Coco and her filly–a half sister to Dirte’s new colt
Meanwhile, back at the Powder Flat ranch…new babies keep arriving. They gladden the heart!
heifers and calves at Powder Flat
Pat with the heifers and ewes
lambs snacking on alfalfa
Monthly Archives: April 2016
Under I80 and over the UP Line
leaving the Red Desert
All three bunches of sheep which wintered on the Red Desert have now crossed under Interstate 80, over the Union Pacific railroad overpass, and across Rodewald’s pasture. The early lambers are at the lambing sheds north of Dixon. After last year’s experience of lambing in the wool, we are most anxious to get on with shearing. Meanwhile, the second and third bunches are in the Badwater Pasture, also awaiting the shearers. They will soon trail on through the Atlantic Rim to the Cottonwood lambing grounds. Here’s some photos of leaving the Red Desert.
Leo heading south
trucks above, sheep below
crossing the railroad
almost to Rodewald’s gate
The first colt of the season
Dirte and her new colt
The weather is still trying to make up its mind. Is it Still Winter? Almost Spring? Spring? But Eamon’s mare Dirte made up her mind that it was time to deliver her colt. We still haven’t gotten close enough to determine whether it is a filly or a horse colt. The trees are trying to decide if it is safe to send out buds. In the meantime, the calves, lambs and colts are making their appearance. It must be spring!
Waiting for the green
cows with their new calves in the Big Meadow
The first sheep head south
The sheep are ready to leave winter pasture on the Red Desert
We have to flag as the sheep enter the highway
Today, the first band of ewes headed south, under Interstate 80 at Creston Junction, and over the Union Pacific line on Wyoming Highway 789. After a hard winter on the Red Desert, they are going to greening pastures. The other two bands which wintered on the Red Desert will follow in a couple of weeks as they travel to Badwater for shearing and Cottonwood for lambing.
crossing under I80, in the rear view mirror
sheep heading down from the Union Pacific overpass
The traffic was backed up as it waited for the sheep to pass over the narrow bridge.
Filomeno heading for the gate
through the gate into Rodewald’s pasture
Most of the Livestock Guardian Dogs rode in the truck–after various escape attempts
Meghan and Pepe with multiple dogs
Ladder Ranch
