Rawes Ranches Ltd.

Charolais Performance Pioneers

Despite harsh scrutiny from the industry at that time, the benefits of the Charolais breed were undeniable. In 1972, the next generation of the ranch family under the management of John and Myrna started the purebred herd to raise Charolais bulls for in herd use and for use by other commercial cattlemen. From that time the family developed a keen interest in performance testing the herd; always striving for growthy cattle. It was realized early on, that performance achieved through growth alone (high frame score) was not sustainable. For performance to have any value it must be combined with rapid fleshability and the production of red meat.

Rawes Ranches started selling registered Charolais bulls in 1974 and in 1983 held the first annual Rawe Ranch Performance Tested Charolais Bull Sale. By the mid 1990's, the purebred herd had grown to 500 mother cows, and remains one of the largest and most impressive in production today. 2012 will mark 29 annual bull sales and nearly 3000 bulls sold.

The family's commitment to better the industry is not just a slogan. Our focus has always been on the commercial cattle industry and working within the open market system to establish a product that is functional, practical and profitable. We continue to develop the commercial cow herd and keep connected with the feedlot and slaughter industry. By finishing and marketing our own calves, as well as calves we have purchased from our bull customers, we can continually evaluate and improve the genetics of our herd. Rawes Ranches was the first Charolais sale in Canada to print EPD's (Expected Progeny Differences) in the 1990 sale catalog and have been collecting carcass data on the yearling bulls since 1999, long before there was industry incentive or economic gain. It is just what we believe in, and an example of our commitment.

With four generations of family actively involved in the ranching operation, we are anticipating and planning for a strong future. Our dedication to the business and its' lifestyle has been rewarded by satisfied and loyal customers, as well as dear friends we have made along the way. Each year we are more grateful for the blessings received and the opportunity to continue.