Several of our wonderful residents have requested that we occasionally write a note about Sterling Ranch from the perspective of the owners. This is our first attempt and we would appreciate your thoughts.

Many of you have asked questions about cattle on Sterling Ranch. Sterling Ranch has been a cattle ranch since after the Civil War ended over 150 years ago. Our family has been involved in ranching and farming for generations and is part of our family’s heritage. When we began purchasing Sterling Ranch and acquiring adjacent lands, several of the properties had been overgrazed and looked like a moonscape. We moved the cattle off, seeded much of the ground, brought in rotational grazing, and restored the ranch and the habitat. Now we have wildflowers, high-quality grass, and a more robust habitat — and now the cattle are back.

Before we started building on Sterling Ranch, we created a prairie management plan to set forth how we would preserve the land and the species that live there. Cattle play an important role in this effort: they fertilize the land and their hooves aerate the soil. They also graze off the grass, which reduces fire danger and protects threatened and other species so that predators cannot sneak up on them.

The cattle here are owned and managed by the highly respected Clough Cattle Company. Nearly all the cattle on the ranch are Angus cattle with beautiful black coats. There are also Texas Longhorn cattle which are easy to spot with their long horns, slender bodies and brown coats. They are here to add character to the ranch.

Sterling Ranch is a cow-calf operation, where bred heifers have their calves and raise them. This time of year is fun, as the mother cows have delivered their calves, who are pretty cute. Throughout summer the cattle move from area to area on the ranch as part of rotational grazing so we do not hurt the soil. In fall the calves are separated from their mothers; the resulting calling, or “bawling,” can be disturbing, but it is no cause for concern and does not last long.

The working horses on the ranch are used to move the cattle from area to area and occasionally to other ranches. Deer, elk, and other wild species are not bothered by the cattle. In fact, the cattle and horses generally ignore them. Although the cattle and horses are not aggressive and will not intentionally hurt you, they are strong and their hooves are sharp. Because of their strength, both the cattle and the horses can injure you if provoked. We advise you to stay on the opposite side of the fence from them, and never get between a mother cow and her calf. Additionally, we discourage feeding the horses treats, as they can inadvertently bite your hand.

We intend to keep cattle on Sterling Ranch permanently and hope you’ll enjoy and delight in these majestic animals from a distance, respecting them and what they bring to the ranch and to other species here.