Monday, October 8, 2012

From Fall to Freeze

At home on the range. Things have been a little crazy for Colin and I lately. Juggling school, work, and keeping up with the cows back home has proven to leave little time for blogging.

Fall's a beautiful place in the Smoky Hills. 

So...since it has been a while, let me update you about our lives at home on the range.

1) First, I am learning to pregnancy check cattle! Never has a college class been so fun - we spend one day a week palpating cattle to determine how far along they are in gestation. We don't have pictures of me elbow deep in a cow, but I'm sure a few will show up come November when Colin and I preg check our herd!
The gals better get excited!!!!

113 looks pretty excited don't you think! 111...not so much. 
2) We weaned our calves this weekend! Basically this means that we physically separated the momma cows from their calves so that we could sell the calves and retain the heifers. This sounds like it would be difficult for both cow and calf, but just like  with human young adults, there comes a time when the calf can function without the constant watch of its mother. This is important for the consumer because it ensures an ever present food source and important for Colin and I because weaning day means pay day!

A freshly weaned steer belly up to the bunk.
3) We had an early frost...and a few snow flurries. This weekend wasn't just cold, it was down right freezing. Fortunately, Colin and I and the cows were ready for some cooler weather....maybe just not this cool! Sunday morning we woke up to a beautiful freeze and weather fit for coveralls. Not only is a freeze a sure sign that cold weather is just around the corner, but it is also important for fall crops. A freeze stops the growing season and allows the crops to get to the point where we can begin to harvest.

All huddled up for a check of the pasture. Thank goodness for hoods. 

Can you see the flurries?

Defrosting before Church.

5) Just because it's cold doesn't mean the work stops. Colin worked extra hard to get the pasture ready to move cattle. This meant fixing more fence and ensuring that water was available. 

How do you like that hat?!? Fix fencing cold weather style....
6) And last but not least, we moved more heifers home. Colin and I sold four of our heifers to Colin's parents and they kept a few of their own heifers back as well. The purpose of keeping heifers back is to ensure replacement cows for the future by selecting for the best of the best. These heifers are the future of our herd and we take great pride in them. We feed them at home to ensure that they are fit enough to breed next spring and we baby them just a little so that they get used to us working them. 

They're all just dolls. And the sad thing is they know it already. 

And how could we forget...at home on the range we are super excited to see our Kansas State Wildcats as a top ten team!!! Colin is ecstatic and I'm just pleased as punch that I have the opportunity to hear more about football than I ever thought possible. The man is crazy....and so is this steer. He's a K-State fan as well if you couldn't tell by the tag.

Mr. K-State

So until the next time we post...probably in a week or so....have a glorious fall, keep rooting for the Cats, and crank up that thermostat. Have a wonderful week at home on the range.