Our Story

Kreger Ranch is a third-generation seedstock and commercial cattle operation, founded in 1950 along the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in Kay County, Oklahoma. From the 1950s through the 1970s the family ran bulls of the popular beef breeds, and after trying Beefmaster bulls on their English and Continental cows in the '70s, they decided purebred Beefmasters fit the program.

In 1977, instead of upgrading, the Kregers bought a select group of purebred heifers from the Zipperer acquisition of the Harris herd, then kept buying the best bulls they could find and AI'd heavily to outside sires. They were production testing before BBU's weights and measures programs existed, added embryo transfer in the 1980s and adopted ultrasound carcass evaluation as soon as it was available. The 1993 Houston Futurity Grand Champion female Achtung became the cornerstone donor, with more than 85 registered sons and daughters.

Founder Joe R. Kreger, a cowboy poet and former Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, served on the BBU Breed Improvement Committee and Board of Directors. His son Joe B. Kreger, who grew up in the business and was a charter member and director of the junior association, is now managing partner. Today the ranch sells seedstock bulls and females to fellow Beefmaster breeders and Essential Beefmaster cross replacement heifers to commercial cattlemen, three miles west of I-35.