Our Story - Certified Hereford Beef

Our Story

Only Certified Hereford Beef backs each naturally tender, juicy and flavorful bite with breed integrity, high standards and bolder taste.

As cattle ranchers worldwide have long known, the incomparable taste of a perfect steak begins with the best cattle. Hereford cattle have been bred for taste since the 1700s — a tradition continued by the 9,000 local Hereford farmers and ranchers who raise Hereford cattle with an uncompromising dedication to the best natural quality and sustainability.

Beef with Benefits

The Certified Hereford Beef story is a Product of the U.S.A. and backed by American Hereford farm and ranch families working hard to raise a high-quality product.

Beef with Benefits

Upholding the Hereford Heritage

Meet the Hereford farmers and ranchers working hard to deliver a tender, juicy and delicious beef product to your table or meat case.

Meet Our Ranchers

Questions?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our story begins in 1995, when the American Hereford Association established the Certified Hereford Beef program. Today, the brand continues to uphold a time-honored tradition of providing American families with tender, juicy and delicious Hereford Upper 2/3 USDA Choice beef and USDA Prime beef.

We hold our beef to a high standard, allowing nothing but the highest quality beef into the program. A comprehensive 1991 cattle breed study by Colorado State University confirmed that Certified Hereford Beef was superior in every category, including flavor and tenderness. In a 2019 Kansas State University study, consumers also consistently rated Certified Hereford Beef steaks higher for juiciness, tenderness, flavor, and overall satisfaction than other steaks with the same amount of marbling, including USDA Prime beef and Upper 2/3 Choice Black Angus beef products.*

The natural efficiency of the Hereford breed also helps sustain the land on which they are raised. Compared to other cattle breeds such as Black Angus, studies show that Hereford cattle eat significantly less feed per day.** This efficiency helps conserve crops, water and other vital resources that today’s consumers are increasingly concerned about saving while supporting retailers’ and foodservice operators’ ongoing sustainability initiatives.

We invite you to experience the delicious legacy our Hereford farmers and ranchers proudly bring from our pastures to your plate and see the difference our naturally great-tasting beef makes for yourself.

*Kansas State University, Consumer evaluation of Certified Hereford Beef in comparison to USDA Choice, Prime, and Upper 2/3 Choice beef from black-hided cattle, April 2019

**Bedwell, S. (2017, August). The Efficiency Experts. Hereford.org. https://hereford.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hereford_efficency_report.pdf

Hereford Heritage

Our story began in 1991 when the American Hereford Association undertook the most ambitious and comprehensive cattle breed study to determine the contribution of Hereford Beef to the American beef supply. We’ve been beefing up American plates ever since.

1991

The American Hereford Association partners with Colorado State University to study the contribution of Hereford beef to the American food supply. The results showed Hereford beef was superior in every category.

 

1995

Certified Hereford Beef is formed to market Hereford Beef to American families, from American families.

 

2003

Certified Hereford Beef surpasses the 25 million pounds sold mark.

 

2005

Certified Hereford Beef celebrates it’s 10th anniversary.

 

2005

The Certified Hereford Beef Choice program is launched into the market.

 

2014

Certified Hereford Beef surpasses the 50 million pounds sold mark.

 

2015

Certified Hereford Beef celebrates it’s 20-year anniversary.

 

2017

Certified Hereford Beef launched the Premium program – an upper 2/3rds USDA Choice and Prime program

 

2020

Certified Hereford Beef celebrated 25 years of producing beef with breed integrity, high standards, and bold taste.
 

Today

Hereford farmers and ranchers across the United States are providing American families with tender, great tasting beef.

Meet Our Ranchers