Steers entered by Putman Farm near Emporia and heifers owned by Anderson Ranch of Alma won the overall gain contest as part of the 2022 Flint Hills Beef Fest feedlot and carcass awards.
Annually during August at Emporia, Flint Hills Beef Fest is coordinated by volunteers working for the grass cattle industry for which the Flint Hills is known. As one of the last remaining native tall grass prairies in America, cattlemen have preserved and continue to preserve the native grassland through cattle grazing management.
The steers from Putman Farm gained 3.94 pounds per day from the time they went on grass in April 2022 until harvest from the feedlot on January 3, 2023, while the Anderson Ranch heifers gained 4.12 pounds per day.
The top-ranking Putman steers were first place in the feedlot contest, with an average daily gain of 4.89 pounds. In second place were steers from Spring Creek Ranch of Cassoday.
The steer carcass contest was won by entries from Woodbury Farms of Quenemo, with second place awarded to cattle owned by Plum Creek Ranch of Neosho Rapids.
In the heifer division, the winning pen from Anderson Ranch gained 4.77 pounds per day in the feedlot contest. Cattle owned by John, Heather and Andrew Sigle of Wilsey finished second.
Entries from Loomis Ranch of Council Grove took both first and second place in the heifer carcass contest.