Category: Ranching

The cows scattered yesterday in the glorious 50 degree weather we had. However,  today started at 5 degrees and has steadily gone down to -3 at dusk. The cows are tender footed on frozen ground, so they had a cold, slow walk back to the feed ground for their cake and hay this morning.

We waited in the warm cab of the pickup while the cows picked their way around the bends in Pumpkin Creek until they got to one of the few crossings. At the speed they were walking they must not have known there was a PBR event on TV and later the Super Bowl we wanted to watch!

Once home, we watched our young horses rearing and tearing around after each other trying to stay warm – we just ate our popcorn and added another log to the fire!

Finished my tool cabinet!!!

I finally got tired of pulling the spiral nails used to hold pallets together, so cut the  boards off the pallet frame for the doors. That gives the doors a little different look, but saved me lots of time and effort. I prefer the look of a single board the full length of the door, but pulling those nails is really hard on my back. And that’s hard on my disposition!

The only problem now is that I have to clean the whole end of the garage to make a place to put the cabinet, and clean up the unbelievable mess I made finishing it. But how can I clean up the mess until I get the cabinet moved so I can put my tools away? Brings to mind one of my favorite words – a conundrum.

It’s bangs vaccinating season for the veterinarians so we were lucky to get the calves here done on a 40 degree day, which is the warmest I remember for this job. Since it has to be done before the heifers are a year old, we do it in January or February and often use a propane torch to keep the tattoo ink thawed. Not so this time!

Before the calves are vaccinated and tagged, the guys select the replacement heifers that will stay on the ranch. That way, the ones that go into the ranch’s cow herd have bangs tags in numerical order.

In addition to the vet’s work on the day, the replacement heifers also get their ranch ear tags.

The Head Honcho brought the calves to the chute (although in this video it looks like he’s just holding the fence up), I ran the gate into the tub, Shawn pushed them up the alley, Ed gave them the final push into the chute and put the ranch’s ear tags in, and Clint ran his hydraulic chute, bangs vaccinated and put the metal bangs tags in.

The girls went through like troopers and things couldn’t have gone any better.

Sonny, Ed and Jake sorted the replacement heifers off the other day while I ran the out gate and took pictures. I just made sure my two – my Jersey milk cow baby and the only brockle face heifer – ended up in the replacement pen.

The Head Honcho and I made a trade way back in the spring – my bum steer calf for the only brockle face heifer in this year’s calf crop. Now it looks like it was a brilliant move on my part – the heifer is blooming good and the steer was on the light end of the steers, but he did ship with the big boys.

The heifer calves were even and quiet, and the Head Honcho was so pleased with Jake’s ability to work the calves, never stirring them up, never getting in a hurry. The Head Honcho was as proud of his grandson as he was of his calves, and that’s going some.

Wrapped up the big fall work events with preg testing the old cows. Sonny and I filled the tub, Jess ran the tub gate, Eva and Shawn pushed them up the alley, Ed put on the pour-on and Tim tested. The cows worked beautifully – the moon must have been in the right phase! And we hit the most beautiful day in recent weeks…now a few days later we are caking the cows in about 7″ of snow.

My beautiful Jersey milk cow Bugs slunk her calf yesterday. We have no idea what caused her to lose her calf but will watch closely to make sure she doesn’t get sick. I already miss milking and cheese making, and the ranch will sure miss that source of good rich milk for calves that need a little boost shortly after birth.

Shipped steers a few days ago – next we weaned the heifer calves. Took this 360 degree view from the fence as we waited for the stock trailers to return for another load of calves. All went well and babies are on full feed with a straw bed. Lots of bawling at night to lull us to sleep.

We’re all a little less nervous since the calves are sold. Still here, but sold. It’s a relief. Not a huge relief since the Head Honcho wanted more than he got for them. But in my time with him, that’s been the case every year, even when he got what he asked for them!

We watch them closer than the chicken hawks watch the pheasants, trying to keep them healthy and gaining steadily until they ship. Then the Head Honcho will be holding back crocodile tears – he hates to see any of his babies go down the road.