calf doctors

This past week the new calves were processed, it took a crew of 7 to be efficient, branding, 2 vaccinations (gave protection from 12 diseases), castration, ear tag, and this year a small blood sample was drawn for DNA testing.  Of course we needed people to help the calf on to the table and somebody to keep records and label the samples.  Certainly there was some pain for the calf, much like when people go to their physician, but by being efficient the calf was on the table for about 1 minute and within a few minutes they were running around the corral as if nothing had happened looking for their mother.

Beautiful invader

Early last century or before settlers along the Niobrara planted beautiful but nonnative Yellow Flag Iris next to the river.  Lovely to look at these flowers have since gradually taken over meadows 25 miles west of our ranch and other areas further east in Nebraska.  the flower has migrated for a dozen miles down the valley forming a mat that restricts the growth of our native grasses.  Efforts are ongoing to eradicate or limit its spread.  We will need to be vigilant and prepared to fight this invader.

War has been declared

We have been invaded (100-150 years ago) by a number of foreign plants, many from eastern Europe.  In their homeland they had natural enemies, such as insects or plant diseases that kept them under control, but when our early settlers accidently brought them to America the natural enemies did not come with them.  The Scotch thistle that  Blake is spraying here has formed several stands on the ranch that not only crowds out forage, but are so dense cattle  cannot walk through the infested areas.

viewing the herd

Finally we came to a herd of cows so Arden could show Sackett and Brennen some baby calves, they weren't real impressed, but the herd wasn't impressed with us either.  Calving is nearly finished so vaccinating, branding and DNA testing will be the next job to be done on the ranch.

family tree

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The Foster's desire was to see the big cottonwood tree in the west meadow so that was the next stop.  This tree holds the size record on the wohlers' ranch, but is way behind the state record.  Cottonwoods are notorious for rotting in the middle and falling over.  This tree is over 100 years old, how long will it stand?  

visiting the turtle

My grandkids Foster visited last week and we did a ranch tour.  The first stop was on the dike over the Niobrara where we found a turtle that had been laying her eggs in the gravel.  Blake controlled mama turtle so she would not snap anybody.  Too bad the kids can't extend their visit until the eggs hatch and the baby turtles emerge from the gravel.