unloading the corn
Every year we buy several loads of corn to feed to the ewes on the desert. We will put the rams in with the ewes in a couple of days, and it is important that their nutrition is optimal. Nothing is better than corn for flushing the ewes. In late November, we had the first load of corn delivered. Now, in almost mid-December, that load is almost gone, but the ewes have found it very tasty and nutritious.
LOTS of corn!
two weeks later…
Thinking about lower country
Every fall, we have what we call “the good old ewes.” These ewes are still sound, but aren’t quite up for another winter on the Red Desert. They are Minnesota bound. Sheep producers around Pipestone can offer them a comfier life at a lower altitude, with more shelter. They will be able to produce lambs and wool for several more years.
Pepe, Edgar and Taylor bringing up the ewes
Meghan at the cutting gate
Ned, the brand inspector, and the trucker, loading.
Now underemployed Guard Dog
Meghan and Ned
Ready to roll
Bringing in the cows and calves
It’s that time of year when the long days of summer have come to an end. Since early summer, the cows and calves, and the ewes and lambs, have grazed the Forest. Their only responsibilities have been to gain weight and avoid predators. The cows have had the added task of consorting with bulls and getting pregnant.
Those days are gone, and it is now time for the calves and lambs to leave their mothers and move on to the next stage of life. The nights are noisy as the cows and ewes call for their departed offspring. The older moms probably give a sigh of relief as their mothering duties have been fulfilled for another turn of the seasons.
Cows and calves in the Lower Meadow
Chad bringing up the cattle
Eamon sorting the calves
“Heifer!” “Steer!”
Ewes in the corral
Meghan and Oscar putting the lambs in the corral
Eduardo and Adolfo bringing up the lambs
Oscar at the cutting gate
This is how we roll
Filo, trucker, Antonio, Pepe and Jenri with the loaded wool truck
After all our adventures with shearing (and we still have a few ewes to shear and lambs to dock!), we loaded the first load of wool today. Most of it is bound for the U.S. military. Here is our intrepid loading crew, including the Utah trucker who came to haul it. One more load to go!
The trucker said his Dad helped him buy this semi after he returned from eight years in the Marine Corps–three tours in Iraq and one in Afganistan.
ghost cows…or maybe it’s out of focus– one or the other
The last truckloads of cows came in from Laramie last night. Due to mechanical problems, we ended up unloading after dark. I tried to take pictures without a tripod. The results were spooky, or maybe artistic.
night lights
Sadie and Siobhan keeping the sheep on the road at the Three Forks entrance
heading for the Routt Forest
the end of the day–lost clutch
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