Ranching in the high desert country of New Mexico
If you want to stump John Sisk, ask him for his definition of a good rancher.
JOHN SISK
Bonita Canyon Ranch
Corona, NM
He'll talk all day about genetics, pasture conditions, weather, weaning weights, breed-up and the rest of the many day-to-day things that occupy a rancher's mind. But in ranching, with so many things beyond your control, it's hard sometimes to realize the sum of the parts is often greater than the whole.
John is happy for folks to take a gander over the fences of the Bonita Canyon Ranch, Corona, New Mexico, where he's been the manager since 1984. They'll see happy, contented cows with shiny, black
coats.
The cowherd is commercial Angus. Sisk prefers the older genetic lines in the breed because they have a smaller frame size and do-ability to perform well in rough, rocky terrain.
Ranching in the Rough Country
Bonita Canyon Ranch is a grass operation, with the main species being blue grama, sideoats grama and western wheatgrass. But those grasses have to muscle their way up through rough country that doesn't get a lot of rain. Riomax® tubs help utilize this dry winter grass, allowing him to only feed cake once or twice a week.
At around 6,500 feet in elevation, the winters are usually cold and windy and sometimes lack precipitation. Because of that, he moved his calving season from January-February to April-May and weans in October. Even with moving to a later calving date, his calves still wean consistently at around 550 pounds. And he'll buy some yearlings and run them through the summer.
The calves are sold directly off the ranch, often commanding a 30 to 35-cent per pound premium. "There are no growth hormones in them," he says. "It's just what they can do off their mammy, grass, and genetics."
A Mineral Package That Can’t Be Beat
Since about 2019, the cattle on the Bonita Canyon Ranch have been on Riomax® tubs year around. As this country is lacking in copper, the availability of copper in the tubs seems to help the cattle slick off a little quicker with their hair coat looking shiny, not dull and fuzzy. The old adage "the way cattle look on the outside is a good indicator of what's happening inside". Because the tubs are out yearlong, he knows even the "shy" cow has her needs met.
"Riomax® does a good job for us," he says. "I've tried other mineral supplements, and Riomax® is very consistent on consumption, not overdoing it which helps the bottom dollar. Their vitamin-mineral package cannot be beaten when compared to other companies."
Oh, and his definition of a good rancher? "Mostly it's being a good steward of the land. You do that, and the land will take care of the cattle with minimal input from you".
That's a pretty good elevator speech, don't you think?