What is a cooperator herd? Cooperator herds are often referred to as multiplier herds because they multiply or replicate the genetics and/or the philosophies that exist in another breeding program. They are also referred to as satellite herds because they all have an alliance with a central or nucleus herd.
       The demand for Pharo Cattle Company bulls has increased tremendously over the past several years. In order to meet this demand and to keep our prices affordable, we thought it necessary to increase the number of bulls offered in our annual bull sales. This task is not as easy as it sounds because we refuse to sacrifice quality for quantity!
       The Solution. Over the years our seedstock program has evolved into a network of outstanding cooperative producers. We’ve been able to increase our numbers, without sacrificing quality by selecting the best bull calves from a few select cooperator herds. I’m referring to producers who have philosophies, genetics, and breeding programs very similar to our own. For the most part, these are breeders we have been working very closely with for several years.
       These producers have signed a contract with Pharo Cattle Company to be cooperative producers. In so doing, they have agreed to abide by some strict guidelines, including the following philosophies.

Philosophies Behind Our Bulls

1. Honesty and integrity will not be compromised.

2. We will manage the natural resources placed under our control in a sustainable manner.

3. The breed of cattle is not nearly as important as the breeding program and the philosophies that produce the cattle.

4. Cows are run in a real-world environment, as tough as or tougher than the environment most commercial cows are run in.

5. We let the environment sort out the good ones, while we show absolutely no sympathy for open, late, or dry cows.

6. We will never make an excuse for a cow. A cow must produce and wean a calf every year to remain in the herd.

7. By limiting feed resources we try to apply sufficient pressure on the cowherd to force out the unadapted and infertile animals – at least 10 percent each year.

8. In addition to growth and performance, we select for some other vital economic traits like fertility, calving ease, moderate cow size, fleshing ability, structural correctness, disposition, and longevity.

9. Replacement heifers are developed on a low-cost, forage based diet with minimum supplements. We only want the most efficient and most adapted heifers to make it into the cowherd.

10. A bull calf must be born unassisted, from a fault-free cow that has never missed, to make it into one of our bull sales.

       Bull Selection. When we go into these herds we are extremely selective. Performance is important, but we also select for calving ease, structural correctness, disposition, fleshing ability, and thickness. In addition to all this, we require the bull’s mother to be moderate in size and fault-free. We can’t afford to make any mistakes because our reputation is at stake. We only want the best of the best! As time goes on and as these herds continue to improve we will be able to select more and more of their bulls.
       Below we have provided short biographies for each of the cooperative producers within our program. Feel free to call or e-mail anyone of these producers. To send an e-mail simply click on the underlined name.

Meet The Breeders

     Rod Pelton grew up as a farm boy in Eastern Colorado, and always thought that was what he wanted to do.   However, after marrying the neighbor girl (Kit’s sister) and becoming familiar with the Pharo cattle operation, he realized that he really enjoys the benefits of spending time with the cattle.   Rod was blessed with circumstances a couple of years ago that allowed him to quit farming and go into raising cattle full time, as well as work alongside Tyson in the PCC operation.  Along with our daughters, Jamie and Abby, we are extremely passionate about our small herd of registered Angus cows.   We have always agreed with Pharo Cattle Company’s philosophies and are excited about being cooperative producers.   We specialize in easy fleshing, moderate sized cattle that know how to work for a living.   I (Kathy) also enjoy doing much of the office work at Pharo Cattle Company.   Rod and Kathy Pelton, phone 719-767-5451.

     Beaver Creek Ranch is owned and operated by the Erickson family, Colby and Amy, and our three daughters Rilee, Katie, and Kolbie.  We are located in west central Wyoming, at the foot of the Wind River Mountains.  We raise both registered and commercial Black Angus and a few Tarentaise cattle.
       We began raising Black Angus cattle in 1991.  Our goal has always been to produce a low maintenance cow with little input.  Our cows are selected for moderate size, fleshing ability, maternal traits, and disposition.  With our harsh environment, our cattle have to perform under extreme conditions.  This is bred into the cows and their offspring.  Our cattle are expected to perform, and there are no second chances in our program.
      We have always felt that our philosophies match those of Pharo Cattle Company.  We are excited to be cooperative producers, and to be part of the team.  Feel free to call or stop by and see us anytime.   Colby and Amy Erickson, 307-332-8289.

     The easy fleshing, high volume, maternally efficient Angus cow that thrives on grass is the focus of my breeding program.   Exceptional udder quality and a quiet disposition are key points in the selection process.   My goal is to raise bulls that sire this type of female by default.   I live at Manhattan, Kansas, and appreciate the opportunity to be associated with Pharo Cattle Co.   Clyde Mattson, phone 785-587-8890 or 785-632-0763.

     The McDaniel spread is located on the northwest Kansas prairie, 17 miles northeast of Goodland.   I am the sixth generation to make a living off of our land.  Our operation consists of farming grass and alfalfa hay; and a growing herd of registered Red Angus Cattle.
     I have been raising Red Angus cattle since 1997.   After meeting the likes of Kit Pharo, I have focused my efforts toward raising the right kind — self-sufficient, moderately framed and easy fleshing cows that produce the same in their calves.   Raising cattle that require few inputs and calves with lower birth weights is far more enjoyable (and logical) than spending heartache, hours and money accommodating the cows.   It is a pleasure to be working in the environment of Pharo Cattle Co. and all of the other like-minded cooperative producers that we appreciate so much.   Cody and Tancy McDaniel, phone 785-694-2910.

     We are located in northeastern Oklahoma, about ten miles northwest of Miami.   Since graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1992, I have worked in agricultural finance and natural resource management.   Julie is a professional artist and an excellent cowhand.   We produce Black and Red Angus cattle along with native pecans on the farm.
      Our cattle are selected for tolerance to fescue endophyte, high heat and humidity, and whatever other environmental extremes we encounter regularly.   We are emphasizing fleshing ability, udder quality, disposition, muscling and thickness and natural resistance to pests and diseases in our breeding while attempting to put all these traits into an optimum sized mother cow weighing no more than 1250 pounds.
     We are looking forward to helping PCC customers improve their herds as we improve ours.   We expect our cattle to be fertile, gentle, reliable, long-lived and trouble free — and we want to pass those traits on to PCC customers.   Dustin and Julie Olds, 918-673-9806.

     The Flying S Ranch is nestled in cottonwoods on the Republican River bottom where the jagged breaks to the north meet the golden plains of Western Kansas.   We pride ourselves on being honest and fair, and thank God for the opportunity to live on the land and spend much of our time working with livestock.   The ranch was built in 1906 and purchased by my father in 1964.   Diane and I are proud to carry on the tradition of producing only the best cattle and horses.   The Flying S Ranch is home to Ryan and Diane Shay and our children Riley, Kailey Anne, Reid, Rayden, Rhett, and Ronan.   We are located 2 1/2 miles southwest of St. Francis, Kansas, on the Republican River bottom.
     We have operated a low input commercial cowherd since 1994, and in 1998 we purchased the best bull we have ever owned, a Pharo Cattle Company developed bull.   Recently we have purchased a group of nice Registered Angus heifers sired by Pharo Bulls and proven 12 year old Registered Angus cows who had never missed a calf.   We breed for moderate size, fleshing ability, longevity and maternal traits.   Being a low input operation, our cows graze native grass in the summer and fall and are wintered on inexpensive corn stalks.     They are run year round with no protein supplements.   Our cows calve on native river bottom grass in March and April with a minimum amount of harvested forage.
     Please give us a call or stop by to see us anytime.   Ryan and Diane Shay, phone 785-332-3209.

     This registered Hereford herd was started in 1948 by my father Harold.  The ranch, located in southwest Nebraska, is now operated by myself, my wife Lana, along with our son Heath and his wife Michelle and our daughter Tracy and her husband Tim Tyan.
     Our goal has always been to produce low maintenance cattle that can thrive on the range with minimum feed.  Our Hereford cows are smaller framed than most purebred cows.  We have selected for above average milk, as well as for thickness and fleshing ability.  We’ve also selected for extra pigment in an attempt to eliminate most of the problems associated with Hereford cattle.  We have found that red pigment on the feet and udders of our cattle makes them harder footed and not as susceptible to sun and snow burn on the udders and teats.
     We run our registered Hereford cows together with a large herd of commercial cows in a low input operation.  We are basically a commercial outfit raising bulls for other commercial outfits.  You can buy these Hereford bulls with total confidence because they are sound, problem free bulls that should work well on almost any breed of cow.  Keith & Lana Lapp, phone 308-286-3644; Heath and Michelle Lapp, phone 308-286-3489; Tim and Tracy Tyan, phone 308-286-3408.

      Ichthys Cattle Enterprise is under the stewardship of Lanny and Kristin Greenhalgh (and four little helpers).   One way we desire to glorify King Jesus is through the production of the right kind of cattle with PCC.   We truly think the genetics PCC offers will help people be more profitable in their cattle operations.    
      ICE is located near Guide Rock, Nebraska, in the rolling hills 6 miles north of the Republican River Valley.   We currently lease a Red Angus herd and a Composite herd from PCC.   The cows graze pasture in the spring and summer months and utilize crop residues throughout the fall and winter. These cows can (and usually do) look rough during the winter, but most will bounce back and be as fat as ticks in the summer.   Every year I am amazed at what these cattle can go through and still breed back.   Those that don't breed back, of course, are sold, as well as those with bad udders.  You will NOT find pampered cattle on our ranch; we can't afford it — and you don't want it in a seedstock producer.   Calving is targeted for May/June.   We also have PCC bred heifers and cows for sale since all females are given a shot at being a replacement and this typically leaves us with more breeding stock than we have capacity for. We have also started a bred heifer development program by buying carefully selected PCC influenced yearlings and A.I. breeding them to top PCC bulls. We are pleased to visit with you about PCC and can show you the cattle if you would like.   Lanny and Kristin Greenhalgh, phone 402-257-3788.

     Triple L Angus Farms is owned and operated by Garth and Joni Lloyd of NE Missouri.   We have four children — Taylor, Hunter, Connor and Jackson and really enjoy this way of life.   We see sustainability as our main objective in passing this way of life on to our children.   Our goal is to produce low input cattle (inputs = calfhood vaccinations and salt/mineral) that graze year-round on the fescue pastures of the midwest.   When we were looking for the type of cattle that could do this, Pharo Cattle Company was (and still is) generations ahead of other seedstock producers in genetics and philosophy.   In 2007 we made a lot of changes and began High Density (or mob) grazing. The cows have taken right to it. The results have been dramatic- but don't try this with anything but low input genetics.   
     We feel very fortunate to work with Pharo Cattle Company and the people that make up this organization.   If you are ever in our area, we'd love to show you our operation.   Joni and Garth Lloyd, phone 660-945-3918.

     I would like to thank Pharo Cattle Co. for including our herd in their program.   We run around 250 Red Angus cows, with 60 of them being registered.   We are located on the Cheyenne River 12 miles northwest of Wall, SD.   The Red Angus cattle adapt readily to the rugged terrain on our ranch.
      At one time my grandfather was on this ranch and lost it during the depression.   My dad purchased the ranch back in 1974 and now my wife and I own and operate the ranch.   My family includes my wife Angela and four boys:  Dalton, Zeb, Kale and Clancy.
     We feel our cattle and philosophies parallel those of  Pharo Cattle Co. and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the team.   Rusty & Angela Lytle, phone 605-279-2648.

       At an elevation of 7500 feet, Overdorff Angus Operation is located at the base of the Wyoming Range Mountains, 26 miles west of Pinedale, Wyoming.  The growing season is only 55-60 days and the winters can be very long and harsh.  We realized we needed to find a way to produce more efficient cattle if we were going to continue ranching in this environment.  That realization led us to the decision to start breeding our own bulls.  Along the road to that decision, we were mentored and became friends with many low input, like minded breeders, who helped us form the goals for our breeding program.            We are very grateful to those folks for their time and generosity, and the road ultimately led to Kit Pharo.
      Our goal became, and will always be, to breed purebred Angus cattle with great udders, gentle dispositions and longevity, in an easy fleshing, moderate package.  The opportunity for my wife Jackie, daughter Brecken and I to join the PCC operation allows us to continue to grow and learn from some great cattlemen and women.  We feel very humbled and blessed by God to be able to be a part of Pharo Cattle Company.  Brandon and Jackie Overdorff, phone 307-859-8221.

         Ozark Hills Land & Cattle is a 4th generation cattle farm dedicated to raising forage cattle in southern Missouri.   We are in the fescue belt and continually work on fescue tolerance, slick hair coats, insect resistance, etc. — everything to do with adaptability.   We believe that cattle that can excel on fescue can excel in nearly all other environments.   Fertility is our #1 priority.   Raising bulls that will consistently sire highly fertile, slick haired, good uddered females that are moderate in size is our goal.          We became organic in the fall of 2005 after a 3-year transition period.   This takes away most of the crutches.   We don’t use any wormers or fly control.   No antibiotics.   We are 100% grassfed.   No grain supplements.   We have transitioned to fall calving because it works best in southern fescue country.
      Feel free to come by for a visit.   We would love to show you our cattle any time.   David Hall, phone 417-256-0813; Jerry Hall, phone 417-256-2958.

       The “PCC” prefix (alone) is used to identify bulls produced by cows owned by Kit or Tyson Pharo.   Some of these cows are located on our home ranch in Eastern Colorado, while others are located in cooperator herds.   You will see the PCC prefix (alone) on Angus, Red Angus, Composite and Tarentaise bulls.   More and more of the PCC Angus bulls are being produced by Tyson.   He also happens to be the proud owner of Magua.   As with any start-up business, Tyson has seen a whole lot more money going out than coming in, but he has put together a most impressive herd of Angus cows that will be turning a profit for years to come.   You can contact us by calling 1-800-311-0995.   We would love to give you a tour of our ranch and our cattle.

     Reinart’s Prairie Reds is located seven miles north of Glidden in West Central Iowa, where I raise Angus, Red Angus and Composite cattle.   Having been fortunate enough to run a core group of Pharo Cattle Company’s females (cows and heifers) because of the drought, I was able to obtain female progeny from this group.   Being a holistic grazier, I find the addition of these females to my already adapted herd will enhance my no-grain, strictly grass, limited hay, seedstock and grass finished beef enterprise.
     I enjoy working with someone with the same philosophies and having access to his genetics.   I look forward to producing seedstock as a cooperator with Pharo Cattle Company.  Steve Reinart, phone 712-656-2563.

       Red Fork Red Angus is an old established herd that was started in 1961 by Cheri’s folks, Roland and Beverly Landrey.   It was the 3rd Red Angus herd to start in the state of Wyoming.   We purchased the herd in 1985 and brought it to the Red Wall Country northwest of Kaycee, WY.   This ranch was established in 1877 and has been in Ken’s family since 1908.   Our three daughters, Kendi, Lyndi, and Neteal, are 5th generation Graves on the Red Fork Ranch.
       Our feminine, maternal cows have to be able to "make it on their own" in the rugged mountain terrain (8000+ ft.) at the southern end of the Big Horn Mountains.   They have to be easy fleshing, sound, hardy and efficient to survive.   They also need to have good feet and legs to deal with the steep, rough terrain and the long distances they have to walk over rocky ground.   These traits, as well as longevity, are born and bred into their calves.   Red Fork cows are in several different states and they have done extremely well.   We have also been gathering carcass data on our steers and heifers since 1995, and it has been excellent.
      The PCC philosophy is working for us and we continue to learn from it.  We appreciate the great people we work with and have met  through the PCC program.  We live a little off the beaten path, but would welcome a visit any time.  A trip to the mountain (in the summer) is fun and we always enjoy showing you our Red Angus cows and the scenic country they run in.   Ken and Cheri Graves, phone 307-738-2247.

       Welcome to Seven Spades Cattle Company, owned and operated by Dave and Donna Gwyn.   We are located south of Stratton in east central Colorado.   Raising low-input, low-maintenance cattle with adaptability has put profit and enjoyment back into our ranching business.   Our involvement with Pharo Cattle Company gave us the opportunity to associate with like-minded people.
        Evidence as to what these kind of cattle can do has made our commitment easy.   We are still breeding low birth weight, easy fleshing, adaptable cattle with good dispositions.   Using bulls that produce these    cattle has enabled us to keep a higher percentage of replacement heifers, growing our herd faster than we thought possible.   We feel some of the most important traits we are selecting for have no EPDs.   Some of them are 365-day calving intervals, willingness to rough it on their own, disease and parasite resistance (we have not treated for parasites since 1996), calf vigor, and maternal instinct.
      We would like to thank the many customers who have purchased SSCC bulls in the past and are looking forward to meeting new customers in the future.   Please feel free to call and visit anytime.   Dave and Donna Gwyn, phone 719-348-5437.

       I live in Wheatland, Wyoming, and maintain a herd of efficient, moderate sized Angus and Composite cows.   I have been breeding these cows to Angus, Tarentaise and Composite bulls that were purchased from Pharo Cattle Co. for many years.   My goal is to produce efficient, easy fleshing, good-natured Composite    cattle that optimize hybrid vigor and profitability.   Calving in late April and May has greatly reduced my input costs while shortening my calving season.
     As a commercial producer I have always concentrated on maternal traits.   I want to produce the most efficient and profitable herd of momma cows I can.   I consider the bull calves produced by these cows as a   by-product bonus, and I am glad to be able to market them through Pharo Cattle Company’s cooperative       program.   Toby Foland, phone 307-331-1453.

       Our ranch is conveniently located in the middle of nowhere, 12 miles southwest of Cohagen, Montana.  Brent and Lisa Morrison and children, Matlock and McKenzie, also live and work on the ranch.  We don't farm, hay, irrigate, or use commercial fertilizers.  The dry short grass prairie and, God willing, rain (10-12 inches annual average) provides the bulk of our cowherd's nutrition. All other feed must be purchased and transported to our ranch; therefore, we raise minimal input black Angus cattle.  By applying PCC philosophies, our cattle must walk the talk, or they are gone.  Over 200 pits and reservoirs and 28 miles of pipeline have been developed to water cattle and supplement existing windmills and electric wells on the ranch.  Cross fencing and a rotational grazing system has been implemented as well to best utilize our available resources.  We also have a viable hunting and trapping enterprise on the ranch.  If you find yourself in the area, give us a call; the coffee pot is always on, and we specialize in giving ranch tours.  We thank the Lord for bringing PCC to our ranch.  Terry and Julie Todd, phone (406-557-2664); Brent and Lisa Morrison, phone (406-557-2214).

       The Totton Angus Ranch is owned and operated by Charles and Tanya Totton along with their children Gabrielle, Courtney and Richard.   The ranch is located on the Missouri River breaks north of Chamberlain, South Dakota.   We got started in the cattle business in the early 80’s when interest rates were about 20% and land values were highly inflated.   Being a low cost, low input rancher wasn’t really by choice at first.
      After several years in the commercial business, we had developed some clearly defined goals.   We wanted light birth weight, deep bodied, moderate framed cattle with good udders and good dispositions.   We had trouble finding bulls to match our goals, though, until we purchased an Angus bull named Moderator in 1995.   We were extremely impressed by this light birth weight bull that had muscle, depth and volume.   Unlike other bulls, Moderator actually gained weight during the breeding season.   We decided to purchase some registered Black Angus heifers the next year and start raising our own bulls.   Thirteen years later we are still using Moderator sons as our herd sires.   Moderator was born in central South Dakota in the Missouri River breaks , spent 1/2 his life in the plains of eastern Colorado and passed away at age 13 less than 60 miles from his birth place back in the Missouri river breaks.   We feel the line just keeps getting better with every generation.  Our most recent adventure is raising grass-fed beef, and we are very pleased with the way PCC genetics fit into this program.   Charles and Tanya Totton, phone 605-734-0349.

WCC — Willson Cattle Company

     At 7,200 feet in elevation and harsh winters that last 6-7 months of the year, cattle in the New Fork Valley of Western Wyoming need to be the right kind to be profitable.  PCC genetics are the right kind and the crew here at WCC are truly grateful to be apart of this fine group of forward-thinking people.
     Willson Cattle Company is owned and operated by Aaron and Diane Willson with their three kids Ruthee, Calleb and Wylee.  WCC is also partnered with James and Andrea Rogers and their two kids Clancy and Emma.  The two families have followed PCC since 1999.
      The Rogers are Wyoming natives that have been in the commercial and registered business since a very young age.  They are taking their knowledge and out-of-the-box thinking to grow a herd of Lowline Angus cattle to help create a very efficient mother cow that will still fit the industry’s standards and be very profitable.
     Aaron and Diane come out of the commercial side of the cattle industry and understand very well the difficulties involved with ranching in today’s economy.  Aaron has spent much of his years in Western Wyoming and Diane is the fifth generation from her family’s ranch in Eastern Oregon.  They are growing a registered herd of Black Angus with a lot of emphasis in a maternally functional cow that is long-lived and moderately framed.
     An easy-doing cow that can stick around is a must in any environment if a person wants to capture the most return for his effort.  In addition to these genetic traits, bulls that are raised at high altitude are bulls to consider if you live at high altitude.  Brisket disease can be a very costly and disheartening disease.  If you live above 5,000 feet you know what I mean.
    Stop by any time you’re through Pinedale, Wyoming.  The summers are fantastic (just ignore the mosquitoes!)    Aaron and Diane Willson, phone 307-367-3023;    James and Andrea Rogers, phone 307-367-6405.