Ranchers and Cowboys of Nayarit:
September Celebrates Mexican History
Tara A. Spears
During the month of September, Mexico reflects on its history, culture, and symbolism. The people celebrate with food, fiestas, fireworks, and lots of tequila to show their patriotism. An important thread in the tapestry of Mexican culture is the rancher and cowboy. Although these men have diverse backgrounds, each has a deep reverence for the land and animals, a love for tradition, and a strong commitment to family and community. These men are part of the contemporary generation that are redefining the essence of modern Mexico while proudly upholding the traditions of their country.
The ranchers of our community use their talents and perseverance to provide beef for the public. In this series, the author chose the individuals to share their stories. These local family ranchers, like Albino Gonzales Gomez, exemplify the diversity of talent that makes this country so vibrant and appealing. All of these ranchers are outdoorsmen who work hard, deal with the challenges of unpredictable weather and suffer with the peso inflation. Ranchers are the foundation of this country.
Explaining why he was still ranching at 89 years old, Albino said, “I have a deep admiration for my land. To me, this place is much more than just a way to earn money.” He explained further, “the real treasure is the country itself, with its ageless, tree shaded, grassy hills and their whispered surroundings. It is the quiet, interrupted only by the gentle lowing of his cattle, that speaks to him. Albino Gonzalez Gomez feels fortunate to be able to have this lifestyle since the 1960s. Taking care of his land and the animals entrusted to him required a tremendous commitment involving years of saving by working long days.
Born on a ranch because his father was a vaquero (cowboy) for the richest cattle rancher, Albino learned all about animal husbandry since he was a toddler. When Albino was old enough and wanted to work fulltime, he started at the ranch where his father worked. The pay was so low that he feared he could never buy his own land. “You know, things [economy] were pretty tough at that time in the 1960-70s.” The only way he could earn enough to work towards his dream was to go to the United States. He persevered and traveled back and forth from La Penita to California milking cows, working the fields, whatever paid the best, until he retired at age 65 with a pension. Albino could return to his beloved Mexico and work his own ranch.
When it came time to adding cattle to his land, Albino chose Brangus. Why Brangus cattle? According to the Beef Site.com, although Brangus cattle grow slightly slower than most other beef cattle breeds, they produce superior quality meat and are known for their carcass quality. Brangus produce lean meat with almost no excess fat, and their meat has a great marbling quality.
The Brangus is an American hybrid breed of beef cattle derived from cross-breeding of American Angus and Brahman stock. Registered animals have 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman parentage.
The Brangus cattle breed is a reliable polled beef breed that will add superior maternal attributes, longevity, heat- and parasite-resistance, sound udders, and exceptional carcass yield and quality to a herd. Brangus cattle improve survivability and excel in the most unpredictable and harsh environments of the world.
Perhaps the idea to raise beef cattle organically started in hyper-health conscious California, but a few years ago Albino decided to go natural on his ranch. A key element in this style cattle raising is the need to frequently rotate the animals to a different pasture to feed.
“First, we planted special grasses and while that was getting established, we fenced off several pastures from larger original meadows. The fencing needs to be checked constantly,” said Albino. “Now I monitor the fields and rotate the cattle to provide healthy food instead of penning them and feeding commercial cattle food.”
One of the greatest economic challenges to sustainable livestock raising is achieving profitability while fattening livestock outdoors on ranches based on a combination of highly nutritious plants and grasses, which could reduce negative ecological impact and improve animal welfare. “It makes me so happy to see the calves jumping around the fields!
Our community is a better place thanks to the ranchers like Albino. His determination to producing quality meat is impressive. It’s also impressive that he embraces a changing view of rearing cattle to produce organic beef that is better for humans, the animals, and the environment. Not only is Albino on the cutting edge of ranching but he does it while maintaining the values and culture of his forebears. He has much to be proud of!
