At Prather Ranch, our story is deeply rooted in the history of a California cattle ranch that has spanned several generations. Established in the 1800s by the Prather family, the ranch was transformed by Walter Ralphs, former President of the Ralphs Supermarket chain, into a productive and environmentally progressive cattle and hay ranch. In 1979, Jim and Mary Rickert joined Mr. Ralphs as his ranch managers and have since taken on more ownership interest. With the passing of Mr. Ralphs in 2010, the Rickerts and Robert Newell now own and operate the ranch as a family-owned and operated business.
Our heritage breed cattle are raised on approximately 28,000 acres of pasture in four Northern California counties, including a Certified Humane cow/calf herd. As responsible stewards of the land, we prioritize sustainable ranching and regenerative agricultural practices that not only benefit the environment but also enable us to produce superior beef. Our environmentally friendly feed yard, abattoir, and retail beef outlets are all part of our vertically integrated beef operation.
We believe in using cutting-edge technology like DNA testing while also embracing age-old traditional methods, like dry aging, that our grandparents practiced. Our commitment to quality and sustainability extends beyond our beef production to include the utilization of all parts of the animal. From pharmaceutical-grade bovine raw materials to dietary supplements and medical research, we believe in being respectful of each animal’s life.
At Prather Ranch, our Closed Herd program ensures that our cattle are free from outside contaminants and ensures the health of our herd. Our land stewardship practices are also integral to our operation, with over 50% of our land encumbered by conservation easements, guaranteeing that our grazing land will be working landscapes.
We are proud to be a ranch-to-table operation, offering our customers only the highest quality beef that we would serve to our own family. Our commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly ranching, our heritage breed cattle, and our family-owned and operated ranch make Prather Ranch a unique and innovative player in the bovine material and beef industry.