Brangus in the Land Down Under

by Taylor Shackelford

Brangus cattle are well-equipped for any climate with a thicker hide and greater surface area than their Bos indicus contemporaries. While many are under the impression that Brangus only exist in the coastal United States of America and continental South America, these cattle are perfect for the island life.

Australia and Thailand are just two countries in the beautiful pacific region and they’re interested in Brangus cattle. Entering these international markets is a top-notch U.S. program, Lake Majestik Farms (LMF).

LMF is a registered Brangus seedstock and commercial operation located on Sand Mountain in Flat Rock, Alabama. Owner, Nic Cornelison, runs approximately 800 head on roughly 4,000 acres and the numbers keep expanding. He grew up around commercial beef cattle but knew nothing of Brangus until a family member journeyed to Texas in 2004 and came back with a few cows from the reputable Brinks herd.

In 2006, Cornelison bought the herd from his cousin and ran these registered Brangus alongside his mixtures of Angus, Hereford and Charolais.

“I noticed the Brangus cows would stay out grazing while the other breeds lounged in the ponds and shade,” Cornelison said. “My Brangus were outperforming all the other cattle by leaps and bounds.”

The research began, and it started at the dispersal of Camp Cooley. The nearest buyers of those genetics were Salacoa Valley Farms, Char-No, and Quail Creek. Cornelison was a volume buyer at several sales. However, he soon realized that he could maximize on powerful donor females and has since acquired some of the breed matriarchs such as 30L18 & 468L.  Genetic power houses such as 541T42, 803T6, 415P27, 99P52, 30T94, 75R47, 75S36, 607R44, and 99T38 have also impacted LMF.

The same passion for cow power, lead LMF to source alliances with breeders in other nations in hopes of creating outstanding females. Cornelison and his family recently returned from Queensland, Australia visiting a long-time friend of LMF, Telpara Hills.

“Wow, they have built a powerful cow herd that resembles ours,” Cornelison said of Telpara Hills. “A great herd has to have cows that are proven and powerful to substantiate the latest young bulls.”

LMF and Telpara Hills, both, want to tell their story of who they are and what they are trying to achieve consistently.

But genetics aren’t everything, LMF uses Purina’s nutritional programs for anything from mineral supplementation to test feeding. LMF compiles history and data to back up what is projected phenotypically. Through use of Total Herd Reporting and large contemporary groups, Cornelison and his staff focus on locating the best genetics with the greatest potential for performance.

LMF encourages other producers to work together in continually advancing the accuracy of data recording. The grassroots research efforts in the United States are a major selling point for international markets. For the US beef cattle producer, collecting performance data to go alongside your Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) numbers will only boost your income both domestic and abroad. There’s no logic in avoiding the trend.

“The biggest reason an international producer should purchase US Brangus genetics,” Cornelison said, “is to invest in consistent, powerful performance backed by industry-leading research on EPDs.”

Social media and the internet are great tools to foster relations with minimal language barriers and without having to pay for international calls. LMF stays in touch with their international clients through email, text and Facebook. Through these mediums, they have hosted numerous tour groups throughout the year.

“We’ve teamed up with local breeders representing other breeds to promote the farms in our area,” Cornelison said. “Through this program, we usually host a tour, at least, every other week.”

LMF is so committed to this open-door policy that they converted the old Flat Rock Theatre Building into a bunkhouse. Guests can stay on the farm and participate in the local activities and learn about the cattle all in one trip. Although LMF enjoys working with other ranches, they have their own breeding principals, make independent decisions, and take risks to achieve greatness for themselves and customers. This lends to freer communication between LMF and foreign governments too.

“We have found that it is of the upmost importance to work with great partners such as: TransOva, Bickett Genetics, and IBS when working with exports,” Cornelison said. “Each country has their own set of rules and teaming up with companies that understand them is critical to your success.”

Ultimately, Cornelison sees awareness as the biggest challenge facing the Brangus breed. He talked about the necessity of a campaign uniting Brangus producers across the nation and showcasing the wonderful breed we all raise. He has a favorite line that he uses when marketing LMF livestock.

“If you can find better cattle than the Brangus breed, show them to me and I will buy them,” Cornelison says, “you won’t find them though, plain and simple.”