Prairie Creek Ranch Limousin is nestled in the southwest corner of Missouri near Richards. Owned by Ron and Shirley Peckman, the ranch is a multi-generational family operation that Shirley grew up on.
“My parents raised Black and Red Angus cattle, but in the early 1970s, I was introduced to the Limousin breed with a 4-H steer project,” said Shirley. “That’s when I fell in love with the Limousin breed. Soon after that, I talked my dad and grandpa into attending a sale in Miami, Okla. At the sale, we purchased our first Limousin bull and three Limousin yearling heifers. By 1974, we began transitioning the entire herd to purebred Limousin cattle.”
Ron, a retired sheriff in Vernon County, and Shirley, a resource conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, wed in 1997 and officially began Prairie Creek Ranch Limousin that same year. Together, they raised three children, Courtney, Meagan and Ty — all who enjoyed showing Limousin heifers and steers in 4-H and FFA.
“Over the years, we have strived to produce quality seedstock with an emphasis on docility, calving ease with growth and strong maternal traits,” said Shirley. ‘This is an exciting time for the Limousin breed, as feed efficiency and red meat yield are in market demand. Limousin influenced cattle can excel in these traits for an increased profit margin.”
Prairie Creek Ranch Limousin offers both purebred and commercial bulls, as well as purebred and Lim-Flex replacement heifers, for sale privately at the ranch. They also regularly consign bulls at the Great American Pie Limousin Sale in Lebanon, Mo. and have plans to utilize Green Springs Bull Test in Nevada, Mo. in the future to market bulls.
Notably, they exhibited the high selling bull at the Great American Pie Sale three years ago — a testament to their customers’ appreciation for their reputable breeding program.
“We have always tried to invest in really good bulls to continue to improve our program,” said Ron. “In 2016, we added Red Angus, so we now offer both Limousin and Lim-Flex cattle to our customers.”
Prairie Creek’s bull battery currently includes Wulfs Elliot K537E, a Lim-Flex bull sired by Silveiras Mission Nexus and out of an Urban Cowboy female. Elliot turned heads in Wulf’s National Western Stock Show lineup, and he’s been a solid investment for Prairie Creek ever since.
A few other herd sires of note include a purebred Limousin bull raised by Ron and Shirley — CWLR Durango, and a Red Angus bull, Lacy’s Endorsement 092C.
“The breed has really come a long way as far as disposition goes,” said Shirley. “Another thing we really appreciate about Limousin is the female’s longevity. We currently have a 17-year old cow still in production.”
Ron added, “When selecting replacement heifers, we’ve always looked for calving ease, docility, good milking ability and a dam that consistently weans off a good growthy calf. That has served us well over the years.”
Looking to the future, the Peckmans want to expand the herd and continue to hone in on the Limousin and Lim-Flex genetics they love. As they grow, they will continue to be actively involved in the Missouri Limousin Breeders Association, Heartland Limousin Association, Vernon County Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Cattlemen’s association and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
“In order for us to grow, our next challenge will be acquiring more pasture,” said Shirley. “We are in row crop country, and it’s getting harder and harder to find grass. But we are focused on growing our herd numbers and continuing to serve our customers in the years to come.”
As the Peckmans reflect on their decades of experience in the Limousin breed, they credit several industry leaders for helping them along the way.
“Over the years, we have received some great advice and guidance from folks like Ty Heavin of Pinegar Limousin, Casey Fanta of Wulf’s Limousin, Jimmy Lithicum of JCL Land and Cattle, Gene Raymond of GV Limousin, and our son Ty, who is obtaining a PhD in animal and meat science from the University and Missouri.”
To learn more about Prairie Creek Ranch Limousin, find them on Facebook or visit https://www.prairiecreekranch.biz.
Photos courtesy of Prairie Creek Ranch Limousin
Limousin cattle deliver to your bottom line. With superior genetics, a simple crossbreeding plan and state-of-the-art selection tools, the Limousin breed will serve profit-minded cow/calf producers. In today’s competitive markets, taking advantage of all available opportunities is key. The Limousin breed offers a variety of options from Fullblood to Purebred to the Lim-Flex® hybrid (Limousin x Angus cross) to match your program’s needs and market goals. Crossbreeding for the right blend of muscle, maternal ability and profit is easy with Limousin seedstock.