NAB Cattle Branding and Vaccinations

June 2022

Twice a year, the Padres Mesa Demonstration Ranch, located on the Navajo Nation, opens to the public so that families, ranchers, and guests can see first-hand how a ranching operation works.  Visitors learn about branding, vaccinations, stewardship, sustainable marketing strategies, ear tagging, castration, horsemanship skills, and low-stress handling techniques.  These practices and traditions have been shared and passed down for generations.   

In addition to witnessing these ranching techniques, the open days are an opportunity for networking with other ranchers and representatives from agricultural industries.  This year’s branding connected ranchers and guests with people such as Jeff Cole from Navajo Nation Fish & Wildlife, Jocelyn Beard from the University of Arizona, and Blair Labatt, CEO of Labatt Food Service.

Participants are also welcome to join discussions about the challenges facing ranchers, such as concerns about natural resources, the daily care of the animals, and the future of ranching operations.

Over 90 calves were branded and vaccinated during the open day this summer.  In other words, the event was a huge success.  It was also a great opportunity to show the benefits of the connection between the local Native producers to the Native American Beef program, a true ranch-to-restaurant beef program that ensures that Native producers can raise and sell their animals safely and with security.  It is a great source of pride to the Labatt community to be able to partner with the Padres Mesa crew and the Native ranchers of the Navajo Nation.