Bow K Ranch :: Olathe, Colorado :: Producing Gelbvieh cows that excel in maternal qualities

Bow K Ranch is family owned and operated by Dave and Dawn Bowman and their son and his wife, Andrew and Sarah Bowman. The ranch is located near Olathe, Colorado (a one and one-half drive from Grand Junction, Colorado). Dave and Dawn have been running Gelbvieh cattle since 1983 and currently run 125 head of Gelbvieh and Black Angus, along with Gelbvieh x Black Angus and Gelbvieh x Red Angus (referred to as Balancers). The emphasis at Bow K Ranch is to produce moderate sized (1,100 to 1,300 pound) cows that excel in maternal qualities – birthweight, calving ease, good udders, and adequate milk – not to mention their docility. (See Female Page). Our foundation is built on 25 years of AI breeding and quiet cattle handling methods. This breeding season (for the 2009 calf crop), we have used the following AI sires: Red Gelbvieh: Moderator and D17G which are both calving ease bulls with good all-around EPDs. Black Gelbvieh: 07M – calving ease, Majestic and 47R- both calving ease bulls with performance. Natural – calving ease and good all-around EPDs, COV Mr. 0028 – good all-around numbers. Red Angus: Cherokee Canyon – calving ease, good growth, and good carcass trait bull. Lancer – calving ease and an ideal carcass trait bull. Black Angus: Corona, New Standard, In Focus, New Design, and Gar Integrity 8804 which all have good calving ease, performance, carcass, and maternal traits.


Most of our cattle are run above Gunnison, Colorado in the summer at an altitude of 8,500 to 10,500 feet. These must be functional cattle with good legs and feet and are definitely not pampered.