The process or raising our cattle has been taught and passed down from our fathers and grandfathers and the many generations before them. We will continue to follow in this tradition while practicing current livestock and range management techniques.
The ACGA elects members to be part of the board and also elects its officers. The officers are to manage and direct the association. The board members and officers are elected bi-annually and they are responsible for the business side of the cattle operations. The association also elects cattle bosses to manage and conduct the day to day operations on the rangelands. The majority of our cattle operations are conducted collectively on a weekend basis due our members having personal weekly work commitments. Individual members are also identified utilizing a rotation schedule to monitor the cattle on a daily basis. These individuals then report their findings daily to the cattle bosses.
Each spring our bulls are rounded up from the winter range and are integrated in to the main herd for breeding. At this time our bulls are also fertility tested. Any bulls not meeting the specified criteria are then culled from the herd and replaced by more productive bulls.
Spring time calving starts the earmarking process of the newborn calves. This will continue for a couple of months until all calves are earmarked and identified. In the late spring all calves will be ready to be branded. Due to the number of calves, our branding consists of a week long process. Steer calves are then vaccinated, de-wormed, dehorned, ear tagged and castrated. Heifer calves are also vaccinated, ear tagged and de-wormed but are not dehorned in order to provide protection for themselves. After this process is complete the cattle are driven up to the mountainous summer range. The cattle will occupy this range for a period of 4 months. During this time members are on a rotating schedule all summer long assuring there is adequate amounts of water and forage. Additional tasks include mending fences, monitoring the health of cattle as well as the function of all windmills and water sources in the area.
The fall season begins with the rounding up of the main herd. The bulls are then removed from the herd and placed in the fall/winter bull pasture. The calves are also separated from their mothers ready to be weaned. Calves are then identified for sale, replacement or slaughter. The calves slated for sale are premised id tagged, de-wormed and vaccinated for transport. The calves slated for slaughter are placed in a separate pasture. The cow and replacement calves are then moved to separate pastures to continue weaning. At this time all cattle are moved to lower elevations for the winter.
During the winter months members are required, again on a rotation schedule, to break ice at each watering source and provide salt blocks and supplemental hay if needed.
We continually move our cattle to different pastures in all seasons to prevent the range lands from being overgrazed. The care of our cattle and range land is of the utmost importance to each and every member of our association.
