Florida Cattle Ranchers Combine Tradition and Technology to Improve Their Herds

In partnership with: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Florida cattle ranchers embrace a blend of tradition and technology that is transforming the state’s beef industry. From sustainable farming practices to high-tech feeding programs, Florida beef stands out for its quality and commitment to supporting local communities.

Quincey Cattle Co.

For Don Quincey, his partners’ and employees’ passion helps fuel his direct-to-consumer beef sales.

“It’s the passion of the people to do a good job through the whole process – breeding,” he says. “It’s really the people that make our product great. None of this happens by accident.”

Ranchers once believed Florida calves had to go to feedlots in other states for quality beef, but Quincey says rotation crop corn grown by local peanut farmers was game-changing.

“About 80% of our feed comes from within 25 miles of the ranch,” Quincey says.

With an innovative and sustainable feeding approach, his Chiefland ranch also uses technology for nutritional precision, feeding the herd twice a day from specific recipes mixed with micronutrients for optimal nutrition.

“Every load of feed, every pound, meets the expectations of the recipe,” he says.

It also minimizes waste by incorporating byproducts like dehydrated bread or distillers’ grains, which are healthy for the animals.

“We thought the greatest positive impact on our carbon footprint would be not sending our calves to feedlots in other states, but it turns out to be growing so much of our feed commodity so close to the ranch,” he says.

Quincey Cattle Co. beef is available online, at their ranch shop and in select restaurants and grocery stores across Florida.

See more: Fresh From Florida Beef

Adams Ranch

Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce, a family-run cattle operation dating back to the 1930s and now run by the fourth generation, leads in environmental stewardship.

When it comes to protecting the legacy and natural resources, conservation easements are crucial, says LeeAnn Simmons, the ranch’s conservation manager.

Adams Ranch cattle are born, bred and raised on Florida soil and certified through the Global Animal Partnership Program, ensuring humane practices.

“We want to raise a product that people feel good about buying,” Simmons says.

Adams Ranch beef can be found in local restaurants and is also sold at Florida Whole Foods Market stores.

“It’s a joy and an honor for us to see Adams Ranch beef on a menu description at local restaurants,” Simmons says.

The Adams herd, developed from Spanish scrub cattle, has been bred with Braford, Brahman and Red Angus for a hearty, high-quality stock, says Mike Adams, president of Adams Ranch.

Their annual cattle sale, held each November since 1979, is among the longest ongoing beef feedstock sales in Florida.

“We sell all over Florida and from Texas to North Carolina,” Adams says.

Providence Cattle Co.

Providence Cattle Co. in Tampa proudly displays the “Fresh From Florida” label.

“It means that we are part of an elite group with the agricultural community, and it shows our customers – and consumers overall – clearly where their food comes from,” says Liz Planz, Administrative Manager. “In today’s environment, it’s not always easy to determine the origin of the food you put on your table or serve to your customers.”

It also resonates with consumers who seek locally sourced, high-quality beef.

See more: Florida Farmers, Ranchers and Fishermen Contribute to Environmentally Conscious Agriculture

Providence raises, processes and distributes its beef entirely within Florida, keeping the supply chain streamlined and efficient.

“Our entire animal supply chain, from birth to table, happens within the state,” Planz says.

Providence Cattle Co. is also dedicated to giving back to the community. In 2023, over the course of 18 months, they donated more than 20,000 pounds of beef to Feeding Tampa Bay and are expanding that initiative statewide.

“We believe that everyone deserves the best without compromise,” Planz says.

A Day in the Life of a Cattle Rancher

Some jobs fit the typical 9 to 5 work routine. Cattle ranching is not one of those jobs.

“The cowboy’s day starts before daylight and ends when the work is done,” says LeeAnn Simmons of Adams Ranch.

Much is governed by the seasons, and working with large herds adds to the likelihood of unforeseen events and emergencies.

“No day is ever the same on the ranch,” says Liz Planz of Providence Cattle Co.

For those reasons, a passion for the work is essential. “Whether you’re searching for newborn calves, fixing equipment or mending fences, it’s something that you have to be passionate about to enjoy,” Planz says.

Cattle dogs bred and trained to herd livestock can make some of those tasks easier.

Don Quincey of Quincey Cattle Co. says his cattle company uses blue heelers, an Australian cattle dog breed, and some of the Adams Ranch cowboys use herding dogs as well. Providence Cattle Co. relies on all-terrain vehicles to maneuver around the ranch and herd animals.

Being assertive but not too aggressive is key to a successful herding dog’s personality. Dogs must nip the heels of straying cattle to herd them, and ranchers need that to happen without injury to either animal. As the dogs’ experience and confidence increase, so does their ability to successfully herd cattle of all ages and temperaments.

And while the job might not be 9 to 5, ranchers appreciate not being confined to an office.

“Outdoors is our office, and it’s one of our greatest blessings,” Quincey says. “We get to enjoy creation nearly all day, every day.”

Learn more about Adams Ranch at adamsranch.com, visit providencecattle.com for more on Providence Cattle Co. and discover more about Quincey Cattle Co. at quinceycattle.com.