Thursday, July 16, 2015

June: Turnout and Baby Foals!

June: Turnout Time!

June is the Month when we gather the cattle pairs in our home pastures and turn most of them out on our Forest Permit.  We have a 614 Pair permit.  It usually takes 2-3 weeks to gather,sort the pairs, and haul them to different areas on the Forest Permit. It is about 35 miles to the main Forest Corrals. 

Cow Pairs on Teas 

Brian on "Frank"

Getting some Bulls

Pairs around Pond at Teas




Stephanie and "Outlaw" Pairing up cows and calves at Toroda Creek Corral

"Pairing Up"

Nick on "Jessie"  Stephanie on "Outlaw"

"Colorful Calf"

"Going down the Road"

Trucking Right Along.





Releasing to Forest Pasture: John's Rig

Brian's Rig

"Garrett and "Sage" Supervising

Come on Out!

John and Brian





First Foal! Born 0n June 7 2015

Second Foal Born on June 15,2015

"Way Cute!"

We also haul the cattle via Semi Truck to the Main Forest Corral and then push the cow pairs deeper into the Forest on Horseback. 



Unloading cattle from Semi Truck

Cows are "Pairing Up" with their calves before we push them further in the Forest

Stephanie  on "Outlaw"

Gearing up to Ride

Turnout Crew Saddling Horses

"Magic ready to Go."



Mike's  Copilot.

Taking cow pairs out of Forest Corral and going down roads/trails to disperse them into the Forest Pastures.

Moving Out of Corral

Going down Forest Road

Up to the Mountains!

Miles of Forest where cow pairs go for the summer!

Lovely Mountain Forest

Having a Picnic after a long Day of Riding!






Heifers at the Home Range

Having a Executive Meeting at the Home Corral




Fall Calves that were gathered and sent to Feedlot Late June

Third  Foal Born July 9,2015

All the cow pairs are now in the forest and the Rest of July/August is Haying Time.
                       
                                                   
                                              Cynthia Nelson, Nelson Ranch                                          
                                               



Monday, May 25, 2015

April/May Branding and Farming Time

Brian on "Frank" gathering cow/calf pairs on local pastures to bring to corral. 
April and May is the Season to gather the cow calf pairs to vaccinate the cows and give the second round of shots to the calves. We also brand the calves before they are turned out to the Forest Permits in June. It usually takes 3 - 4 branding and gathering days to do groups of 200 pairs or more. 

John on "Hank" by Muskrat Lake.
John and Nick pushing calves in main Corral.
Colorful Calf.
Nick counting calves.
Who is Counting Who?
Nick and  Robin running chute. John pushing calves in chute.
Nick Branding, Stephanie giving vaccinations.
Stephanie drawing up vaccinations.
Almost Done!
Boy, I am glad that I am done!
Beautiful Calf Crop!
Where's my Mommy!
Last Group to Go.
Relaxing After Working all Day.


Days between branding and gathering the pairs, Nick and Brian are planting the next hay crop. About 500 acres are worked and seeded.
Nick planting around Muskrat Lake
Seeding Triticale hay.


Filling the last seed in the planter. Now let in Rain!


May also is the time to check miles of fencing and to get ready to turn 614 cow pairs out on to the Forest Permits in June. The next Blog story will be our June adventures of Turning out!


Cynthia Nelson, Nelson Ranch