Objective:
1. Evaluate Brahman cattle for reproductive efficiency, carcass traits and feed efficiency. 2. Improve the breed for those traits through genetic selection.

Approach:
Researchers at USDA ARS STARS and managers of the Barthle Brothers Ranch have mutual interests in evaluating Brahman cattle for adaptation to subtropical environments and for production efficiency. They will collaborate in developing a STARS herd with diversity in reproductive status, carcass traits and feed efficiency to determine genetic potential and methodology for improving these traits. Barthle Brothers Ranch will make available to STARS select females for flushing and will donate all female calves born to STARS surrogates to provide rapid development of the STARS herd. They may from time to time make available females from their advanced selection herd for purchase by STARS. Collaboration will include data collection by the Barthle Brothers Ranch provided to STARS scientists and information exchange between collaborators.