Working Ranch Blog
Early Bird Calving by Brett Haas
Sep. 6 2010, 10:51 PM
Sep. 6 2010, 10:51 PM
As I posted before, the mercury is falling and so is the humidity, the kids are back in school, football is back, and last, but not certainly least, the new Fall babies are hitting the ground. Fall calving was actually on our minds two weeks ago. We knew we had to get them cows moved before the babies started coming, but on account of a never-ending hay season and fence project, not to mention a field day, clipping the calving pasture due north of my hacienda was behind schedule.
The big pasture gets plenty of use, so we thought it well to give the old gal some much needed R&R this summer. When it's not feeding Fall pairs it's usually providing for some heifer yearlings through the Winter and Spring. And thanks to plenty of rain early on in the summer, the grass got the jump on the ragweed and made a perty sight to gaze upon all summer long. That and it made a nice big old spot where our bulls could summer without getting in too much of a fight. Although, bulls being bulls, they did manage to pencil a few in between loafing, eating, and drinking.
Anywho, although the tall grass looks mighty fine blowing in a soft, warm, Kansas summer wind, it does make looking for babies a tad difficult come Fall, so, just like an old hand after a long, hard winter, it needed a shave. That, and some of that old, nasty, rag(devil)weed did appear in spots. It's a nice-sized pasture and it takes about a week to mow, so I got on it as soon as the calendar hit August. I know some of those babies get anxious, so they really need to be moved mid-August. That's a lot easier than having to try and move a herd with a worried mother and a poky little two day old doggie bringing up the rear.
For some reason, Jim's always asking if I got my camera on me.
So, between Kirk and I, we got the pasture clipped within that week. We moved the southern group north first. We got 'em under the turnpike and let 'em be for a day or two. Then, the next day, we called Top Hand Jim and headed north with that same group. During the gather I noticed a cow all alone and she was pretty persistent upon staying where I spied her. I sat on Ritz for a spell and figured for a bit, and then after some more figuring, I figured she had a calf. I kinda found it hard to believe at first on account of it being so early and all, but upon closer inspection, lo and behold there the little fella was. So we left he and mother behind so he could get his walking legs under him.
Cheese it! The Feds!
We got 'em moved north of my house with no problems. After all, with a top hand like Big Jim do you expect anything else? Then we headed to the big pasture on the north end of the ranch. The rest of the Fall herd had summered there. First we cleared the way by moving some soon-to-be-weaned Spring pairs to the west. When we finally got as north as we were going, we found yet, another young mother all by her lonesome. It didn't take as much figuring as before to figure what she was doing. Although, it did take a little more looking to find the baby. Once we found him out, he sprung like a covey of quail. Well, needless to say, he was gonna have to stay here. We had an even longer trip to make, and even though he had a lot of go now, it wouldn't last long.
It seems every year we do our best to beat those anxious babies, but there's always a couple that just gotta get going a little sooner than the rest. Oh well, we'll get 'em at branding time. To date, I've got forty on the ground, and only around thirty or so to go. Hey, wait! These gals weren't supposed to start until September 1st. Shoot, at this rate. I'll be done before October. Maybe next year we better have 'em moved by the Fourth of July.
How's your Fall calving going? Are you almost done or just starting? Got a good fall calving story? Tell me at thekansascowboy36@gmail.com and maybe I'll make you famous. If not, just give me a lookup on Facebook or Twitter.
The big pasture gets plenty of use, so we thought it well to give the old gal some much needed R&R this summer. When it's not feeding Fall pairs it's usually providing for some heifer yearlings through the Winter and Spring. And thanks to plenty of rain early on in the summer, the grass got the jump on the ragweed and made a perty sight to gaze upon all summer long. That and it made a nice big old spot where our bulls could summer without getting in too much of a fight. Although, bulls being bulls, they did manage to pencil a few in between loafing, eating, and drinking.
Anywho, although the tall grass looks mighty fine blowing in a soft, warm, Kansas summer wind, it does make looking for babies a tad difficult come Fall, so, just like an old hand after a long, hard winter, it needed a shave. That, and some of that old, nasty, rag(devil)weed did appear in spots. It's a nice-sized pasture and it takes about a week to mow, so I got on it as soon as the calendar hit August. I know some of those babies get anxious, so they really need to be moved mid-August. That's a lot easier than having to try and move a herd with a worried mother and a poky little two day old doggie bringing up the rear.
For some reason, Jim's always asking if I got my camera on me.
Cheese it! The Feds!
It seems every year we do our best to beat those anxious babies, but there's always a couple that just gotta get going a little sooner than the rest. Oh well, we'll get 'em at branding time. To date, I've got forty on the ground, and only around thirty or so to go. Hey, wait! These gals weren't supposed to start until September 1st. Shoot, at this rate. I'll be done before October. Maybe next year we better have 'em moved by the Fourth of July.
How's your Fall calving going? Are you almost done or just starting? Got a good fall calving story? Tell me at thekansascowboy36@gmail.com and maybe I'll make you famous. If not, just give me a lookup on Facebook or Twitter.
