Fall 2009 - Lots of Pics!

[WyomingRancher]

The past ten days I've been busy getting cattle home from the forest and getting ready to ship calves next week . This is a different calf crop than in years past, and I don't know why. Same cows and bulls for the most part, but more uneven than usual :? .

After unloading off the trucks from the forest, we vaccinated the calves .

Glad to be home.

"Spotty Foot" produces once again .

I'm pleased with my first-calf heifers .

We're replacing and building some new fence. The BEST part is that we've hired help to do this! This is the first time we've ever hired help for a project, and I almost feel guilty...not really! :lol: Glad I won't be the one pounding posts up the side of this hill :wink: .

Yesterday I sorted some potential replacement heifers. This is one of my most favorite days of the year .

While gathering heifers, there was a truck wreck/pile up on the Interstate... I guess it even made the Nightly News. The flight for life helicopter landed in the pasture... luckily there were no fatalities, but some people are in critical condition.

Gotta keep this girl for her neat face mark .

Drink up girls, the party will be ending very soon :lol: .

Bred heifers taking life easy .

This is the ugliest heifer on the place... and I'm the proud owner :lol: . I think she's an EXT x Elk cross. Usually the ones I don't like, turn out to be the best cows, so we'll hope she proves me wrong .

Two half brother bulls the heifers are bred to. These bulls have produced good calves out of this year's first-calf heifers, so I'm excited for next year's crop . I've picked a few heifer calves to keep out of them. If they breed-up and have milk, I think I'll be in good shape .

 

[Soapweed]

Looks like you have been very busy, Wyoming Rancher. The cattle are carrying plenty of quality and condition. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Whitewing]

Beautiful cattle, beautiful country, interesting pics. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Faster horses]

Thanks for the tour. Your cattle look good.
I wish ours had some of the green you have in your grass.
There is none of that here...it's all dried up...I feel kinda sorry
for them. We worked ours today and they were really hunting
the button weeds because they were green!!

I agree with you on that one heifer, she isn't much to look at.
We have a cow, #722 that is 12 years old and her calf weighed
727 lbs today.(We predonditioned today too.) I would have never kept her
as a replacement heifer, except the guy that bought the heifers that year, would not take any
with frozen ears. The spring of 1997 was a cold rip, and we had some
frozen ears. #722 was one of those and she has certainly earned
her keep!! So as you say, you never know. An ugly cow in your
herd is usually there because she is a good one. Good luck with
yours!!

Sorry to hear about the wreck. Is that dust/smoke from it in that
photo? WOW! :shock:

 

[gcreekrch]

Those cattle had a good summer. Best of luck with the calf sale.

 

[oldblood]

Very nice pictures and even nicer calves.

 

[Richard Doolittle]

I'd say that white gold last spring did some good for you!

Nice looking stock. I like your bulls too. How old are they?

 

[WyomingRancher]

Thanks for the tour. Your cattle look good.
I wish ours had some of the green you have in your grass.
There is none of that here...it's all dried up...I feel kinda sorry
for them. We worked ours today and they were really hunting
the button weeds because they were green!!

I agree with you on that one heifer, she isn't much to look at.
We have a cow, #722 that is 12 years old and her calf weighed
727 lbs today.(We predonditioned today too.) I would have never kept her
as a replacement heifer, except the guy that bought the heifers that year, would not take any
with frozen ears. The spring of 1997 was a cold rip, and we had some
frozen ears. #722 was one of those and she has certainly earned
her keep!! So as you say, you never know. An ugly cow in your
herd is usually there because she is a good one. Good luck with
yours!!

Sorry to hear about the wreck. Is that dust/smoke from it in that
photo? WOW! :shock:

It was smoke from the semi. Part of the rig was dangling over the edge of the overpass :shock: . Glad I wasn't trailing cattle underneath when that happened . It burnt it to a crisp, including part of the Interstate. They've been working 24/7 to clean-up and repair the road.

Yep, that heifer is pretty... :lol: . We kept them all last fall. She's out of an emergency bull purchase from the spring when two bulls broke their legs right before breeding. She was lame most of this summer, and never put on weight...but hey, she's bred and still here, so she's better than the opens .

 

[WyomingRancher]

I'd say that white gold last spring did some good for you!

Nice looking stock. I like your bulls too. How old are they?

See, I told ya' it would melt down into something useful . I'm just happy it came late in the spring, and NOT in January... that would've been a disaster!!!

The bulls are forage developed three-year olds (bought as 2s). I like them too, but am a little worried about chopping too much frame off the calves. They're sure thick guys though, and their daughters should be easy fleshing, just hope they have milk. I gotta worry about something :lol: .

 

[BRG]

The calves look great and those bulls are some soggy suckers. Their daughters should be easy doing, that is for sure. I like you, might worry a bit about taking to much frame off, but I would be willing to bet that their steers will kill right where they are needed if fed right. Plus, I would guess you are like the rest of us, where some frame on certain cows need reduced a bit.

I would really be more concerned on what you breed these bulls daughters to, rather than the cows I see in the photos. Put a more powerful bull back on the daughters and exciting things should happen.

Goodluck when you sell!!! Hope you blow the roof off the barn.

 

[Justin]

well it looks like your cattle had an enjoyable summer you got some hefty calves there. thanks for all the pics, and i would like to see more :wink:

 

[leanin' H]

Glad to have ya back Wy! You've been pretty quiet this summer unless i just wasn't paying attention. I am deeply hurt that ya didnt hire me for the fencing project! Looks like a rocky, steep fenceline with my name on it! :wink: Tell the outfit ya hired that only wimps use a fancy skidsteer building fence! :wink: :lol: Cows look like they summered fine and the calves look fat and sassy. Hope fall treats ya well! Thanks!

 

[Cal]

They look real good. Sometimes we're our own worst critics.....which is alot better than ranchers that don't care or know the difference.

 

[WyomingRancher]

Thanks everyone for your nice comments .

Leanin'H, there's still a bunch of fence to build if you get bored :lol: . It still seems incredibly weird to just drive by them building it. I'm really not used to this, BUT am getting the hang of it :lol: . I know my back and elbows are appreciative of skipping out of this project .

BRG, I feel the exact same way! These type of bulls should work fine on my existing cows, but the daughters are another story. I've worked so hard getting easy fleshing, "moderate" females, that I've almost gone too far the other way... and am afraid I'm going to lose production. Quite the balancing act .

Actually the calves have been sold private treaty to the same buyer who's bought them the past seven years. Hopefully he'll stick with me for the next phase of "Adventures in Crossbreeding"... because I anticipate the calves are going to be a little different next year :shock: . I enjoy visiting the calves in the lot and discussing the cattle, and their performance with him. He knows my priority has been a good female. They ship next wednesday .