Recognizing that there are many markets for meat goats demanding different sized animals, in 1995 we began crossing Tennessee Meat Goat™ bucks with Boer and Boer-cross does.

After many generations of cross breeding, this new composite breed has been trademarked by Onion Creek Ranch as the TexMaster™. TexMaster™ is the result of many crossings of Tennessee Meat Goats™ with Boers. The resulting composite breed is significantly Myotonic, with just enough Boer to add a bit of faster growth. The precise breeding formula is proprietary to Onion Creek Ranch but the male used was always Myotonic or Tennessee Meat Goat™ in the development of the TexMaster™ breed. TexMasters™, like Tennessee Meat Goats™, may be registered with Pedigree International.

OCR Dan Byfield, born at Onion Creek Ranch on June 15, 1995, departed this earthly life on Wednesday morning, June 9, 2004 at the Coleman Veterinary Hospital in Coleman, Texas. Byfield's veterinarian, Dr. Mark Swening, determined that his depressed appetite and weight loss was the result of chronic kidney failure. Byfield was humanely put to sleep by Dr. Swening, and Suzanne Gasparotto brought his body home to Onion Creek Ranch for proper burial.

Byfield was the first 50% Tennessee Meat Goat™/50% Boer buck at Onion Creek Ranch. He is survived by many offspring, some of which may approach his magnificent conformation but none of which will ever achieve the distinguished place he occupied in OCR breeding programs. Byfield was the first buck used as Foundation Stock in the establishment of the TexMaster™ breed. He was breeding does right up to the end.

If you are fortunate enough to have Byfield's genetics in your herd, cherish them.

OCR Dan Byfield would have been nine years old in six days.

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All information and photos copyright © Onion Creek Ranch and may not be used without express written permission of Onion Creek Ranch. TENNESSEE MEAT GOAT ™ and TEXMASTER™ are Trademarks of Onion Creek Ranch . All artwork and graphics © DTP, Ink and Onion Creek Ranch.