How We Raise Our Cattle

Rotational pasture grazing

At Gill Ranches, raising healthy cattle starts with good land stewardship and responsible animal care.

Our animals spend their entire lives in our care in stress free environments. We stand behind our beef because we have been with it every step of the way.

Our cattle spend most of their lives grazing diverse pastures of grasses, legumes, and alfalfa across eastern Oregon and western Idaho. From birth, our animals are provided with salt and minerals. We use rotational grazing, moving cattle regularly so pastures stay healthy and productive while cattle always have access to fresh forage, clean water, shade, and room to roam. 

During the winter months, when pasture growth slows, our cattle are fed high-quality hay, alfalfa, and supplemental protein, much of which is grown right here on our farm. At times our cows also graze cornstalks after harvest, making use of a natural feed source that would otherwise be tilled back into the soil.

When cattle are finished for beef, they receive a balanced grain ration of locally grown corn and our own alfalfa. Much of the grain is produced by our family or neighboring farms we know and trust, and it is processed locally by another farm family.

We primarily raise an Angus-Hereford cross herd, leveraging hybrid vigor for superior efficiency and quality. Our breeding program focuses on traits like calving ease, efficient grazing, and excellent meat marbling.

Our cattle are never given hormones. We focus on raising healthy animals from birth to harvest. Vaccinations are administered only when necessary to prevent common, treatable illnesses and ensure healthy animals. Only when necessary, we administer USDA and FDA-approved antibiotics and then follow a withdrawal schedule. To maintain the health and well-being of our animals, we follow a standard vaccination schedule and adhere to the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) protocol, which helps prevent disease and mortality. 

We prioritize low-stress cattle handling, proper nutrition, and responsible animal husbandry at every stage of life.

Simply put, we believe cattle raised with care produce better beef — and that’s something we’re proud to share with your family.

Our Practices

  • Diverse forage blends

  • Grass-raised cattle

  • Corn-finished

  • Locally grown feed

  • Rotational grazing practices

  • Salt & minerals

Our Commitment

  • No added hormones

  • Locally raised cattle

  • Low-stress cattle handling

  • Family-run ranch since 1879

  • Simply the Best. Beef. Ever.

Browse our beef
Oregon grass fed corn finished local cattle grazing in a field with mountains in the background on a partly cloudy day.
A green pasture with cows grazing and standing, and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A herd of black pasture raised for local beef calves with colored ear tags standing on a grassy field under partly cloudy sky.
Three black/gray calves drinking fresh water on green pasture with ear tags standing near a water trough outdoors, with a grassy field and a blue sky with clouds in the background.
A herd of cattle and calves on a farm, with muddy ground, wooden fencing, and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Group of healthy sustainably raised black calves drinking water from a water trough, some with tags in their ears.
Two happy healthy calves lying on dried straw in an open field with a cloudy sky in the background.
A vast field with dried crops, a green tractor on the right, and a small town in the distance with snow-capped mountains in the background.
A small brown and white calf with a blue ear tag numbered 103 stands in a field of dried corn stalks, near a larger black mama cow in Idaho.
A rural landscape at sunset with a dirt path, green fields, small buildings, and a dog in the foreground.
Cows grazing in a yellow flower field under a cloudy sky, with a person walking in the distance.
A vast green field of crops under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds, and distant power lines on the horizon.
A cow and a calf standing in a dry field with snow-capped mountains in Oregon the background under a cloudy sky.
A woman in a red jacket and woman in a grey hoodie walking on a farm with green grass, black cows in the background under a partly cloudy sky in Ontario Oregon
Black calves drinking water from a trough, wearing numbered ear tags.
Several healthy farm raised calves standing on a grassy field with mountains and blue sky in the background.
A local farm raised calf standing in a harvested cornfield with a cow nearby against a mountainous landscape and cloudy sky.
Close-up of three young grass fed corn finished cattle with ear tags, one licking its nose with tongue, standing in a dirt field under a blue sky.