Brangus Value Project Proves Brangus Are Built for Profit

The Brangus Value Project (BVP), launched nearly four years ago as a collaborative effort between the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Breed Improvement Committee and the International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF), continues to showcase the breed’s superior economic and production advantages. This initiative was designed to benchmark the terminal value of Brangus-influenced feeder steers in feedlots and packing plants while assessing the breed’s competitiveness in these environments.

The project began with the selection of 17 influential Brangus sires, chosen based on the number of progeny recorded in the IBBA database. These sires were bred to commercial cows, and the resulting steer calves were DNA-verified before being sent to a feedyard in southwest Kansas. There, they were managed until they reached finishing weight before being processed at a beef packer. Comprehensive carcass grading data was collected, and steak samples from each steer were sent to Texas Tech University for tenderness testing.

To date, three groups totaling 300 steers have been included in the project, producing key findings in feed efficiency, grading performance, tenderness, and—most critically—economic value.
Brangus steers in the feedyard consistently outperformed their counterparts, gaining ¾ of a pound more per day while consuming ½ pound less feed for every pound of live weight gained. Over a 150-day feeding period, this efficiency translates to significant cost savings and increased profitability at harvest.

In terms of carcass quality, Brangus steers demonstrated exceptional grading performance, with 90% achieving USDA Choice or Prime, and nearly 40% grading Premium Choice—exceeding the industry average of 85% Choice. Additionally, tenderness testing results were outstanding, with 96% of the steak samples categorized as “Tender” or “Very Tender.”

The most compelling finding for producers is the economic value of Brangus-influenced cattle. When accounting for feed efficiency savings and grid premiums, Brangus steers consistently outperformed commodity projections by approximately $200 per head.

“These results challenge the long-held belief that indicus-influenced cattle struggle to compete with their northern counterparts,” said Kyle Caldwell, IBBA’s director of field services & strategic projects. “The data clearly demonstrates that the traditional ‘eared discount’ can become a ‘Brangus premium’. Producers in heat-stressed environments, where Brangus and Ultra cattle excel, can achieve remarkable results with high-quality Brangus genetics.”

The fourth set of steers is currently on feed and will be harvested in the summer of 2025 as the BVP continues to validate the breed’s performance through data-driven research. The results reaffirm what Brangus breeders have long known—Brangus cattle are truly Built for Profit.

For more information on the breed and this data, contact Kyle Caldwell at [email protected] or call the IBBA at 210-696-8231.