Maternal efficiency is necessary for profitability in the cow-calf business. Each year, the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) honors the elite cows in its registry with inclusion on the Focus Dams list. Only 289 females, representing less than 1 percent of the breed’s active dams, earned mention in the 2008 evaluation.

Depending upon their number of progeny, females must meet certain criteria for maximum age at last calving. Further, based on progeny weaning-weight ratios, cows must have most probable producing abilities (MPAAs) of at least 105.

The following Limousin breeders own at least one of the Focus Dams on the 2008 list.

ALABAMA

– Scooba Land and Cattle Co., Trussville

COLORADO

– Fillmore Ranch, Boone

– Patton Ranches, Canon City

– Running Creek Ranch, Elizabeth

– Elmwood Limousin, Iliff

– Lewis Limousin, Iliff

– Kassie Schuppe, Iliff

– Ochsner Limousin, Kersey

– Reynolds Ranch, Sanford

IDAHO

– Mecham’s Cowboy Brand Ranch, Firth

ILLINOIS

– Harrington Limousin, Cisne

INDIANA

– River Haven Farms, Eaton

– Stutz Limmy Scene, Goshen

– 3G Ranch, Kendallville

IOWA

– Long and Sons Limousin, Afton

– William Long, Afton

– Brad Schutt, Alden

– Anderson Limousin, Garner

– Bosch Farms, Indianola

– Mormon Trail Farm, Weldon

KANSAS

– Ely Farm Black Limousin, Chanute

– Carl Leatherwood, Cimarron

– Schilling Cattle, Edson

– Lazy R Farms, Garnett

– LACO Limousin, Mayetta

– James Hays, Rossville

KENTUCKY

– Pharris Farms Limousin, Leitchfield

– HB Farms Limousin, Midway

MICHIGAN

– Black Ink Limousin, Brown City

MINNESOTA

– Doug Christiansen and Family, Balaton

– Lund Limousin, Cottonwood

– Kent Limousin, Lancaster

– Sleiter Limousin, Morris

– Wulf Limousin Farms, Morris

– Steven Muhlenhardt, Shakopee

– Voigt Limousin, Taopi

MISSOURI

– M&R Limousin, Bourbon

– Flying E Ranch, Seneca

– Phillip Byler, Weatherby

MONTANA

– Coleman Limousin Ranch, Charlo

– Coleman’s HC Limousin, Charlo

– Wind Sock Land and Cattle, Glasgow

– North Star Limousin, Hinsdale

– Seven C Limousin Ranch, Terry

NEBRASKA

– Leon Leishman, Blair

– Lonely Valley Limousin, Creston

– Watts Limousin Ranch, Fairfield

– Daniel Hunt, Oxford

– Hunt Limousin Ranch, Oxford

– Crook Limousin, Rising City

– Wach Limousin, Wauneta

– Neil Brawner, Wood Lake

NORTH DAKOTA

– Hager Cattle Co., Karlsruhe

– Effertz Black Butte Acres, Velva

OHIO

– O’Connor Farms Limousin, Belle Center

OKLAHOMA

– Jay Kincheloe, Blackwell

– Heldermon Limousin, Claremore

– Ferda Limousin Farms, Medford

– Counsil Family Limousin, Welch

– Express Ranches, Yukon

OREGON

– Little Luckiamute Limousin, Vale

PENNSYLVANIA

– Tubmill Creek Farms, New Florence

SOUTH DAKOTA

– Symens Brothers, Amherst

– ROM’N Limousin, Arlington

– Rops Limousin, Davis

– Bar JZ Ranches, Holabird

– Schott Limousin Ranch, McLaughlin

– Amanda Nolz, Mitchell

– Nolz Limousin, Mitchell

– Wieczorek Limousin, Mount Vernon

– Plum Creek Limousin, Philip

– Peterson’s L7 Bar Limousin, Pukwana

TEXAS

– Begert Limousin, Allison

– Fuhrmann Black Limousin, Gainesville

– Fuhrmann Brothers Limousin, Gainesville

– Counsil Family Limousin, Madisonville

VIRGINIA

– Woodbrook Limousin Farms, Abingdon

WASHINGTON

– JKO Ranch Limousin, Chattaroy

– Beus Cattle Co., Pasco

WISCONSIN

– Huston Farms Limousin, Cottage Grove

– Green Fields Crossing, Ellsworth

– Mill Road Limousin, Knapp

– Trails End Limousin Ranch, Loyal

– Peterson Brothers, Osceola

– Peterson Limousin Farms, Osceola

– Spring Creeks Cattle Co., Wauzeka

WYOMING

– Dustin Waddle, Pine Bluffs

– Waddle Limousin Ranch, Pine Bluffs

For the complete Focus Dams list or more information about maternal efficiency in cattle production, see the “Genetic Evaluation” section of the NALF Web site (www.nalf.org) or call the NALF office at (303) 220-1693.