Page 10 - SJ-Beef-Week-2023_Preview

Stock Journal Beef Week | 2023
Rocky Mountain Angus cattle

bred to thrive at high altitude

Angus cattle being mustered at Coyote Creek Ranch, in the high elevation country of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, United States.
By SHAN GOODWIN Angus breeding hub of
Guyra in NSW is 1330m.
REEDING and raising The highest point at
cattle in the high- Coyote Creek Ranch is
Belevation Rocky 2600m.
Mountains of Colorado in The ranch was first
the United States comes homesteaded in the 1890s
with a unique set of and its current owners are
challenges that Australian the fifth family to operate it.
beef producers, who Coyote Creek Ranch
operate on the lowest raises registered Angus,
continent in the world, can selling bulls and heifers at
only imagine. 18 months of age to other
For Jeff Meyers and Erika mountain ranchers, both
Murphy, who run Coyote seedstock and commercial,
Creek Ranch, near Hayden who are typically above
in the north west corner of 1500m. Coyote Creek Ranch in Colorado in the winter.
CCR are specialists in
Colorado, the challenges breeding animals that can
are met with a strong focus perform at altitude and are November to April. The hay leveraging non-arable land
on animal welfare and doing that job at such a growing season averages to raise a food product,”
sustainability. level they were named the between 60 and 70 days in Ms Murphy said.
Australia’s average 2021 Seedstock Producer the summer and there is “But it is a harsh
elevation is 300 metres. of the Year awarded by just one cutting of hay. environment and we are
Mount Kosciuszko is 2228m, Colorado Cattlemen’s “The benefits of ranching very dependent on rain
the peak of Victoria’s high Association. where we are include the in summer and snow
country is Mount Bogong at The winters are long at access to high quality hay, in winter. It’s a labour of
1986m and the New England CCR, typically lasting from decent water rights, and love.”
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