Meriville Farm

Meriville Farm has been raising milking shorthorn cattle on its prairie farmstead in Earlville, Illinois since 1936, making it one of the longer-running shorthorn programs in the region. The farm sits in north-central Illinois, roughly an hour southwest of Rockford, and the Hoffman family has shaped its breeding program across multiple generations.

Winifred Hoffman and her daughter Martha carry on the work established by the late Kenneth Hoffman, whose focus on true dual-purpose character — balancing milking qualities with solid fleshing ability — defined the herd's direction for decades. The program has consistently prioritized strong udders, good milk production, and the kind of practical, pasture-adapted cow that suits diversified farming operations rather than the show ring.

Selection at Meriville has long leaned on careful line breeding, particularly around influential herd sires whose genetics have spread well beyond Illinois to farms and homesteads across the country. The farm also raises beef crosses and dual-purpose crosses, giving buyers looking for shorthorn cattle in Illinois a range of options built on deep heritage genetics. Polled trait testing is part of the program, with bulls DNA-tested where homozygous status is possible.

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Species	Cattle Shorthorn Dual-Purpose Crosses Beef Crosses
Website	bestyetaisires.com
Email	bestyetaisires@gmail.com
Phone	+1 815-246-9523
Owners	Winifred Hoffman, Martha & Miriam Hoffman
Location	Earlville, IL, 60518, United States