Bulls, Calves and MT Highway 72
Just got in from loading up two bulls to go to town. One was a mellow guy - but he’s gotten waaay too big. The other is an absolute lunatic - we had a bit of a rodeo with him & another psycho bull. We finally got them separated, and the lunatic in the trailer without any injuries… My husband took off to Billings to the yards with them. The girls should start calving around the seventh. Some of them are starting to look pretty heavy. I can’t wait. Calving is my favorite season. I do the “night calving”, actually the early AM shift, so I may have to start blogging on my trips back to the house once that starts. Right now I check the herds while the guys feed.
Last night we attended a Public Hearing regarding the project to improve the safety of MT-72 between Belfry and US 310. I didn’t learn much - but there was coffee. I had already perused the EIS. This road has needed help for a long time, and it looks like it will get done. Unfortunately, there will be people adversely affected. Now if we can get rid of some more deer, it would be even safer…
If you missed my post yesterday about Brian Lunn - do check it out. Jason has updated and it’s hilarious. Okay, if you’re reading this, you already know that it doesn’t take much to amuse me. But it is funny.
January 27th, 2005 at 7:56 pm
thanks for pointing people my way. sadly, my titanic fight with the Duke of Gloucester has come to a close, but I have decided to hand out medals today. there’s one for you on my blog, moo!
January 27th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
Educate me on this. Why are there shifts during calving season? What would happen if you weren’t there to help?
January 27th, 2005 at 9:46 pm
As you may know, I’m new to Montana - and love the state so much - I wanted to learn more about ranching since it’s so prevalent here and I know so very little - so I volunteered to help my son’s friend’s Dad on his ranch one day - with branding and banding - it was a BLAST! Well - it was terrible actually - but in a FUN way - I got kicked, peed on, shat on, the smell of the burning flesh and hair, the noise - it was great!
Now I’ve asked if I can help calve - I know nothing about that either - so hopefully it’s just as fun as branding/banding when they call me!
Keep up the great work!
January 28th, 2005 at 9:38 am
Fortunately, most of the girls get it down without any help. Sometimes though - they need a little (or a lot) of assistance. When it’s brutally cold, we like to keep the ones closest to calving close to the calving shed. Most of the cows never see the shed. We were very fortunate with our heifers (first time calvers) last year. They pretty much calved on their own. But when we do assist - it could be simply bringing the girl to the shed - where she’s out of the wind and protected - and by herself - which is usually what their instinct causes them to do. Other times, it might include pulling the calf.
Calving is always an adventure.
January 28th, 2005 at 6:30 pm
While I enjoy the drive between Belfry and Red Lodge I try to avoid 212 as much as I can, especially since Zachary and Danyelle Blood were killed just outside Bridger. In fairness, I suppose I should mentio the kids who hit them, but I dont remember their names. I didnt know the Blood’s but that accident site gives me the creeps.
GD
January 29th, 2005 at 9:42 am
Danyel was raised in this house. She was the daughter of my husband’s cousin. That accident was horrific. The northbound car passed a beet truck (these are double trailers) on a curve on Hwy 310. Danyel was southbound and saw the lights in her lane, tried to avoid it by going into the shoulder - which is very wide on that road. The northbound car went into the shoulder, right into the Bloods and the four men were also killed.
It amazes me how many wrecks there are here in MT. I don’t know of anyone personally in NY who died in a wreck. And it is not because no one drives there… Here - I’ve lost several friends and acquaintances. My husband’s family has lost several family members in wrecks over the years.
A deadly combination of deserted roads, dangerous roads, excessive speed and more often than not - alcohol.
January 29th, 2005 at 12:09 pm
“Calving is my favorite season”
You know, I think there’s a poem in that.
February 1st, 2005 at 7:14 am
…and a beet truck had just pulled out of the Bridger dump headed for Billings and wasn’t yet up to highway speed. I think I was working for Western Sugar when that accident occured.