Ladder Ranch is a 156,439 acre property located in south central New Mexico. The eastern half of the ranch lies along on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, an area typified by an arid climate and grass-shrub vegetation. Moving west, the ranch transitions into the Arizona-New Mexico Mountains ecoregion, a steep and rugged landscape characterized by grasslands, juniper savannas, and ponderosa pine/white fir forests. Range management includes restoring historic ecological processes and disturbance regimes to benefit overall rangeland health, bison production, and native species conservation and restoration.
Breeding Herd
Due to the size, range diversity, and aridness of Ladder, our animals are rotationally grazed dependent on seasonal forage growth and availability. The breeding herd is managed for production and genetic distinctiveness.
Salt and mineral are offered year-round. Protein cake is fed occasionally throughout the year with a marked increase prior to and during bison works in early winter. All our animals are familiar with cake and will follow a cake truck. All bison handlers are trained in, and utilize, low stress handling techniques.
During bison works, all animals receive a mycoplasma vaccinations and a de-wormer; female calves receive a brucellosis vaccination. Additional vaccinations are given depending on the final destination of the individual or group. All cows are pregnancy checked during works and open cows are culled. In 2019 our replacement heifers came from Vermejo Park Ranch’s unique Castle Rock herd. In 2020 we expect our replacement heifers to again come from Vermejo’s Castle Rock herd and replacement bulls from Blue Creek’s Yellowstone herd.
Calves / Yearlings
Currently, all heifer calves are vaccinated and shipped to Standing Butte for growth and finishing. Bull calves are held in groups for a short time during bison works and then turned back into the main herd for an additional year before being shipped for finishing.
Health
Ladder Ranch’s climate and topography can be unforgiving to its inhabitants. The bison on the ranch have adapted to its dry climate, rugged terrain, and forage availability and have been strongly selected to be sturdy, functionally sound, and productive. Ladder’s bison herd has historically been disease free.
