Weather: No real change in conditions-cold morning and moderate afternoons above freezing.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-7 for calves): One split for cows.
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Weather: Sharp bitter SW winds in morning. Cool generally but a slight thaw by afternoon.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-7 for calves): Next split for cows in morning. Calves enjoying a fresh paddock-no moves for them today. I occasionally observe a lone rough-legged hawk-our winter hawk-hunting on the ranch. There were winters past where we would often see 5 or even more. Weather: Turning cooler with uncomfortable west winds.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-6-7 for calves): One split for cows. Calves move into LS-7 late afternoon. Friday reading at Central school. Dana on her way to Polson for the week to be with Max. Weather: Continued pleasant.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-6 for calves): I moved cows twice while also attending a CMR meeting in Winnett and a Musselshell foundation meeting in Roundup. Ryan worked calves with good help from the neighborhood. Results: Worked 332 calves; 159 heifers and 173 steers; average weight 478#; last weighed 10.20 at 415#; 63# gain in 90 days or .7 pounds/ day. Back poured with Clean Up. Summary of daily cost for calves: Beef Pro (.10/lb consumption at $1.30 1b. or .13 cents/lb) + mineral + salt = .16 Hay (.10/lb. X 3.5# consumption = .35 Pasture (.5 X 35 (1.4 for a pair) = 17.5 x .80 =$14/30 days = .46 cents Total: 97 cents/ .75 daily gain = 1.29 cost per pound of gain. 500 Steers calves are bringing around 2.30 at local auctions (heifers around 1.90). Numbers are open to question! Weather: Morning fog then burning off and turning nice.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-6 for calves): Cows moved to next split on grass. No moves for calves. Hosted pipeline tour with Audubon, NRCS, and BLM to review second phase to certify and plan for payment. Possible opportunities to replace open storage with closed (buried) storage. Weather: Fog sets in and cooler throughout day.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-6 for calves): Cows received 6 bales of straw then finally moved to grass with next split. Calves moved to 2nd and last split in LS-6 (only 74 acres in paddock). Wade worked his cows and calves at our home ranch corrals. Weather: Warming and then cooler. Appreciate the freezing every night to keep moisture locked in the ground.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-2-6 for calves): Cows still on full feed straw. I hope to get moving to grass soon. Meetings are out of control. Calves late in the day move into LS-6. AD use in LS-2: (15 days x 204 (340 calves X .6 = 204)) = 3060 ads x .80 (20% of feed from grass alfalfa hay) = 2448 adjusted Ads/212 acres = 11.5 Ads/acre. I probably could have squeezed maybe 2 more Ads/acres. After over a year rest, our volume of stockpiled feed is less than I had estimated-yet I never formally did an estimate. Weather: Warming and melting continues in earnest (no overnight frost) as temperatures move into the 50’s by afternoon.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-2 for calves): Ryan cuts back straw to 4 bales from 10 to cows to force them to cleanup-and they did. One more day in LS-2 for calves. After fixing fence, I speed into Billings to catch the last day of Dana’s weeklong RFP class. Very nice to see the OxBow crew and Natalie, also attending the class. Weather: Windy and warm. Last ice begins to melt.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-2 for calves): Same feeding regime. Wire breaks in the back west end of LS-2. I will fix in the morning. Some grazing spill out in LS-3. I need to move calves in next couple of days. Both BW and paddock 1 thru 7 in LS that were hit hard in fall of 2021 just didn’t not recover as I had hoped with over a year rest. Weather: Off and on SW winds. Dry and above average temperatures.
(BW-6 for cows and LS-2 for calves): I attended CNB meeting the last 4 days. No moves for calves or cows. Same feeding regime: calves 1 bale plus supplement, and cows, full feed straw plus supplement. Up to 16 days full feed straw. Milton ranch committed 200 placements to CNB for October 2023 delivery. Contract not signed until May-can still step back. Finally, feedlot animals beginning to get processed. |
Bill Milton
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