In 1972
, Henry Lyssy started Lyssy Beefmasters in Stockdale, Texas. Henry’s passion for ranching was passed on through his family, creating a lifestyle for his children and grandchildren. The ranch was passed on to Henry’s sons, Lawrence and George and is managed by his grandson Lauren. The family has spent several decades improving their herd and striving for the perfect combination of pedigree, performance and phenotype. Their program, based on multi-trait selection, creates proven outcrosses exhibiting performance and predictability. This program allows us to deliver the demands of marketability and reputable pedigrees to both registered cattle breeders and commercial cattlemen.
It all started with 46 years ago, Henry
two bulls
bought two Beefmaster bulls to run on his commercial herd. It didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the breed after witnessing the improvements with each new calf crop.
“Dad liked the hybrid vigor,” George said. “The calves gained at a higher rate versus the common commercial market kind of calves. This meant that we were going to turn a dollar quicker.” In the late 1980s, George and Lawrence established their own purebred Beefmaster operation. They set the bar high, challenging themselves to continually improve the genetics fo their cattle to mirror the programs of premier breeders in the Beefmaster business. “When we were younger and saw how elite breeders operated, it became a challenge for us to raise better cattle. That’s what we have been working hard to do from then until now,” Lawrence said.
Their passion extends past the cattle. Involved heavily with Beefmaster Breeders Unite, the Lyssys strive to help fellow members excel.
Over the years, the family has held several positions. These include: serving on the BBU Board of Directors, President of the Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Association, Treasurer of the South Texas Beefmaster Breeders Association, International Committee Chair, South 40 Treasurer, Ethics Committee Member, Commercial Marketing Committee, and the Breed Improvement Committee, among others. The Lyssys have been blessed with multiple accomplishments recognized by the BBU. These include: Breeder of the Year in 2011, Member of the Year in 2013, and Performance Breeder of the Year in 2015. One of Lyssy Beefmasters’ greatest opportunities through the organization has been hosting Field Days. These Field Days have allowed the Lyssys to invite industry experts to speak with fellow breeders and given the breeders an opportunity to bring cattle for carcass ultra sound testing.
As George and Lawrence began integrating outside genetics, they chose to combine pedigree and performance, two concepts that now shape the growth of their program. This is when Lyssy Beefmasters truly began to take shape.
As carcass EPD’s gain importance in today’s industry, Lyssy Beefmasters strongly advocates for carcass ultra-sounding to improve Beefmaster marketability to the commercial cattleman. In the spring of 2018, Lyssy Beefmasters had a purebred yearling heifer scan a REA of 12.8 and an IMF of 9.01. This comInitially, the ranch improved pedigrees by buying bination would yield a USDA prime carcass upon bulls and outside genetics. They were able to take slaughter. This is an exciting feat for all breeds, but their program to the next level with Artificial Insem- especially Bos indicus! ination and Embryo Transfer once Lauren graduated from college with a degree in Bovine Reproductive In 2015, Lyssy Beefmasters donated the Miss B.E.E.F. Physiology. This broadened their opportunities for to be auctioned off at the Beefmaster Convention. incorporating great genetics into the herd and alBought for $50,000, that female is now owned by lowed them to improve with each generation. several breeders who continue to utilize her genetics today.
Lawrence, Lauren & George Lyssy (210) 414-2119 • llyssy11@yahoo.com
www.LyssyBeefmasters.com
PRODUCTION SALE • OCTOBER 6, 2018 • 10:30 AM Luling Foundation - Luling, Texas
RCCM
Sale Manager: Robbins Cattle Marketing Bruce Robbins (210) 861-5136 Mobile robbinscattle@att.net
Sale Consultant: Three G Sales & Service Mike Green (979) 229-6563 threeg1990@yahoo.com
Guest Consignor:
G4 Ranch
Burnell & Laura Gates, Owner Sale Consultant & Auctioneer: Anthony Mihalski (210) 415-0888 aj1mihalski@aol.com
You cannot MANAGE what is not MEASURED Lyssy Beefmasters’ goal is to sell cattle with proven performance to both seedstock and commercial cattlemen This has been the mentality at Lyssy Beefmasters through the development of their herd as they work to stay on the forefront of the beef industry. The Lyssys continually seek out new ways to measure and test their genetics against the industry, reaching well beyond the Beefmaster breed. Initially, performance testing was limited to birth, weaning, and yearling weights. But they asked themselves, “Why stop there?” For the last 10 years, the Lyssys have utilized carcass ultrasounds on all of their yearling heifers and bulls. These tools have allowed them to combine effective EPDs with pedigrees. The Lyssys value the concept that efficient programs carry three competitive traits: pedigree, performance, and phenotype. In 2011, the entire Lyssy Beefmaster fall bull crop was sent to the Genetic Development Center to match their feed efficiency traits against other bulls from varying breeds. They wanted to submit bulls to the Grow Safe system to find another way to measure a need in the cattle industry. Since, Lyssy Beefmasters have had bulls out-test Angus, Brangus, Brahman and Santa Gertrudis. After finding extensive value in the Grow Safe system, the Lyssys have sent bulls to the Genetic Development Center every year since 2011.
Kris Fore, Ranch Manager (830) 220-0579 • kdfore@gmail.com 14449 E. FM 140 Bigfoot, TX 78005
Sale Consultant: Runnels Marketing Vance Runnels (210) 862-8967 vfrunnels@yahoo.com
Today's Genetics
Lyssy Beefmasters have built their herd around a collection of Herd Sires whose abilities have been proven through consistent, high performing calf crops.
Maverick
Their most notable bull is Maverick. Born in 2007, Maverick has set the standard on the ranch for offering consistent, maternal characteristics. In fact, most of the cattle on the ranch carry his genetics. It isn’t likely that you’ve seen another bull impact a single program and breed as heavily as Maverick has for Lyssy Beefmasters and the Beefmaster breed. If it’s maternal characteristics you’re after, Maverick is the bull for you.
New Design
Born and raised on the Lyssy Ranch, New Design is a practically made bull whose progeny contributes to their program. Not only did his genetics stand up to the test against other breeds, but his calves excel in feed conversion and his daughters have become extremely consistent breeders.
VFF Rydin Dirty
It was love at first sight when this bull caught Lauren and Lawrence’s eyes at Vaughn Family Farms. VFF Rydin Dirty has been an asset to Lyssy Beefmasters when it comes to incorporating design and carcass merit. His calves are unique and his EPDs are DON’T MISS YOUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BUY HIS GENETICS IN THE HEART OF THE HERD PRODUCTION SALE!
Pinnacle
Living up to his name, Pinnacle is the peak of what the Lyssy Ranch has worked so hard to develop. Used often in the Beefmaster breed today, Pinnacle combines pedigree with a unique package, producing calves who carry his design and have been extremely sought after in recent calf crops
Lyssy Beefmasters have been recording feed efficiency data the longest of competing Beefmaster genetics, offering bull buyers an invaluable asset. Not only are the bulls backed by EPDs, you have access to feed conversion data on each bull’s sire, eliminating a lot of the risk in buying great genetics. why buy genetics that haven’t been tested for feed conversion?
Refined genetics don’t stop with
the bull battery. The Lyssy Beefmasters donor pen is one that has been meticulously polished to help diversify genetic outcrosses while maintaining the fundamentals of the Lyssy’s program. The Lyssys have purchased numerous outcross females who have earned their place as cornerstones to their herd. These females have raised extremely prolific daughters, aiding in their ability to offer progeny out of high quality, consistent cows. The culmination of years of breeding proven cow families gives the Lyssy family the ability to sell cattle based on predictability.
In an industry measured in pounds of product, there’s little room for unSWB Pure P leasure certainty with genetics. Take the guess work out of how your calf crop will perform and help your bottom dollar! The Lyssys believe that by maintaining consistency and improving on genetic markers, they can begin to close the gap on cattle industry myths. To add more value, Lyssy Beefmasters test calves with the HD50K and HD150K DNA markers. Put less in to your calves get more out of them In recent years, Lyssy Beefmasters has incorporated genetics from other breeds to take Beefmaster carcass genetics to the next level through the Beefmaster Advancer Program. Through this program, the Lyssys are able to maximize Beefmaster’s genetic opportunity for carcass merit while retaining the maternal characteristics that make the breed known.
Oasis II
VFF 9/2
Vogue
Guinevere
Lyssy Beefmasters are going
GLOBAL
Lyssy Beefmaster genetics can be found in many foreign countries including: Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Thailand, Columbia and Nicaragua. With future genetics to being sent to Australia and Argentina.
As a culmination of the breeding and management over the last few decades, Lyssy Beefmasters has decided to host their first Production Sale. The family feels that they have reached their goals in fine-tuning the genetics on the ranch and they are eager to share these genetics with fellow breeders. Lyssy Beefmasters is excited to invite you to their Heart of the Herd Production Sale to be held on
Saturday October 6, 2018 at 10:30 am in Luling, TX at the Luling Foundation The cattle will be available for viewing on Friday, October 5, 2018. Heavy hors d’ oeuvres will be served Friday night for the chance to catch up with fellow breeders and answer any questions about sale offerings.
857 FM 1347 Stockdale, TX 78160