About Us
Our mission at Steeple View Ranch is to breed outstanding Murray Grey Cattle being the seed stock producer of choice in commercial beef cattle grass finished herds. We use an extensive Embryo and Artificial Insemination program utilizing the top bulls in the breed from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Steeple View Ranch selects for fertility, soundness, structure, calving ease, tenderness, moderate size,and ability to perform on grass. We combine DNA Igenity Profile data for tenderness, Breedplan performance data along with our actual performance measurements. The Murray Grey Group Breedplan incorporates information from Murray Grey Breeders in Australia, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand. Steeple View Ranch Murray Greys are analyzed together with Murray Greys worldwide under the same performance metrics.
Most of Steeple View Ranch Cows and Sires have a perfect 10 for tenderness on the Igenity DNA Profile . Tenderness of meat is largely determined genetically. Proof of tenderness, post-harvest, is demonstrated with precise, objective laboratory tests, using the Warner Bratzler Shear Test which measures the shear strength needed to cut a piece of beef. The American Beef Industry has found exceptional correlation between DNA marker testing scores and post-harvest meat tenderness testing. DNA testing for tenderness is expressed on a scale of 0 to 10; a score of 4, 5 or 6 indicates the eating experience of meat from that animal will be a good one. A score of 7 or higher promises a superior eating experience–as in being able to cut that animal’s with a fork!
Tenderness scores can be assessed through Igenity, by identifying the profiles for enzymes calpain and calpastatin. These two enzymes influence muscle tenderness, which is measured by the force required to cut a beef steak. The naturally occurring proteins calpain and calpastatin influence meat tenderness post-mortem by weakening muscle fibres and the test identifies variations in animals’ calpain genotype. Once consumers start paying a premium for tenderness, producers who have been breeding and selecting for it will be in a stronger position to take advantage of the opportunity. Inadequate tenderness is still a huge and major problem for grass finished beef. What’s more, they’ve tested enough cattle to know quite a bit about the frequencies of the favorable alleles for the tenderness DNA markers. Regardless of breed, animals that score more than 7 for tenderness aren’t all that prevalent.
The Advantage of using crossbreeding Murray Grey Bulls in a commercial herd:
- Grass Fed Genetic Advantage: Murray Greys were developed by commercial cattle breeders to produce the best quality beef on grass in the harsh Australian environment. Murray Greys finish well on grass and several weeks earlier than other breeds.
- High Tenderness and Marbling Genetics: Murray Greys fatten on grass producing tender well marbled beef on grass alone.
- Calving Ease: Most weight 60 to 80 pounds at birth and are quick to their feet.
- Gentle Disposition: Murray Greys have a quiet docile temperament and gentle disposition. They are calm and easy to work with.
- High Rate of Gain: The high rate of gain and feed efficiency combined with calving ease make them ideal for a commercial herd.
- Dark Pigmentation: The breed retains the dark pigment from their Angus ancestors thus avoiding eye cancer and skin problems.
- Moderate Size: Murray Grey bulls sire moderate sized cows that are efficient on grass which directly affects producer profitability. Murray Grey bulls will weigh between 1800#-2400# with cows weighing 1000#-1500# and maintain body condition easily on grass alone.
- Naturally Polled: Murray Greys are naturally polled with the propensity to pass on this trait when bred to horned cattle.
- Longevity: Murray Grey cows are long lived and many produce calves into their teens.
Advantages of grass fed and finished beef:
- Less saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol than corn-fed beef
- High quality lean proteins
- Significantly higher levels of Omega-3 and essential fatty acids
- Higher levels of Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, and other antioxidants
- Significant levels of Iron, Zinc, and B-complex vitamins
- Increased levels of Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Vasconic Acid
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