The Base of the BRC Cow Herd

A few weeks ago, I was WhatsApping with an international breeder and he asked me what was the “base” of the BRC herd. And at first, I explained to him my general spiel about how I got started in the cattle business, and what most of my cows are, etc etc. But, he said, ‘No….your BASE…..you know, like Manso, Imperator….etc.” So it got my mind rolling, and prompted me to start doing a little more research. 

So in true dork fashion, I went on the ABBA website and started searching some of our more famous cows, and just clicking back as far as possible on the pedigree to get their full lineage. It’s a fun activity if you haven’t tried it. 

And then I went spreadsheet lol. 

And what I found was super interesting. Really, the “base” of our modern BRC herd is a solid foundation of Manso breeding, as to be expected, since it’s esimated over 80 percent of today’s Brahman cattle trace back to this sire. But, I also found that there are several other prominent sires that kept popping up over and over again, and I thought it was interesting to share. 

So, our current BRC herd is currently focused around three cow families:

1. Boom Shaka Laka, which actually started with Miss V8 382/7
2. JDH Lady Jennessa, and her daughter Lupita
3. Miss V8 98/6, our foundation cow family. 

Recently, Sweetie has been a major producer for us in the last five years but maybe not high enough to label her a “foundation” cow family. But still relevant.

Another very relevant cow family that we need to mention is +Miss V8 617/2. While her influence isn’t prevalent in our modern breeding program, she is a significant foundation female of the breed through her offspring Mr. V8 666/3 and Miss V8 666/3, which ultimately led to the creation of many great females through the sire and also the tremendous herd bulls Superstroke and Powerstroke through the 666/3 female line. 

So, here is a glimpse at a quick summary of the BRC genetic base.

+Miss V8 98/6 Key Bloodline Facts

• Bred by Rachel’s grandpa, Sloan Williams. He sold 98 to a junior exhibitor. When the junior exhibitor was finished showing, Rachel purchased it from the junior exhibitor.
• Polled cow family, with the polled genetics coming in from lots of Sugarland breeding
• From the Sugarland side, you see a lot of Imperator, and also the old William States Jacobs bull “Nobille”
• However, you also see the heavy influence of the great Rex A Manso in this cow family. Rex A Manso is one of the greatest Brahman bulls of all time, just a tremendous sire who’s influence is very widespread. 
• So obviously, Manso is heavily represented here, but as you trace back further, this cow family originates with the 1924 Importation from Brazil. She features the influence of three of the original Brazilian imported bulls: Supimpa, Maroto, Rodrigo

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Miss V8 382/7 and Miss V8 21/8 Key Bloodline Facts

• 382 was born at Brandon’s parent’s home in Mississippi, before Brandon and Rachel got married. When he moved to Texas, Brandon brought her with him in his old rickety red stock trailer. She came with one of Brandon’s half Brahman half Holstein recips as a calf at side.
• Since we had just gotten married, we branded her with the V8 brand.
• Brandon actually owned half of her with Jeff Smith. But, Mr. Smith gave Rachel his half for our wedding gift.
• So, while she is named “Miss V8” – she was actually born in Mississipi and has nothing to do with V8 Ranch. Her sire is the famous +Mr. V8 901/4 bull, but the bottom side of her pedigree was really different than what a lot of Rachel’s cattle were bred like – and so she was almost like an outcross to Rachel’s foundation herd.
• The 382 / 21 cow family is a mix of 3-X (Emily Dial) and Johnny Jefcoat breeding. 
• As you analyze the top side of her pedigree, you’ll find a big influence from the historic 3-X Ranch, owned by Emily Dial. We love this fact, because Emily is a great inspiration as a female Brahman breeder, and she is known for raising some of the most gorgeous, majestic, heavy Guzerat influenced cattle of the breed. This is also very interesting, because when you look at 21 and her offspring from a visual perspective, you can still see that strong Guzerat presence, through her broad head shape, strong muzzle, and big hump. 
• From the 3X Line, the ancestry traces back to Tippu, Rex Emperor Manso, Rx, Aristocrat, and double bred to the 1924 Brazilian imported bull Supimpa. 
• From the Jefcoat side, you’ll find breed greats like, Manso Grande, JJ 389, Imperator, Jeremias, Jack, Sartwelle’s Hazel cow, Maroto, Aristocrata. Another really interesting fact is that the bottom side of this pedigree goes back to Manso’s half sister.

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+JDH Lady Jennessa Key Facts

• While this female was purchased from the Locke Division of J.D. Hudgins, she actually carries primarily the Forgason Division of J.D. Hudgins influence. Which again, we love, because Rachel’s grandmother Mollie Williams was born into the J.D. Hudgins Forgason Division. So it’s so interesting how the cattle from this family are continuing to bless our family. 
• Jennessa was purchased from the Locke Division of J.D. Hudgins as a 17 year old cow, when as a young couple we purchased about 25 mature cows from the Lockes. John was very honest with us in the fact that she may or may not breed (since she was so old) and so for good luck we put her in our daughter Mollie’s name. 
• This cow family represents all the “greats” of the JD Hudgins Forgason Division, including two Vanguard sires: JDH Charley Manso 590/6 and JDH Gregory Manso. Then of course, going back even further you again find Rex A Manso, Manso, and Aristocrata the original 1924 Brazilian imported bull. 

One of our slogans at BRC is “Where Tradition Meets Modern,” and we think it’s a good exercise for any breeder to go back and really study where your herd originates from. It’s interesting to go back through generations of pedigrees and see all the herd prefixes and other breeders who have had a hand in breeding and producing the cattle that have propelled our herd to where it is today. 

Since Rachel grew up on V8 Ranch, some people may think her herd is just cattle from that ranch, or maybe even cattle she inherited, which is wrong. We did not inherit a single animal from V8 Ranch. We do have a few that we purchased from them through the years (like 98).

Overall, the base of the BRC herd has very little of the V8 Ranch show type cattle influence. Our herd is more aligned with production, fertility and maternal traits, and less with show (even though we love a good show win!)

But, it goes without saying, so much of the management practices and breeding philosophies we use today are rooted in the time-tested mentorship we got from Rachel’s grandpa, Sloan Williams. And that most definitely carries a huge weight in the breeding practices we use today. We always try to remember that in the back of our mind while we put in our own ideas and innovation.

I challenge you to do this in your own herd. Take a few of your “favorites” and go on the ABBA website and start tracing backwards. It does take a lot of paper to print lol! But it’s totally worth it!