This document summarizes the holistic land management practices on the JX Ranch in New Mexico, which has improved the ranch's resilience. It discusses how the ranch added infrastructure like fences and water lines to better manage its 6,800 acres across 28 pastures. It restored grasslands by removing invasive mesquite and cedar trees. The ranch uses historic cattle breeds in one herd grazing rotation to improve soil and grasslands. It sells grass-fed beef directly to customers and offers ranch tours. The ranch has received several awards for its range management.
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Building Resilience: Holistic Planning, Land Management and Grass-Fed Production on the JX Ranch.
1. Building Resilience
Holistic Planning, Land Management & Grass-fed Production on the JX Ranch
6,800 acres: added infrastructure
to facilitate better management
5 pastures to 28 pastures; 13 miles of
mostly two-strand interior electric
fences
8 miles of buried water lines
connecting all wells (6) for optimum
water distribution
80,000 gallons of water storage
lthroughout the ranch
Mesquite and cedar removal to
restore grasslands
One herd grazing rotation - hoof
action improves water infiltration into
soil and stops run off - avg. 5 ds
grazed with 110 days no grazing.
4. GRASSLANDS RESTORATION
Removal of
invasive species;
mesquite and
juniper that had
taken over the
grasslands and
use tremendous
amounts of water,
causing erosion
and inhibit grass
growth and vigour.
5. THE COWS
Longhorn
Corriente
Criollo
Using historic breeds that are adapted through centuries to the arid lands of New Mexico
๏ The original "breeds" that survived for centuries without human involvement - survival of the fittest.
๏ Naturally disease resistant (no need for de-wormers, insecticides etc),
๏ shaped by nature for ease of calving
๏ natural defence mechanism to protect their calves (long sharp horns),
๏ healthy calves that inerit their mothers' natural disease resistance (no need for medicines such as
antibiotics)
๏ plus pretty neat to look at a colorful sea of longhorns grazing the pastures!
6. A Longhorn cow with her newborn
Predators take note: don't mess with my baby!!
13. WE ARE LISTENING, AND RESPONDING...
Consumers want to know where they meat is coming from, that
the beef has been raised naturally, been humanely handled and
has no junk added to it, medicine or otherwise. Our motto:
So good... and so good for you!
14. SELLING THE BEEF
โข Website www.leannaturalbeef.com
โข Customer Testimonials and Referrals
โข Word of mouth
โข Marketing, roll up your sleeves
โข Dedication, time, follow-up
โข Service (free deliveries, tour the ranch)
โข Keeping your customers happy and coming
back for more.
17. WHAT WE OFFER OUR CUSTOMERS
โข 3 weeks dry-aged retail cuts year-round, with free deliveries and next day
shipments within NM, 2 - 3 days within Continental U.S.
โข 3 week dry-aged custom cut quarters, halves and whole beef, with free
deliveries to Alamogordo, Las Vegas, Edgewood and Santa Fe in the fall
โข simple straight-forward pricing strucure: price per pound of meat you
actually receive, includes inspection, transportation to butcher,
butchering, full 3 weeks dry-aging, cutting & wrapping as per custom
order form, delivery to meeting point.
โข ...since you were fixin' to ask...
โข whole beef $8.00/lb - half beef $8.25/lb - quarter beef $8.50/lb.
Split/shared half or whole beef, pay lesser price.
19. RANGE MANAGEMENT AWARDS
โข Holistic Management International
Grazing Management Award 2014
โข The Quivira Coalition's 2010
Outstanding Leadership
in the Radical Center Award
โข Society for Range Management
Excellence in Range Management Award 2008
โข Upper Hondo Soil & Water Conservation District
Outstanding Rancher 1991 & 1994
โข Goodyear/NACD Conservation Awards
Award of Merit
for Oustanding Accomplishments
in Resource Conservation 1991 & 1994
โข New Mexico Cattle Growers Association
Salt of the Earth Award 1993 & 1995
Those volunteers who donate their time,
energy, expertise and resources are the SALT OF THE EARTH