V8U Ranch Ltd. strives to breed and raise premium quality breeding Bulls. 

Our ranch is located near Mountain View, Alberta at the base of the Rocky Mountains in the extreme southwest corner of the province. The Ranch was established by the Mackenzie Family in 1898. The Original cowherd in those days were Shorthorn Based.

In 1962, Don and brother Rod attended the Beckton Stock Farm 4th Annual Production Sale near Sheridan WY. While there, they purchased 4 head of Red Angus: 1 bull, 1 cow/calf pair, and 2 bred heifers, on behalf of the Mackenzie brothers. These were the first Red Angus females imported into Canada which were the early beginnings of what the Red Angus Breed has become in Canada today. Other U.S. purchases were added over the next few years. When available as many Canadian genetics as possible were added.

The Mackenzie Family started to show cattle in 1971 from Toronto to Vancouver as a way to introduce and promote Red Angus cattle to Canada. As you can imagine travel was not quite done the way it is today. In those days taking cattle to Toronto meant loading in Stock Cars and travelling by train.

Although showing cattle was an important tool to establish the Red Angus Breed in Canada, we no longer participate in cattle shows. Performance testing was implemented in 1962, and is still utilized today as a production tool.

Don, Linda, daughter Jade, and Jade’s partner Steve Brander are actively involved in the day to day operation of our ranch. Jade and Steve have taken on the daily management of the operation. Jade has been heavily involved in the operation from a very young age and has an in depth knowledge of the cowherd, and the Red Angus Breed overall. Steve has been actively involved on the Ranch since 2009 and has a good understanding of the commercial cow/calf and cattle feeding industry.

Since 2015 we have adopted Genomics testing to both maximize the integrity of parentage of all cattle on the ranch and to help improve selection based on more accurate data.

Our primary focus is the development and marketing of Breeding Bulls to commercial cow calf producers through our annual Bull Sale which takes place in March of each year. We conduct all business with honesty and integrity. We held our 50th annual Bull Sale in 2021.

INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT

Don has served as President of both the Canadian Angus Association and the Canadian Beef Breeds council.  Don was a board member of the Beef Improvement Federation for four years and chaired the 2008 B.I.F. conference in Calgary.  Jade served on the Alberta Angus association board of directors for 6 years!

HONOURS & AWARDS

First Canadians to receive “Pioneer Breeder Award” by the Red Angus Association of America.
1979
We received the Canadian Red Angus “Breeder of the Year” award.
1984
Mackenzie Brothers were honoured by the Red Angus Association of America as being one of the “50 Most Influential Breeders”.
2004
We were honoured by the Canadian Angus Association as “Honorary President”.
2004
Our family was inducted into the Alberta Angus Hall of Fame.
2007
Don was honoured by the Canadian Angus Association as "Honorary President".
2012