Hometown: Salem, Ark.
Family: Son Billy McBride; daughter Louise McBride; grandchildren Landon (19) and Megan (17) McBride
In Town: Gene McBride is a certified general real estate appraiser and the owner of Gene McBride Appraisal Service, with licenses in both Arkansas and Missouri. Gene started his company in 1992 after 15 years with the USDA.
Gene’s services include farm and real estate appraisals for tax purposes, as well as commercial and residential appraisals.
In the Country: At his Salem, Ark., farm, Gene raises registered Angus, Red Angus and Charolais, but his roots in the cattle industry go back to his childhood.
“I got my first heifer when I was 14 years old; she was a registered Polled Hereford,” Gene said. “I cleaned out barns all one summer to make $300 to buy her. When went to college, I sold my beef herd and a registered Quarter Horse mare to pay for it.”
Gene said he has raised many breeds, including Santa Gertrudis, Fleckvieh Simmental and Brahman, but felt the Angus, Red Angus and Charolais were the right breeds for his operation.
“They all adapt to fescue,” Gene said. “They have adapted well to the area and the environment, and the weather.”
Gene currently runs 70 to 80 cows, with 25 to 30 head of each breed.
“Everyone hollers about what breed’s the best, and I have all three of the best,” Gene said with a laugh. “I sell bulls for breeding stock, breeding heifers and show heifers. I also butcher five to six a year for beef to sell to the neighbors.”
Calves are weaned at 7 months and evaluated at that time. Animals not of the highest quality are sent to the beef program.
“If I wouldn’t be proud to sell them, they go to the butcher pen,” Gene said. “You don’t know what a calf is going to do until he gets a little older. He might be the best calf born, but three months later, he may not be.”
The longtime cattleman sees positive attributes in each breed he produces, but tends to be a little partial to his Charolais.
“They Charolais calves will outweigh the other breeds 75 to 100 pounds at 7 months old,” Gene said. “You take 100 pounds at $2 a pound and you have 20 calves, it doesn’t take long to add up.”
Future plans: “I enjoy what I do, and I’m going to keep doing it,” Gene said. “I don’t want to change a thing.”
