Weather: Storm drifts on and temperatures begin to warm.
Where: Cows (254) in L-6-15-6. Bulls (18) + 10 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. 15 heifer pairs in BW-6. Tyler moved cows out of the timber back into crested wheat. Lost one more calf-possibly coyote related. Heifer pairs all back in BW-6. 7 heifers left to calf. Last two have been tough pulls after a long string of dropping them on their own. Bullock Oriole shows up.
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Weather: On and off heavy showers (around 1.5 inches) and ferocious persistent wind all day on the 7th.
Where: Cows (254) in L-6-15. Bulls (18) + 10 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. 15 heifer pairs in BW-6. More pairs to follow from LS-1 as heifers are well over half done. The last two days have been a bit wild. Very good call to lay down fences and let the cow group drift to sheltered cover in L-15 with trees and draws. Heifer pair were also allowed to drift in LS-13, 14, and 16 and EG-12 and 11. Despite our best efforts we lost two calves to exposure. We spent most of the afternoon of the 8th gathering scattered heifer pairs. Some pairs got separated but I think by evening most were reunited but we will double check first thing tomorrow morning. The heavy heifers we left in the lot during this period. Weather: Predicted rain arrives. Heavy at times.
Where: Cows (254) in L-6-15. Bulls (18) + 10 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. 15 heifer pairs in BW-6. More pairs to follow from LS-1 as heifers are over half done. Sprinkles turn to heavy rain. With heavy winds and more rain forecast for the next two day we have allowed cows to drift from L-6 to L-15 affording the pairs and new calves more protection. Nine heifers calved in the last 24 hours all unassisted and doing well. A record day. Heifer pairs to the east allowed a large area to secure cover and feed. Weather: Mostly mild and almost warm by afternoon.
Where: Cows (254) in L-6. Bulls (18) + 10 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. 15 heifer pairs in BW-6. More pairs to follow from LS-1 as heifers are over half done. Cows break into remaining 50 acres of L-6 (charger wire broke). Now watering at both ends of paddock. Probably good to give animals more room if the hoped for forecast of heavier rains proves accurate. Heavy heifers move to fresh split. Opened BW-6 to the south to take in all the intermediate wheatgrass as the black bugs have returned with some impact to grass quality. Cool mix of waterfowl at the reservoir…Canvasbacks, Redheads, Gadwall, Widgeon, Cinnamon Teal, Shoveler, Ruddy.
Weather: Winds persist but not as cold.
Where: Cows (254) in L-5-6. Bulls (18) + 10 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. 15 heifer pairs in BW-6. More pairs to follow from LS-1 as heifers over half done. Calves-yearlings (255) in transit to Blakes. Cows move to first split in L-6 (20). Took 15.3 Ads out L-5. 60 new calves since last week of April when first calves started dropping. Bulls in last big split in WG-4-then need to find next paddock to hold bulls until breeding in late July. Hear the cranes at night along North Willow Creek. Weather: More brisk and colder winds dominate the day.
Where: Cows (254) in L-5. Bulls (18) + 10 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. No adjustment yet for new pairs moved to BW-6. Calves-yearlings (264) in transit. Loaded three trucks at 10:00 sending 255 yearlings to Blake’s in Big Timber. Tyler follows trucks to help settle yearlings at arrival. Everyone stays put. More calves in both calving groups. Bulls moved to 15-acre split. One deformed calf born from a heifer. Rare and disappointing. First flowers on Apple trees-12 days earlier than 2023. Tired and stable as day winds down. Waning quarter moon Stinging drying west cold wind Body feels the season
Weather: Brisk winds follow .2 of rain.
Where: Cows (254) in L-5. Bulls (18) + 14 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves-yearlings (264) in EG-4. Cows two move (10 +5). 13 new calves. Heifers stay put. Calves begin trail back to corrals to prepare for shipment to new pasture at the Blake’s north of Big Timber. Somewhat frequent siting’s of short-eared owls. Last time we had a lot of these grass loving owls the rains came in abundance. We can hope. Weather: Threats of rain finally actualize with some welcome evening showers.
Where: Cows (254) in L-5. Bulls (18) + 14 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves-yearlings (264) in EG-4. Two splits for cows (10+10); Yearlings (5); Heifers back in old lane; bulls to new split. Over halfway with heifers. EG-4 is a complex ‘go back’ piece of ground that was farmed in the early homestead years and was abandoned to allow natives to return on their own. The clover year of 2018 set this natural restoration back in scattered patches literally killing the natives through overwhelming competition for moisture. Today there is a battle between natives and annuals (mostly Japanese brome) and it is not clear who will win. Our aggressive grazing with the yearlings appears to be setting the annuals back. It will be useful to revisit this area later this summer. |
Bill Milton
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Milton Ranch LLC | Daily Ranch Journal |