ILC Feature
Julie. The Ochsners welcome
their beef customers to their
ranch to see where and how
their beef is being raised.
They have also capitalized on
their passion for beef industry
advocacy by hosting tour
groups ranging from McDonalds
executives to US Meat Export
Federation groups. They
enjoy telling others about the
benefits Limousin genetics
offer throughout the entire
beef value chain – from the
commercial cow/calf operator
all the way to the consumer.
In addition to raising cattle,
the Ochsners farm about 250
acres of irrigated cropland
consisting of corn, alfalfa,
oats, grass hay and irrigated
pasture and lease about 4500
acres of dryland grass on
14 | MAY 2018
the historic 70 Ranch. Kevin
continues providing speaking
and consulting services to
agribusinesses through his own
consulting firm Agcellerate,
and is in his ninth year serving
as host of NCBA’s Cattlemen
to Cattlemen television show
seen weekly on RFD-TV.
Each breeder has challenges
that they deal with on a daily
basis and, like many other
farmers and ranchers along the
front range, one of the biggest
threats the Ochsner family faces
is availability and cost of land
and water and the difficulty that
creates in terms of growing feed,
finding pasture and expanding
the operation. From a breed
perspective, Kevin believes the
biggest challenge is overcoming
some of the old stereotypes
of the breed, particularly in
terms of disposition. “In my
opinion, poor disposition has
kicked Limousin off more
ranches than any other single
issue. We have to promote the
progress we’ve made in this
area while communicating the
dollar and cents value Limousin
genetics bring to crossbreeding
systems through improved
efficiency and cutability.”
One look around their house
at all the pictures, plaques and