SANTA GERTRUDIS BREEDERS INTERNATIONAL NUGEN PROJECT

The Official SGBI NuGen Project logoThe Santa Gertrudis breed was developed in 1940 on the King Ranch and is a true “American Original.” Santa Gertrudis were the first breed of beef cattle developed in the United States and recognized by the USDA. The NuGen project was developed to produce a new “germ plasm” that will improve and enhance the breed with the infusion of superior new genetics.

What Is It All About?

Founding fathers of the Santa Gertrudis breed were visionary in their inclusion in the breed association’s constitution of the mandate that the herdbook forever remain open to the inclusion of new genetics, providing the basis for an ongoing grading-up program still being utilized today.

In February 1995, The SGBI Board of Directors approved a proposal presented by the Chairman of Breed Standards to create a new Santa Gertrudis strain or gene pool by reconstructing the original 3/8 Brahman x 5/8 Shorthorn animal currently recognized as a purebred Santa Gertrudis. This proposal was entitled, the “NuGen” Project.

Registration Number 1 in the Santa Gertrudis herdbook belongs to the King Ranch. The bull known as Monkey became the foundation herd sire for the breed, with every purebred Santa Gertrudis animal in the world tracing back to that one superior individual. The final step in the NuGen project was the mating of NuGen cattle to purebred Santa Gertrudis, in keeping the genetic tracings back to Monkey intact. The resulting offspring qualify for purebred registration status and are entered into the SGBI herdbook.

Initial funding for the long range project was provided by Mrs. Ann Upchurch of Grey Rocks Ranch in Selma, Alabama; and Dr. Burton McDaniel of MC Ranch in Ringgold, Georgia. Unfortunately, Mrs. Upchurch passed away in March of 1996 just days after the first NuGen F1’s were inspected at MC Ranch. Prior to her death, Mrs. Upchurch gave her younger partner Dr. McDaniel the charge “to keep the project alive.” Dr. McDaniel provided the day to day intense management of the project, with the supported other members of the NuGen committee. Dr. McDaniel forged ahead, keeping the project free of impure shortcuts and moving forward under the guidelines of the SGBI Board mandate.

The NuGen committee members – Bill Barrett, Joe Jones, Richard Hood, Wylie Taliaferro, SGBI Executive Director and Dr. McDaniel – were appointed by the SGBI Board of Directors in 1995 as a Standing Committee. The committee was authorized at that time to approve the inclusion of offspring resulting from the mating of NuGen animals to registered Santa Gertrudis into the SGBI herd books.

The Current NuGen Partnership

The current NuGen Partnership combines over 175 years of ranching experience. Their goals is to develop consistent performance based cattle that exceed the modern cattle industry demands.

Seeing Is Believing!

Terry Goodin and Jerry GoodinDan and Jane WendtIn 2008 MC Ranch was pleased to welcome the partnership of Wendt Ranches. Dan and Jane Wendt brought a wealth of knowledge that came from being a fourth generation Santa Gertrudis ranching family.  In appreciation of the Wendt’s support, the second NuGen female was bestowed the name, “Miss Jane” in honor of the late Jane Wendt.  “Miss Jane” is the dam of NG Legend whose offspring will be featured at the 2nd NuGen Foundation Sale on October 19, 2019, at Wendt Ranches.

MC Ranch and Wendt Ranches were joined in partnership by Goodin Farms , owned by Berley, Terry and Jerry Goodin of Austin, Indiana in 2011.  Goodin Farms’ experience with purebred Santa Gertrudis and feedlots is extremely valuable to the NuGen project.   

NuGen genetics are available for purchased from MC Ranch, Wendt Ranches and Goodin Farms. Make plans to attend the 2nd NuGen Foundation Sale on October 19, 2019 at Wendt Ranches.NuGen AD

Read about the Nu-Gen Project:

» Cattle Today
» Purdue Animal Sciences – The Beef Blog


MC Ranch Proven Genetics