Im sure its all preference, but in my head I see a "ranch" being the ones that have been around forever, the really experienced breeders who breed for the best quality, who pelt and who sell to other breeders and or individual pet owners.
I see ranchers as the ones who take care of the fur industry by providing their perfect quality furred chins.
Others are large hobby breeders, herds, farms....whatever's clever.
I could be completely wrong,but i guess that is just the conclusion I came to with all Ive read and heard. Its how I see it in my head, and just call it my opinion on the matter.
I call mine a herd, small hobby breeder, because its small.
But I dont know, are there very large ranches who dont pelt?? Like Jim Ritterspach's ranch, do they pelt? or Ryersons?
I see these guys as examples of "ranches"
But now I am just talking to talk here. If you want to fill me in on what everyone else thinks, maybe it will help me sway my thoughts with more to go on.