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Brafords recognized as Purebreds are 3/8 Brahman-5/8 Hereford. Although an overwhelming majority of UBB Brafords are 3/8-5/8 Purebreds, the UBB is unique in that its members recognize that no one combination of Brahman and Hereford will meet the requirements of all producers utilizing Brafords. Therefore, breeders are allowed to vary the relative proportion of the component breeds to best fit their needs and those of their seedstock-buying customers; even if the resulting cattle are not Purebred Brafords. Breeders of Purebred Brafords are allowed a small amount (5%) of flexibility to fine tune the percentage of their Brafords to help them better adapt to production needs. Similarly, the UBB does not sanction an inspection or classification program that dictates selection priorities of members breeding Brafords. While the association provides unlimited support for breeders desiring to breed superior, functional Brafords, it also recognizes that the breeders themselves must decide what their selection priorities must be to stay in tune with their production environment and the market demands of their customers.
Today, sufficient numbers of registered Brafords are available to allow a breeder to purchase proven Braford Purebred seedstock on which to establish a herd of registered Brafords. Additionally, two fundamental alternatives are available for Braford breeders who prefer to breed up to multiple generation Purebred Brafords. Breeders can exploit superior Brahman and Hereford genetics to develop new lines of Brafords independent of the existing Braford population. Alternatively, breeders can take advantage of existing Purebred Brafords and grade up to Purebreds from a base of Brahman X Hereford cattle with known pedigrees and percentages.
As stated above, Purebred Brafords are 3/8 Brahman-5/8 Hereford or within 5% of this combination. One can recognize the registration certificate of a Purebred Braford since the class field will indicate that the animal is a "BRAFORD BULL" or "BRAFORD COW". On the certificate of a percentage or base Braford, the class field will state the Brahman and Hereford makeup of the animal as in 1/2 BRAHMAN-1/2 HEREFORD COW. Sanctioned Braford shows require that the animals be Purebred Brafords (Braford on the class line) although some shows exist for percentage or base (Louisiana) Brafords.