Christensen Brothers, Inc. of Weldona, Colo., won three prestigious Grid Master Awards for raising and owning Red Angus cattle that meet and exceed strict carcass quality specifications. The Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) announced its 2013 Grid Master awards during the 60th National Convention in Lewiston, Mont., this fall.
Christensen Brothers Inc. raised and finished 230 head of naturally fed cattle that achieved the recognition.
- The first lot consisted of 78 head that were harvested on the grid at Meyer Natural Beef in Fort Morgan, Colo. This load of cattle achieved 94 percent Choice and 2 percent Prime, with 66 percent Yield Grade 1s and 2s, and only 3 percent Yield Grade 4. Grid Score: 116.
- The second lot consisted of 42 head that were harvested on the grid at Meyer Natural Beef in Fort Morgan, Colo. This load of cattle achieved 98 percent Choice and 8 percent Prime, with 40 percent Yield Grade 1s and 2s, and 8 percent Yield Grade 4s. Grid Score: 125.
- The third lot consisted of 110 head that were harvested on the grid at Cargill in Fort Morgan, Colo. This load of cattle achieved 96 percent Choice and 15 percent premium product, with 47 percent Yield Grade 1s and 2s and 8 percent Yield Grade 4s. Grid Score: 166.
To become Grid Masters, naturally fed Red Angus cattle must be marketed in lots of at least 30 head, achieve 90 percent Choice and Prime, with a maximum of 10 percent Yield Grade 4s and a minimum Grid Score of 100.
According to Myron Edelman, RAAA director of added-value programs, drought, feed cost and availability challenged feeders in 2013 to identify cattle that have potential for profitability in premium markets. “Cattle that are efficient in the feed yards and still meet the hard-to-achieve specifications as Grid Masters are valuable at every stage of the beef supply chain,” he explained. “We are extremely proud of the producers, feed yards and packers who worked together to achieve Grid Master status and who reported the data.”
Christensen Brothers, Inc.’s cattle contributed to 758 head of Red Angus cattle that earned Grid Master status. The national-award-winning lots were fed at nine separate feed yards and harvested by six major packers, including Cargill, Meyer Natural Angus, National Beef, Painted Hills Natural Beef, JBS Swift & Co. and Tyson Foods. Cargill reported harvesting the most Grid Master cattle - 186 head - followed by Painted Hills Natural Beef with 141 head and Tyson Foods with 137 head of award-winners.
For more information about enrolling your cattle in the Feeder Calf Certification Program or reporting your harvest data, contact the RAAA office at (940) 387-3502 or visit RedAngus.org.