HYFA Hereford Research Division

Hereford Prime Foundation Gifts $116,000 for Research

In 2020, The Hereford Research Foundation (HRF) was the benefactor of the Hereford Prime Foundation’s $116,000 gift in support of future research projects at the American Hereford Association (AHA). The donation was made on behalf of the late Allan Shumaker, from Wetmore, Kan., who founded the Hereford Prime Foundation with funds from the dispersal of his cowherd. An advocate for tracking performance in beef cattle, Shumaker was a leader in collecting DNA samples to document the performance of Hereford cattle in feedlots. His efforts have aided research efforts to enhance and trace the predictability of growth traits, efficiency and carcass merit. Shumaker funneled his passion for Herefords into a breeding herd with an emphasis on traits to raise cattle for range country and for the commercial beef industry.

“The Hereford Research Foundation is extremely grateful for Shumaker’s foresight to utilize DNA to enhance the marketability of Herefords,” says Shane Bedwell, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement for the AHA. “His generosity and leadership have allowed us to make great strides in documenting and proving Hereford genetics across the industry.”