illegitimate calf

The first calf of the year was born today, she is a few weeks early but not unexpected as we knew when the neighbors bull jumped the fence last spring.  The picture shows everything going well, but this first calf heifer is not being a very good mother and we may need to take her to the corral for motherhood training.  A few hours after this birth an older cow had a premature calf born, she is trying to be a good mother but the calf is too weak to stand so we gave her some dried colostrum (the first milk that gives immunity from disease and is very nutritious) now we wait to see what tomorrow brings.

breaking in a new ranch hand

Blake and Arden gave the precalving vaccinations to the first calvers a couple of weeks ago and this week on Monday and Friday Sharyn got to experience cattle working as the 2 groups of cows were given their annual immunizations.  Sharyn was great help and should make a satisfactory ranch hand.   Her driving skills were appreciated the most as She led the cows into the working corrals with the feed truck while the other 2 cowboys pushed up the stragglers with 4 wheelers. 

beef industry research and education

Arden is on the board of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF).  The NCF's mission is to advance the future of Nebraska's Beef Industry by investing in research and education programs.  In 2011 NCF gave out 19 scholarships of $1000, awarded research grants of 5K and 10K to 3 professors and established a new endowment for a range professor.  NCF also supports livestock judging teams from UNL and 3 community colleges.  Support for FFA and other needs that fall within our mission statement are made each year.  Money for these programs are raised by individuals donating steers to the Retail Value Steer Challenge which places steers in a feedyard until they are ready for harvest.  The donated steer and the profit he makes during the feeding program creates the funds.  This program will raise about 170K this year.  Steer number 49 is my donation for this year, if he places in the top 3 in any one of 3 categories I will win some money back.