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LACKEY RANCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

“Where we are, most of it is roll- ing hills,” ranch manager Curry says. “About 75 percent of the ranch is open pastures, and the other part is creek bottoms or brush mop that we have strategically left in places.” Because of the amount of land that the ranch has and its many sea- sonal creeks, Curry always plans for a drought and stocks his pastures accordingly, running a pair on about 10-15 acres. “That way I never overstock in good years and then have to cut back on cattle,” Curry says. “We try to manage for the cattle first and foremost; that was always Page’s big thing. She wanted to take care of the land and make sure the cattle had what they needed.” Managing the brush is one of the Lackey Ranch’s biggest challenges, though. For years, brush had taken over, and they continue the con- stant battle of reclaiming pastures to grassland. “We are currently using two skid steers with tree shears and mulching heads to combat the ever invasive hui- sache and mesquite,” Franke says. In attempts to easily move cattle through pastures with minimum labor, Franke

explains they made alleyways through pastures, adding that in such cases, “a cube feeder is magic.” Stewardship of the land and cattle has always been important to Saun- ders, something she passed on to the next generation. In addition to limit- ing the overgrowth of quickly growing species, the ranch practices rotational grazing and works to limit monoculture pastures, making the pastures good for both cattle and wildlife, while restoring land that was depleted of fertility after it was used to grow cotton many years ago. Just as the ranch is working to better their stewardship of the land, they con- tinually work to better their cow herd by using embryo transfer and artificial insemination. Although lack of skills and proximity to such businesses make it difficult, Franke says they are working to upgrade facilities where needed. The ranch breeds for fertility first, as having a live calf on the ground is the most important, but Franke says they also cull any cows who give birth to low weaning weight calves. “Page was always big on heavy weaning weights,” Curry says. “When CONTINUED ON PAGE 56 

the association needs to disseminate the collective gathering of informa- tion formatted in a way that breeders can utilize in breeding and purchasing decisions.” Franke says that he has seen other breeds out-sell Santa Gertrudis cattle over the years, but he also sees that changing and, with SGBI’s help, people are once again showing enthusiasm in the overlooked, hardy breed. That, along with a promise to Saunders that the ranch would always raise Santa Gertrudis cattle, is why the ranch con- tinues to raise Santa Gertrudis. “Page was all about pounds of meat to sell,” Franke says. “She studied ranch-to-rail results in detail.” To Saunders, weaning weights and milk were important, but so were conformation and structural soundness. “She liked big cows and gave them plenty of acres to graze, with very little supplementation.” The climate in South Texas is hot and dry, but most years, Franke says, they receive more rainfall than other parts of Texas.

JANUARY 18

FEBRUARY 9

RODEO PERFORMANCES BEST OF THE WEST RANCH RODEO JAN. 18 7:30 pm & JAN. 19, 7:30 pm A part of Ranching Heritage Weekend presented by Western Horseman ® BEST OF MEXICO CELEBRACIÓN JAN. 20, 7:30 pm presented by State Farm ® & Telemundo 39 COWBOYS OF COLOR INVITATIONAL RODEO JAN . 2 1 , 2 pm presented by State Farm ® & Telemundo 39 BULLS’ NIGHT OUT PRCA EXTREME BULL RIDING JAN . 2 2 & 2 3 , 7 : 3 0 pm presented by PlainsCapital Bank ® RODEO X EXTREME TEAM COMPETITION JAN. 24, 7:30 pm presented by Schaefer ® Outfitter WORLD’S ORIGINAL INDOOR RODEO ® PRCA Rodeo JAN . 2 5 - F E B . 9 , 1 0 am , 2 pm & 7 : 3 0 pm SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

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Santa Gertrudis Show fo� �he Jan. 20

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Jan. 19

ENTRY DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15, 2018

Call or click for official entry applications, premium lists, rodeo tickets and other information. 817.877.2400 • FWSSR.COM

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