Our Passion. Our Livelihood.
Quincey Cattle Beef was started by owner and company president, Don Quincey, in 1992. The ideals of true love of the land and raising quality cattle was the very foundation that sparked the idea of our operation. Don has been around cattle for his whole life, his roots run deep in this area and the cattle industry. His father started long-standing business Chiefland Farm Supply, a still successfully operating farm and feed store.
When the opportunity to branch out from the feed store and cow-calf operations presented itself, Don took it, and he developed a longstanding relationship with Sparks Farm, a well-respected cattle producer in Memphis, Tennessee, by preconditioning Florida calves.
This relationship was just the start and while preconditioning cattle is still a large portion of our operation, we have grown in scope and size to encompass many facets of our beloved industry. From developing replacement heifers and bulls to feeding out cattle to harvest, we have adapted to meet the needs of fellow cattle producers.
The well-being of cattle in our care is top priority at Quincey Cattle Beef. All preconditioning cattle and developing replacement animals are kept on grass pastures, not dirt lots.
The Quincey Team
Our employee base is made up of knowledgeable staff members that facilitate the company’s mission to provide quality nutrition and care to the cattle under our responsibility. We have beef cattle nutritionists and veterinarians on call to ensure that we are meeting the cattle’s needs to provide the best possible care.
Clayton Carter, Operations Manager, was Quincey Cattle Beef’s very first employee and is still with us today. Clayton himself is deeply rooted in the area and has a rich heritage in Florida cattle ranching, his father, Eugene Carter was awarded the 2009 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Cowman award for his efforts in building White Cattle Operations in Levy County, which was one of the state’s largest cattle operations in the 1970s.
Our departments are led by a skilled management team, derived of many backgrounds that allow for forward thinking and emulate our brand’s core values.
“The ideals of true love of the land and raising quality cattle was the very foundation that sparked the idea of our operation.”
– Don Quincey
Don Quincey
Don Quincey’s love of the land and raising quality cattle goes back to when his father started a cow-calf operation years ago in Chiefland, Florida. In 1992 Don founded his own cow-calf ranch, Quincey Cattle Company. Then in 2013, Don started a small scale feed yard at his ranch. It has grown rapidly over the past three years far exceeding his expectations and proving the finishing cattle in Florida is very viable.
Don works his ranch with his partner, Donna, and a great team of cowboys and workers who have been with him for years. Donna says that ranching and cattle are Don’s passion. “He’s a visionary and a risk taker”, she adds. In fact, it’s these qualities that have enabled FCR to produce beef, born and raised in Florida. Without Don and a few other like him taking the risk of starting a feed operation here in Florida, cow/calf operations would have to send their cattle out west for finishing. FCR, and our efforts toward making Florida more sustainable would not exist.
The well-being of the cattle in their care is a priority at Quincey Cattle Beef. All preconditioning cattle are kept on grass pastures, not dirt lots. Don believes this is much better for them, and it serves a dual purpose. “It allows us to keep the land in its natural condition safeguarding the habitats of many smaller animals who call our pastures home.”
“Water conservation is natural to a rancher. We know how important it is to a sustainable Florida and to keeping ranching viable.”
-Don Quincey
Conservation
When it comes to the environment, Don’s passion is for water conservation. Don understands the importance of balancing the demand for food supply with the demands of a growing population. He’s served on the Suwannee River Water Management District Board for almost a decade. His work with the District has helped him learn new ways to conserve water on his ranch. “Water conservation is natural to a rancher. We know how important it is to a sustainable Florida and to keeping ranching viable.” Quincey Cattle Beef’s current irrigation uses 30% less water than the old high-pressure irrigation systems, and 50% less water than the traditional hard hoses.When asked what his favorite thing about ranching is, Don said, “Most importantly working the beautiful country while tending to the animals, and the relationship formed with some of the finest cattlemen around the country. But also, it’s the little things, like that magical moment cattle are moved to a new field, heads down, grazing on fresh pasture. Or, the sound of a meadowlark on the fence post…the smell of fresh cut hay.”
Beef Quality Assurance Certified
We are Beef Quality Assurance Certified, meaning that our team follows the cattle industry’s guidelines for care and handling of cattle, based on the producer code for cattle care. These guidelines address best management practices for nutrition, health care, housing, transportation and anything else that may concern the well-being of cattle. What the cattle eat is very important to their health and well-being. We work with local farmers to produce a large portion of the ingredients of our rations and our consulting nutritionists formulate the best possible rations to meet the needs of each diverse group of cattle. We mix our own feed rations and operate a variation of feed trucks and wagons to provide a level of consistency and familiarity to our cattle. Predictability in routine minimizes cattle stress and improves overall performance.
