Spikebox Ranch

Location - Mullen, NE

Year Acquired - 1995

Size - 71,000                        

Cows Exposed - 1,360

Cow to Bull Ratio - 6:1

Maximum Bull Age - 3 years

Management Overview

The Spikebox Ranch comprises 71,000 acres in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. The ranch includes mixed-grass prairie, ranging from sub-irrigated wet meadows, gently rolling hills, and choppy dunes. The Spikebox Ranch is rich in water resources with several lakes, ponds, rivers, and creeks that supply the herd with abundant natural water. Low-stress animal handling techniques are emphasized, allowing animals to move through their rotational grazing program stress-free. Bison grazing is managed by electric fencing, using a combination of 1-2 strand temporary electric fencing and 2 – 6 wire permanent fencing.

Breeding Herd

The Spikebox breeding herd is managed as one herd, and the calves remain on the cows until ten months of age until they are weaned around March 1st. Cows and breeding bulls receive no supplementation and are expected to graze year-round. During annual works, cows are ultra-sounded for pregnancy, and all open cows are culled. Additionally, Spikebox breeding bulls are two years of age and are replaced each breeding season. Finally, cows and breeding bulls are given mycoplasma vaccine.

Calves / Yearlings

During the weaning process, calves are trained to temporary electric fence and begin an intensive rotational grazing program on the ranch’s meadow complexes. Yearlings spend the summers grazing wet meadows using Adaptive Multi-paddock Grazing, being moved every 1-3 days.  Much of this time is spent grazing behind temporary fencing consisting of poly-wire and step-in posts.  At the end of the season, only the healthiest and highest performing yearlings will be selected as replacements.

Health

In 2009, a mycoplasma outbreak occurred in the breeding herd, and all affected animals were removed. All animals are vaccinated annually, and there have been no outbreaks since 2009.