of livestock 30 years ago to today. In and outside of the show ring, producers are pushing each other to be more critical with selection and demand quality.

Addison said, “In the cattle industry, you either produce quality or you induce failure.”

However, Addison doesn’t see other producers as his competition. The Brangus Project will also carve out a niche market for fresh genetics. The first generation will be roughly 50-100 head and all steered progeny retained through slaughter. Given Kallion Farms’ history with GrowSafe technology, custom finishing, and success in producing prime-grading purebred Brahman cattle, this project will undoubtedly generate useful data.

There is a legitimate cause for concern when crossing Bos indicus genetics with Bos taurus. The unpredictability of genetic various is an obvious risk. Still, Addison respects the similar superiority of Kallion Farms and Schaff Angus Valley bloodlines.

“I understand most wouldn’t take this on,” Addison said. “I’ve taken numerous ventures in my life. Whether that’s been tree farming, bird dog breeding, Tennessee Walking Horse breeding, or my 52-acre bass fishing lake.”

All parties involved are invested because of the common vision. This is a chance for them to explore a science long dismissed. They will revisit the same problems of the pioneers in the Brangus® breed. This time, the cattle are better, the market is changing, and the possibilities are endless.