Heavy Ranching

With the cows in the corral, we took time to put the final touches on the calving facility to make sure we are ranch ready. Scrambling is the last place you want to be when a calf is coming. This spring may get exciting, but not because of our lack of preparation.

For such a task as this, I called in my ranch hand, Peter. We put all the final parts and pieces of our facility together, including this new calf puller. 

Deciding to feed the cows closest to calving in pen closer to the shed, we fixed up an old round bale feeder. 

Should work. They'll make a mess, but a bit better then feeding the bale outright. 

The maternity pen was our big chore. People have been concerned how we are going to tend to the back of a cow when the chain that holds the gate closed is at the back too. Problem solved. Once she's caught and settled, tie this rope to the top and unhook the chain. I see why not.

We decided to purchase a calf puller to have on hand. The discernment came down to the classic, I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Of course we have some OB chins and hooks on hand and easy to grab. 

I think so. 

In order to split pens, we had to bring in another water tank. That's about a days worth for the eight head left behind. 

So Peter and I walked the herd to pull out the top three closest candidates. 

Grandma, 71, and ole Red.

My bet, 71, black/white face, will go for first. Within 10 days.

Bring it.

This is going to be fun. It's been a while since I've kept a close eye on cows fixing to calve. I don't doubt there will be some challenges, but we're ready. I'm actually not so worried about these first calf heifers having calving problems as much as I am with them mothering up. That's what we really need to be around for. A couple days in close quarters with their calf, and they'll be ready to run. Let's find out. Ranch on. 

Corralling Cows

It was time to bring the cows in so we can keep an eye on them as they calve. Of course we chose a super windy day, but we’re glad it’s done. Good to have them corralled. 

For this job, I got my buddy Pete Dube to lend a hand. Alls well that ends well. 

They are pretty good about following the feed truck, but still needed some additional pressure to get them through the gate. 

Once in the big corral, we penned them up so we could pour them. 

Ivermectin should take care of any lice and such. They’ve been getting a bit blotchy. 

One at a time, we ran them through the chute. 

I’d bring them to Pete, and he’d crowd them to the head-catch. 

Most of them we went ahead and caught so they’d sit still. 

While we poured them. 

Then we loaded up the feeder with our new old hay. 

We looked the cows over before we kicked them out. 71 will be in a week or so. 

Should be good. 

At least they’ll have a nice view from down here. Hopefully in a month the majority will be over. Only one way to find out. Let’s ranch. 

The Truth

Is the voice of God.

             https://youtu.be/hsH_kVCxfh0           

Love of Neighbor

Is the fulfillment of the law (Galatians 5:14).

           https://youtu.be/Tf-AdzI4PMs         

Hauling Hay

Let's just say there was a miscommunication between Jack and I, and he gave away all the hay I planned to use for calving! It was his anyway, but it did make me scramble a bit. So I called my trusted buddy Doug Carr, who fixed us up with some prairie grass in Gillette that he didn't use this winter. Thanks, pal. 

So I grabbed Jim's gooseneck trailer and headed for Campbell County to haul a couple loads home.

Doug was already loading his trailer when I got there. Impressive setup. 

That's a pretty easy 20,000 lbs payload. Doug straps the bottom but not the top. 

Our trailer had rails that tipped the bales in. It is set up to haul the bales round-side out, but we needed it this way to unload.

Two rows of five on bottom and four on top. We just tightened it down with one rope across the top.

Then headed for Buffalo. I was pretty nervous about pulling this big of load with White Horse, but I didn't have much of a choice.

She did good all the way to Johnson County. Never got out of third gear, but also never had to grab first, even crawling out from the Powder River. 

Safe and sound at Jack's place to unload.

I figured one way or another we could get them off with the skid-steer. 

Actually, it didn't work well at all. The forks won't penetrate a bale worth a darn. So we stabbed what we could and pushed the rest off so Doug could get back home.

I just left my trailer and came back the next day with a set of spears. Worked great.

The ones on end, just stab up top.

And curl up as you back away and let the loader down.

Then pick it up and go.

Unloading off the top was a breeze too. 

Money.

That's a good sight to see, once again. We were down to one bale. With a little a bit of weather this week, I was uneasy not having plenty of hay sitting around. Special thanks to Doug for bailing me out and to Jack for keeping life interesting. Ranching would be no fun if it didn't present challenges. On to the next one. 

Freedom

Through forgiveness.

           https://youtu.be/7W_tFW6S_Kg         

Faith

Heartfelt acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeWbXfZhRWw

Grace

Builds and perfects nature.

           https://youtu.be/nJrlWtzAOYU         

Ranch Ready

Anything mechanical is going to break down, as my grandpa would say. Ranch Truck has been running strong. But the transfer case started slipping. Trying to figure out what to do, we just drove around in 4x4 all winter. Worked for a time. But with spring coming, we had to fix it right.

Finding parts for a 28 year old truck is not easy. Of course, we weren't going to buy new. Finally, Dad found a used transfer case down in Colorado Springs. So we backed the truck in and got to work.

I know have had this gearbox out at least twice, when I owned the truck years ago. 

With little effort I had it busted loose and ready to drop. 

The case Dad found was definitely from a junkyard. As long as it works, doesn't matter to us. 

Same units. Swapped a couple sensors and things out, and she was ready to install.

Bolted right up. 

Put the crossmember in. 

Added new oil.

And she was ready for a test drive in the badlands behind the house. 

Nice little reservoir for this time of year. 

Changed the engine oil and Ranch Truck was ready for spring work. This time of year, Dad likes to have the water tank/pump on for burning weeds. 

Ranch on. 

This is a great time of year. So much potential in the air. It's good to be ready though. With little warning, the wind can kick up and stir into flame a fire you thought was put out. Ranch Truck is pretty versatile, but she's not maintenance free. Today it was a transfer case. Tomorrow, who knows. Keeps life fun, I guess. It's best to not have to get ready, but to stay ready. Ranch ready.