Part 10: Finally, the final post to this series of the 10 Greatest Beef Innovations, originally posted by Farm Progress in their Beef Producer section. I saved this one for last because I believe it rings clearer today than ever before: Stockmanship. At least it should. Our not-so-much-friends from the animal rights groups are pointing […]
10 Greatest Beef Innovations
Consistency in Beef
Part 9: I find this beef innovation particularly interesting and important – mostly because I enjoy a great, juicy steak and am glad I can rely on the grading system of beef to provide that! From the beginning, beef was more about protein than pleasure and used as draft animals or for milk until they […]
A “Screwy” Success Story
Part 8: A part of history that is not as common – or not talked about much – is the eradication of the screwworm that caused a lot of damage to the cattle herd (and humans!) in the past. For all of the reasons listed below, the story of screwworm eradication is one of the […]
Squeeze Chutes | Stone to Steel
Part 7: I know that squeeze chutes make cattle work more efficient and less stressful for the cattle we are handling. Just this Thanksgiving, my family branded and doctored over 200 head in a few hours and this was possible because of our squeeze chute.Temple Grandin will also tell you the animals prefer this method […]
Cattle Rode Rails
Part 6: To read the previous five parts of this series, click here. Railroads were extremely important to the expansion of the beef industry and the start of exporting beef. When the steam engine and technology of railroads came about in the early 1800s, the options were endless in moving large, heavy cargo – livestock […]
Electric Fence First On XIT Ranch
Part 5: My favorite memory of electric fences is the bag that my dad strapped to the four-wheeler that contained the fiberglass fence poles – a golf bag! I thought it was so silly, but it was the perfect size to hold a lot of small poles and easy to carry as you’re putting the […]
Barbed Wire Shaped Western America
Part 4: I look at barbed wire as a form of art. The hundreds of different designs in the wire, the barbs, the twists, etc. But it was created for a use: to help manage where the cattle could roam. Think of the U.S. before any pastures – one big open range with natural landmarks […]
Refrigeration Heated Up the Beef Industry
Part 3: What was it like before we could ship refrigerated beef all over the country? We had to ship the cattle there! The innovation of refrigeration is truly a technology that has made it more efficient to deliver beef products to consumers. Read the whole article here. Refrigeration Heated Up the Beef Industry From […]
A.I. Has Rich History
Part 2: This beef innovation has a special interest to me and my family, as we are very involved in A.I.ing our herd. Also, my husband’s profession is helping ranchers make good genetic decisions for their herds and A.I.ing thousands of cows each year. To read the full article, click here. Artificial Insemination Has Rich […]
Antibiotics Changed Our Outlook on Life
In the Beef Producer section of the Farm Progress June Issue, staff compiled a great section on the 10 Greatest Beef Innovations. I think they are all worthy to note, so I’d like to start a series featuring them and adding my input to the new technology in the industry. The one that caught my […]
