Background
William ("Bill") Simpson established the Sulphur River Ranch in 1976. Bill was raised on a North Texas cattle ranch in the 1950's and from that experience grew the inspiration to continue ranching; however, it took from 1959 until 1976 before the Sulphur River Ranch began to materialize. The first part of the ranch was acquired in 1976 and over the years adjoining land was added when it became available. Today the Sulphur River Ranch consists of approximately 400 acres. Pastures have been improved by seeding bermuda grass and controlling weeds and brush. In years with adequate rainfall, stocking rates are as high as 1 cow unit per 3 acres.
Part of the ranch was once a pecan orchard and over 200 pecan trees grace the land with other hardwoods including ash, elm, hackberry, cedar, boisdarc, cottonwood, hickory, black walnut and several varieties of oak. Trees are important part of the landscape which provides habitat for wildlife, protection for livestock from the elements, and natural landscaping for the ranch. In addition to trees, several species of Texas native grasses grow on the ranch along with wildflowers and mushrooms which are abundant at various times of the year.
Approximately 60 acres of land is devoted to wildlife where deer, wild pigs (some Russian boar), turkey, bobcat, coyotes, and a variety of other wildlife coexist with cattle and horses. Several lakes on the ranch become a winter resort for Canadian geese, snow geese and ducks. Ducks include mallards, canvas back, red heads, green & blue wing teal, and other varieties. Other water fowl include the great blue heron, white heron, snipe, and more. Other types of birds spend part of the year on the ranch such as the various species of humming birds, eastern bluebirds, barn swallows, purple martins, carolina wren, red birds, mocking birds, cardinals, slate colored juinkos, white ground sparrows, rose breasted grosbeak, blue jays, indigo buntings, painted buntings, gold finches, black cat chickadees, tufted titmouse, morning dove, quail, meadow lark, kill dee, scissor-tails, chaparell, several types of hawks, owls, and scavangers (crested caracara, mexican buzzard, bald headed buzzard).
There are 7 lakes on the ranch, the largest being 4 acres. All are stocked with black bass, channel catfish, perch, and crappie. The 4 acre lake also is stocked with Florida largemouth bass.
Our Mission
The Sulphur River Ranch is dedicated to raising quality registered American Quarter Horses and quality commercial black brangus/brangus+angus cross cattle while preserving nature and the environment.
As for horses, emphasis has been placed on cutting bloodlines. Our goal is to raise a versatile performance horse that will work cattle in the arena or on the ranch as well as be useful for other disciplines such as reining, reined cow horse, working cow horse, heading/healing and team penning. Horses are selected for their disposition, conformation, their athletic ability, and bloodlines.
As for cattle, our goal is to produce top quality black brangus cattle tilted with angus influence (1/4 or less brahman influence) that are as good as their registered counter parts. Black Brangus and Black Brangus+Angus have been proven to produce top quality meat and bring top prices in the marketplace. We select quality females and breed them to the best sires.
Location of the Ranch
The Sulphur River Ranch is located in North East Texas approximately 75 miles East of Dallas, Texas and backs up to the South Sulphur River 7 miles Northwest from the town of Commerce, Texas or 10 miles Northeast of Greenville, Texas.
Care of Horses
Horses on the ranch are given the best of care. Adult horses are wormed every 3 months with a different wormer. Vaccinations include Eastern/Western Encephilitis, West Nile Virus, Tetnus, Rhino, Strangles, and Rabies. Horses are tested for EIA (Coggins) at least once a year. Every horse on the ranch have their hooves trimmed on 6 week intervals. All have access to clean fresh water, salt, and open pastures. Horses are only stalled if they are sick or injured. Horse are given minerals and vitamins with their feed every day.
Colt Program - How Colts Are Raised
Colts are cautiously imprinted at birth. In our opinion imprinting is good but can be overdone. As soon as the colt is born it is dried with a terry cloth towel and then allowed to smell the human scent. Its head, ears, nose, body, legs and tail are touched then left alone until it bonds with the mother. The colt is watched to insure that it stands and nurses within about an hour. After the colt has initially bonded with its mother, the navel is painted with iodine, a tetanus shot administered, along with an enema. The colt is then left alone to further bond with the mother.
Each day the colt is touched for a short while and on the third to fifth day the colt is introduced to the halter with a brief lesson with the halter. The halter lesson is not rushed and care is taken to make sure the colt is not injured. By using a soft touch, most colts are leading in three to five short lessons. The colt's feet are picked up when the halter lessons start so as to get them ready for hoof care.
Feet are trimmed as soon as they are long enough and kept trimmed on a regular basis to promote straight leg growth. After about 8 weeks, colts are wormed every 6 to 8 weeks during its first year. Yearlings are wormed every 8 to 12 weeks during the yearling year. All vaccinations are administered at weaning.
Weaning is accomplished without stress by leaving the weanlings with the herd and removing the mothers to a separate location. The weanlings are in familiar surroundings with familiar herd mates who are older and which provide guidance to the weanlings. When the mothers are dry, they are brought back to allow the weanlings to continue to have the support of the mothers until they are 11 months old.
Cattle Program
Cattle graze on primarily Bermuda grass pastures in the summer and fed quality rye and Bermuda grass hay in the winter supplemented with syrup, minerals, and salt. Use of antibiotics are minimal and no growth hormones are administered to cattle. Cattle are wormed twice a year and are given vaccinations for black leg, respiratory diseases and for breeding diseases once a year.
Steers are sold at pre-conditioned sales and local sale barns while the better quality bull calves and heifers are sold at private treaty or in special sales promoting pre-conditioned cattle.
The ranch has been part of the Texas Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, but has not re-certified.