Product Development

Early Dawn/Buckhorn Ranches is a unique seedstock resource committed to the profitability of their customers. One of the ongoing projects at Early Dawn/Buckhorn Ranges is Limited Energy Performance Testing. This program is designed to identify ideal biological types for western range environments. The concept is really 180 degrees from the manner in which most of the seedstock industry has traditionally developed their product. Compare this to the manner in which an auto shock absorber company tests a product for industry suitability. By subjecting it to performance demands much greater than what will be expected of it in normal use, a superior product is developed. The concept of developing a product (genetics), in an ideal environment so completely different from the way in which that product will eventually be used, is just not wise money good cattlemen have come to appreciate our method of developing seedstock. Through an intensive breeding and multiple trait selection program, Gelbvieh and Balancer™ cattle at Early Dawn/Buckhorn Ranches have evolved into a high performance, low maintenance, easy to manage source of top revenue producing genetics for today's modern cattlemen.

Seven Great Reasons Early Dawn/Buckhorn Customers are are industry success stories!

#1 More Valuable Calves. Our Customers are taking advantage of all the additional growth available with hybrid vigor. Early Dawn/Buckhorn sired Gelbvieh and Balancer™ crossbred calves weigh 30 to 60 pounds more than neighbors' straightbred calves. This makes Early Dawn/Buckhorn performance bulls one of the best investments in the business today. Available to better business people NOW!

#2 Fabulous Mama Cows. Our Customers run the industry's most efficient mama cows at turning grass to cash, the Gelbvieh female. Four times more valuable than carcass premiums to the producer, the genetic maternal advantage of the Gelbvieh cross female allows an entire herd to produce like the top 20 percent of traditionally bred cowherds.

#3 Feedlot Performance. The Early Dawn/Buckhorn feedlot performance advantage over straightbred English cattle is often twice as valuable to our customers as industry available carcass premiums. With cost of gains 5 cents lower per pound; a 10 percent or greater feed conversion advantage; less time on feed; higher daily gains and more total pay weight to the market sooner, it's no wonder they're smiling! Our customers' results mirror that of the national Gelbvieh alliance tracing the feedlot and carcass performance of 85,000 head of cattle.


#4 Carcass Genetics. Early Dawn/Buckhorn Gelbvieh and Balancer™ carcass genetics, year after year, pen after pen produce premium value cattle for our customers. University of Wyoming,  has proven just how on track Early Dawn/Buckhorn Genetics are with these penlot results from Gelbvieh-Angus calves out of our herd sires.

Early Dawn/Buckhorn Carcass Results University of Wyoming
Yield Grade 1 & 2's	80%		Hot Carcass Wt	808lbs
Yield Grade 3's	20%		Backfat	-.36
			Ribeye Area	13.93
Choice	73%		%KPH	2.3
Select	27%		Yield Grade	2.1

#5 A Professional Program. An award winning holistic management program on the cutting edge! Our limited energy herd performance-testing program has set a new standard for the development of profitable Gelbvieh and Balancer™ Genetics. Early Dawn/Buckhorn bulls are range-raised, easy-going and moderate framed. Our athletic bulls come loaded with muscle, growth and strong maternal traits in one professionally produced package.

#6 Industry Commitment. Early Dawn/Buckhorn Ranches has been committed to making beef operations more successful for 29 years. By crossbreeding with top Gelbvieh and Balancer™ Genetics from Early Dawn/Buckhorn, progressive producers are crossing the scales with more pounds produced for less dollars. Off the range, in the feedlot and on the rail, our bulls are producing, more valuable feeder cattle and replacement females for our customers.

#7 The freedom to pursue a passion. The blessings of opportunity in the USA -"In God we do trust.", made possible by the freedoms of our land, and sacrifices of so many.