performance shorthorns

Though not all non-asterisk cattle registered with the American Shorthorn Association qualify for native status, the majority of those instances due to the infusion of Irish Shorthorn blood, many non-asterisk, non-native Shorthorns are of extremely high quality and have much to contribute to the beef industry. Such is the case with the non-asterisk HHFS cattle. They have proven themselves to possess natural high performance ability as well as balanced and practical efficiency and longevity for the low-input system. These non-asterisk genetics have been the hub, around which our program has rotated for many years and until something proven to be unmistakably better comes along, they will continue to be so. We believe that proper blending of the right old native Shorthorn genetics with our modern day, well proven genetics, will provide the right type and kind of bovine genotype that will be able to continue to satisfy not only the basic low-input, grass based producer, but every segment from there to the discriminating palate of the consumer.

For many years now, we have striven to produce environmentally adaptable, functionally efficient, balanced females, who produce well into double figure age, and whose progeny can work under a wide range of circumstances. Because the bull has a greater short term numerical impact which is more easily noticed than that of the cow, she often doesn’t get the credit she deserves for her total contribution to the program. However, the truly astute cattleman is fully aware of the great importance of his females. In the words of Dr. Ron Bolze, “If you get the cows right, everything else will follow.”

The year 2001, was the completion year for our involvement in the NCBA Carcass Merit Project. 12 heifers and 20 steers sired by HHFS Dream Weaver and HHFS Leah’s Legacy were harvested on May 23, 2001. Though Hidden Hill Farm is never mentioned, upon close examination of the actual kill data reported, it is easy to determine that the article “The Value of Cow Herd Genetics”, which appeared in the August issue of Shorthorn Country, discusses the evaluation and real value of HHFS female genetics for the beef industry. We find the concluding sentences of the article to be most appropriate. “The real value isn’t what the bull can do, but the real value is what the female can do in today’s new millennium beef cattle industry. She is the rocket fuel and the profit maker for the breed and the industry.” Those comments are pertinent to anyone raising beef, whether it is in a grass/forage base system or mainstream grain finishing. The serious beef producer can’t afford to compromise on female genetics.