Sunday photos, December 28, 2008

[Soapweed]

Our son showing off his new Christmas slippers

The cat in the barn

Heifers on hay

Replacement bred heifers

Total concentration of the subject at hand

Future mommas

We took advantage of a nice warm Sunday afternoon to process some of the bred heifers. New permanent tags were put in, along with corresponding numbered buttons on the other ear. Some of the vaccinations had been given back in September when they were preg checked, but we gave the first Scourgard 4KC shot now and an Alpha 7. They also got "Clean-up," a pour-on insecticide with IGR. The ones in the corral were worked Sunday afternoon, and the ones eating hay were held over and done on Monday.

Sunday afternoon cattle working crew. Since Sunflower had gone skiing with some of her cousins, Peach's nephew volunteered to help. He kept the taggers loaded for me, which sped up the process imensely.

Switching spots

Decked out in her new togs--I meant tags

Other members of the working crew

They are on "stand-by" for a little while

Portrait of a cowpoke

The hatrack was full at the Sunday evening church service.

 

[Cedarcreek]

I enjoy the pictures. Some days when the Lord gives us a wonderful Sunday you have to take advantage of it. Full hat racks at the church is a wonderful sight.

 

[Denny]

I like the Cat n the Hat photo's both real neat..

 

[gcreekrch]

Thanks again for allowing me to join your crew while you are busy. We have been catching up on some cattle working that has been delayed by cold temps ourselves.
This is the almost the end of my first year on Ranchers so I haven't seen many winter photos of your ranch. Is it normal for you to not have much snow by this time of year?
Our immediate area has a lesser snowfall than average, usually most of our accumulated snow falls in December so we may be short of irrigation water come spring.

 

[Soapweed]

Thanks again for allowing me to join your crew while you are busy. We have been catching up on some cattle working that has been delayed by cold temps ourselves.
This is the almost the end of my first year on Ranchers so I haven't seen many winter photos of your ranch. Is it normal for you to not have much snow by this time of year?
Our immediate area has a lesser snowfall than average, usually most of our accumulated snow falls in December so we may be short of irrigation water come spring.

The only thing for sure about snowfall in the Sandhills is that it always varies. Some years we have pretty open winters, and sometimes we can get a lot in November and it stays well into the spring. One year (either 1975 or 1977) we got sixty inches of snow total in just the month of March alone. As far as depending on conditions being any certain way, you can't. It's just best to be prepared for whatever comes down the pike.

 

[WyomingRancher]

Nice pictures! I've been taking advantage of the weather too. Yesterday I sorted the cows through the gate into the "tree free" pasture, and held the heifer calves back. Just me and my dog, and it went well . Your bred heifers look to be in nice shape for calving :wink: .

 

[Soapweed]

Nice pictures! I've been taking advantage of the weather too. Yesterday I sorted the cows through the gate into the "tree free" pasture, and held the heifer calves back. Just me and my dog, and it went well . Your bred heifers look to be in nice shape for calving :wink: .

You did good. I'm proud of you and your helper. One thing we both agree on is working cattle as "commotion-free" as possible. This is often caused by dogs being around at all, or sometimes by just plain too much people help.

The weather today is "blowing like a big dog." The temperature is fairly warm (34 degrees), but the sustained wind is 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph. I'm glad we got a lot done on Sunday when it was warm and windless.

 

[Blkbuckaroo]

Wow! I'll take sun and cold over snow and cold any day.It's actually sunny here today,but i can't see the ground oh well :wink:

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

What amazes me is........my cat got all the way to Soapweeds on Sunday, and back home here for supper this evenin!!!!!!

 

[Nicky]

Thanks Soap, love your pictures

 

[WyomingRancher]

Nice pictures! I've been taking advantage of the weather too. Yesterday I sorted the cows through the gate into the "tree free" pasture, and held the heifer calves back. Just me and my dog, and it went well . Your bred heifers look to be in nice shape for calving :wink: .

You did good. I'm proud of you and your helper. One thing we both agree on is working cattle as "commotion-free" as possible. This is often caused by dogs being around at all, or sometimes by just plain too much people help.

The weather today is "blowing like a big dog." The temperature is fairly warm (34 degrees), but the sustained wind is 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph. I'm glad we got a lot done on Sunday when it was warm and windless.

Thanks for the compliment . Yep, I'm guessing we and our "crews", whether they be two or four-legged share the same philosophy behind working livestock :wink:. Nothing is more fun when it all comes together and works quiet and efficiently. I just get too upset when people are around... I can manage the cattle and dogs, but not the people :lol: .

I'm lucky though, I have the time and luxury to take advantage of "when" the cattle are set-up to work easily. Just took me while to recognize those opportunities, thus eliminating a lot of the "work" in "working cows" :wink: .

Enjoy the wind today... it's howling right along, but has warmed up to 48 degrees .

 

[George]

My grandfather told me the slower and calmer you work any livestock the quicker you will get done.

I agree with WR that it is much easier to handle " properly trained and in control " cattle dogs than the people who always know their 5 or 6 hours a year with cattle makes them the expert!

It is just much easier and cheaper for me to keep a good dog on staff 24 / 7 than to keep a paid hand around who loves to watch me work!

Now that I have put in several rubber and hot wire cattle guards I don't even need someone to open gates!

 

[gcreekrch]

People problems are easily solved by "suggesting" that the "uninvited " experts stay OUT of the way until they are called on. Usually they don't invite themselves again.
We have our cow-workin' crew whittled down to Mrs Gcreek and I and two old fellas that will work cattle the way we do and put up with me at the same time.
A couple days ago my old dog and I put 300 calves through the system to put on the Ivomec that took longer than expected to get delivered. We were done in 4 hours. Mrs did most of the feeding that day.

I would rather work harder and get everything done right than faster and have "helpers" screw things up.
The last time we had a big crew at weaning/pregging time I was still P@$$ed 4 days later. It's easier on my blood pressure now. :wink: