Property Details
Name of Property: Preconditioning Operation Vernon, TX 288 acres
Status: New
Acreage: 288 Acres
Location: 1.45 hrs. to Amarillo & 3 hrs to Dallas, TX
Closest Town: Vernon, TX
Access: County road
Topography: Flat to very gently rolling pasture land
Improvements: Home, shop, corrals, water wells, fencing,etc
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2
Forage: Bermuda Grass, Native, Annual Rye
Capacity: 4,000 head/yr. currently, could be increased.
Water: Two water wells
Wildlife: Deer, Turkey, Quail
Utilities: Electricity, Wells, Septic System
Development Potential: Could be subdivided for housing if desired
Comments
This backgrounding operation is set up for maximum efficiency and utilization of Animal Well Being Methods to decrease stress and maximize average daily gain. Equipment necessary for the daily operations of the facility is included. The equipment may be removed from the package and sold separately. (Please register to access the Equipment List.)

The wide entrance into the ranch makes for easy in and easy out for large 18-wheeler trucks.

The stockers are received into special care receiving pens for health assessments, vaccinations, and rest. Then released into various pasture traps and allowed access to grass with TMR supplements provided in feed troughs in the pastures. Then around the 90-day mark they are moved into dry lots with 475 sq ft per head living area. This could be reduced by half if more cattle were fed. The next phase, the cattle are moved into dry lots allowing for best ADG on TMR rations and high density rearing while maintaining a very low mortality rate. Each dry lot contains two 190-gallon water tanks with high pressure water supplied to each trough. The dry lots can handle 1400 head with a turnover every three months. Additional pasture could be converted to dry lots to easily increase annual outputs from the current 4,000 head to a maximum of 7,500 head per year.

Two high volume water wells are on site. One provides water to two livestock water tanks in the pastures of 3000 gallons each (one of the tanks is shared between two pastures). The other well provides water to the house. To access the fenced in water tanks the livestock walk under a special back rub and dust bags to treat for flies and lice. All of the concrete water tanks in the pastures and dry lots have concrete aprons, and each tank has its own on-off valve.



There are six separate paddocks of varying sizes. These pastures consist of two Bermuda Grass pastures, one Annual Rye grass pasture, and a mixed pasture of Bermuda and Native grasses.

Equipment:

A Supreme 900T TMR Mixer mixes forage with liquid supplement and a custom pelleted feed; Liquid Supplement TDN 81, Protein 20%. The 900T TMR mixer can mix 10,000 pounds each batch and deliver directly to concrete J-troughs. Fitted with a weigh scale that is accurate to the nearest 1.0 pound. Dual Mixer Screws cut forage to an ideal length so cattle can eat quickly but allows for healthy rumen digestion of the fiber with no acidosis issues. There are two 30-ton bulk dump stations with overhead drops, 25 tons of bulk commodity mix can be uploaded in the bulk storage system an average of 45 minutes start to finish. The Bulk Liquid Supplement Tank holds 30 tons and provides high speed liquid transfer.

The most important forage dry matter utilized is Sorghum Sudan grass and Alfalfa from local producers.

Facilities: The covered hydraulic squeeze chute sits on concrete pad with electric and lights. It also has a scale, the pressure setting top to bottom is 200 psi. The side bar holds the head still for other work, and side doors allow for easy access for body treatments. Cattle see a clear exit, so they move forward easily straight to the special Hydraulic Squeeze Chute (not V closed but opens and closes in parallel.). Rubber mats are in place where cattle depart the chute to prevent slipping. The alleyways are adjustable from 18 inch to 22 inches. A proprietary designed Bud Box provides optimum flow for fast and easy, and low stress loadout. The loadout accommodates 18-wheeler trucks and low trailers.

A fully insulated and wired 40’X60’ shop with concrete floor is in place. A wood heater is included and water is piped to a hydrant on the outside of the shop.

The livestock is currently sold thru auction as open heifer feeders or replacement heifers to local ranchers. This facility has a reputation for quality, sound heifers. There are at least five livestock markets within a 100-mile radius of the ranch: The High Plains Auction Company in Vernon, TX, The Plains Livestock Market at Quanah, TX, Texoma Livestock Commission in Texoma, OK, The Graham Livestock Auction Market in Graham, TX, and Amarillo Livestock Auction in Amarillo, TX. There are numerous feedlots within a reasonable driving distance also. There are also numerous packing plants in the area.

The home is a three bedroom, two bath mobile

This ranch has approximately 350 acres of open pasture and the balance is sparsely to heavily treed.  The predominant grasses are Bermuda, Clovers, Fescue, and native grasses.  The stocking rate has historically ranged between 120 and 200 head.  The neighboring Canadian River Ranch has high-fencing that runs along the south, west and part of the north boundaries. 

14 ponds and several streams provide ample water for livestock.  Nine pastures allow for rotational grazing.  Some of the pastures are improved grasses such as Bermuda and Clovers, while some are impressive native grass pastures.  An enormous working facility features catch pens, sorting pens, working pens, all located under massive hardwood trees that provide thick shade for cattle and workers.  There are also pens by the house.  There is electricity to both sets of pens, the south pens are currently not hooked up, and water to the pens by the house. 

The beautifully remodeled home sits back into the property down a long tree-lined lane away from the county road.  With about 3,000 sq. ft. the home sports four bedrooms, (two master suites with walk in closets), three bathrooms, open concept kitchen/living/dining area, a large den, walk-in storage room, walk-in pantry, large mud room, and an attached two car garage.  The kitchen boasts custom cabinets, beautiful sandstone counter tops, pullouts in the lower cabinets and adjustable shelving in the uppers.  There is also an extra room currently used for extra freezers and refrigerators.  The large storm shelter is accessed from inside the house. AND there is fiber optic cable to the home! 

The forested areas contain some harvestable hardwood timber, moss rock and other potential landscaping stone, and habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, and birds.  There are so many cool shaded hideaway spots along the streams for peaceful enjoyment, and they also provide shade, water and cover for the livestock.  Many large, beautiful pecan trees are also scattered over the ranch.  At least three of the ponds are stocked with fish.

This is an impressive owner operated working cattle ranch with everything you need to be in business.  It is set up so you can move cattle from the far west side to the working facilities on the east side.  For additional information or to view this ranch call Sandy Brock Bahe at 918-470-4710 or toll free at 844-WCR-LAND.