The benefits of good Hereford genetics? Better dispositions, more live calves, fewer headaches, efficient production, better longevity, more consistency, excellent heterosis when crossed, less feed, the best feed and forage conversion, shorter time to finish, more pounds, superior quality tender beef, delicious flavor, and more profit.
Better dispositions: Among beef cattle, the Hereford breed is the undisputed leader in disposition. Safety and ease of handling make Herefords a wise economic choice. Their gentle natures make Hereford heifers and steers favorites among junior cattle showmen. Calm dispositions are linked to better eating quality as well. Australian studies have demonstrated that calmer cattle produce more tender beef.

Article provide by Debby Dulworth, 2006

More Live Calves
If the cow doesn¹t produce a live calf and raise it to weaning each and every year in an acceptable manner, she will not make a profit for her owner, the cowman. Hereford cows bred to the right bulls for calving ease can calve at two years old without assistance and rebreed to produce a calf every year.

Fewer Headaches
The right kind of Hereford cows can give birth to their calves without assistance, on pasture, mother them with excellent maternal instincts, and raise their calves on milk and forage, without creep feed. The right kind of Hereford bulls have the drive and the rugged feet and legs to cover a herd in demanding range conditions.

Efficient Production
It is not uncommon for a two-year-old Hereford cow to produce half her weight in pounds of calf by weaning time. Many Hereford cows can continue to wean 40 to 50 percent of their mature weight in calf each year. With average rainfall, they can do this economically, on good, well-managed pasture and appropriate minerals, without grain and other expensive supplements.

Better Longevity
It is also not at all uncommon for Hereford cows to remain productive past the age of twelve or fourteen years. Good Hereford cross cows can survive on less feed, stay fertile, and produce a yearly calf of high quality more reliably than any other cross. When given the opportunity, good Hereford bulls can sire calves at similar advanced ages.

More Consistency
Herefords are more consistent, better adapted to their environments, and produce a more reliably high quality beef than other breeds. The many linebred Hereford herds developed in different parts of the country carry this consistency advantage even further.

Excellent Heterosis
The purity of the Hereford genetic base makes the Hereford cross calf among the best for hybrid vigor. Baldy (Hereford cross or white-faced) cows are the cowman's favorite and most recognized beef factory; baldy heifers are highly valued herd replacement females. Cross the right kind of proven Herefords on the right kind of proven Angus, Brangus, Charolais, Gelbvieh or other beef breed, and heterosis gives the commercial cowman extra pounds of calf to sell.

Less Feed
Hereford and Hereford cross cows are the most efficient producers of high-quality beef calves on pasture, with less feed. The right Herefords, with enough good grass and forages to eat, can be born easily with a light or moderate birth weight, and still weigh between 450 and 650 lbs. by weaning time--even without creep fed grain.

Better Feed Conversion
Many studies have proven that Hereford cross steers can convert fewer pounds of grain to more pounds of high quality tender beef in a shorter time than any other breed.

Shorter Time on Feed
A good Hereford steer can finish at an acceptable weight and quality grade by the age of 14 to 18 months in the feedlot--even without the extra benefit of hybrid vigor.

Best Forage Conversion
Herefords have been selectively bred to produce beef on pasture for over 250 years. (Click on "History² for more.) Modern Herefords, selected for fast early growth, can even finish and produce tender beef on forages alone (hay and grass), without grain by the time they are 15 to 30 months old. For the backgrounder wanting more pounds of gain on grass or for the forage finisher wanting high quality grassfed beef, Herefords are the best choice.

More Pounds
Hereford-sired calves produce more pounds of beef than Angus-sired calves, with equally good eating quality. Herefords are naturally a larger breed of cattle than Angus, but have faster early growth and are smaller at maturity than most continental breeds.

Superior Quality, Tender Beef
For cattlemen who have already used registered Angus bulls to unify a mongrelized cow herd, coming back on those black females with a registered Hereford bull will get a truly efficient, quality beef factory that can still qualify to be either Certified Angus Beef or Certified Hereford Beef.

Delicious Flavor
Throughout its history, Hereford beef has won top ranking in taste tests for its excellent flavor and eating quality. Consumers of Hereford beef frequently say that it is more consistently flavorful than any other breed of beef. The flavor of Hereford beef has earned approval in restaurants, supermarkets, and home freezers, nationwide and worldwide.

Herefords are the best at balancing quality, efficiency, fertility, growth and economy. All of those things add up to MORE PROFIT for you, the cattleman.