Feature
artificial insemination
to operations in Great
Britain, Scotland,
Mexico, Canada
and Australia.
Running Creek
was one of the
first ranches in the
area to start using
artificial insemination
on a large scale,
Freund said.
The ranch started raising Limousin cattle
exclusively after buying a herd in 1979.
“We just fell in love with the Limousin breed,
the quality of their traits, the ease of calving
and the quality of the carcass,” Freund said.
The breed, which originated in France and is known
for its sturdiness, also requires less hay and feed
than other cattle, Freund said. “They’re just very
efficient animals in their consumption of forage.”
The family worked with people at Colorado
State University to achieve the kinds of results
they wanted. The ranchers closely monitor the
16 | MARCH 2019
characteristics of the bulls, cows
and offspring. Running Creek
specializes in selling 2-year-old
bulls, rather than 15-month-old
bulls that other ranches market.
Freund said the older animals
are more successful breeders.
A good showing at the National
Western can pay dividends
throughout the year. People who
talk to the family at the show may
contact them later to discuss a deal.
“You see people there you haven’t seen since
last year. You talk to people and you compare
notes. You ask what their weather was like
or how did their calves do this year,” Freund
said. “They might have tried a new, upcoming
bull and you’re a little skeptical, so you ask,
‘What did you think of those calves?’
“That’s the thing: the friendship and
the camaraderie,” he added. I
This article originally appeared in the Denver
Post and was reprinted with permission.