• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

No fun week here.

T

Tap

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Messages
1,258
Location
anyplace you find me
Had a snot knocker of a storm here this week. Been without power for several days, still without it. Some people say we have to have one of these calf killing blizzards like this one to get a good haycrop, but someone else but here can have it. Actually wouldn't have wanted to wish it on anyone else. The neighbor said that they reported 70 mph wind gusts during the storm, and I believe it. Everyone I have talked to lost some cattle this week. :mad: :mad:

Here is the snowfall map. I am on the southern end of Harding County.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/unr/Snowfall_18-20apr2006.gif
 
Tap:

We've been keeping you and your family, and community in our thoughts and prayers. We hope that you are doing ok.

We have a great memory of winter of '96/'97. While the moisture was nice, we wouldn't wish it on anyone. Mr. TTB says only two types of folks survived that winter, those that drank, and those who went nuts. Mr TTB said to tell you to drink whiskey and lots of it...

Keep your spirits up, as tough as it may be.

Take care, and as always,

Cheers---

TTB :wink:
 
Sorry about the bad storm, Tap. A philosophical retired rancher neighbor told me just a month ago, that by his cowboy arithmetic he figured a rancher could lose one calf per section (640 acres) to a spring blizzard and still be way ahead of the game, because of the extra summer grass that would be possible from the extra moisture.

It seems like there is no time of the year that is immune from bad storms. In 1967 we had a very bad blizzard on May 1st. We came near losing about three hundred head of pairs into a lake. The top wire of a four-wire fence was all that showed above the packed down snow where the cattle were, but fortunately they "thought" that a fence was still there. Had they crossed the wire, they would have drifted another hundred yards right into the lake.

The terrible hailstorm that we got on July 25th, 2001, would have sure killed baby calves. It did kill a lot of deer, antelope, rabbits and coyotes. Our black cattle were "brindle" looking, from all the blood streaked down their backs, but none died. Baby calves would have been much more vulnerable, and undoubtedly could not have survived the ordeal.

Hope your cattle get through in fine shape, and that all your dams get filled from the run-off. You should have a world of grass from all the moisture.
 
I am sorry for your troubles, Tap. I don't know why these things have to happen. We don't need any more "character builders" in this business for sure.

As far as it bringing moisture, it seems like we get through a drought one way or another, and calves don't die from drought.

We've been through some tough spring storms ourselves and you know, it never seems to get any easier. But hang in there, good days coming.!!!
 
Feel for you Tap. I've always wondered why out in this God forsaken country a feller has to about lose his butt just to get some moisture for grass or a haycrop. It's a helpless feeling sitting in a house at night while an angry blizzard with 70 mph winds is trying to wipe out your cow herd and calf crop.
All a fellar can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Then theres the wind chapped tits to deal with and the mothering up in the mud when it does quit. The sun does come out and water goes down but the memories never go away.
My old man always said, " anyone can winter livestock, but it's the getting thru spring that's tough". Enough said, words don't make it easier,or get the work done. Hang tough and don't weaken, you'll make it. :!:
 
Thanks for the concern everyone. Yes, we lost some calves in this storm. We were as prepared as we could have been, but all storms are different, and you never know where the snow is going to pile up.

We got by better than we should have in some places, and won't know how we fared till the snow goes off in some others. It is mostly bare here, but still some huge drifts here and there.

Soapweed, I like your optimism. We will have grass around here this year.
 
Tap: Sorry to hear of your calf losses. The worst here in my memory was 1986 and it was about the 15th of April. It was one huge mess along with all the dead calves we had cows with frozen udders that you didn't realize were frozen to well after the storm. The biggest losses were in dugouts were the cattle drifted during the storm.
 
Well Tap, I really don't know what to say to you. We got off lucky and I'll bet you'll come thru' with not as bad a loss as could have been expected. It sure ain't no fun, but you've seen it before and you'll see it again. Hope your dams all get full and the grass greens up in a hurry for you. You are in our prayers.
 
Where have you been Nicky? Must be branding time, and fence fixing time, and such out your way. Missed you around here.


Things aren't looking too cheery around this general area, as people dig out. Some of the sheepmen are having big losses, as I have heard. That doesn't surprise me much, as they are real succeptable to wet snow and wind. Calves and cows are mixed up still, and today there is another fairly heavy snow in the Black Hills and that area again. They sure don't need more snow right now. I am glad we only had a scant inch this AM, and it is nicer again now. The calves do not need more stress on them, and some sunshine is on order for here.

Oh well, there will be grass for the survivors.
 
Busy, busy, busy! LOT's of company, branding, fencing, AIing, getting ready to irrigate (harrowing, ditching etc). Trying to figure out how to get the calves across Big Creek (which is very big right now!) to go to the leased place, and on and on.

Hope your weather improves, and that your losses aren't too bad. I was wondering how the sheep people faired in weather like that.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top