Pk~ I have to agree with HMW. I think you must not realize that ranching is just as busy as farming.
My father and grandfather were farmers, so I know that side of things, and I married a rancher's son.
I can't honestly think of a time when there isn't work to do as a ranch hand. The number of outfits where a cowboy doesn't have to do any form of farming at all are rare and getting more so I'll reckon.
The majority of ranch hands have to do it all. They feed hay all winter while some work horses to prepare for the calving and branding season. Then there's calving, which you're usually doing while still carrying the workload of feeding. Then you start branding, and you don't just do it for yourself, you're juggling getting sent here and there to help the neighbors. And when you get home at night, theres still things to do, like getting the equipment ready for haying.
Then you guessed it, you're haying, and the cows are needing to be rotated, and once again you're helping your neighbors with theirs. Then its hay hauling time, meanwhile you're preg checking. And then before you know it its weaning time, hauling the cattle to market, holding your breathe, hoping the banker will smile when you go into his office, and you're right back to winter feeding. I can't honestly think of a lull in a ranch hand's schedule. I have to drag my hubby away for a week at my folks over Christmas.
I can't say why it is that farm hands and ranch hands have such differences in salary. I don't begrudge the farm hand his good fortune, and I'm sure he earns it, and as long as he's as happy as my husband and all the folks we work around, I guess it can just be one of those mysteries of the universe we never solve.