About Us
Moran Beefmasters
A herd that has a lifetime of relationships and quality built into today’s herd.
Our story really starts more than 4 decades ago, as Fred attended LSU with Fred Thompson, and Thompson’s love for the cattle business created an interest in Fred (Moran).
In 1974, Thompson held the Southeastern Beefmaster sale in Jackson, MS and sold Fred and his father, John Schaeffer, their first Beefmasters. Over the next few years, they would build a herd of close to 300 head of registered females and incorporated proven and popular genetics from the strong programs of Leo Jasik, Wallace Harrell, Jennie Lee Zipperer, and Charlie Harrod. Those were exciting times and the interest for Beefmasters bordered on wild at sales, as folks wanted the breed and were willing to invest heavily in the top genetics.
In the early 80s, the Morans sold their ranch and cattle to pursue other interests, but Fred and Mary continued to dream of the country life and would continue to follow the breed and maintain their love for beautiful Beefmaster cattle.
In November of 1999 their two sons, John and Jeter, wanted to see a cattle sale, as they had heard so much about them from their parents. So Fred took them to Jackson, MS for a Gene Thompson Beefmaster Sale. When Gene talked to Fred about buying some that day, Fred reminded him he only had 2 ½ acres in Baton Rouge! Gene offered to keep them indefinitely at his ranch and that was all Fred needed to hear. So Fred and the boys jumped in and bought 15 head. Mary was a bit surprised when the boys burst in with their news of their purchases. This began another chapter for the Moran family and Beefmasters.
Gene, true to his word, kept their growing herd until they found the perfect home for them several years later in St. Helena Parish. Fred, Mary, and their son, John, have spent these last years combining the genetics found in L2 cattle, Cottage Farms, Collier Farms, Cain Cattle Company, and other quality breeders to create an outstanding set of cattle. They have also focused on the cornerstones of Beefmaster breeding–the 6 essentials of fertility, disposition, weight, conformation, hardiness, and milk production. Fred is a farmer first, which lends itself to a quality feeding program with healthy, hardy, efficient, low maintenance type cattle.
As is obvious in the enclosed pictures, Fred and Mary’s diligence has paid off in an outstanding set of cattle. A gentler herd of cattle cannot be found and their program produces quality, high performing cattle.
