Some more humdrum photos, 12-10-08

[Soapweed]

Winter came back on Monday.

Hunger pangs

Going around by the crossing

Tuesday sundown

Squiggley black lines

Cows, imagine that.

Eager anticipation

Getting mooned

On the run

Shadows on yonder hills

Trees across the swamp

Windmill in repose

Magnification

Three steps to the right

Add a thirsty cow

Cows coming up the draw

She really is standing up.

Standing taller

Golden glow over Goose Lake

 

[leanin' H]

Pictures oughta be in a book! How much time do ya have to spend chopping ice?

 

[Soapweed]

Pictures oughta be in a book! How much time do ya have to spend chopping ice?

We haven't had to chop much ice at all so far this year. One thing about the windmills--if the wind is blowing at all there is usually an open spot for the cattle to drink. For winter pastures, a smaller tank works the best. Sometimes the big 30 foot tanks freeze clear to the bottom all across, but an 11 foot tank usually stays open.

 

[Sundancer]

Simply Magnificent Thanks for the views!

 

[Cal]

You'd think the old cows would feel a little sheepish about being gluttons when the market heads south....but nooo :wink: Good pictures again, Soap.

 

[Denny]

Your cows look to be in very fine shape.You do a good job with them.Thanks for your time posting your photo's they're nice to see and I know alot of time was spent posting them.Thanks again

 

[Blkbuckaroo]

Soap i really like the windmill pics,nice contrast.I do have a question about that deal on the back of your pickup.I think that's what i was envisioning when i put up my last post,does that unroll those round bales,or just load them on the truck?Is that what they call a hydra deck?And lastly what signifagance does the arrows on your ear tags have as far as pointing one way or the other? Thanks Soap.

 

[Soapweed]

Soap i really like the windmill pics,nice contrast.I do have a question about that deal on the back of your pickup.I think that's what i was envisioning when i put up my last post,does that unroll those round bales,or just load them on the truck?Is that what they call a hydra deck?And lastly what signifagance does the arrows on your ear tags have as far as pointing one way or the other? Thanks Soap.

Glad you like the pictures. I sure have fun taking them.

The pickup is a 1998 Dodge Ram 3500. There is an eleven-foot Hydra-Bed on the pickup, with a caker mounted on the front. The pickup can haul 1500# of cake, plus two 1500# bales of hay. The arms both load the hay to haul it, and then are used to roll out the hay when I get to the cattle. It works pretty slick if the snow doesn't get too deep. Then we have to go to front-wheel assist tractors. I got this truck in the fall of 2003, and it has been a dependable work horse ever since.

The "arrows" on our cows' eartags all point to the left. This is our brand, which we call the "Spearhead." It is almost a lazy V bar, because the front arrow part of the brand doesn't quite connect to the horizontal bar.

We are getting snow this morning. The ground is already white, and the temperature is standing at 31 degrees. Wish I was visiting you right now in sunny California. :wink:

 

[Blkbuckaroo]

Soap i really like the windmill pics,nice contrast.I do have a question about that deal on the back of your pickup.I think that's what i was envisioning when i put up my last post,does that unroll those round bales,or just load them on the truck?Is that what they call a hydra deck?And lastly what signifagance does the arrows on your ear tags have as far as pointing one way or the other? Thanks Soap.

Glad you like the pictures. I sure have fun taking them.

The pickup is a 1998 Dodge Ram 3500. There is an eleven-foot Hydra-Bed on the pickup, with a caker mounted on the front. The pickup can haul 1500# of cake, plus two 1500# bales of hay. The arms both load the hay to haul it, and then are used to roll out the hay when I get to the cattle. It works pretty slick if the snow doesn't get too deep. Then we have to go to front-wheel assist tractors. I got this truck in the fall of 2003, and it has been a dependable work horse ever since.

The "arrows" on our cows' eartags all point to the left. This is our brand, which we call the "Spearhead." It is almost a lazy V bar, because the front arrow part of the brand doesn't quite connect to the horizontal bar.

We are getting snow this morning. The ground is already white, and the temperature is standing at 31 degrees. Wish I was visiting you right now in sunny California. :wink:

Thanks for the info,i wish you were out here also i have a million questions,unfortunatelly they tell us things are changing weather wise,storm coming down from the gulf of Alaska,suppose to start possibly raining and snowing this weekend.Winters on it's way and we really need it.About 18degrees out side my door this morning.Have a great day.Nice article about the Sandhills in Range Magazine this issue.

 

[Cal]

Soap i really like the windmill pics,nice contrast.I do have a question about that deal on the back of your pickup.I think that's what i was envisioning when i put up my last post,does that unroll those round bales,or just load them on the truck?Is that what they call a hydra deck?And lastly what signifagance does the arrows on your ear tags have as far as pointing one way or the other? Thanks Soap.

Glad you like the pictures. I sure have fun taking them.

The pickup is a 1998 Dodge Ram 3500. There is an eleven-foot Hydra-Bed on the pickup, with a caker mounted on the front. The pickup can haul 1500# of cake, plus two 1500# bales of hay. The arms both load the hay to haul it, and then are used to roll out the hay when I get to the cattle. It works pretty slick if the snow doesn't get too deep. Then we have to go to front-wheel assist tractors. I got this truck in the fall of 2003, and it has been a dependable work horse ever since.

The "arrows" on our cows' eartags all point to the left. This is our brand, which we call the "Spearhead." It is almost a lazy V bar, because the front arrow part of the brand doesn't quite connect to the horizontal bar.

We are getting snow this morning. The ground is already white, and the temperature is standing at 31 degrees. Wish I was visiting you right now in sunny California. :wink:

Thanks for the info,i wish you were out here also i have a million questions,unfortunatelly they tell us things are changing weather wise,storm coming down from the gulf of Alaska,suppose to start possibly raining and snowing this weekend.Winters on it's way and we really need it.About 18degrees out side my door this morning.Have a great day.Nice article about the Sandhills in Range Magazine this issue.

Better start pumping some CO2 into the atmosphere fast and furious. The greenies are trying to freeze ya. :wink:

 

[Cal]

Pictures oughta be in a book! How much time do ya have to spend chopping ice?

We haven't had to chop much ice at all so far this year. One thing about the windmills--if the wind is blowing at all there is usually an open spot for the cattle to drink. For winter pastures, a smaller tank works the best. Sometimes the big 30 foot tanks freeze clear to the bottom all across, but an 11 foot tank usually stays open.

Speaking of tanks, it seems like most of the ones we've been buying anymore aren't hardly worth....buying, altho they darn sure keep going up in price. Just had to replace one today where the heifer calves drink from an electric well, doubt if it was 2 yrs. old, of course got to get down and dirty in the soup. Just flimsy, as well as start rusting out before long, esp. in the Sandhills. Should probably go to tire tanks, but didn't really want to take that project on today, anyhow. Anybody got some good ideas about getting some extra years out of their tanks, or what's a good brand?

 

[Frank in West Dakota]

Speaking of tanks, it seems like most of the ones we've been buying anymore aren't hardly worth....buying, altho they darn sure keep going up in price. Just had to replace one today where the heifer calves drink from an electric well, doubt if it was 2 yrs. old, of course got to get down and dirty in the soup. Just flimsy, as well as start rusting out before long, esp. in the Sandhills. Should probably go to tire tanks, but didn't really want to take that project on today, anyhow. Anybody got some good ideas about getting some extra years out of their tanks, or what's a good brand?

I use Zane's fiberglass tanks. Actually Zane's was sold and they're now sold as Montana fiberglass I think. A couple of things I've noticed with tire tanks is there's usually noxious weeds growing up around them, and they are never completely sealed, always have a small leak someplace.

 

[Big Swede]

Tire tanks are the only way to go. I must have a dozen rusted out steel tanks laying around from the last 20 years.

 

[Blkbuckaroo]

I'm pretty sure they make tank liners,call your local Ag supplier.[/i]