The search for better Simmental - sires led him to the "find" of his life. During a trip through the Swiss Alps to look for new Simmental bloodlines. Harlan Doeschot saw his first Braunvieh cattle grazing on the steep mountain slopes.

Doeschot was greatly impressed with the thickness, moderate size, early maturity and easy- fleshing ability of the Braunvieh cattle he saw in Europe. He was fascinated and wanted some of his own.

Doeschot's cattle savvy, shrewd business sense and a bit of stubborn determination helped him eventually import 14 head of Braunvieh cattle to the United States in 1983 and 1984.

After spending more than $100,000 and anxiously awaiting their arrival following a circuitous route from Switzerland through France, the Azores, Bermuda and Florida, Doeschot eventually received nine bulls and five females on his farm near Firth. Neb.

Today, the long trophy case at Golden Link Braunvieh sparkles with shiny awards from carcass contests won during the 1990s. At the Great Western Beef Expo steer test in Sterling, Colo., calves from Golden Link Braunvieh sires have produced the champion or reserve champion pen based on carcass quality for six of the past seven years.

"Unlike the show ring, fed beef contests are the real test of an animal's worth because the carcass is what matters," says Doeschot (pronounced like dues-kit).

"We're in the feeding business, not the breed business. When our cattle top the category for pounds of feed per pound of carcass. that's where the net profit is," says Doeschot.

He's enthusiastic about the Braunvieh breed because of the traits that mesh so well with other breeds of cattle. "Braunvieh bulls will work with all breeds. Braunvieh cattle are balanced animals with plenty of feed conversion and lots of capacity, muscle and good maternal traits. They can cross on any breed of cattle and can hang up an excellent carcass." says Doeschot.

(Full bloods are 100% Braunvieh, Purebreds are "bred up" from other cattle breeds crossed with Braunvieh and may be registered when females are 15/l6ths pure and bulls are 31/32nds pure).

"Our goal is to take the top 10% of our fullblood females, make donors of them and breed them, then use the bottom one-half of the herd as recipients," says Harlan, Jr.

The Doeschots clearly admire the crossbred females produced from Angus-Braunvieh matings. "The half-blood heifers are incredible. They have that hybrid vigor, are easy keeping, breed back quickly, have good udder quality, great dispositions, lots of milk and mothering ability," says Harlan, Jr.

His father agrees, noting there are three types of cattle breeders. "Some producers breed from tradition, some for fads and some breed cattle to turn feed into quality beef most economically. That will always be our priority," says Doeschot.

As their Braunvieh cattle numbers increase and they acquire more carcass information from fed beef contests and other means, the Doeschots are beginning to identify the genetics that produce the most premium carcasses.

"Our Riss and Sambo sire lines come out on top. Their carcasses grade consistently Choice with low yield grades and excellent feed efficiencies year in and year out," says Harlan. Jr.

They have recently started working with Mark Gerlach of Wilbur, Neb., to help their commercial customers line up feedlots data on their calves.

While Harlan, Sr., celebrates his 50th year in the cattle business, the Doeschots will continue to enter carcass contests and improve their Braunvieh cattle.