CATTLE

An important part of Zapata Ranch is its cattle herd, which normally runs year round on the ranch. It consists of yearlings and mother cows that graze on native rangeland. Depending on variables from year to year, such as drought and markets, some of the cattle are owned by third parties who contract with Zapata Ranch to manage their cattle. All other cattle are owned by the ranch.

pictured: Regin Fletcher, Guest Programs Manager

Cattle are managed in their natural environment, with minimal input from management. Nature calls it survival of the fittest. We call it working in harmony with nature. For example, if a cow loses a calf to a coyote, we remove the cow from the herd, instead of shooting the coyote, because there are other cows that were able to defend their calf. We do not use pesticides on our cattle, but sell any animal that becomes sick or anemic from parasite infestation. We expect our cattle to work hard to make a living; any animal that does not forage to the distant corners of the pasture will probably raise an inferior calf and therefore is a candidate for culling.

In sum, we set high performance standards for the herd as a whole instead of elevating individuals that we “think” are superior animals. By selecting those animals that excel within and removing those that fall behind, we transform the herd genetically toward a herd that is adapted to its natural environment. See www.lasaterranch.com for the genesis of this management philosophy.

MULTI-FUNCIONALITY of CATTLE

Aside from being a critical income producer, cattle are used as an important tool to turn the surface of the land in order to achieve conservation objectives, see more under Conserveration. Portable electric fencing and careful strategic planning are ongoing processes that insure that ecosystem processes are functioning at a healthy level.

Because cattle are an important conservation tool, they are managed in herds as large as possible, and moved frequently on a migratory pathway around the ranch pastures in order to ensure that all plants are rested during the growing season. Pasture sizes are small and consequently, cattle are moved from one to another often, and always on horseback.

pictured: Jeff Gossage, Ranch Operations Manager

Yearling cattle are brought onto the ranch between January and April. Depending on health circumstances, they are monitored closely and once healthy, turned out into pastures. Cows begin calving in early April and usually finish by the end of May. Branding takes place once or twice in May and June. In the fall, cattle are brought into the headquarters corrals and checked for pregnancy and the calves are weaned off the cows. After weaned, calves are either shipped to market, or kept in small pastures for close monitoring for 21 days. All the open (non-pregnant) cows are either shipped to market or entered into a development program to appreciate their sale value.

Products that are produced from the cattle enterprise are grassfed beef www.lgbeef.com, bred commercial heifers, yearling cattle and conservation.