Raider Red Meats, the retail aspect of Texas Tech University's Department of Animal & Food Sciences, was named the winner of the American Society of Animal Science's ‘2021 Battle of the Brats' competition in July at the organization's annual national meeting in Louisville. The win includes presentation of the traveling Bratwurst Trophy, and a monetary prize.

“We are excited to win this award, and feel that it speaks highly to the work that our students do every day,” said Rudy Felix, meat lab manager with Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “Winning the Battle of the Brats would not have been possible without the dedication of our students.”

In addition to Texas Tech, eight other schools were in the competition, including Auburn University, University of Georgia, University of Idaho, University of Kentucky, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I believe this was Texas Tech's inaugural year in the competition and you came away victorious over some schools that have been part of this competition since the beginning,” said Justin Bartlett, chief operations officer with the American Society of Animal Science. “Thank you for being a part of this year's competition.”

Bartlett noted that attendees at the ASAS awards celebration were able to sample brats from the different universities, and then vote for their favorite brat. After a close tally, Texas Tech was determined to have the best brat.

“The best brat is a Cajun Bratwurst that the students in our meat lab put together,” said Tate Corliss, Director of Raider Red Meat. “We're so honored to win this award, and could not be any more proud of our students work. This award speaks highly of product development here at Raider Red Meats.”

Raider Red Meats has always served as not only a retail business, but a way for students to gain real-world experience in preparing, packaging and selling meat. A variety of items are available in Market Street and United Supermarket in the Lubbock area. Additionally, beef steaks and roasts are distributed by US Foods to restaurants throughout the South Plains region. 

Texas Tech's meat science program is well known for its excellence; a tradition that began more than three decades ago. Today, students continue this tradition. They volunteer to serve others in the local community and raise money to fund travel to research conferences and meat judging competitions. Indeed, Texas Tech has one of the dominate meat and livestock judging programs in the nation.

CONTACT: Michael Orth, chairman, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-5653 or michael.orth@ttu.edu

0802NM21 /Editor's Note: For more information on Raider Red Meats meat products, please click here