However, there is one breeder from Nebraska who sets itself apart from the others: Schurrtop Angus and Charolais.
Located in the southern part of the state, the Schurr family has been focused on developing the best bulls they can, while adding to the profitability of their customers.
“Our one main goal and passion in this business is to have the most profitable bull customers in the industry, with the least stress and time-consuming management problems of all,” says Marty Schurr, one of the owners.
He continues, “We go to great lengths to make it that way. We have to start with a problem-free cow herd: good feet and legs, udder and disposition, and then we breed her to responsible genetics that don’t offer any problems.”
According to Schurr, responsible genetics is about quality. “It’s about freedom of faults, and that equals premiums in extra dollars per pound.
Just in this past year, we have seen carcass premiums on Schurrtop-sired cattle from $50 to $177 per head,” he states.
The family has been carcass testing since 1970, with the integration of ultrasound in 1988. “We never use a bull that is not at the top of his contemporary group for gain, ribeye and marbling.
We also utilize progeny testing and carcass ultrasounding. All of the heifers we don’t use for replacements and all of the steer calves are fed out here, and we carcass test those,” Schurr says.
A large part of their program is raising bulls that will help producers to have better feed efficiency in their cattle, a trait they pride themselves on.
“Change and progress start through sire selection, and besides the normal everyday selection traits like birthweights, weaning weights and EPDs, it’s often the not-easily-seen traits that make the biggest difference to the bottom line.
Efficiency is selecting genetics that perform at the same or higher level, while consuming less grass and feed. This turns into more cows on less acres and less feed per head in the feedyard.
With today’s prices, there can easily be in excess of $200 per pair difference in cost of production in a year,” he states.
They have been utilizing feed efficiency testing for more than 30 years. “We started at the Western Beef Expo with progeny.
Now, with the new technology and residual feed intake testing, we have the progeny tested and sometimes the bulls themselves.
We have a lot of customers who are feeding cattle in big feedyards, and they also give us information back on feed efficiency,” he explains.
He adds, “We monitor our customers’ calves whether we are feeding them or they are. Then we get the carcass data and use that too. That is very important to us.”
The family wants to continue producing the cattle they have been and making their customers more profitable. “I think the feed efficiency thing is in the biggest stage of where it is changing the industry.
We are not even close to competing with other industries on efficiency. We have to stay competitive as a protein source, and we can cut costs to make that happen through feed efficiency.
It’s a humongous deal because it’s money out of producers’ pockets,” he states.
The family competes each year at the Beef Empire Days, which allows them to see how their genetics stand up to other producers.
“It’s a culmination event that represents our whole program. It’s a live and a carcass show. They have a live judge who picks what he thinks is the best animal from a performance and muscle standpoint, and then we put those animals on the rail and a carcass judge picks the best one from a meat-quality program.
This contest allows us to show people our cattle will work. We have won it with purebred Charolais, purebred Angus and crossbreds,” Schurr says.
The family raises both purebred Angus and Charolais cattle.
The Schurrtop Ranch started in 1962, when the family bought a well-established Angus breed from their neighbors.
They added Charolais cattle in 1983, when they purchased another established herd.
They enjoy the Angus breed for their shorter gestation length, ease of calving and the ability to select for more performance without increasing birthweight by much.
They like the Charolais cows because of their muscle, marbling and the hybrid vigor they offer in a crossbreeding scenario.
The combination allows the family to enjoy the best parts of both breeds and to enjoy the bovine species. However, the most rewarding part is the progress they see in the genetics.
“I enjoy seeing our customers sell their calves at a premium, and having the heaviest calves with the biggest rewards.
I like being able to buy those calves and see the feed efficiency difference and the carcass. I’ve got enough confidence that I’ll pay the premium to buy them back,” Schurr says.
Raising cattle does not come without challenges, however. “I would say our biggest challenge in some ways is labor. It seems like there is always a labor issue. Finding willing people who want to work is hard,” he says.
He also sees that many people buy cattle for their operations that don’t fit. “I see people buying some cattle that don’t fit what they need.
Commercial cattle do a pretty good job of weeding out the ones that don’t work. If you don’t buy a bull that fits, the whole process starts over.
The genetics need to be responsible and be quality. It’s not just about the numbers. It’s got to be an animal that will work in any environment.
There are some that have great numbers but won’t work in any environment,” Schurr explains.
Even with challenges, the family is optimistic about the future. “We are excited for some of the new bulls we are using and the new genetics. They are doing more while eating less feed,” he says.
He adds, “The challenges and changes these last couple of years have seemed to be abundant; however, there have also been many rewards available in the marketplace through feeder and fed prices, and ultimately, the willingness of the consumer to pay a little more for a great product.
It certainly seems like a time to be confident and optimistic about the future of the cow-calf business.” 
PHOTOS
TOP: Schurrtop Angus and Charolais took home several awards at the Beef Empire Days.
BOTTOM: Schurrtop Twenty One is the number one ribeye bull of the Charolais breed, with positive marbling and excellent calving ease and calf vigor. Photos courtesy of Schurrtop Angus and Charolais.
