TR HK GOOGLE 133P
2012 Braford Show Bull of the Year
and
National Braford Show Reserve Grand Champion
Owned with Rhea Shields
No Google semen will be offered in 2013.
Watch for details on semen packages available in 2014.

Shows are not our focus. But we we do strive to breed performance cattle that look good too.

Congratulations again to Ari Montemayor for showing WB LG MIRASOL 237P to Calf Champion and Reserve Grand Champion honors at the recent National Braford Show in Houston.

Congratulations to Mason Koster for making TR LG MISS COOL FRONT 117P the 2012-2013 Braford Show Female of the Year.

Congratulations to Grheason Shields for making TR HK GOOGLE 133P the 2012-2013 Braford Show Bull of the Year.

Grheason recently won the competitive LSU Spring Livestock Show with Google. The Reserve Grand Champion Female in this big show was won by an Amanda Lee bred heifer that was sired by TR HK MILK TRUCK 905P and out of a Wayne Boozer bred female.

Congratulations to Ari Montemayor for winning the prestigious San Antonio Junior Heifer Show with WB LG MIRASOL 237P. The Reserve Grand Champion in San Antonio was a daughter of TR MV HULK 153P that was bred by Darrell Denison and Exhibited by Tate Villanueva.

We do not plan to have an internet heifer sale in 2013.

Our purebred Braford breeding program is focused on genetics – specifically performance genetics. Effective genetic evaluation can be challenging and requires diligence and accuracy of taking measurements. We measure birth weight with scales – no hoof tapes and no windshield estimations. We shrink our calves before taking weaning weights to get true phenotypic weights that reflect real growth and not differences in fill. Our ultrasound measurements are taken at the prescribed age then evaluated by the CUP lab not chute side by the scanning technician who may or may not be a disinterested party. We record yearling weights at the same time we scan cattle to eliminate any questions of data manipulation that is often associated with separate yearling weight and carcass data collection procedures.

We use EPDs religiously. Don't let anyone convince you that actual or adjusted weights need to be considered either by themselves or in conjunction with the EPDs. EPDs are the best available indication of transmittable genetics in an animal – they trump everything else. Simple phenotypic measurements can easily be manipulated and usually reflect more non-genetic and environmental influences than genetic differences. Even low accuracy EPDs are superior to actual weights or measurements when you are making selection decisions. Use the EPDs.

Recently, we heard seedstock producer Donnell Brown make a very profound statement at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, "Test for performance while managing for longevity." We've practiced these principles for decades. Starving pregnant females to minimize birth weight or creep feeding calves to maximize weaning weights or percent IMF is counterproductive in the long run. These common purebred breeder practices can thwart genetic evaluation and reduce productivity and longevity in the cattle produced. There is no genetic improvement advantage whatsoever to be derived from pushing or overfeeding cattle. You can effectively discern genetic differences at lower feeding levels and at the same time spend less money on development and ensure greater productive longevity.

Our goal is to improve performance genetics in the cattle we breed and sell to our customers. Excessive feed might make them look a little better, weigh more at any measurement point or have more intramuscular fat when scanned. None of these yield superior EPDs or guarantee better genetics to be transmitted to future generations.

We are always excited to talk to you about cattle genetics. We enjoy discussing our program and philosophies of breeding Brafords with superior maternal and solid carcass genetics. If you want to improve your cattle, focus on buying superior genetics and don't fall for excessive feed, fluff or blue sky. We sell genetics. We breed and sell superior Braford genetics that look good too.

Welcome
Welcome to our website. The primary business of Thunderstorm R Cattle Company is the breeding and marketing of functional UBB registered Braford cattle. We focus our breeding efforts on maternal superiority and have no interest in breeding cattle for the terminal sire side of the industry. We ask that you please consider purchasing our bulls if you desire to raise productive replacement females. We ask that you consider purchasing our females if you want to quickly enhance your cowherd. All of our breeding decisions are geared toward cowherd improvement that yields females demonstrating consistent, strong performance over a long, productive, unpampered lifetime. We are closely aligned with the Wayne Boozer Braford breeding program and all of our cows are located in the East Texas Pineywoods near Douglass, Texas. See the "About US" link to learn more about the relationship between Thunderstorm R Cattle Company and Wayne Boozer Brafords.

Based on decades of experience and formal academic training in animal breeding and genetics, we offer comprehensive consulting services for purebred as well as progressive commercial producers. Our consulting focus is genetic improvement of the cowherd as well as associated purebred marketing.

Thunderstorm R Cattle Company, Nacogdoches, Texas
Rodney, Pam and Emily Roberson; Amy, Kevin and Henry Hayes
rlr@thunderstormrcattle.com