tree replant

Pat, Arden, and Blake spent the day replanting trees that have died in the 4 shelterbelts that have been developed  in the past year plus the one developed 6 years ago.  200 trees were replaced in the new belts and 200 in the older belt, though it could have used another 200 (the damage here was done by deer, shame is I planted this belt as habitat for them).  Pat has seen the eagle 2 miles north of the ranch, not flying well but surviving.

yearlings ready for grass

These are last springs calves, now called yearlings.  They have been in a feedyard since being weaned from the cow in November.  The feedyard provided food in a bunk where it was always available, water in tanks that did not freeze over and protection from winter blizzards--life was good!  None the less today they returned to the the ranch where the grass has became green and there is even more room to roam and play--life is better.  The heifers will become cows in the herd and the steers will return to the feedyard in August to enjoy a few more months of lesiure.   

calving emergency

Occasionally when the calf is born the uterus where the calf has lived for 9 months turns wrong side out and comes out too.  Then an epidural anesthesia (low spinal) is administered so the uterus can be more easily replaced.  As a practicing veterinarian grandpa use to practice for this surgery by putting toothpaste back in the tube. 

Sharyn visits

Grandma came to the ranch and stayed one night.  About half of the calves have been born and she needed to do the accounting to be sure our numbers were correct.  We were able to explain the deficits and therefore passed the audit.  

goose nesting

The nest I built for the geese worked, they are nesting about 20 feet away from it in the one they built.  This nest photo and the coyote photo in the prior blog are quite difficult to see as their colors blend into the environment so well.  Not to mention the limited capabilities of the camera and the photographer.

coyote observing new calves

The coyotes are carefully watching the progress of calving this year.  They have been hanging out in the pasture next to the house where the heifers are calving now.  The one in this photo is about 100 yards from me, but he had been in the middle of the herd.  Prairie rats and rabbits are abundant so hopefully he will leave our calves alone.

weather changed

Did I really say we were having great calving weather?  It snowed all day accumulating about 3 inches, the wind blew 20 mph and it was 27 degrees.  Not the worst that it could be, but if you are wet and used to a 101 degree climate it must be a shock to be a new born.  6 newborns today and they are doing O'K.  It will warm tomorrow so things looking up.

Problems happen

This heifer was having difficulting delivering her calf on her own so Tom (DOG) is taking her to the obstetrical room at the ranch for veterinary assistance.  She received help from Blake (CNA) and Arden (DVM) to deliver a robust healthy bull calf.  The 3 of us have been staying nights at the ranch so we can check calving progress of the herd every 4 hours and give assistance when needed.

Calving season has arrived

Spring has arrived in the Nebraska panhandle and calves are being born.  After 4 days there are now 30 new additions to the herd (only 329 more to go within the next 6 weeks).  The weather has been great for calving and this young heifer group has had some problems learning how to be new mothers but they are learning fast.  Fortunately under the left over grass from last year the new grass is becoming green and with warm weather approaching there will be plenty for them to eat.