Black Mesa Ranch
Snowflake, Arizona, USA
Artisan Cheese
Nubian Goats
Cheese and Candy Information and Online Ordering Page
Featured pages on this site
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Alternative Energy (updated 10/11)
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David's Culinary Blog
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New!
Take a 4 minute "tour of the ranch" on YouTube .
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Award Winning Artisan Goat Cheeses
4 Awards 2010 ADGA National Competition
2 Awards 2008 ADGA National Competition
4 Awards 2005 ADGA National Competition
3 Awards 2004 ADGA National Competition
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(available seasonally)
1 Award 2010 ADGA National Competition
2 Awards 2005 ADGA National Competition
2 Awards 2004 ADGA National Competition
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Click here to read the online version of Kathryn's booklet
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This site last updated:
December 29, 2011
© 2000-2010 Black Mesa Ranch Inc. All Rights Reserved
Endorsed by more than 36 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® program is nationally recognized as the Gold Standard for certifying animal welfare.
Arizona Grown!
Black Mesa Ranch
Snowflake Arizona
BMR Cattle
Look who's moooved onto the ranch
2005
11/10/05: For the longest time we have been discussing getting some cattle for the ranch and yesterday our plans and dreams came to fruition with the arrival of Bertie, Belle, Heath, Boone and Scooter. We never wanted or intended to get into cattle in a big way and as it turns out we've gotten in small. Very small in fact. The cattle we're starting with (2 bulls and 3 cows) are Belted Galloways and Dexters. Dexters are the smallest non-dwarf breed of cattle in the world standing less than 46" at the shoulders and the "Belties" aren't a whole lot bigger. Not being experienced cowhands we thought these more manageable-sized beasties would be a good way to learn about working with them. One of our first tasks will be to brand each with our new official, state-approved BMR brand mark. That should prove a most interesting task indeed.
Meet the Gang
Dexter cow "Belle" (left) and her 2004 son, bull "Scooter"
Belted Galloway cows "Bertie" (left) and "Heath"
Dexter bull "Boone"
2006
January Update: Our small cattle herd has settled in nicely and have developed a regular routine of (almost) daily coming to the main compound at morning and evening milking times (for the goats) for their breakfast and dinner treats. The rest of the time they can be seen out grazing down in the valley or lazing around, cudding under a tree somewhere.
All three of the girls are starting to show their pregnancies and it's great being able to make regular checks on their condition. Theoretically none are due before mid-February but...! They are all becoming more accepting of us and somewhat trusting but there's still work to be done in that area. Bull Boone actually seems to quite enjoy getting his head scratched now.
Introducing..."Baby Belle"
Our Very First Calf is Born!
February Update: You'd think we'd be old hands at this "birthin' babies" stuff by now but the sight of our very first ranch-born calf was really special. Born 2/1/06 to our Dexter cow "Belle", and Dexter bull "Boone", this precious little dun-colored bundle of energy is a real joy. Belle's being quite protective of her new youngster and we haven't been able to get too close yet but we're pretty sure she's a little heifer!
Belle and Baby Belle
MORE calves!
June Update: Bertie was the second cow to calve for us this year. She had a little bull calf "Bog" on May 6th. At first we were afraid that she was not nursing him because she seemed so bagged-up when we saw her out on the range or when she came in at feeding time. Eventually we saw him drinking just fine. I guess she is just a very good milk producer. Since then, he's grown like a weed and is now taking every drop she has to offer and is working at solid food.
To make sure that Bertie's new little calf had someone to play with, Heath calved the very next day, 5/7/06. She had a beautiful little heifer, "Heather" .
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Bertie's little bull "Bog" |
Heath's heifer "Heather" (now, try saying it 3 times fast!) |
2007
On Valentine’s Day Belle calved with a dun bull (Brach). In Mid-March Bertie and Heath calved with bulls also (Bogie and Hondo respectively). All are doing great. The three bull calves have formed their own clique and delight in getting into mischief and causing trouble. In June, Baby Belle calved with a dun bull (Liberty). That makes 4 for 4 bull calves this year. The newest fella quickly learned to hang out with the older boys and learn all their special troublemaking techniques.
In April we started fattening up Bog for butchering in July but the guy refused to eat grain. Finally after many trials, we discovered that he liked Animax – a high protein (and high priced) dairy pellet. Due to the delay in getting him eating, we pushed back the butcher date until August.
Brach went to his new home in July and is looking forward to his "work" as a herd sire.
2011
Well, I guess it's been awhile since my last update. But the herd is still here and doing well. We did have to sell Heath since our range just wasn't enough for the whole herd and we wanted to avoid over grazing. We still have Boone, our bull, plus Bertie and Belle. Both cows have produced calves every year. Right now they are both nursing little heifers. We also have a 2 year old steer that we will put in the freezer soon, possibly around the holidays, plus a yearling bull. He, too, is destined for the freezer but not until next year. He was left as a bull in case we decided to sell him for breeding, so it will be interesting to see how he and Boone get along. Brach (see the 2001 update above), now referred to as Valentino since he was born on Valentine's Day, is working as a bull at a nearby ranch and we hear great things about him.