Pharo Cattle Company: Where Ranching Meets Innovation

Pharo Cattle Company: Where Ranching Meets Innovation

A Legacy of Ranching Excellence

Nestled in the heart of Eastern Colorado's central high plains, amidst the short-grass country with its unpredictable and meager rainfall, Pharo Cattle Company (PCC) stands as a testament to sustainable ranching practices. Founded and nurtured by the Pharo family, PCC embodies a rich history deeply intertwined with the land and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Founders Kit and Deanna Pharo

Kit and Deanna Pharo, the driving force behind PCC, are no strangers to this arid and demanding terrain. Both hailing from the region, they grew up near a little town called Arapahoe, southeast of their current home. Their roots run deep in this land, and it's this deep connection that would later shape their innovative approach to ranching.

A Family United

In 1974, Kit and Deanna's journey as a family began with their marriage. In the ensuing years, Kit tried his hand at being a full-time bull rider and a part-time feedlot cowboy. But it was their two sons, Trapper and Tyson, who would inspire a significant shift in their lives.

As their family grew, Kit's career took a turn when he graduated from Colorado State University in 1974. In the years that followed, he transitioned away from rodeo life and towards ranching, marking the beginning of their enduring legacy.

A Return to the Roots

In 1985, the Pharo family seized an opportunity to return to familiar territory. They secured a lease on a substantial tract of grassland and acquired Kit's father's commercial cowherd. This was no ordinary herd; it was a closed group of red and black baldy cows boasting over 30 years of pedigree data and more than two decades of performance records.

However, Kit and Deanna weren't content with maintaining the status quo. They were determined to make their mark on ranching by demonstrating how to raise heftier calves while achieving profitability. Little did they know that their quest for increased weaning weights would lead to a profound understanding: the difference between pounds of production per animal and pounds of production per acre.

The Journey to Efficiency

This newfound insight ignited a passion within the Pharo family. They embarked on a quest to learn from ranchers who were consistently profitable, even when others were struggling. The common thread among these successful ranchers was their ability to manage costs by optimizing every drop of rain and ray of sunshine that graced their land.

Three fundamental management practices distinguished these ranchers:

--Rotational Grazing: This approach allowed the grass to rest and grow during the growing season.
--Natural Calving: Aligning calving with nature's rhythms synchronized cows' nutritional needs with peak pasture production.
--Efficient Cattle: Raising metabolically-efficient, highly-fertile cows that thrived on the ranch's resources without significant inputs while producing calves aligned with industry demands.

Revolutionizing Ranching

Embracing these common-sense principles, the Pharo family ventured into a realm often deemed revolutionary by the mainstream beef industry. They were labeled as rebels, but they remained steadfast in their commitment to these principles, ultimately becoming thought leaders in the realm of profitable ranching. Their philosophies have proven their worth over time.

One of their initial challenges was sourcing seedstock producers capable of providing genetics suitable for producing efficient, environmentally-adapted cattle. For the most part, such producers were scarce. In response, Kit Pharo decided to enter the seedstock business.

In addition to the composite cattle formed by mating Kit's father's red and black baldy cows with Tarentaise bulls, the Pharo family embarked on a quest to find Red and Black Angus cattle that could thrive in their program. Progress was slow initially, but it gained momentum when they started using their own bulls on their cows.

From Humble Beginnings to Remarkable Growth

In 1991, the Pharo family held their first production sale, selling six bulls. Since then, they haven't looked back. Today, Pharo Cattle Company annually sells over 900 bulls and boasts more than 26,000 active subscribers to their quarterly newsletter and weekly emails.

The demand for their genetics has been nothing short of remarkable. Although many of their bulls remain within a 30-mile radius of their birthplace, others have found homes across North America.

A New Generation

In the spring of 2000, Kit and Deanna met with their son, Tyson, to discuss the future of Pharo Cattle Company. To their delight, Tyson expressed a genuine interest in becoming a part of that future. With the growth of their seedstock business, it made sense for Kit and Deanna to entrust much of the day-to-day ranch management to their capable son, marking a joyful generational transition.

From a small "Mom and Pop" operation, Pharo Cattle Company has evolved into something much more expansive. It's no longer just one ranch or one family; it's a collective effort spanning 12 states, from Minnesota to Mississippi and Texas to Montana. Their philosophies and genetics have consistently increased profit per acre across a variety of environments.

Selecting the Right Breed

Pharo Cattle Company's commitment to excellence extends to their breed selection. Not every breed aligns with their philosophy. They've meticulously studied various breeds to find those with the biological characteristics best suited to their environment and principles. Their seedstock program includes Red Angus, Black Angus, Hereford, Tarentaise, Mashona, and Composites of these breeds.

Staying True to the Course

Kit and Deanna Pharo, along with their son Tyson, have always had a clear destination in mind for their breeding program. Their focus has consistently been on breeding efficient, fertile cattle for optimal production, maximizing profit per acre. Their cows thrive on native shortgrass prairie with minimal supplemental feed, ensuring the land's natural resources are utilized efficiently.

Moderation and Efficiency

Key criteria define the cattle that thrive at Pharo Cattle Company:

--Moderate Size: Cattle with a frame score of 2 to 4 and a mature weight of 1,000 to 1,250 pounds, capable of weaning calves with a high percentage of their body weight.
--Easy-Fleshing: Low-maintenance animals that maintain good body condition even with limited feed resources.
--Volume & Capacity: Cattle with the ability to efficiently convert low-quality forages into meat and milk.
--Structural Soundness: Animals with robust feet, legs, teeth, muzzle, eyes, udder, hair coat, fly resistance, and more.

Staying the Course

Maintaining discipline in ranching is essential once a destination has been reached. For the Pharo family, consistency in selection criteria ensures that their herd's averages remain relatively stable from year to year.

While they don't aim to be everything to everyone, they firmly believe they produce the right kind of bulls for most commercial ranchers, particularly those raising their own replacement heifers.

A Commitment to Moderation

Pharo Cattle Company knows that three- and four-frame cattle are not as small as many perceive them to be. Their cattle, with moderate frames and a focus on thickness and fleshing ability, can easily weigh 1,200 pounds. They understand that efficient cows cannot be produced using bulls with a frame score exceeding 4.

Pharo Cattle Company is more than a ranch; it's a testament to sustainable ranching practices, innovation, and a dedication to raising cattle the right way. Their legacy continues to grow, impacting ranching practices across the nation.

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