If you are a regular reader you’ve probably figured out that I like 100+ year old cattle ranches. About 2 hours north of my home in New Mexico is one of those – the CS Cattle Company.
Located in Cimmaron, New Mexico, quoting from the ranch website it consists of “130,000 acres of privately owned plains, foothills and mountain country that was originally part of the Maxwell Land Grant. The CS is a working cattle ranch and hunting operation and has been family owned and operated since 1873. It was founded by Frank Springer and his brother Charles, whose initials are used for the ranch name and historic brand. Les Davis, grandson of Frank Springer, took over management of the CS in 1947 and the ranch continues under family management to this day.
“Today the CS Cattle Company remains a family business. Warren M. Davis manages the Crow Creek division. Randolph S. Davis handles the elk, mule deer and antelope hunting and the Headquarters cattle. J. Kirk Davis, since the passing of his father, Les, in 2001 is now president of the corporation and runs the ranch farming operation, along with maintaining the ranch infrastructure. Bruce P. Davis manages the mountain country, the Clayton Place cattle and does the livestock marketing for the ranch. Julia Davis Stafford handles the ranch’s strategic planning and legal matters.”
With 2,200 mother cows, and another 2,000 or so stocker cattle on the ranch, the ranch managers feel that horses are necessary. “We use our horses all year long,” says Kim Barmann, a daughter of Les and Linda Davis and vice president in charge of the Clayton Place.
“We follow a time-controlled grazing management system, which requires us to gather and move our cattle from pasture to pasture throughout the year. In the spring, we work our calves by heeling and dragging them to a branding fire just like they did it on this ranch a hundred years ago. And we do it that way because we think it’s the best.”
The CS produces premium all-around ranch horses, cavalry mounts, hunter-jumpers and polo ponies and have been part of thoroughbred racing in New Mexico since the late 1930’s. Les’ uncle, Ed Springer, is known as “The Father of Racing in New Mexico”.
CS Ranch received the AQHA Best Remuda Award in 2000. This is a high quality operation and a great family.
You can find the CS Cattle Company website HERE.