abundant grass

The ranch has had 13.5 inches of moisture in 2011, about 5 inches more than average for this time of year, June 28.  Consequently we have tremendous grass growth, lots of extra cow feed.  This is a seeded grass field, the native grasses are not this tall but doing very well also.  The native grasses i.e. Blue Grama and Buffalo Grass is shorter but more nutritious for the cow.  Since total ranch income is based on cow numbers and cow feed comprises 60 to 70% of the cost of ranching it would be nice to have another 100 cow or so.  But then weather would probably change and that would be too many for the ranch to sustain.   

last calf vaccinated

The 3 man ranch crew finished the spring calf processing today.  We did this in 5 pasture groups over the last month avoiding the hassle of organizing a 12 to 15 person crew to do it in 1 day.  The calf table allowed us to process 1 calf per minute without injury to calf or cowboy.  The calves received vaccines that protects them from 12 different diseases, they were identified with the "frying pan" ranch brand and steers were created.  All the calves need to do the rest of the summer is eat, sleep and play calf games.

All of this years calves have been born now and the work load should have been reduced;  not so; the unusually wet weather has added stress to the new born calves and they are experiencing an outbreak of scours (diarrhea).  Within a few hours a previously healthy calf can become too weak to stand due to the toxins from the bacteria that infect  them.  Oral electrolytes, antibiotics and an antiinflamatory has saved any that we find in time.  Sunshine has returned  the past couple of days so hopefully this problem will disappear.

They survive

The goose nest has been deserted for several weeks and there was uncertaintany as to it's inhabinants outcome.  But today they emerged from the cattails and rushes for my viewing pleasure.  We have several nesting pairs of ducks as well, but I haven't observed any ducklings.  The ranch has received 2.6 inches of rain this week so the Niobrara is still over it's banks.

Blake is nervous

We pushed a wire into the coyote den and estimated that the puppies are more than 10' away.  I was willing to tie a rope to Blakes legs so I could pull him out if mamma coyote was present.  But this was as far as Blake was willing to advance.  Hopefully we will find them out on another day. 

puppies

Blake has been observing this hole in the bank located in the middle of cow calving pasture #2 for several weeks finally he saw coyote puppies, about 12 weeks old playing outside.  We were a little late getting a photo, but look carefully and you can see a puppy face staring back. 

Blake delivers

This is the 11th dystocia out of 135 first calf heifers that have calved so far, Blake has been involved with all of them and was the first surgeon on the last three, soon the veterinarian may not even need to be there.  We are about 75% done calving now and will be completed in 3 weeks or less.