 |
|
 |
|
Total Acreage:
50,680 Acres (20,525 Hectares)
Total Mature Cattle Inventory:
2,000 Head
OH Ranch Ltd. — Cattle Operations
The original OH Ranch and main headquarters is located the Rocky Mountain Foothills south west of Calgary near Longview, Alberta. The ranch also has three other operations at different locations. OH Pekisko is south of Longview about 8 miles, and in southeastern Alberta at Dorothy and Bassano. The OH Ranch combines these four separate land holdings and each piece works together to complete the Range Tested® cattle breeding program.
Since its inception in 1883, the OH Ranch has always operated using traditional methods. Today, cowboys continue to ride the range, moving cattle and doctoring sick animals in the open field by roping from horseback. While the ranch owns trucks and other equipment, horses are still the primary mode of transportation on the ranch and continue to be used for such tasks as packing fencing supplies, minerals and salt and protein blocks. The OH Ranch is one of the few large cattle outfits in North America which continues to be operated utilizing historic methods.
OH Ranch :: Longview, Alberta
|
 |
| Total Acres: |
16,620 Acres
:: 7,080 Acres Crown Lease
::
9,540 Acres Deeded |
| Cattle: |
850 Red Angus cross
:: 800 Yearlings
:: 50 Bulls |
| Altitude: |
High 5,300 feet (1,631 m)
Low 4,000 feet (1,231 m) |
OH Longview : Acquired in 1987
Purchased in 1987 by Doc Seaman, the Longview operation is the hub of the OH Ranch organization and is under the direction of Todd Snodgrass. During the year there is always lots of activity checking pastures
and moving cattle from one to the next on horseback.
The cows calve in early June, and are trailed back from winter range a few months before. The cattle at the OH Ranch in Longview graze 365 days a year and are provided a free choice mineral supplement.
OH Ranch :: Dorothy, Alberta
|
 |
| Total Acres |
20,050 acres (8120 ha)
:: 20,050 Acres Deeded |
| Cattle: |
600 Brood Cows |
| Mature Bulls: |
25 Head |
| Altitude: |
High 3,200 feet (985 m)
Low 1,800 feet (554 m) |
OH Dorothy : Acquired in 1993
Cattle are wintered in the west and northwest areas of the ranch. They graze naturally all winter with salt blocks and protein supplements supplied to augment nutritional requirements. Occasionally, exceptionally harsh winter conditions may warrant additional winter feeding.
Topography at OH Dorothy is diverse, with two large coulees, Circus Coulee to the east and Big Coulee to the west dominating the southern landscape. The Red Deer River serves as the southern border and provides six miles (9.6 km) of river frontage. Developed natural fresh water springs, dugouts and windmill-driven wells supply stock water.
The pasture is comprised almost entirely of native grasses, with very little improved pasture. Rotational grazing is implemented in most areas, with cattle grazing only biannually.
In the north part of the ranch is an area known as Little Fish Lake. This section is an ecological reserve created with the objective of maintaining strong stands of Northern Fescue. Deferred grazing in this area allows the grasses and flowers to reach full growth potential before any cattle are put on.
OH Ranch :: Bassano, Alberta
|
 |
| Total Acres |
9,700 acres (3929 ha)
:: 9,700 Acres Deeded |
| Cattle: |
550 Cow/Calf Pairs |
| Altitude: |
High 2,600 feet (800 m)
Low 2,510 feet (772 m) |
OH Bassano : Acquired in 1991
The Bassano operation -- something of a misnomer as the ranch is located equidistant from Brooks and Bassano in southeastern Alberta.
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.
There are 9,700 contiguous acres (3,929) 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 General Manager Todd Snodgrass to be in constant contact.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
