FALLS’ FENNERS HOST BUELINGO CONVENTION
by Verla Peichl Review Correspondent
PLYMOUTH – The National Buelingo Beef Society Convention was recently held at Sheboygan County Fair Park. The states represented this year were Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois; and it was due to Donald and Marcia Fenner, Sheboygan Falls, who agreed to host the event and also have approximately 40 to 45 Buelingo Beef animals.
“The vision for Buelingo Beef began in the 1940s and ‘50s,” said Susan Blair, secretary of the national society. “It wasn’t until 1989 when they were recognized as a registered breed.
“Buelingos are sold under the marketing name Buelingo’s Elite Beef, and the leanness and marbling of the meat is the tasty trademark,” Blair continued.
“This has been a horrific year for farmers,” Blair said, “but Buelingos are very adaptable to any weather condition, and that is why they can adapt to every state’s conditions regardless of the weather.
“Dairy cattle do not do well on hot days; they need more cool days, but Buelingos are good in hot and cold,” Blair added. “We used to have both dairy and Buelingo, but now we only have the Buelingo just because they are much easier to care for.”
The Buelingo Beef cattle are very easily distinguished because of their “Oreo Cookie” design. The front and hind quarters are either black or reddish in color and the midline is white.
“This breed was developed largely to get a real efficient animal that produces high-quality carcasses with a minimum of fat,” said Dewey Wachholz, retired teacher of animal science at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
“They are what every producer wants – an animal that has ease of calving and has a natural mothering ability with an emphasis on the carcass.”
Here are some Buelingo Beef facts:
• Buelingo cattle produce a carcass with an average weight of 600-650 pounds. These carcasses can be handled with more ease and fit into the consumer’s window of acceptance.
• Buelingo carcasses have very desirable quality and yield grades. Even at lighter weights, Buelingo cattle consistently produce carcasses of Choice or better with a Yield Grade average of 2.6.
• Carcasses produce rib eyes of desirable size and shape averaging 11.3 to 11.5 square inches making them very adaptable to portion control.
• Carcasses require very little trimming. Because of the desirable yield grade, less labor is needed to trim the meat.
• The hardiness of the breed has attracted the attention of grass-fed and grazing ranchers and also the organic farmers.
Buelingos are known for having a generally gentle disposition. This is a young breed with a proud history and there are many opportunities for anyone to participate in the future development of the Buelingo Beef cattle.
