WHY GELBVIEH?

JUNIOR CONNECTION BY ISABEL LOWE, AGJA DIRECTOR

Living in the small town of Adrian, Missouri, there are many commercial cattle operations that use crossbreeding in their herd. Now, I am a huge advocate for the Gelbvieh breed so with every chance I get, I tell them how great the breed is. I have convinced several breeders in my area to add Gelbvieh genetics to their herd. I did this by telling them about their maternal traits, disposition, stayability, and growing abilities.

The first thing a commercial producer needs is a live, healthy calf on the ground. Gelbvieh cattle are most widely known for their maternal strengths as they are called the “maternal breed”. They are a moderate, fertile, and easycalving breed. Gelbvieh cattle have one of the highest fertility rates out of any breed and they can handle a larger calf at birth. They also are one of the best in calving ease. Any producer likes to not have to worry about their cattle calving. It is also very important for the cow to have good milking capabilities, so the calf grows properly.

After a producer has a live and healthy calf on the ground, they want it to grow fast and well which is exactly what Gelbvieh does. Gelbvieh genetics offer heavier calves at weaning that continue to excel and become more desirable in the beef industry. Continuing that growth to the feedlot, Gelbvieh is known for their efficiency and great ability to gain in the feedlot. In turn that gets them market ready faster and saves you money on feed. It also makes it easier to pack on the pounds without sacrificing quality yield grades. When harvested, Gelbvieh carcasses are one of the best as they average lower yield grades and higher amounts of Prime and Choice.

For me, disposition is a huge aspect of choosing cattle. A heifer could have the best EPDs and be the best-looking heifer I’ve ever seen, but if she is hotheaded and crazy, she is not coming to my house. Even though disposition is not a physical aspect of cattle it is still crucial. It costs time and money if you have a cow acting up while trying to handle them or if a cow won’t even let you near her in a pasture. Gelbvieh does well when it comes to disposition. They are known to be very level-headed and easygoing compared to other breeds. This makes handling and calving so much easier. Which also helps keep these cows in your herd. This leads me to stayability. Keeping females in your herd makes them more profitable. It takes a huge portion of your profit each time you buy a replacement female. That is why it is so valuable that Gelbvieh females offer stayability.

It is easy to see Gelbvieh has many positive traits and attributes that could be used in any industry. Gelbvieh adds stayability, higher production rates, growth and overall profit. That is why so many people around me now use Gelbvieh genetics in their commercial herd and you should, too.