Producer

The Knott Ranch is nestled under the Flat Tops of Oak Creek, Colorado. We are five generations of stewarding the land and producing wholesome, safe, and nutritious lamb and beef while still providing critical wildlife habitat and healthy rivers.
We strive for both sustainability in managing our natural resources to provide reliable products year after year and resiliency in being able to adapt to both changing economic and ecological conditions. Our ranch has been in our family for 85 years. We are looking towards becoming a Centennial Ranch.
The livestock are born, raised, and cared for in South Routt County at the headwaters of Trout Creek in the Yampa River Basin, providing the consumer with a truly locally sourced meat. We have been selling lamb and beef direct for years. Now fully established with USDA labeling, you can feel secure knowing our products are butchered and processed locally. Our animals are raised with love and respect, and we enjoy providing healthy and wholesome products.

The cattle and sheep graze mountain pastures from June through November until snow requires they be fed native grass hay produced on the ranch. During the summer months, our livestock have free range in large mountain pastures ranging from 100 to 1,200 acres in size. The lush feed of brome and timothy grasses produce phenomenal rates of gain. The animals are checked regularly by horseback during which the pasture conditions and grazing pressure is carefully monitored.
The ranch uses a modified deferred-rotational grazing system. The goal is to keep the animals on fresh forage and clean water while leaving sufficient residual feed to sustain wildlife and hold the snowpack through the winter. Pasture rotation and resting occurs to ensure plants mature to seed production at least once every three years.
Our animals are never given hormones or antibiotics to enhance growth. Quality control is paramount and animals are individually identified to ensure traceability and health. Everything is pasture bred.