Brothers keen on efficiency at Puzzlewood Ranch

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Puzzlewood Ranch owners John Galley, 38, (left) and Alain Galley, 43, (right) talk with Anderson County Extension Agent Truman Lamb (center). The brothers operate their ranch on a cost-efficient basis: $100 per cow and $10 per ewe, annually, for their upkeep. They also mix their own mineral (mixer in background) for $200 a ton. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

June 17, 2004 -- Puzzlewood Ranch, with acreage in both Anderson and Houston counties, is unique in many ways. For one, the terrain is a transition of post oak and pineywoods. But, what makes it really unique is its owners.

Brothers Alain and John Galley are from Switzerland. Speaking several languages, including French, Spanish, and English, the pair also have ranches in Mexico and Brazil.

Their philosophy, about ranching, is also not exactly what East Texans, nor U.S. producers are used to hearing.

"We bought this place at the end of 1996, and started working on the place in 1997," began Alain.

Crossbred cattle were brought in to "clean-up" the place, but only about 400 of these cattle still remain.

In 1997 and 1998, Red Angus, Nelore and Tuli cattle were brought in and the ranch was closed to other livestock additions. There has not been anything, except for an occasional ram (which is quarantined for a while), since the ranch was closed.

"The cattle base is Red Angus crossed with Nelore and Tuli," Alain said. "We want a F1 that is 1/2-Red Angus, and 1/2 Nelore (a zebu-type animal) or 1/2 Tuli."

When asked about black Angus versus Red Angus, the brothers stated all foreign countries have red cattle, and "the black cows have more flies, and the flies like this heat."

The cows at Puzzlewood Ranch are mostly Red Angus, and the bulls are Nelore or Tuli breeds. All heifers are kept for replacements, and bred to a South Devon bull, which according to the Galleys is "the best quality kind of carcass."

Selling everything on carcass, most of the steers go to Cactus Feedyards. Steers are kept for 45 days after weaning before being sent to the feedyard.

"We do sell a few at the local sale barn, but not many," Alain said.

According to the duo, they are finding the F1-cross has a higher grade, as much as "4.8."

"The Red Angus are grading well. I think it is ridiculous to choose between a black and a red. What counts is feed efficiency ... extremely important. Efficiency is key to anything you do in life," Alain, the oldest of the brothers, cited.

"We get free energy from the sun, and we create the most precious commodity - human energy. What's more precious than feeding a human?" Alain posed on the job of beef production.

The ranch, which consists of about 6,000 acres and is split into 45 80-acre paddocks with six elecctric wire fences, is home to 2,000 head of cattle and 5,000 head of haired sheep. There are two calving seasons and one lambing season.

"Our objective is to have 2,000 more cows and 10,000 ewes," Alain stated.

The sheep are Dorber, which is half Dorset and half Persian. They originate from South Africa.

"They are great meat (animals) and can stand this weather," John said. "We cross them with black bellies (Barbadoes). Sheep give you twins and if you are lucky, you can get three births in two years."

The cattle and sheep are rotated, every three days, throughout the 80 paddocks.

"The sheep dung is great fertilizer," John added.

They also mentioned studies have been done by the British to show "you need to run cattle with sheep. They are a diversity source of wealth."

Coyotes were also a problem in the beginning of the brothers' ranching experience at Puzzlewood, when the duo lost about 1,000 lambs. But, now, according to Alain, the coyote problem is "peanuts."

He detailed, "We pay (to the two, and only two, hired hands) a $20 bounty per coyote. They will run them down on the electric horses (four-wheelers)."

A state trapper also comes twice a year before lambing to help with any coyotes that may be lingering on the property.

Like the heifers, ewes are retained for replacements. The others are "shipped to San Angelo for sacrificing.

"We sacrifice at around 100 to 110 pounds. The meat is younger and it doesn't smell. I think that's one problem with the sheep industry in this country is they sacrifice too heavy," Alain added.

"The sheep market is 10 times the goat market in the U.S.," he said.

The lambs will be weaned this month and about 500 head will be shipped to San Angelo.

None of the animals are artificially inseminated. "We let nature take its course. Nature is wiser and we would be fools to think otherwise," Alain cited.

The brothers are very cost conscious, stating they only allow an annual cost of $100 per cow and $10 per ewe for upkeep.

"This ranch has to run on $300,000 per year," Alain said.

Just one cost-cutting measure is the brothers make their own livestock mineral. Cost is $200 per ton. The other consistent ranch expenses are their two employees, two tractors, one truck, and two ATVs. "Everything else is contract labor."

Another addition to the ranch is 50,000 loblolly pines, which will be harvested in years to come.

The brothers, who have a sister in Houston, stated they have fun doing what they do, but each ranch is different and they have to treat them differently.