The job description for an ideal Hereford cow could be as follows: She should produce a healthy, growthy calf every year; she should calve as a two-year-old, and she should cause her owner absolutely no problems. These ideal cows are recognized as Dams of Distinction. A Dam of Distinction is the standard by which all Hereford cows can be judged.
These are the cows that meet the highest standards of commercial cattle production. The cow must do her job, but also her owner must manage the herd correctly to give her the opportunity to excel. Only a small portion of active cows is recognized. All heifers have the potential to be a Dam of Distinction, but only a small percentage fit the job description of an ideal cow year in and year out.
The following 2007 Dams of Distinction list recognizes 1,903 Hereford cows from 630 Hereford performance herds in 44 different states. The top 20 states and breeders of Dams of Distinction are included in the downloadable preface file found below. An article reviewing the 2007 Dams of Distinction is published in the April 2008 Hereford World.
2007 Dams of Distinction - Preface 
2007 Dams of Distinction - List
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