CR Journal

Welcome to the CR Ranch Journal. Look here if you are interested in our month to month activities at Smith Land and Cattle Co. Thanks for stopping by - Carol

January 2010 Journal

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Well mother nature let us know who is actually in charge as the year 2009 ended and this year began. We had the first white Christmas they said in almost thirty five years. Then the weather remained in the deep freeze until the middle of the month into the new year.

Breaking ice and getting water to the animals along with putting out hay became a priority around here and everyone was frozen and ready for it to end. Of course after reminding us that global warming is but a myth. Mother nature then spit some above average temperatures at us for a week with no one complaining as water was thawing and I actually went down to work cattle without all those layers on and surprise I could move again, without feeling or looking like the Michelin man. Of course the down side to the warm is the mud and feeding with the tractor, so you don't get stuck. Oh well no one is really complaining as it beats the first part of the month weather.

Ken Taylor and his wife came down from Kansas to look at Envoy and some of his calves. Had a great visit and I enjoyed a few hours talking cattle. Seems like this time of year never get out enough and even though I had to watch where I drove, so we didn't get stuck, enjoyed the day.

Made a couple of trips south towards the Purcell area to drop of mares that are getting close to calving, sorry foaling. Said that the other day to someone and they just laughed. Sometimes I get so caught up in the cows, I forget about Ed's foals but it is that time of year for them to start coming. Seems we are a little spread out his year, supposed to begin in January and will end in early May. I am just glad he lets me take them somewhere else to foal out so it's one less thing we have to worry about.

Been hauling rock this month off the back ninety and trying to put in the creek to create a rock wall so we won't lose anymore land to the creek as it rushes down. What we got up before we started thawing and the creek rose seems to be working. I always like it when an idea works out. Been wanting to do it for several years, but always seem to have had other things that needed to take priority. Oh well that is what the get round to list is for, right?

Got to see all the grand girls off an on this month seems, all four of them have been taking growth spurts. Just like all the fall calves, it is sure fun to watch. Hopefully next time they come weather is cooperating enough we can spend sometime outside seeing the animals. Just not the same going round in the truck with the heater on as it is when we can go in the four wheeler.

Looks like we are going to end the month with a winter storm warning and things are supposed to get lousy again and cold rainy, sleet and maybe some snow. Yesterday it was almost 63 degrees and this a.m. is below freezing. Mother nature is wonderful. And yes we are looking at her again.

Of course we had two calves yesterday, just before all the weather came in. Yes they are a couple of weeks early, but at least they are alive and the moms like them, so we moved them to an area so they have a little shelter and think they will be fine. Now need the rest to hold off like they are supposed to and the groundhog that predicted spring needs to be correct. We are all ready for a little early spring weather!

Wow the month flew by. Weather up and down and all over the place.

Calving is into full swing around here now and have seventy some calves on the ground. Only lost two so far. One froze on a freezing night and other one was a dumb heifer that decided to have hers in the creek and it drowned, before we got to him. So over all not too bad so far and over half finished.

Mother nature played havoc a few more times this month. Boy everyone around here is ready for spring. Almost hate to say this, but I am ready for it to dry out some around here. Can't seem to drive anything heavier than a four wheeler into a field without getting stuck. I did get out to wash the truck twice as I had mud over most of the windows and still needed to see, so had to drive to town and give it a rinse.

We have three foals on the ground now. Woke up on the 15th and low and behold had a nice little filly, that wasn't supposed to here for two weeks. We had planned on taking her and another one that weekend following, to be foaled out at the breeding farm. Oh well kind of like calves they come on their own sometimes, even when they are not supposed to be here yet. They are as much fun watching as the calves, when the sun finally started shining for a few days, they run around and buck and throw up their heels. One little colt has a real attitude, he's kind of cute. But we are working a little on the attitude a little before we let him out, as he will soon be big enough to be a problem. And needs to believe a human is the head of the herd.

We checked ET pregnancies and sexed calves. Was happy with the results, as we had more pregnancies than not. It is always the hope that the results are good and of course, I am always excited if I can get a few good heifers.

I think we can burn pastures this year, it has been wet enough and the way the weatherman is talking it will be a wet enough spring for re growth of pastures. Hopefully this will be the case. As burning is one of the best ways I know of to rejuvenate the grasses in the pastures. Of course sometimes you have to calculate whether you have enough hay to get thru the spring.

Went to Oklahoma City for a horsemen's banquet this month. Got to see quite a few people I hadn't had a chance to see in awhile. Was a nice evening. Horse racing will start next month and reports are very good on several horses, so we are looking forward to the season.

Be sure to check out the Spring bulls for sale. We set a New Sale date for this year's annual sale so mark your calendars for October 23, it's a Saturday and hope it will be a good one.

See ya next month.

February 2010 Journal