FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For a high-resolution photo of the winner, click here.
For more information contact:
Joe Cassady, executive director, Beef Improvement Federation, North Carolina State University; 919-513-0262; joe_cassady@ncsu.edu; www.BIFconference.com; www.beefimprovement.org
Quinn Cattle Co. Named
BIF Commercial Producer of the Year
BOZEMAN, Mont. (June 2, 2011) — The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) honored Quinn Cattle Co., Chadron, Neb., as its 2011 Commercial Producer of the Year June 2, during the organization’s 43rd annual meeting and research symposium in Bozeman, Mont. Owners Connee and Reuben Quinn accepted the award from BEEF Magazine Senior Editor Burt Rutherford, award sponsor, and BIF Executive Director Joe Cassady.
Reuben and Connee started Quinn Cow Co. as a commercial cow-calf operation in 1974 with the purchase of 50 Simmental x Angus crossbred heifers. The ranch is located primarily on leased land on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota as well as Dawes County in northwestern Nebraska. Currently, Angus x Simmental cows are bred to Angus, Simmental and Angus x Simmental composite bulls to calve in the spring. The goal is to produce a cow with high output on relatively low inputs in a challenging environment compromised by high selenium and sulfate levels in the water and grass.
Depending heavily on expected progeny differences (EPDs) for selecting sires with calving ease and moderate milk, yet above-average growth traits, the Quinns require a cow that produces excellent replacements as well as high-performing feeder cattle. Calves are retained through the feedlot phase and typically sold on a carcass merit basis. Feedlot performance and detailed carcass data have been collected on the calf crop for more than 15 years.
Thirty percent of the mature cows and all of the replacement heifers and second-calf heifers are synchronized and bred by artificial insemination. Individual cow records and ranch production are documented for continual management improvement. Measured areas include reproductive performance, weaning percentage per cow exposed, and annual cow cost by line item. A network of experts, in various industry disciplines, are regularly consulted to achieve the Quinns’ goals of profitability and production criteria.
The ranch was nominated for the honor by the Nebraska Cattlemen.
Also recognized as regional nominees were:
- Bambarger Cattle Farm, Northport, Ala.
- Durheim Ranch, Ellendale, N.D.
- E. Roen Ranches, Knights Ferry, Calif.
- Larson Angus Ranch, Sharon Springs, Kan.
- Leavitt Lake Ranches, Vina, Calif.
- Silver Spur Ranch, Encampment, Wyo.
For more information about the about this year’s symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of the meeting and tours, visit www.BIFconference.com. For more information about the BIF organization, visit www.beefimprovement.org.
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Editor’s Note: This article is provided as a news release by the Beef Improvement Federation. For a high-resolution photo of the winner, additional award announcements and coverage of the meeting, visit the Awards page at www.BIFconference.com.
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) was formed more than 40 years ago as a means to standardize beef cattle performance programs and methodologies and to create greater awareness, acceptance and usage of these concepts of genetic improvement. BIF represents more than 40 state and national beef cattle associations. For more details about the BIF organization, contact Executive Director Joe Cassady at 919-513-0262.
