G.K. Jim Farms, Ltd., Dr. Kee Jim Named 2021 NALF Promoter of the Year

NALF board member Jerry Wulf of Morris, MN, with Tasha Shores of Okotoks, AB, and Holt Trip of Yukon, OK, representing G.K. Jim Farms, Ltd., Dr. Kee Jim, the 2021 NALF Promoter of the Year.

Dr. G. Kee Jim received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1983 from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is the founding partner of Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd. (FHMS), and the 2008 recipient of the American Association of Bovine Practitioner of the Year award. Dr. Jim is also a past recipient of the American Association of Bovine Practitioner’s Beef Award for Excellence in Veterinary Preventative Medicine; the Schering-Plough Animal Health Veterinary Award from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association; and the Canadian Animal Health Institute Leadership Award. 

Dr. Jim is currently the CEO of Feedlot Health Management Services by Telus Agriculture. Kee Jim’s cattle feeding companies (G.K. Jim Farms, Cattleinc Inc, Silverado Cattle Inc, Taweel Cattle Co.Ltd, Korova Feeders Ltd, Diamond Feeders, Quality Beef Producers LP, CanTex Feeders LP, Tierra Blanca Cattle Feeders LP, and Ordway Cattle Feeders LP) are major players in the Canadian and United States cattle industries through ownership of cows, backgrounding cattle, grass cattle, feedlot cattle and feedlots. 

According to Jerry Wulf of Wulf Cattle, Morris, Minnesota, the question is not, “is G K Jim Farms worthy of receiving this award, but rather, does this recognition rise to the level of recognition and appreciation that Dr. Kee Jim and his teams deserve, for all that they have done”? 

This team has definitely positioned NALF as leaders of data collection in the beef industry and sets the stage with tools for tremendous breed improvement for the future.

G K Farms is one of the largest cattle feeding companies in North America. It is also one of the largest feeders and promoter of the “Beef Builder” cattle, Limousin Dairy cross cattle. G K Jim Farms has purchased and fed out thousands of Limousin x Dairy cattle. They discuss the added value they receive feeding Limousin cross cattle; with superior dressing percents, superior feed conversions, better yield grades and heavier out weights.

The Feedlot Management Services Ltd. is the largest feedlot consulting and management company in North America. They have also done work in several countries internationally. They have been instrumental in managing a large commercial database of Limousin and Lim-Flex dairy cross fed cattle.  

Thanks to Dr. Kee Jim and his team, in the last two years they have submitted enough carcass data that the Limousin breed is approaching 100,000 records, with about 4,000 added monthly. Just two years ago, NALF had 13,000 actual carcass data records on file that were collected over the previous four decades. The NALF carcass database, in just a few months, is positioned to surpass the American Angus Association on actual carcass data records on file.

In addition, Kee has served on the board of directors of several beef industry groups including the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Livestock Identification Services Ltd., Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, Canada Beef Export Federation and the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency.  He has served as Board Chair of the Canada Beef Export Federation, Vice Chairman of the Alberta Cattle Feeder’s Association, and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and VERO at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Jim has also used his knowledge to help teach other. One of the most recent opportunities was for the International Livestock Congress Student Program where he served as a business leader/mentor discussing feedlot production and career opportunities in the Alberta beef industry with Canadian and international senior level and graduate students during their one-day program held in conjunction with the Annual Calgary International Livestock Congress.