America's largest polled Brahman breeder weighs in on tariffs, prices, and rebuild

America's largest polled Brahman breeders were among the international visitors at this week's Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale, and they're leaving impressed, inspired and more connected to their Australian counterparts than ever.

Benton and Brooke England operate England Cattle Company, based in Mercedes, Texas, and are recognised as the largest breeder of Polled grey Brahman cattle in the United States.

Founded in 1984 by Mike and Crickett England on her family's land, their roots in the Brahman industry trace back to the early 1950s.

Since shifting their focus in 2010-2011 toward polled genetics, they have become the top US polled Brahman breeder by registration with the American Brahman Breeders Association.

Their operation runs about 130 stud cows, with an embryo transfer program of 50-100 embryos, over roughly 1500 acres of grazing pasture and an additional 3500 acres in farmland growing cotton, corn, sugar cane, and onions.

Despite the acreage, much of their land is irrigated, and they maintain a near one cow per acre stocking rate.

They also run a branded beef program, England Cattle Co Beef, selling Brahman and Brahman-cross beef directly to consumers through subscription boxes, farmers markets, and shipping, while collecting carcase and DNA data to enhance herd performance and meat quality.

During their visit Down Under, the couple shared observations on Australian Brahman studs, highlighting what they see as the defining strengths of Australian Brahman genetics: fertility, functionality, structural soundness, and a capacity to endure the rigours of terrain and climate.

"They're geared to do the job that they're born to do," Mr England said.

"What impressed us most is how breeders here are sharing genetics, helping each other improve.

"That doesn't happen as much back home, and walking into that sale ring at CQLX? It's like a cathedral. Took our breath away."

Brooke had not previously seen "this many polled bulls in one concentrated area," highlighting the growing global significance of polled genetics.

"We were laughed at in the beginning; some of the older stud breeders in the States just weren't interested. But it's paid off. Now the demand is real and rising fast," Benton said.

Still, they're careful not to be single-trait selectors.

"We're not chasing polls for the sake of it. Quality comes first. We still keep horned females if they're good enough and use horned semen over homozygous polled cows," Mr England said.

"We just want the best cattle, polled or horned, that will work for our program and our customers."

A key priority for England Cattle Co is adding carcase quality to their breeding objectives.

"We think that if Brahman breeders could put emphasis on that for five minutes, then we'd be the best cattle breed in the world," Mr England said.

He observed that in the US, packers (processors) had started discounting Brahman cattle lacking carcase traits, driving the push to improve in traits such as weaning weight, yearling weight and finish.

Their farm-to-table beef program, launched in 2020, is part of that strategy, which involves selling directly to consumers and closely monitoring harvests.

"We're seeing really good quality beef come out of our stuff. We looked inwards, and it was really good," he said.

US beef tariffs, record beef prices and herd rebuild

On trade issues and the global market, the Englands welcomed the Trump administration's recent imposition of 10 per cent US tariffs on Australian beef imports, viewing it not as protectionism but as an opportunity.

"We want good trade partners... if we're trade partners, we should be able to trade on the same playing field," Mr England said.

They emphasised their preference for Australian beef over lower-cost imports from countries with higher disease risks, like Brazil, citing concerns such as foot and mouth disease.

But Mr England also acknowledged that, currently, US cattle prices were so high that exporting American beef to Australia was unlikely, though he suggested that when prices eventually softened, Australian producers could see more US beef.

"We're not going to be sending beef to Australia any time soon," Mr England said.

Their visit comes as the US beef market enters a historic phase, both in terms of prices and supply shortages.

The American herd is undergoing one of its biggest rebuilds in decades, after prolonged drought and an aging producer demographic caused herd numbers to shrink by over three million head.

"The average age of a US rancher is 65," Mr England said.

"A lot of guys sold out during COVID and the droughts, and they're not coming back. We held on, barely, and it's paying off now. But rebuilding won't happen overnight. Two years, minimum."

With fewer cattle and a tighter supply, prices have surged.

The Englands' noted 249.5 kilogram bullocks in the US were currently fetching between US$3.40 and US$3.70 per pound, or about AUD 5.61 to AUD 6.11 per pound.

This means the price for a 249.5 kilogram bullock ranges from about AUD $3086 to AUD $3361.

Recently, the Englands sold commercial heifers weighing 249.5 kilograms for US$2750 of about $4538 in Australian dollars.

Looking ahead, the Englands are considering pricing a new run of commercial heifers at US$3250 each.

This price works out to about AUD $5363 in total.

A drop in imports, notably from Mexico, due to screw worm disease, is also a significant factor.

On the seedstock front, they boast a standout sire, ECC Polled Maverick 302/9, whose progeny sales have topped US$700,000 (AUD$1.5 million) in just three years.

The company has exported embryos to studs like Vella Bramas and JRL, and they've imported genetics from Eureka Creek and Kenrol into their own herd.

As for buying during this trip?

"Let's just say, it's a long way to come just to look," Brooke said.

The trip Down Under marked a return visit for Brooke England, who first came to Australia in 2011 as part of the American Brahman Breeders Association exchange program, but it was a first for Benton.

During this trip, the Englands plan to visit several central Queensland Brahman studs, including Vella Brahmans, Token, Kenrol, and Eureka Creek.