HISTORY OF THE RANCH

Wise Maine-Anjou Ranch is operated by Leta Wise, along with three of her daughters. A fourth daughter, Debra, is active in the agriculture industry throughout the United States as a partner in Colorado Genetics, an embryo transfer business.

Beloved husband and father, R.B. Wise passed away in February, 1996, after 42 years in the purebred cattle business, 24 of which were as a Maine-Anjou breeder. Over the years, he earned a reputation for his ability to spot a "good" one and raise functional cattle of quality. Berwyn judged many prominent cattle shows across North America and became known for his straight forward "shoot from the hip" honesty.

First Maine birth in Canada. R.B second from left.

ZTA Magnum 44N - A fullblood bull bred by the
Wise Ranch in the 1980's.

The Wise Ranch has played an interesting role in the developmental history of Maines and other European breeds as a boarding location for some of the first animals that were imported into Canada during the early 70's. At the time, the family operated the Wise Custom Fitting Service. They boarded cattle, managed herds for clients and fitted them for shows and sales. The skilled activity of "fitting" had always meant putting the proper weight gain and condition on an animal, not clipping and grooming an animals as it has come to mean in more modern applications.

Through the years 1976-1986 the Wise Ranch was home to hundreds of bulls of many breeds as they operated as a test station. In the early 70's they purchased their first percentage Maine heifers from LK Ranches, the McKinnons of Bassano and it was the performance of those first cattle that led to the decision by the Wise's to purchase a herd of fullblood Maines, originally imported from England by Thunder Beef Breeders of PEI. At that same time Horton Helena, who became matron of the Wise fullblood herd, was purchased from Tom Morton of Strathmore, as well her calendar year heifer and her yearling daughter were also acquired.

ZTA Miss Black Ruby 224X


Draftpick

Leta Wise and her family come by their interest in breeding purebred cattle honestly as her father, the late E.J.C. Boake of Acme had the largest herd of Shorthorn cattle in the Dominion at the time of his death. Today the reduced herd of 100 black Maines represent another family tradition. As traditions go in the beef industry both Leta in 1949 and daughter Debra in 1969 won the prestigious Grand Champion Baby Beef competition at the Calgary Bull Sale. The first and only time a mother and daughter had won the D.E. Black Shield.

The family theme continues over the breeding philosophy as the Wises choose carefully the genetic lineage for their calving program. The naming of their females within "cow" families makes tracing lineage simple.

The Wises breed for easy fleshing, moderate frame size and ease of calving. Maines won the family over with their docility and were so easy to work with and they did get to see all the other breeds when they had the fitting service and test station.