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The Spomer Ranch maintains a small docile herd of bison. We have been
in the bison business since 1976. Our stock is purchased from small herd
breeders or raised on our ranch. We pay particular attention to the disposition
of the animals that we purchase and raise. We have several animals that are
halter broke to lead and are used for promotional purposes. We also have an
excellent facility for breaking and training select calves for specialty uses.
Calves are available for sale and are usually spoken for prior to weaning. Our calves are priced a bit higher than market prices set at the fall bison auctions. Breeding age animals are also available for sale. Our calves are typically born in April and May and weaned in September or October at an age of five months. We have found by weaning them a bit early they have time to get over the stress of weaning before winter weather sets in. The calves have grain available to them from day one and by an early age are eating from the creep feeder. Prior to weaning, our calves are subjected to an electric wire around the perimeter of the pasture for a few months to teach them to respect fences. For the remainder of the year our bison are contained by a four strand barbless wire fence no more than four to five feet high. At weaning, the calves are ear tagged and put in a ‘stress-free pen’. This is a solid walled pen that the calves can not see out of or be bothered by the outside world. Since we have started the ‘stress-free pen’ we have had no cases of stress related problems; ie. pink eye, pneumonia, or the like. We sit with the calves almost daily to get them accustomed to people and from time to time we run them through the chute to help them get over the trauma they went through at weaning. We do not vaccinate the calves at weaning, but wait until they are sold so the purchaser can vaccinate according to his program. |
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