Balanced trait cattle breeding is the focus of the Shorthorn program at Kaper Cattle Company. We emphasize and seek a balance of traits that contribute to the Shorthorn strong suits of maternal efficiency and end product quality. We were fortunate to start with genetics from two herds with the same focus and have spent the last 36 years fine tuning these traits that make the Shorthorn a viable and relevant component for today's beef industry. We have taken a whole herd approach in our breeding program rather than trying to produce that one magic bullet, and feel this gives our customers a more reliable product instead of a genetic outlier that may or may not produce the same type of offspring. We realize that maternal efficiency is not a one size fits all proposition and can vary greatly in the wide variety of environments that cattle are raised in. The base traits however like structural soundness, udder quality, mothering ability, temperament and fertility from a program designed to reinforce those traits can have a positive impact on many cow herds across the country. One of the guiding principles of the early founders of this breed was the fact that they needed to produce a beef that would impress their neighbors, royalty and prospective customers when served at their tables. We feel this is an important attribute of the breed and have done DNA and carcass testing. We also value the feedback from buyers of the occasional freezer beef we have to offer. This info has confirmed that we have been able to maintain this valuable trait in our cattle and feel this is one of the most overlooked abilities of the Shorthorn breed.
