Santa Gertrudis Source January 2025

BUILDING BLOCKS Why Commercial Cattlemen Should Consider Santa Gertrudis

JESSICA WESSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T he building blocks of any struc ture must be strong. They serve as a foundation upon which the rest of the structure is built and must stand the test of time. As with anything, creating a robust commercial cattle herd has to start with the right ingredients. The Hefte Ranch in South Texas has raised purebred Santa Gertrudis cattle since the 1970s, and Kathryn Hefte has been involved in the operation since childhood. “We sell cattle to other seedstock produc ers and commercial cattlemen,” Hefte says. “Some of the commercial cattlemen who buy from us will often have elite programs, and we also sell to local producers around South Tex as. We run the whole gamut of producers.” She says commercial cattlemen should con sider building their herds on the Santa Ger trudis breed, especially as the weather tends to get warmer year after year. “Unfortunately, it’s a scientific fact that the earth is getting warmer, and Bos indicus cat tle are adaptable in the humid, hot climates,” Hefte says. “However, Santa Gertrudis cattle thrive in colder environments like British Co lumbia, Canada. They can thrive in the ex The Santa Gertrudis breed was developed in South Texas on the King Ranch in the early 20th century. The ranch needed an animal that could withstand the harsh environment and produce efficiently. The King Ranch started crossing Shorthorn cattle with Brahman, and they pivoted toward a cross of 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn as the most advantageous combination of the two breeds. The ranch continued breeding this combination until it gained popularity and was officially recognized in 1940 in the United States. Chris McClure, executive director of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI), says the breed is still known today for its heat tol erance. treme environments and adapt.” Environment-Hardy Cattle

“I’ve had commercial producers tell me that they will watch other breeds go to shade or the pond while the Santa Gertrudis-influenced cattle will continue grazing,” McClure says. “They can handle the heat much better be cause of their Bos indicus influence, red hide and thick skin. They radiate heat better than Bos taurus cattle, and are more parasite and disease resistant.” Some producers may have concerns about the breed’s infamous droopy ears and exces sive dewlap. However, the breed has pro gressed significantly in addressing those chal lenges. “If you look at the breed today, it’s not the same breed our grandparents knew,” McClure says. “The modern Santa Gertrudis has a clean underline and no excess skin. They were de veloped in the brush country of South Texas and can withstand thorns and rough country.” Santa Gertrudis cattle are not only found in hot, dry climates. They are also successful in colder, wetter climates. “Utah State just did a study comparing An gus, Santa Gertrudis and crossbred cattle with influences from both breeds,” McClure says. “They found that the Santa Gertrudis and crossbred calves had more cold tolerance based on their initial trial. This breed can adapt to any environment or conditions and thrive.” Exceptional Mothers Santa Gertrudis cattle not only thrive in ex treme environments but can also raise a calf in one. This is partly because the breed was de veloped on the King Ranch. “South Texas is not an area where you can intensely manage cattle,” Hefte says. “Cows are turned out and worked maybe once each year. If they have trouble calving, they won’t be around next year. In this climate, it’s sur vival of the fittest, and only the best survive.” This method has refined the breed’s ge netics to allow only the best mothers to con tinue their bloodlines, which is imperative for commercial herds.

The future of Santa Gertrudis has never been brighter, and breeders are working to advance Santa Gertrudis to the next level and keep it in high demand.

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SANTA GERTRUDIS SOURCE

JANUARY 2025