The People

Manzano Angus is owned by Bill and Lisa Gardner and sons Cole and his wife Megan, Judd and Clayton.  Bill and Lisa are located on the original ranch in Estancia, New Mexico.  Cole and Megan operate the Yeso, New Mexico ranch.  Judd is a student at Texas Tech University and Clayton attends Clarendon Jr. College in Clarendon, Texas.

The original ranch in the Estancia Valley was purchased in 1989 from Lee and Ruth Elliott. The ranch is at an elevation of approximately 6,200 feet.  Annual precipitation is 12 inches.  Primary grasses include Blue Grama, Alkali Sacaton, Western Wheat and Viney Mesquite.

The Yeso ranch was purchased in 2007.  Elevation is approximately 4,800 feet and annual precipitation is around 14 inches. The Yeso ranch has both solid turf and sandy country.  Primary grasses are Blue Grama, Side Oats Grama, Sand Dropseed, Buffalo Grass, Viney Mesquite and Little Bluestem.

The Manzano Angus herd was established with the purchase of three registered pairs on February 13, 1993 at the Cochise Angus dispersal in Arizona. Shortly after, six pairs and four bred heifers were purchased from Bradley 3 Ranch in Memphis, Texas.  That same year a lease agreement was made with Peterson Angus Ranch in Animas, New Mexico, where we kept the heifer calves and sent them the bull calves.  In subsequent years a number of bred heifers were also purchased from N Bar Land and Cattle in Montana.

Early on we recognized that in order to make rapid genetic progress, artificial insemination (AI) was essential.  Our first AI calves were born in 1994 to Emulation N Bar 5522 and N Bar Emulation EXT.  Because our goal from the beginning was to raise moderate framed, functional cattle, we used EXT extensively.  As a result of the strong EXT base, our cowherd is fertile, has excellent udders and excellent growth.

In 1998 we started looking for cattle to complement our EXT females.  Because of our goal to raise moderate framed easy fleshing cattle, we naturally gravitated to cattle with DHD Traveler 6807 influence.  Our first calves out of GDAR Traveler 044 were born in 1999.  We continued to search for the kind of moderate framed, easy fleshing, low birth weight cattle we felt our customers needed in our low rainfall environment.  That search led us the Ohlde Cattle Co. in Kansas.  Our first OCC Anchor calves were born in 2001.  Since that time we have continued to use OCC genetics extensively including bulls such as Emblazon, Homer, Echelon and Legend.  We look forward to our first Missing Link and Paxton calves in 2009.

From the beginning our goal has been to produce low input cattle that are profitable for the ranchers in our area.  These ranches typically have limited feed resources and labor.  They need cattle that are low maintenance not only from a nutritional standpoint but must also calve unassisted and raise a calf in large, open pastures.  We will continue to refine our genetics to meet our customer’s needs.