Press releases
AHA Announces 2009 Dams of Distinction
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A total of 1,941 Hereford cows from 639 Hereford performance herds in 43 states earned the honor of being named a 2009 Dam of Distinction by the American Hereford Association (AHA).
For the 29th consecutive year, South Dakota Hereford operation Rausch Herefords owns the most Dams of Distinction honored at 76 head, 20 more than last year, and again leads its state to the top of the list with 306 cows recognized.
The 2009 Dams of Distinction list honors Hereford cows that meet the highest standard of production and recognizes the cattlemen who produce them. In order to be named a Dam of Distinction, a Hereford cow must meet all the job requirements for an ideal cow. She should produce a healthy, growthy calf every year; she should calve as a two-year-old, and she should cause her owner absolutely no problems. A Dam of Distinction is the standard by which all Hereford cows can be judged.
The cow must do her job, but also her owner must manage the herd correctly to give her the opportunity to excel. Only a small portion of active cows is recognized. All heifers have the potential of being a Dam of Distinction, but only a small percentage fit the job description of an ideal cow year in and year out.
In order for a cow to be named a 2009 Dam of Distinction she must have:
1) Weaned a calf born since January 1, 2008.
2) Produced at least three calves.
3) Initially calved at 30 months of age or less.
4) Had an interval between the first and second calves of no greater than 400 days. In addition, a 370-day calving interval must have been maintained after her second calf. The longer initial calving interval allows breeders to calve 2-year-old heifers prior to the mature cow herd.
5) Every calf produced that was born before June 30, 2009, must have weaning records submitted to the Hereford Performance Program.
6) A progeny average 205-day adjusted weaning weight ratio of at least 105.
For more information about the Dams of Distinction Program visit Hereford.org, click on “Records/TPR” and then select “Recognition Programs.” Females attaining the Dams of Distinction status are recognized with “DOD” after their names on the AHA Web site.
An article reviewing the 2009 Dams of Distinction will be published in the April issue of the Hereford World magazine. The top 20 states and breeders of Dams of Distinction are listed below.
Top 20 States ― 2009 Dams of Distinction
Rank State Number of Dams
1 South Dakota 306
2 Nebraska 213
3 Kansas 140
4 Montana 135
5 North Dakota 117
6 Missouri 94
7 Illinois 82
8 Texas 75
9 Minnesota 69
10 Idaho 65
11 Oregon 59
12 Wyoming 58
12 Iowa 58
14 Wisconsin 54
15 Oklahoma 50
16 Colorado 47
17 Indiana 29
18 Tennessee 28
18 Utah 28
20 California 27
Top 20 Breeders ― 2009 Dams of Distinction
Rank Owner Number of Dams
1 Rausch Herefords, Hoven, S.D. 76
2 Upstream Ranch, Taylor, Neb. 33
3 Mrnak Herefords, Bowman, N.D. 28
4 Larry & Carol Gildemaster, Virgil, S.D. 27
5 Fawcetts Elm Creek Ranch, Ree Heights, S.D. 26
6 Van Newkirk Herefords, Oshkosh, Neb. 24
7 Fort Keogh Livestock & Ranch Research Station,
Miles City, Mont. 21
8 K&B Herefords, Onida, S.D. 20
9 Wiese & Sons, Manning, Iowa 18
10 Alexander Mih, Indianapolis, Ind. 17
11 Shaw Cattle Co. Inc., Caldwell, Idaho 16
11 Harrell Hereford Ranch, Baker City, Ore. 16
11 Tim Shaw Herefords Inc., Cascade, Idaho 16
14 Alfred Schutte & Sons, Guide Rock, Neb. 15
14 Helbling Herefords, Mandan, N.D. 15
14 Journagan Ranch/ Missouri State University,
Mountain Grove, Mo. 15
17 The Poplars Ranch Inc., Silver Lake, Ore. 14
17 Ridder Hereford Ranch, Callaway, Neb. 14
17 Keith Carmichael, Meadow, S.D. 14
17 O.D. Perkes, Afton, Wyo. 14
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