Another Colorado Elk Ranch
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Thunder
Valley Elk RanchJohn, Wendy, Samantha and Abi Rice
31 Airport Road
Durango, CO 81301
970-259-0153 -- FAX: 970-382-9372
Email - tveri@frontier.net
Colorado Elk and Game Breeders Association - #E11
North American Elk Breeders Association - #35
TB Accreditation - #LP213
USDA Approved Semen Collection Center for Cervide Semen
| Hi everyone, welcome to our ranch. Let me tell you about our background and operation. We were very active in the formation of NAEBA in 1989-1990 (the early days), recognized the tremendous future of elk ranching and began our own herd on a small farm in 1991. Quickly outgrowing our limited acreage, we purchased an elk-habitat friendly ranch in 1994. With over a mile of river running through the property and 150 acres of high fenced elk habitat, we enjoy our 170 head of top quality Rocky Mountain Elk. While we recognize the value and future of the antler velvet market , we have developed our breeding program to emphasize the maximum hard antler development and ultimate size of each animal in our breeding program. |
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Not withstanding, our Rocky Mountain bloodline of velvet bulls (we currently have over 40)
are cutting above average weights for most age groups. The few pounds of velvet lost by
not genetically introducing the Manitoba bloodlines into our velvet herd is over-
whelmingly rewarded by symmetrical large, hard antlers, impressive bodies and acceptable
velvet. In breeding our select large bodied Rocky Mountain females (600-700 pounds),
we produce impressive calving weights (36-51 pounds). Our offspring compliments our
ultimate goal of having large, well proportioned, top of the line breeding stock with
Royal (6x6) and Imperial (7x7) symmetric hard antler development. Scoring
ultimately in the 400+ B&C point typical category. We maintain extensive computerized records on every animal in the herd. Information includes at least calving, history, medication and worming history, weights, health, and disposition. |
 "RUNS WITH THUNDER" 7-yr-old, 1050 lb. pre-rut 1998 Pure Rocky Mountain , cut 26.5 lbs. of velvet as 6-yr-old. Produces above average offspring with dark-black coloration. 343 B&C pts as 7-yr-old (1998) |
 "SUNSHINE" Samantha, a 17-yr-old senior at Durango High School, and Sunshine our 6-yr-old Pure Rocky Mountain cow. Sunshine's 1998 weight (3/16/98) was 627 lbs. Sunshine produced a TAURUS son in 1997 with a 49.2 lb. birth weight. |
We find the records useful many times as to patterns established, growth trends, etc. Our program emphasizes a completely elk friendly habitat and working facility. We feel that a happy animal is a productive animal. Each pasture on our ranch is complete with hillsides of native pine and cedar with cottonwood trees for shade, river water for drinking and frolicking (which elk are world renown for), and sage brush, willow and bushes for browsing. Our irrigated pastures provide a variety of grass and alfalfa. Our breeding program·includes exceptional sized cows crossed with superior male genetics for the ultimate production animal. We avoid breeding TAURUS to heifers for obvious size in delivery limitations. |
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Our program revolves around our herd sire TAURUS, a 6-yr-old with the unprecedented weight
of 1270 pounds pre-rut, in 1998. Standing 65 inches at the withers, his conformation
consists of impressive hindquarters, and unequaled body length and girth. For the last 3 years TAURUS has successfully single-sire mated 41, 52, and 45 select cows, respectively, with excellent conception rates of no less than 96%. This conception rate is directly related to his quiet, gentle temperament even during the rut. His calves range in weight from 40 to 51 pounds. TAURUS's antler development as a 6 x 6 is second to none for his age. |
 "TAURUS" and Abigail, age 15, in July of 1998. antler growth is approximately 80% complete. Taurus gentle disposition is a superb trait that is genetically passed to most of his offspring. |
 "TAURUS" 6-yr-old. Estimated hard antler score in 1998 at 410 B&C gross, with perfect 6x6 and very minor deductions for net score. |
At the 1998 NAEBA International Velvet and Hard Antler Competition in Fargo, North Dakota,
TAURUS competed in the typical Hard Antler class for mature bulls after placing 1st in the
Southwest Regional Competition based upon the NAEBA B&C net scoring criteria. His cast antlers scored a gross of 393 4/8 total inches at only 5 years of age. His net B&C score of 374 3/8 inches (after deductions for broken tips) placed him 6th at the International Competition against all ages of bulls with the winner being a 13 year old from Canada. Remember a superior bull does not reach his maximum antler development until he is between 8-12 years of age. Undoubtedly,
TAURUS is on track to continue his worldwide attention with his perfect 6 x 6 antler
characteristics and superior genetic qualities. |
| After a very successful 4 day
collection procedure, TAURUS's genetics are in the "tank" and given a perfect 5
rating on a scale of 1-5 by Northern Genetics veterinarians for quality of sperm,
motility, quantity of sperm per straw (35 million) and 80%+ for live motility after
freezing. We will be selling a limited number of straws for the 1999 breeding season. |
 "STAR", 18 month old TAURUS heifer. Weight on 12-1-98 was 522 lbs. Note, the extremely large hind quarters, overall length, and sleek pretty features |
| Additionally
we collected our second ranch herd sire "Runs with Thunder". THUNDER routinely
breeds first year heifers. His dark chocolate color, above average body size (1050 lbs. pre rut) and strong 6 x6 antler
development (343 B&C gross points at 7 years old and cut velvet of 26.5 lbs. as a 6
year old) lends strong credentials to this aspect of our ultimate breeding program.
THUNDER's calves average in weight from 36-40 lbs., which is still slightly larger than
average and is routinely single sire mated to 20-30 cows per year. His almost black coloration, good confirmation and above average velvet production are traits that are consistently passed on to his offspring. THUNDER too received a perfect 5 rating and 80%+ motility rating. A limited number of THUNDER straws are available for the 1999 breeding season. Semen sales from TAURUS and THUNDER will be, as mentioned, on a limited scale. We have donated 3 straws of TAURUS semen to the NAEBA International Convention in Orlando for the fundraising auction. In closing, our ranching operation and dedication remains with the ultimate respect for our animals and animals of the industry. We are happy to help anyone become new members of our industry and hope to hear from all who want to introduce the ultimate genetics in their elk ranching future. |
We are currently selling
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Thunder Valley Elk Ranch
John, Wendy, Samantha and Abi Rice
31 Airport Road
Durango, CO 81301
970-259-0153 -- FAX: 970-382-9372
Email - tveri@frontier.net
