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Chilly and mild-wind coming. I trailed cows to Ryan’s. It was a tough move, going through fresh feed. Finally arrived to where the hay was laid down and hour after sunset.
Hard frost in the morning then weather turns nice and calm in the afternoon. Cows reluctant to move very fast west to the corrals. I left them on west end of SBW9. Young cows moved to next split. We have a calf with water belly needing treatment soon.
Overcast with brisk W winds. Cows muddled around where we fed yesterday, then retreated a bit back east. Late afternoon, I pushed then back, and lined them out west toward the house corrals. I also pushed corralled bulls over the hill west to join the rest if the bulls. Young cows fed 3 bales today. The last three afternoons have been spent interviewing apprentice applicants.
Clear with brisk west winds all day. Pairs are fed at Lackey Cattle guard on way to Ryan’s corrals and weaning through SBW9. Young cows moved into next split. Large clover patches in SNG8 offer very little fresh feed-very thatchy and coarse. I captured 4 bulls in the corral, who have been roaming south of headquarters. Ryan observed 16 bull elk in SBW6, while transporting hay to the cows.
Chilly with almost no winds. Pairs moved back into West Lackey on way to Ryan’s.
Cool and calm on Christmas day. No moves. Cows surprisingly move back east rather than west. Dana and I leave Morgan and Jessica’s mid-day and return to the ranch. On driving the last 6 miles into the ranch, we observed 13 rough-legged hawks, 1 golden eagle, 1 harrier, and 1 prairie falcon.
Cooler with brisk SW winds. Ryan and I feed pairs in West Lackey, as pairs begin trail to Ryan’s corral for weaning. Younger cows getting fed 2 bales very other day.
More mild with less wind. Next split made for the young cows. Cows stay put. Important meeting with Gary Eliasson and Mike Goffena regarding ACES Grassbank project on the 54 that lies on the ranch’s east border. Moving Christmas eggnog to friends in the community.
Unseasonably mild and the SW winds have weakened some. No moves today. Winter Solstice arrives and the season of growing light begins. I participated in our local Christmas Bird Count-numbers and volume down, yet the Belted Kingfisher on lower Willow was a more than pleasant surprise.
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Bill Milton
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Milton Ranch LLC | Daily Ranch Journal |