Bonchasse

Established in 1996, Bonchasse Land and Cattle Company is a local and family owned cattle ranch.  By local, I mean 1300 acres off Highway 3015 in Grand Cane, Louisiana, a decent drive from central office located in downtown Shreveport.  Before this blog I did not know a great deal of information about Bonchasse Land and Cattle Company, I had also never been there to experience the ranch first hand.  After talking to a few associates and finding out they were just as unfamiliar with Bonchasse, I decided to go to Bonchasse and take as many pictures and find out as much information as I could.  Cory Peters, Jarvis Kessee, and Janelle Willis work with  Bonchasse Land and Cattle Company every day.  Cory graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Animal Science and has been with Bonchasse for six years.  Jarvis graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Animal Science and has been with Bonchasse for six years. Janelle Willis attended Mt. San Antonio College and is currently working on her BA at Louisiana State University in Shreveport; she has been with Bonchasse for seven years. In an effort to be progressive and provide first-class cattle Cory, Jarvis, and Janelle participate in countless continuing education courses such as the Artificial Insemination course offered by Bovine Elite and the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course held annually in College Station,Texas.  In 2005 Cory and Jarvis completed the Louisiana Master Cattle Producer’s program through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture.  Working in the cattle and agricultural industry requires an abundance of knowledge, patience, and elbow grease; characteristics Janelle, Cory, and Jarvis possess. Bonchasse Land and Cattle Company is home to roughly 600 head of cows, heifers, bulls, calves, and horses.   

Monday morning Baxter and I arrived at the ranch and he immediately began to make new friends.

After getting acquainted with some of the animals, it was time to deliver bales of hay to the pastures.

After watching the animals devour their hay, it was time for my tour of Bonchasse Land and Cattle Company.

The tour began with a ride around the ranch; Cory explained he does this on a daily basis to check on food, water, and minerals for the cattle and to scan the cattle to make sure they are healthy.

To get a better understanding on Bonchasse I made a list of questions to ask Cory and Janelle.

What are the challenges currently faced by your industry:

Cory: Drought, the lack of grass is causing a lack of hay which is causing an increase in expenses and less productivity from the cows. During the summer we are usually able to produce our own hay, but without the rain we are forced to buy our hay from external vendors.

Janelle: Rising fuel & commodity costs, drought conditions, urban expansion, export & trade agreements and restrictions, health & safety requirements, and animal welfare.

What organizations are you/Bonchasse involved in within the cattle industry:

Cory and Janelle: The American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA), United Braford Association, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association (LCA), Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), Age/Source Verified, American Hereford Association, American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), and 4H

What misconceptions about the ranch would you like to disprove?:

Cory:  I believe the biggest misconception is people do not realize how much science, work, and knowledge goes into producing the beef they buy from the store. 

Janelle: I think the public is largely uniformed about where their food comes from and how many resources, how much math & science, and hard work goes in to producing the beef they eat.  Also, I think there are many misconceptions about animal welfare, ranch conditions, and harvesting facilities.  We strive to produce high quality beef in an environmentally sound manner that improves the genetics of the Brahman breed and maintains the highest integrity in the agricultural industry.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Cory: Having the end result of happy customers and meeting and talking to people within the industry.

Janelle:  I love the problem solving & addressing the unique challenges that occur.  The responsibilities at the farm vary each day so I am constantly being challenged.                      

Fun Facts I learned about the cattle and the ranch:

• Bonchasse is home to Brahman cows, Brahman bulls,Hereford bulls, and F-1 Braford Heifers and Steers
• F-1 Braford is a first generation Hereford X Brahman cross and can be distinguished by their tiger stripes

• Brahman cattle are heat tolerant – this is a very important factor in the environmental adaptation of cattle and a reason why Brahman cattle are prominent in the south
• Brahman cattle are insect tolerant
• Before cattle eat their hay, it is sent to a lab where it is tested for protein levels and other significant ingredients that can affect the health and growth of cattle.
• Bonchasse won champion pen at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo All Breed Female Sale in March 2011 for the F1 bred division.  The Houston Livestock is one of the largest & most respected venues in the United States.

• Baxter has a great-uncle who has lived at the farm for many years

For more information on Bonchasse visit : http://www.bonchassecattle.com/