Ninth Calf

Our ninth and final calf came to us last night. We have been waiting all spring for our little miracle calf, Andi, to calve. We were convinced that she was bred, but the last due date from when we pulled the bulls last summer would be June 1st. Well, I guess the Lord wanted the calf to cook a little longer than the normal 283 day gustation period for cattle.

We saw Andi horsing around unusually last night before the sun set. So we weren't surprised to wake up to a new born calf this morning.

After breakfast, I went down to see what we have. Mom was around, but the calf was nowhere to be found. In this tall grass it could be any where.

So I just stood back and let mom lead me to it.

Sure enough. Ditched it in the tall grass.

Like a little new born antelope, I could have stepped on the darn thing! White... that's cool. 

Bright eyed, I had to see its sex. Bull calf.

However, when I disturbed his peace, he let out a beller that made mom come running! Once I turned him loose, he was like a little fawn bouncing across the prairie. Spry little guy. I like him. 

Life is good.

Saved the best for last. This was a pretty fun case-scenario. We have been thinking about moving our calving date next year to May/June. This way our pasture will be ready and Mom and Dad can keep an eye on things from the house. This combination this morning really confirms that this move looks to be a good idea.

I'm also glad this calf is colored. Nothing against black calves, but a whole herd of them gets boring. Give me some color! We had two of our 9 first calf heifers not calve this year because they didn't breed. Not a problem. One is already in the freezer and the other one we'll put there this fall. Thanks be to God for a wonderful calving season. The warm weather helped make it a breeze. Now, with our irrigated pasture up and established, we should be looking at a great summer of grazing. Ranching in the 307. 

Worship

What's Catholic worship look like?

           https://youtu.be/5CJasLthLUc         

 

Turning Out

The time everyone has been waiting for, especially the cows, has finally arrived. Turning out into our new pasture was a delight for cowboy and critter alike. All are happy. 

The grass really looks good this year. Dad has done a nice job irrigating. The weeds that presented themselves the first couple years, finally gave up. Such nice varieties of grass out here, along with a bit of alfalfa.

Before we turned out, Chief and I rode the fence just to double check all the gates. Looks good.

We still have some gates to build on our new fence line.

Eventually, we plan to fence out our pump house. For now, we'll just panel it up.

This used to be a gate that Grandpa used to run his sheep across the highway to the adjacent pasture. The cows kept messing with the gate, and we never used it, so we had the highway department fence it off. 

This corner of our field is information superhighway. The new fiberoptic line is going to intersect right here. Getting a right-of-way from Mom and Dad, they paneled off their up and coming structure. We'll see how longs these panels stay undisturbed. 

The pivot has been working strong. One drawback are these solid stem risers. They hang low enough that a cow might want to mess with them. Time will tell. 

Grandpa's gate into the horse pen is holding strong. 

So it was time to get behind them and turn them out!

Alleluia!

Then we chained open the gate into the pasture and opened the gate into the Sandbox as well. 

Then they have access to this shed for shade and shelter. 

It is well with my soul!

Good stuff. So thankful for this opportunity. It has been a great gift that Mom and Dad let me play around on their place. I'm thankful to God as well for orchestrating events to make this all happen in my life. The beauty of gratitude, is that it doesn't allow us to cling to worldly things. Today I have this chance, tomorrow I may not. Intentional thanksgiving allows us to receive gifts from God with open hands, freely receiving and freely giving. Thank you Lord. We'll keep on ranching in a free world!

Cattle Drive

The day we have been waiting for has arrived, hauling the cows and calves to Worland. Not going to lie, I've been nervous. Mainly just towards loading up. In this pasture there is no corrals. Our only option was portable panels. Which, have their place, but are also prone to cow wrecks. So we planned our work and worked our plan. 

All the cows and calves look great. They are getting close to out of feed, which lines up well for our plan to take them back home. 

Planning to haul out Thursday morning, James and I took Jim's 12' panel network and made a catch pen the evening before. 

The next day, Frank and I rounded up the herd. Three calves and one cow were on the wrong side of the fence. With some strategic planning, we got them all together again. 

With horse and 4-wheeler, we got them all caught with little problem. Separating the cows from the calves, was another story. 

Let's just say that alls well that ends well.  It took us a bit, and we had to play our hand well, but eventually we got the calves loaded in my trailer and the cows in Frank's. 

With a little extra room, we jumped Chief in mine. 

Then trucked it over to Worland to unload. 

First up was the cows. Talk about separation anxiety. 

Then the calves. Everybody's happy. 

Home sweet home. 

This might be a small move for mankind, but it was a big move in Neiber Ranch world. We'll give the cows time to mother up and settle down. Then, we'll kick them back into our irrigated pasture. God willing and the creek don't rise, these cows will never leave our place again. Having them in Buffalo worked out well, because most of the cows were first calf heifers, which need more man-time then older cows. Once we have the rest of our fence buttoned up, then we'll kick the pairs to the pasture. Should be fun. We'll find out. 

Jonathan Mahrol

A true Catholic Cowboy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvIOnKzpwgM&t=2481s

Unfulfilled

Death is the culmination of Baptism.

           https://youtu.be/sU7NxE5AEBs         

Holiness

Mission stems from relationship.

           https://youtu.be/uELEA4AJGEU         

Belle Creek Branding

Memorial Day is the annual day for the Kuhbacher branding in Montana. That's a great deal, because it works out for me to join in. Another fun time was had by all. 

Two different bunches we walked through on this hot dusty May day. Alls well that ends well. 

John and I went up Sunday night after our 5pm Mass. Grilled some steaks and stared at the stars. Good stuff. 

The hobbled horses were waiting for us bright and early the next morning. 

First things first, celebrate the Mass. 

Then we saddled up and got ready to roll. John and Chief made a pretty good pair. 

I bet we had 20 riders that showed up for the 7:30 roundup. 

John and I fell in with Jason and crew. 

Cows hide in the steep breaks of this country. 

No problem.

We pushed them up to the rest of the bunch. 

And started to make our push for the trucks. 

Get along little doggies!

Once you start the stampede, you don't want to stop. 

After all were corralled, they started to cut out the cows. 

Then we stoked the stove and let the good times roll. 

John and I were pretty much on the wrestling crews. 

Eventually, though, Chief and I jumped in the ring and roped for about an hour. Good stuff. 

One of the guys wanted to drag some calves for the first time with his palomino colt. A good trick is to have another horse ride beside the colt as he drags one in. The companionship coaches the colt that everything is all right. 

95% of the time, they bring the calves in by both back back legs. Occasionally, though, you can't shake the rope off the one leg you snagged, so you drag it on in. In this scenario, you have to break the calf down on the side that the rope is on. Usually, with the left hip brand, the guy on the left of the corral grabs the rope and the right side hand pulls the tail. When they come in by one leg, you have to quickly asses the situation, and trade jobs if need be.  

If you try to brake them over the other way, that free leg ends up being a brace post that won't let the calf roll over on its back. Good work, boys. 

Ranchin. 

The laborer deserves his wage. Good stuff, literally. 

Great way to kick off the summer. The Kuhbacher branding on Belle Creek is one of the highlights of my year. It is a fast and ferrous 24 hours, but is worth all the exhaustion. Good to be home, but great to have the memories. On to the next one.