The Bar BQ Ranch is a cow/calf operation located in the northern Rocky Mountains. The ranch runs 300 mother beef cows that typically start calving in March. Calves are weaned in October and can be sold or retained. The ranch usually buys about 100 yearlings each spring that graze privately owned pasture and meadow lands. These animals normally weigh 500 pounds when purchased and 750 pounds when sold in late September. The ranch also raises 200 acres of grass and alfalfa hay. Hay is normally fed to the cows, bulls and replacement heifers from about the middle of November until mid April. The cows normally graze state and federal (BLM and Forest) lands during the spring, summer and fall.