Welcome back to “The People Behind the Plate”, where I talk with beef producers to learn more about their operation, the breed they raise, and even what beef cut is their favorite. I will also dive into facts about the breed each producer raises and what makes it an ideal breed.
After talking to my first producer, Mark, I have switched gears to an operation that has much different goals than a feedlot. Valerie and Jared Luhman are registered Red Angus breeders from Goodhue, Minnesota. They raise low input bulls that are developed on forage for cow/calf producers to use in their herds. Their goal is to appeal to breeders who wish to have low input cows, not dependent on expensive inputs. Some examples of these inputs could be feed costs, or equipment costs for things like troughs, water tanks, and fencing Their bulls are marketed through Pharo Cattle Company in their fall Nebraska and Colorado bull sales. They also do some crop farming and custom graze dairy heifers for a local farmer.
When asked how long their family has been raising cattle, Jared replied, “Honestly, I am not sure, but it has to have been at least 25 years. My grandpa used to raise Simmentals at one point, but I don’t remember them at all because I was fairly young.”
Jared explained further that his grandpa stopped raising Simmentals several years ago because they were big framed, and hard calving cows that didn’t seem to work for what they wanted long term. When he looked at other breeds, Black Angus was already popular, but wanted to be a little bit different, he decided to go with Red Angus.
I asked Jared to tell me about pros and cons of the breed. He says, “When my grandpa started raising them, they were known to be a good mothering breed with better calving ease. But overall, we believe there is more of a difference in breeding and selection programs than in breeds specifically.” He explains further, “Our Red Angus herd is more like the Black Angus and Hereford cows in the Pharo Cattle Company program than they are like the rest of the Red Angus breed because our program is so different.”
Looking at the future of their operation, Valerie and Jared hope to continue to expand their grazing-based enterprises and feel that it is doable as they don’t think anything competes with pasture as far as land management. Jared further explains that they may expand their custom grazing enterprise or add other ruminant species such as sheep and goats.
Being beef producers, there is no doubt they cook beef dishes often! Valerie says, “Grilled steaks or smashburgers on the Blackstone are our current favorite beef dishes!”
When asked if there is anything they feel is important to share with the public, they wanted to include this. “In general, every dollar a consumer spends on food supports and incentivizes a specific production system, and every system has its advantages and disadvantages. So, consumers should be intentional with their food dollars and spend them on products whose systems they want to support.”
Sounds to me like some good advice! Thank you for sharing your story, Jared and Valerie!
Read more about red angus cattle below.
The Red Angus breed was originally brought from Europe and were small and “dun-colored” meaning dark brown to gold. This new breed of cattle was then interbred with the local black horned cattle of Scotland which produced the ancestor of the Black Angus breed of today which is related to the Red Angus breed.
Characteristics of the Red Angus breed include being medium sized, red in color with pigmented skin, and naturally polled. They are known for their longevity in the herd and have excellent milk production and strong mothering instincts. Producers consider Red Angus cattle to be gentle-natured and easy to work with. They also have excellent meat quality due to their amount of marbling or intra-muscular fat in the carcass. Despite the breed being red in color, they are growing in popularity in the U.S. and internationally.
Breed Information Source: https://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/99/red-angus
Photo courtesy of SSS Red Angus Herd, www.sssredangus.ca
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