NO I DIDNT STEAL THEM! :roll: A neighbor of mine, that is in his 80's, has been a great friend and boss over the years. I used to spend a lot of time each summer when school was out working on his ranch. Lots of hay bales hauled and post holes dug and calves worked. His son is a school teacher and they still run 70 head on their private ground after selling thier permit 15 years ago. I try and help them as often as I can because I enjoy their company and owe them a great debt for hiring a kid who didnt know much except high gear!
They use a wheeler and a hay bale to chum their cows and don't have horses. That's where I come in. I went out west and brought their heifers back off the foothills to winter on their home place yesterday. Was a pretty day for a ride. Can ya tell where the cows spent this spring? The right side is some CRP ground that comes out next year and will make some good grazing.
That old crested wheat will come back quick with some moisture and rest. Red Pine Peak in the background & Reba in the fore.
Up where the heifers were at the feed was much better. In this dry country, spring grazing is the hardest thing on grass. While it should be growing and getting rain the cows are in mow mode. But by rotational grazing and range improvement like thinning or eliminating cedars, you can fill up a cow without damaging the resource.
15 head of pretty cross-bred hiefers stringing along for home.
Riding along watching the west end of some east bound bovines.
They run Angus bulls on a crossbred herd of cows. A little simmental, char, limo and even some tarantaise back aways in the 80's. They sell some young pairs every spring and make enough to scratch the itch another year.
Trailing down the lane west of town.
I bought a heifer from them 4 years ago mostly for a sentimental reason, to have one of Cal's in my little bunch. A little bigger framed cow than I like but she raises some soggy,square calves that top the weaning average. Green grass on the shoulder of the bar ditch made for a brief pit stop. On a big drive like this, ya don't want'a run the tallow off em'! :wink:
One white sister and 14 black ones!
Stringing out nicely. Maybe they got the directions home from their mothers when they were embryos!
Dust on the desert is kind of a given. Even in October.
Almost can see the home place from here. The old black willow grove marks the upper place where they originally homesteaded.
Crossing the triticale stubble down the home stretch. A fine, clear, crisp fall day a'horseback!
One of the grand pleasures of life! :wink:
Sianara from a silouette!
That old crested wheat will come back quick with some moisture and rest. Red Pine Peak in the background & Reba in the fore.
Up where the heifers were at the feed was much better. In this dry country, spring grazing is the hardest thing on grass. While it should be growing and getting rain the cows are in mow mode. But by rotational grazing and range improvement like thinning or eliminating cedars, you can fill up a cow without damaging the resource.
15 head of pretty cross-bred hiefers stringing along for home.
Riding along watching the west end of some east bound bovines.
They run Angus bulls on a crossbred herd of cows. A little simmental, char, limo and even some tarantaise back aways in the 80's. They sell some young pairs every spring and make enough to scratch the itch another year.
Trailing down the lane west of town.
I bought a heifer from them 4 years ago mostly for a sentimental reason, to have one of Cal's in my little bunch. A little bigger framed cow than I like but she raises some soggy,square calves that top the weaning average. Green grass on the shoulder of the bar ditch made for a brief pit stop. On a big drive like this, ya don't want'a run the tallow off em'! :wink:
One white sister and 14 black ones!
Stringing out nicely. Maybe they got the directions home from their mothers when they were embryos!
Dust on the desert is kind of a given. Even in October.
Almost can see the home place from here. The old black willow grove marks the upper place where they originally homesteaded.
Crossing the triticale stubble down the home stretch. A fine, clear, crisp fall day a'horseback!
Sianara from a silouette!