Purchased in 1991, the Bassano operation -- something of a misnomer as the ranch is located equidistant from Brooks and Bassano in southeastern Alberta -- is the home of the OH Ranch's heifer operation. There is no permanent herd at Bassano. Each spring a new group of heifers is delivered for breeding following backgrounding at Diamond V Feedlot near Longview, Alberta. During a 45-day breeding cycle these heifers are bred through natural service on open range using moderate birth-weight Range Tested® Red Angus bulls trailered from OH Pekisko. In some cases, artificial insemination is used utilizing moderate birth-weight Red Angus bulls noted for easy calving and excellent milk production. Early spring pasture is mostly Tame Crested Wheat and Russian Wild Rye.

Heifers remain at OH Bassano through the summer and early fall, pastured on short, hard native grasses noted for high nutritional value. In October, heifers selected for the OH Ranch Annual Range Tested® Production Sale are trucked to the Main Headquarters at OH Longview. The balance of the herd is kept at OH Bassano through the winter and calving in the spring.

Part of the attraction of OH Bassano is that it is located in some of the best irrigated hay country in the world. Access to quality feed is important in the second winter of these cattle's lives as they are continuing to mature and grow. After calving in open fields, mothers are paired with calves and shipped either to OH Longview or OH Dorothy as replacement heifers.

There are 9,700 contiguous acres (3,929 hectares) of pasture at the Bassano operation. The ranch is virtually split in half by a large canal which serves the irrigation requirements of neighboring operations. This canal also provides stock watering on the ranch, augmented by dugouts.

Like most of the land in this area of Alberta, OH Bassano is relatively flat, with small, gently rolling hills. Half of the property is native grass with the other half being improved pasture. While there is not much protection from the elements on most of the ranch, the wintering and calving areas are marked by Diamond Willow brush.

Cody Vallieux now operates OH Bassano year round, with the assistance of one or two part-time cowboys through calving and summer breeding. The Bassano operation is connected to the Main Headquarters at Longview via telephone and fax machine, allowing OH Ranch Manager, Bud Maynard, to be in constant contact.