Text-only version of Ranch System Elements:
People
One ranch can have cows and calves owned by multiple different people, who can be involved in the animals’ care and management to varying degrees. For the ranchers and staff on site, however, caring for a herd is a 365-days-a-year job.
Goals
Cow/calf producers care about the welfare of their animals. Healthy and happy animals are easier to work with, and are more likely to grow effectively. Producers also need to maintain the business aspect of the operation, and economic restrictions play a huge role in decision-making.
Infrastructure
The natural grasslands provides the majority of the food that the animals eat, but extremely long fence-lines are needed to contain the herd. If there are no natural water sources, the producers also need to ensure that the animals have access to fresh, clean water. For processing (castration, de-horning, vaccinations) or treatment, facilities are required. These facilities include holding pens, chutes to guide animal movement, and “squeeze” equipment to contain the animal. To implement additional processes, such as fence-line or two-stage weaning, more infrastructure is required. Because of labour and economic restrictions on the business, these additions are not always feasible.
Economics
Cow/calf producers essentially get one paycheck per year – when the year’s calves are sold at auction in the fall. While it is possible to keep calves past the fall, the cow/calf producers would take on the additional costs (including over-winter feeding costs) and the additional risks of losing animals to injury, predation, disease, or theft. Feedlots or backgrounding operations are better suited to feed the animals more efficiently over winter.
Regulations
Veterinary-client-patient relationships (VCPRs): Antimicrobial drugs can only be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian, and that veterinarian needs to be able to provide evidence of adequate interactions with the client and animal(s) to establish medical need for the prescriptions. Solutions like telemedicine can help achieve this requirement.
Livestock Traceability: All cattle must be identified by an approved CCIA RFID tag before being moved from their farm of origin or before 10 months of age. Information collected is protected under Canada’s Privacy Act, and is used to enable rapid emergency response to protect livestock, producers and consumers in the event of a disease outbreak. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA), a not-for-profit organization, facilitates Canada’s traceability program. More information is available from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and from the Government of Alberta.
Environment
Some cow-calf producers refer to themselves as “soil farmers” as the soil is the foundation of all agricultural practices. Without rich, fertile soil, the grass and crops required to feed livestock animals will not grow. Regenerative practices such as rotational grazing are used by producers to ensure the land is protected for future generations. Even with advanced soil management techniques, the producers are still at the mercy of mother nature. Drought, floods, and insect plagues that destroy crops have a huge impact on ranching operations.
Cattle are a keystone species of the grassland ecosystem, which is the world’s most endangered ecosystem. They are vital to the balance of the prairie environment and play a similar role to the bison that used to roam the land. Additional information can be found here: Environment (beefitswhatsfordinner.com).
Culture
Regardless of whether or not branding takes place, some ranchers still refer to spring processing as “branding day”. Ranchers rely on friends and neighbours to lend a hand to process all of the cattle in one day, and return the favor when friends and neighbours process their own cattle. Branding day can be very social events, involving cook-outs and gathering of friends and family.
Many ranches are multi-generational operations, but today’s youth are reluctant to pursue careers in agriculture. Many small ranch operators rely on income from outside of the ranch to sustain themselves. More information can be found here: Ranching as a Conservation Strategy: Can Old Ranchers Save the New West? (arizona.edu)
Technology
Some of the technologies used at this level of production include nose-paddles like QuietWean, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, clinical decision-making smart phone applications like Firstline, and calf squeeze-chutes to help safely treat animals.
Processes
Some of the processes relevant to the cow/calf ranch system include preconditioning, vaccination schedules, low-stress weaning, dehorning, or de-budding, and castration.
