The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) presented 47 producers with the Grid Master Award at the Red Angus National Convention held in Durham, N.C., in September. This is the largest number of Grid Masters ever recognized in the eight-year history of the award.
“The RAAA presented a challenge to breeders, commercial ranches and feed yards to harvest Red Angus cattle at tighter quality and yield specifications than ever before,” said RAAA Director of Value Added Programs Myron Edelman. “Not only did Red Angus producers hit a more difficult target, they exceeded the Grid Master record for the third consecutive year.”
To increase the challenge, RAAA raised the threshold by increasing the percentage of cattle that grade Choice or better, while lowering the percentage of Yield Grade 4 carcasses.
Red Angus cattle not only produce valuable carcasses, but they are very good at meeting grid specs that increase the profit margin on the rail, said Edelman. Producers who enroll their Red Angus-influenced cattle in the Feeder Calf Certification Program (FCCP) and apply the yellow Red Angus tag are eligible to submit harvest data for Grid Master consideration.
Conventional-fed cattle meet the following requirements:
* Minimum of 30-head lot size
* Minimum 85 percent Choice or higher
* Maximum 5 percent Yield Grade 4
* Minimum Grid Score of 100
To account for the different finishing characteristics of natural-fed cattle, lots must meet the following criteria:
* Minimum of 30-head lot size
* Minimum 90 percent Choice or higher
* Maximum 10 percent Yield Grade 4
* Minimum Grid Score of 100
All four major packers – U.S. Premium Beef, JBS USA, Tyson and Cargill –harvested Red Angus Grid Master qualifiers in 10 different plant locations. Myer Natural Angus reported the largest number of Grid Master winners with 30 lots, and the Painted Hills Natural Program also harvested award-winning Red Angus cattle.
“Challenging those who produce and feed Red Angus cattle has proven to only make them rise to the level of the task,” said Edelman. “This has strengthened the value of Red Angus by building reputations of cattle that we know have proven maternal traits, the ability to efficiently convert feed and produce a valuable end product.”
The following producers and feeders were awarded 2011 Grid Master Awards. Several received more than one award.
* Joe Lindsey of Byers, Colo.; Feedyard: Kuenning & Son Inc. of Imperial, Neb.
* Meyer Company Ranch of Helmville, Mont.; Feedyard: HBF of Haxton, Colo.
Robert Gibbs of Jordan, Mont.; Feedyard: Circle G Farms of Waco, Neb.
Skinner Ranches of Jordan Valley, Ore.; Feedyard: Kuenning & Son, Inc. of Imperial, Neb.
Kerry Holscher of Waubay, S.D.; Feedyard: Brent Thompson of Elkhorn, S.D.
Mike Kokesch of Stewart, Minn.; Feedyard: Mike Kokesch of Stewart, Minn.
Michael Wasson of Dresden, Kan.; Feedyard: Prairie Dog Creek Cattle Co. of Dresden, Kan.
DeLong Ranches of Winnemucca, Nev.; Feedyard: Kuenning & Son, Inc. of Imperial, Neb.
DeLong Ranches of Winnemucca, Nev.; Feeder: Frank Wedel of Leoti, Kan.; Feedyard: Decatur County Feed Yard of Oberlin, Kan.
Bill Blauw of Strausburg, Colo.; Feedyard: Yankton Land and Cattle Co. of Yankton, S.D.
John Lancaster of Glendo, Wyo.; Feedyard: Magnum Feeders of Wiggins, Colo.
Sargent Cattle Co. of San Ardo, Calif.; Feedyard: Kuenning & Son, Inc. of Imperial, Neb.
Ranches, Inc. (Brian Downey) of Fort Morgan, Colo.; Feedyard: Kuenning & Son, Inc. of Imperial, Neb.
Leland Cattle Co. (Butch Grandy) of Farson, Wyo.; Feedyard: Royal Beef of Scott City, Kan.
Christensen Bros. of Weldona, Colo.; Feedyard: Christensen Bros. of Weldona, Colo.
Anderson Land & Cattle Co. of Oberlin, Kan.; Feedyard: Anderson Land & Cattle Co. of Oberlin, Kan.
Croissant Red Angus of Briggsdale, Colo.; Feedyard: Croissant Red Angus of Briggsdale, Colo.
Pelton Red Angus of Burdett, Kan.; Feedyard: High Choice Feeders of Scott City, Kan.
Ferguson Farms of Abilene, Kan.; Feedyard: Royal Beef of Scott City, Kan.
Spreutels Farm of Koshkonong, Mo.; Feedyard: Spreutels Farm of Koshkonong, Mo.
Robert Gibbs of Jordan, Mont.; Anthony Ranch of Jal, N.M.; Chip Fischer of Rhame, N.D.; Feedyard: Circle G of Waco, Neb.
Lorenzen Ranches of Pendleton, Ore.; Feedyard: Beef North West of North Powder, Ore.
Durheim Ranch of Ellendale, N.D.; Feedyard: Dana Dennert of Columbia, S.D.
Yancy Sowers of Oberlin, Kan.; Feedyard: Anderson Land & Cattle Co. of Oberlin, Kan.
Veril & Barbara Nelson of Oakland, Ore.; Feedyard: Simplot Feeders Limited of Pasco, Wash.
Heart River Ranch of Belfield, N.D.; Feedyard: Century Feeders of Goodland, Kan.
Leon Tuttle of Gove, Kan.; Feedyard: Century Feeders of Goodland, Kan.
Bull Hill Ranch of Gray Court, S.C.; Feedyard: Ranger Feeders of Dighton, Kan.
For more information about enrolling your cattle in the Feeder Calf Certification Program, contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or visit RedAngus.org.
PHOTO courtesy of Red Angus Association of America
Producers were honored at the National Red Angus Convention in Durham, N.C., for meeting specific quality and yield specifications on Red Angus feeder cattle. (Left to right) Wilbur and Elsie Spruetels, Spruetels Farm, Koshkonong, Mo.; Frank and Susan Wedel, Wedel Red Angus, Leoti, Kan.; Blake Angell, Meyer Natural Angus; Myron Edelman, RAAA director of value added programs; Annette and Chuck Steffan, Heart River Ranch, Belfield, N.D.; Dick Short, Century Feeders, Goodland, Kan.; Lynette and Bruce Durheim, Durheim Ranch, Ellendale, N.D.; Sallie and Kevin Miller and their daughter Alisa, Croissant Red Angus, Briggsdale, Colo.; Sue and Lynn Pelton, Pelton Red Angus, Burdett, Kan.; and Raymond Prescott, Bull Hill Ranch, Gray Court, S.C.
