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Pregnancy checking on Cyclone Rim

Ladies in waiting for Geri.

We raise our own replacement ewes from the best of our Rambouillet commercial ewes. We select about 1500 of these ewes, checking them for fine consistent wool, good body type, twinning, open faces, and other traits. The rest of the ewes, who are good but not as good, are bred to Hampshire (blackface) rams. We breed the replacement moms to the Rambouillet rams that we also raise.
When these lambs are born in May, they are more vulnerable to harsh weather conditions than the cross-bred lambs, who have hybrid vigor. The twin and triplet lambs are more at risk since their Mom has multiple lambs to care for. We have lambing sheds where we can give the ewes and their multiple lambs extra care and shelter. It is key to know which ewes are carrying the valuable and vulnerable twins and triplets.
Luckily for us, we can call on Optimal Veterinary Services to test our ewes mid-pregnancy. We set up our corrals, and Geri Parsons’ testing tent, on top of Cyclone Rim—a high range on the Red Desert. That’s where Avencio and his sheep are. The winter has been dry, so we have moved up chasing snowdrifts for water for the sheep. Geri, and her partner, Dr. Cleon Kimberling, “have lab, will travel”. Doc didn’t come this time (too far to ride his bike!), but we gathered employees and family members to work as the ground crew. We were lucky to have good weather with almost no wind—not always the case on Cyclone Rim!
Geri set up her tent next to the chute. As each ewe stopped, she checked them with an ultrasound machine, then called “single”, “twin”, “triplet”, and occasionally “open”! We then marked each ewe. The ewes pregnant with multiples will be sorted into a separate bunch when we shear in a few weeks. Then they will head to the lambing sheds for TLC.

Cora and Sadie on the job

view from the back

guard dog on the job

Friends

Siobhan and Tiarnan sorting

Tiarnan in Geri’s chute

Siobhan at the chute

Tiarnan with the sorting flag

Pat and Tiarnan behind the sheep

Meghan and Oscar working the chute, Geri’s tent in place

Brian working the chute

A perfect day on Cyclone Rim

Maeve,Meghan and Tiarnan

Day’s end

 

 

 

 

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Climbing Battle Mountain

Brian and Siobhan on the north side of Battle Mountain

Brian and Siobhan on the north side of Battle Mountain

 

 

Meghan, Brian and Siobhan decided to climb Battle Mountain before hunting season starts. Meghan had made the climb several times, but it was the first time for Brian and Siobhan.

Meghan and Siobhan on top of Battle Mountain

Meghan and Siobhan on top of Battle Mountain

the happy hikers

the happy hikers

view from the top

view from the top

 
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Posted by on August 29, 2015 in Events, Family, Folks, Nature and Wildlife

 

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First branding

It’s that time of year. We have lots of calves on the ground, so it’s time to brand, castrate and earmark, so the calves will be ready for the rest of the season hanging out with their Moms and eating green grass.

brand goes on

brand goes on

JO brand on calf

JO

Brian and Tiarnan--'rasling crew

Brian and Tiarnan–‘rasling crew

 
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Posted by on April 28, 2014 in Animals, Cattle

 

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Fire on Battle Creek, Day Two

Pepe and Brian moving sheep, HInman Fire, 2002 photo by Keri Greet

Pepe and Brian moving sheep, HInman Fire, 2002
photo by Keri Greer

Our fire has a name now.  We have three bands of sheep, with herders, dogs, horses and camps, in fairly close proximity to the fire.  We’ve moved them, and warned the herders to be ready to move out quickly if necessary.  At this point, the fire seems to be burning along, without any sudden or life-threatening moves.  The Medicine Bow National Forest is chock-full of dead beetle-killed pines, which are bound to burn.  As long as the fire doesn’t get out of control, it is doing a lot of good.  Of course, as I discussed with my friend Alex, whose home is very close to the fire, “The sheep can move.  Your house can’t.”
Here’s a report from the Forest Service website http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3547/

West Battle Creek Fire

INCIDENT UPDATED 2 HRS. AGO

Approximate Location

41.126 latitude, -107.12 longitude

Incident Overview

West Battle Creek Fire Area - July 23, 1 P.m.Image options: [ Enlarge ] [ Full Size ]

– Approximately 103 acres in the Sierra Madre Range, Medicine Bow National Forest

– The fire is 5% contained.

– A local Type III Incident Command Team took over command of the fire early Tuesday, IC is Jerrod Delay

– Located in the West Battle Creek drainage, near the confluence with Haggarty Creek. Two miles west of the Huston Park Wilderness boundary, one mile south of Wyo Hwy 70, Battle Highway.

– Initial attack mid-day Monday by U.S. Forest Service engine (Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District) and Carbon Co. engines

– Tuesday afternoon weather will be hot and dry with gusty winds. Potential for fire growth is high. Minimal fire growth Monday night

– Resources working the fire include one USFS and one local engine, one Type II hand crew, one Type II bulldozer, one Wildland Fire Module, one SEAT and a Type III helicopter. Other resources that will be arriving on scene include five Type VI engines, two Type II hand crews and a Type I helicopter as needed.

– Fire is burning in heavy, beetle-killed lodgepole pine and mixed conifer. Steep, rugged terrain with difficult access

– Cause is currently unknown

– Isolated cabins in the area

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Unknown
Date of Origin Monday July 22nd, 2013 approx. 12:00 PM
Location T 13, R 87W, Section 1
Incident Commander Jerrod Delay

Current Situation

Size 103 acres
Fuels Involved Heavy beetle-kill lodgepole pine, mixed conifer

Unit Information

USFS Shield

Medicine Bow National Forest & Thunder Basin National Grassland
U.S. Forest Service
2468 Jackson Street
Laramie, WY 82070

Incident Contact

Fire Information
Phone: 307-745-2378

Incident Cooperators

National Wildfire Coordinating Group U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Managemen Bureau of Indian Affairs Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service National Association of State Foresters U.S. Fire Administration
Content posted to this website is for information purposes only.
 
 

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