The Smith's

In the rolling hills of central Arkansas, Jay H Farms has been leaving its mark since 2004.
Chris and Nesha Smith established their farm after purchasing Nesha’s grandfather’s property. They kept the family brand and farm name, but they’ve made changes to grow the farm and make it their own. 

Braunvieh Breeding

The Smiths use Braunvieh genetics, a Continental breed originating from Switzerland known for their balance of maternal and terminal traits. Starting out, the genetics for Jay H Farms were commercial Brangus cows.  “Our first year, I borrowed two Braunvieh bulls from my father-in-law to try them out,” says Chris. “I ended up really liking the calves, so we’ve stuck with Braunvieh cattle.” The genetic base of the 500-head commercial herd is now primarily Braunvieh.  “Breeding with Braunvieh genetics puts more bone on the cattle, plus they are easy fleshing and have excellent milking ability and fertility,” says Chris. “They are an all-around good package.”
In 2016, the Smith family was recognized as the Commercial Breeder of the Year by the Braunvieh Association of America (BAA). For the past five years, they’ve been raising a separate registered Braunvieh herd. They develop the best registered bulls to breed the commercial herd. They also retain purebred replacement heifers, growing the herd to its current size of 75 registered Braunvieh females.