getting goosed

I finally found this years goose nest.  As you can see it is near where the nest I made for them is located.  The nest is on the bank next to the river and merely a depression in the dirt.  This pair must have been too lazy to make a nest in the water out of cattail leaves this season.  There were 2 snapping turtles (with 20" diameter shells) and a muskrat swimming in the river next to the nest location.  Hopefully they either don't like goose eggs or mama goose is a ferocious defender of her young. Since the opposite bank looks directly down on the nest it should be  easy to watch the hatching process this year.

Time to move on

This was reloction day as 181 head of Wohlers Ranch steers left the Fall Run Feed Yard where they overwintered the past 5 months ( They grew from 460 pounds to 883 pounds).  They are bound to Yuma, CO where they will be feed a high quality ration until they weigh about 1300 pounds.  Then they will be made into choice quality steaks for fine dining at some of the best restaurants in the country.

Ready to work

Tom has been getting a lot of work hours in the past month mostly he is on foot as he loves to run while working.  But as calving season wears on, and Tom is feeling his age, more often then not he enjoys riding and this is where he sets and waits for a driver to take him to the job site.  He is trying to figure out how to start this this thing so he can go to work by himself.

April fools trick

On April 1st cow 256 was  having difficulty giving birth so I brought her to the obstetrical barn to give assistance.  The problem quickly became evident as I found 2 calves trying to exit at the same time.  So I pushed calf B back so calf A could be born and then calf B was able to quickly follow.  There were concerns that they wouldn't have enough to eat, but so far they are doing well.

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.