Upon returning to the ranch I've felt on a number of occasions that I have a lot to learn, mostly in moments working with my dad when he sees something I missed, like the signs of a heifer in early labor or being shown by the previous hired man how to change the bearings on a tractor tire. I for sure have as good of a foundation as one could have coming into a job, having done a number of things up until high school, Yet I'm lacking in certain technical skills, like welding, or oversight skills like herd and land management. But its exciting to have things to work toward. I'm an old dog learning new tricks.
But, I didn't really want to talk about myself with this post. I've been trying to get Baron (our currently 10 year old dog), acquainted with moving cows, and maybe even more so get the cows acquainted with him. He hops and spins and whines when I move toward a pickup or 4-wheeler, hoping to come along. He has obedience down really well, mostly thanks to Denise, and he is in really good shape, also to her credit with the daily walks. He also has the breeding as his mother was a Blue Heeler, to want to herd and chase cows. He lacks experience for sure with interacting with bovine, we've had some "I chase cow, now cow is mad and is chasing me" events. But I'm hopeful with time tensions will fizzle and the cows will stop thinking he is a day-time coyote trying to eat their calf and more of an extension of me. Here is a snap shot of some video interactions I've been able to catch. I apologize I'm not the best at holding my phone and driving a 4-wheeler at the same time.
Throughout the summer we had several cows die in seemingly unrelated ways. Two died in late July in two separate pastures. One was 9 years old, and another was 10. The life span of a cow can be 15 years old. I've heard of steers getting into their 20s if they were treated like a pet. Though My dad has typically sold them as cull (to slaughter for hamburger) around the age of 11 or 12. The first of the July deaths we simply found a cow dead in the pasture with no obvious reason. A week later cow #649 had gotten foot rot, so was lame. She seemed really weak and immediately pretty irritable. Covered in flies as well. Pitifully she would get easily into fight mode and try to charge but then her legs would give out and she'd crumple beneath whoever she was charging at. After getting her sprayed for flies and bringing in a tractor and a lot of patience we got her up into a small pen. Fed and watered her, gave her an antibiotic shot, ...
I have felt compelled to journal these beginnings days after moving from an office job back to ranching. I want to use this to help me observe to details, difficulties, and joys in the time of life, but mainly to see God's providence in things. Upon arriving on February 27th I did the 11pm check of the first calf heifers. First one I went to was #315, upon her standing up at my driving up to her on the 4-wheeler I see 2 feet sticking out. I decided to check on the others then come back to her. After a quick lap around the lot I came back to her, she had laid down again, but though I tried to keep my distance at my slow approach she got up again, retracted the calf's feet back in, walked 20 feet away or so, laid back down and resumed pushing. I debated trying to work her up to the pen, but decided I could give her a few moments. She pushed and got the legs out again, pushed another time and I could see the nose. Another push and the h...
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