Weather: Nice with wind and more wind.
Where: Cows (254) in L-16. Bulls (18) + 14 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves-yearlings (264) in EG-4. Fresh splits for only bulls and yearlings (10 acres). Yesterday’s larger splits for cows and heifers support at least one more day of grazing. One more calf with cows and more heifers successfully are calving with more assistance than usual due to unplanned break out of Hereford bull and slow exit on my part. BLM and Beaver analog partners tour parts of ranch for possible sites to slow and hold back water. Wondering out loud if ephemeral saline streams are good candidates for analogs.
0 Comments
Weather: Yikes. Cooler and windy and conditions return inspiring rare expressions of profanity.
Where: Cows (254) in L-16. Bulls (18) + 14 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves-yearlings (264) in EG-4. All groups except bulls move to fresh splits-cows (last two spits 80 acres); yearlings (7 acres); heifers (20 acres). First calf drops aligned with actual planned calving period. Took a head hit from the older cow while unsuccessfully trying to tag the heifer calf. Hmm…might rethink tagging again. Tyler pulls two calves on his own during night check-one easy, the other not so much. We were all most impressed. Steve Charter, Anika and Mike and kids visited the ranch to review upcoming cow lease.
Weather: Morning frost yet wind weakens over the day.
Where: Cows (254) in L-8-16. Bulls (18) + 14 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves (264) in EG-4. Cows move into L-16 (45 acres). Yearlings move into next split (7.5). Heifers move to 3-acre split. Bulls to next split. Old cow (cannot read tag) slinked her calf. Fourth and last day of punishing and drying winds. I saw the first Heron on ponds below Big Wall…also first Turkey Vulture. And Vesper sparrows are back. Weather: Morning frosts and cold persistent winds continue.
Where: Cows (254) in L-8. Bulls (18) + 14 horses (always been mixed) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves (264) in EG-4. Worrisome weather sucking out ground moisture and slowing spring growth. All but the bulls move to new splits. Heifer calving picks up. I spent the whole day facilitating a CMR Working Group meeting at Fort Peck-engaging and connecting a variety of intentional people who all share a genuine interest in the long-term health of this grassland place. Walking Ben and checking heifers breaks up the night and leaves me yawning. Summary L-8 (264): 10 days; 10 splits; 14 ads; 1.4 ads from protein supplemental alfalfa hay Weather: Wet to the west (Big Timber-Bozeman) yet for us a painful, cold, drying and unrelenting wind all day.
Where: Cows (254) in L-8. Bulls (18) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves (264) in EG-4. Cows (25+ acres), heifers (3 acres), yearlings (10 acres), and bulls (2 acres) all move to fresh splits. A surprising absence of waterfowl species and numbers at present along the ranch’s ponds and tributaries. Alaina departs for Glacier-her cheerful demeanor, kindness, and Friday night movie smarts will be missed. Weather: Mild in the morning with afternoon wind dropping temperatures and moisture forecasted.
Where: Cows (254) in L-8. Bulls (18) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves (264) in EG-4. Daily splits for all except bulls. NRCS staff arrive today to do on ground 5-year audit of our NRCS easement.
Weather: Almost too hot.
Where: Cows (254) in L-8. Bulls (18) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves (264) in EG-4. Cows and calves to new splits. Locked heifers in back lot for night check. Met Scott Goffena and his dad in Lackey looking for arrowheads. They should have asked for permission, but I did not press. Scott said they saw several teepee rings in L-3. I asked Scott to come back and show me the rings. Sharp-tail Lek just south of corrals is alive well and noisy. Weather: Just about perfect.
Where: Cows (254) in L-8. Bulls (18) in WG-4. Heifers (74) LS-1. Calves (264) in EG-4. Cow and heifers all to new splits. Hay day for cows, heifers, and calves. Everyone off today and not too hard to cover all the chores. Long-billed Curlews arrive, and chorus frogs start singing. Sounds of Sandhill Cranes at North Willow at west end of Big Wall. A few dandelions and phlox beginning to flower. Such a nice start of spring. If we can 4 or 5 inches of moisture evenly spaced between now and end of June, it could be lovely. Yet, long-term forecast is leaning toward a drier and warmer summer. |
Bill Milton
|
Milton Ranch LLC | Daily Ranch Journal |