One of the questions we’re asked often is:

“What do your cattle eat?”

The simple answer is grass and hay.

But the longer answer tells the story of an entire year of planning, growing, harvesting, and caring for the land that feeds our cattle.

Feeding cattle isn’t just something we think about during winter.

Summer: Growing Next Winter’s Feed

While our cattle are out grazing, we’re busy in the hay fields.

Every field is carefully managed to produce nutritious forage that will be harvested, baled, and stored for winter feeding.

Hay production looks different depending on where you live. In some areas of our province, farmers have access to irrigation, allowing them to produce two or three cuts of hay each summer. In other areas, like at Ogilvie Stock Ranch, many ranches rely entirely on rainfall. Without irrigation, we typically harvest just one crop each year, making every growing season incredibly important.

Mother Nature has a big say in how successful that season will be. Some years we receive timely rain and produce an abundant, high-quality hay crop. Other years, drought and prolonged hot weather reduce both the quantity and quality of the hay we harvest.

This year has been especially dry, and like many ranchers across the province, our fields look very poor. Drought doesn’t just affect what we harvest today—it determines how much feed we’ll have available months from now.

When our own hay crop isn’t enough to carry the herd through the winter, we purchase additional hay from other farmers. Some of that hay may come from irrigated regions that were fortunate enough to produce extra feed. While purchasing hay adds to our costs, making sure our cattle have enough quality forage is always our top priority.

Every bale we stack in the yard represents months of planning, hard work, and a little help from Mother Nature. Whether it’s grown in our own fields or purchased from another producer, that hay is what keeps our cattle healthy through the winter until the grass begins growing again in the spring.

Grazing the Grasslands

Throughout the summer, many of our cattle spend their days grazing the beautiful grasslands and forested range that make British Columbia unique.

These natural landscapes provide a diverse mix of native grasses and plants while giving the cattle plenty of room to roam.

Healthy grasslands are incredibly important.

When managed responsibly, grazing cattle actually help maintain these ecosystems by recycling nutrients, reducing excess plant growth, and supporting wildlife habitat.

Every ranch works closely with the land to ensure these areas remain healthy for future generations.

Private Pastures and Crown Range

One thing many people don’t realize is that cattle in British Columbia graze on both private land and Crown range.

Our private pastures are owned or leased by our family and are carefully managed throughout year.

During the summer, many cattle also graze on Crown grazing land, which is publicly owned land managed by the Province of British Columbia.

Ranchers receive grazing licences and follow management plans designed to balance livestock production with wildlife habitat, water protection, recreation, and healthy forests.

These grazing areas allow cattle to make use of land that often can’t be farmed for crops while helping steward these landscapes.

Winter: Feeding the Hay We Grew

When snow covers the ground and grass stops growing, our cattle come closer to home.

From roughly mid-November until spring, they are fed the hay we harvested during summer.

Every day begins with feeding.

Large round bales are rolled out to the cows, making sure every animal has access to quality forage and fresh water.

It’s rewarding to watch the cycle come full circle—from cutting hay under the summer sun to feeding those same bales during a cold winter morning.

More Than Just Grass

Grass and hay make up the majority of our cattle’s diet.

Through the seasons, we also provide:

• Salt and mineral supplements
• Clean, fresh water
• Additional nutrition for young growing calves or cows with higher nutritional needs

Everything we feed is chosen to keep our cattle healthy and productive throughout the year.

It’s All Connected

One of the things we love most about ranching is how every season connects to the next.

Summer isn’t just about warm weather and green fields.

It’s about preparing for winter.

Growing hay.

Managing healthy grasslands.

Caring for forests and rangelands.

Planning months ahead so our cattle have nutritious feed every single day of the year.

When someone asks us what our cattle eat, the answer is much bigger than grass.

It’s an entire year’s worth of work, stewardship, and care.