
Richardson Ranch
Richardson Ranch was established in 1919 and today is known worldwide for its Tlell Polled Hereford herd. Under the guidance of veterinarian, Dr. Don Richardson, the ranch focuses on genetics and the production of breeding cattle, semen and embryos for the worldwide market. The ranch also produces bulls for the BC market which are sold at the annual Vanderhoof Bull Sale and Williams Lake Bull Sale. Don’s son, Dr. Dane Richardson operates the Haida Gwaii Animal Hospital, located on the farm. Richardson Ranch is also home to the Islands’ only farm feed and pet store. Richardson Ranch is situated on the Tlell River where the ranch’s herd grazes along its pristine banks. Richardson Ranch was founded and has been owned and operated by the Richardson family exclusively. It is currently being worked by three generations of Richardsons.
Drs. Don Richardson & Dane Richardson are members of the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association while Don also holds a membership in the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.










































Meet Don & Leslie Richardson
Meet Don & Leslie Richardson
Don and Leslie Richardson are the fifth generation of Richardsons to operate Richardson Ranch, a property and business that has been in the family since 1919. Don and Leslie’s children are very involved in the ranch operations and are the sixth generation of Richardson Ranch farmers. Don and Leslie expect that their grandchildren will also one day join the family business. Don’s mother Alice, is still active in the ranch operations and provides a large lunch daily for twelve or more of the ranch workers. Somehow, word never fails to get out when Alice is making prime rib for lunch and friends and family just happen to ‘drop by’ for the lunch hour meetings and stories.
The farm originally produced beef, but Don, a veterinarian, decided to shift the focus to genetics and cattle production when he took over the family farm. He also started Haida Gwaii’s first and only veterinary hospital in 1980 where he was regularly called upon to treat a wide variety animals, including wild ones that had been injured.
Richardson Ranch still sells beef from time to time, but the ranch is even more well-known for its bulls, semen and embryos. These cattle genetics are shipped around the world, a fact that the Richardson’s are proud of. The family business currently includes the recently constructed Haida Gwaii Animal Hospital and a feed and pet supplies store.
While Don and Leslie’s daughter Jaimie lends her expertise in genetic selection and promotion of the ranch’s breeding program, their son, Dane, a 2013 graduate of Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, now owns and operates the new animal hospital . Don, now ‘semi-retired’ from the veterinary practice, provides off-hours and emergency support for the animal hospital. He and Leslie look forward to spending more time travelling and working on the farm with the extended family.
Tlell, BC V0T 1Y0
Hours
Ranch Feeds Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday
9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Closed Monday
Please contact for cattle sales and inquiry
