The Rockin' R Ranch is a family owned purebred Limousin cow/calf operation located in Rolla, Missouri. The Ragsdells began to breed Limousin cattle after their move to Columbia, Missouri from Tucson, Arizona in 1984. They purchased a small farm northeast of Columbia and their youngest son, Matthew became interested in 4H. This led to a Limousin show steer (Big Mac) the first summer, and to a purebred bull, William Penn, and several purebred cows the second summer. Along the way, the other boys, Keith (the oldest) and Thomas (and their wives later) became involved and did most of the work with Mom as Dad travels often and is busy at his "second job" as a university professor. The herd grew and expanded to a second farm in Rolla about 100 miles to the south. The Columbia farm was sold in 1992 and the herd now resides at the home farm in Rolla. The herd currently contains 50 purebred cows organized in 3 breeding groups. Most cows in the herd have at least one national champion in their pedigree.
The home farm lays south of the Big Dry Fork Creek, which is more like a small river. The creek is bordered on the north by 100 foot cliffs, and supplies fresh water year round. Cows are culled twice per year according to disposition, body score and calf performance. Cows that can not raise a stout calf don't get to stay in our pastures. Calves are weighted and tagged at birth; and weighted again at weaning and near their first birthday. The top 10-20% of the heifers remain in the herd to replace culled cows. We sell a handful of the rest of the heifers and bulls to other purebred breeders each year, and the remainder go into the beef business. Matthew, Thomas and Keith continue to take an active interest in the business and own parts or all of some of the cows. In addition, the boys play a very active role in decision making, particularly with regard to AI bull choice. The cows in the herd are sired by some of the best known bulls in the breed, and are now well adapted to Missouri grass and weather. Cows and calves have never been implanted and will not be implanted in the future. Calves reach their true potential through natural genetic means. Calves are fed hay, corn, oats and alfalfa pellets; and cows get hay and an all natural protein supplement in the winter - grass the remainder of the year. At the Rockin' R Ranch we do it the old fashioned way - and it seems to work! One indicator is the very high quality of our lean beef product.
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Here is Ken with Miss Ideal. We have been breeding Limousin cattle in Missouri since 1985 and have stressed temperament and balanced performance. Miss Ideal is an example of the result. She was a sweetheart to handle and be around. If you didn't go over to scratch her back, she would come to you! She had the highest milk EPD (>22) for any Limousin cow in Missouri for a while. What a cow!
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Here is Janet checking one of the breeding groups. The Rockin' R Ranch is a family operation with most of the work done by Janet, Ken and an occasional hired hand. Being with the cows, especially during calving season is considered a privilege, which makes each day special. Janet is involved in all activities (except handling the mature bulls, which Ken prefers to do alone), and has become an excellent fence builder and general foreman!
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About the Rockin' R Ranch... | Why Limousin Beef?
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Ken and Jan Ragsdell
P.O. Box 1814
Rolla, MO 65402-1814
573+341-2986
rocknr@rollanet.org