Tag: cows
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Due to Cows, Your Plans Have Been Cancelled
This column was originally published October 9, 2013 One of the most important virtues of ranching is having contortionist-like flexibility (metaphorically, but physical flexibility does come in handy at times). Flexibility is required when a major part of one’s life involves managing numerous animals. They can get out, knock important water tank parts loose or…
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In My Next Life I Want To Be A Cow
In my next life I want to be a cow on a United States cattle ranch so I can find out what it feels like to be spoiled. Cows live a cushy life as a result of a rancher’s hard work and his pocketbook. If I were a cow, I would get to eat an…
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Going Out To Pasture
Moving cows to summer range is my favorite day of the year. It’s better than Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. I don’t go to bed regretting eating too much like I do with the other holidays and moving cows onto Forest Service takes place in the summer not in the middle of winter….
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Working Cows
Working cows in t-shirts is not normal around here. For years we’ve had to dress in long johns, warm clothes, coveralls, hats and gloves to keep warm. We worked cows October 22 this year and the weather was warm enough that most of the crew peeled off their jackets and worked in t-shirts. Since the vet was…
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On The Road Again
Being on the road again makes me weary. I might enjoy it if it were to go somewhere fun, but driving errant cows on back roads at a resistant cow’s pace is tiresome. Our cows have been through enough routine pasture moves that they’re trained to know which back roads, shortcuts, and trails we use…
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Spouses In Translation
Some days I wish I was a cow. Then maybe I could communicate with my husband better and get the same attention our cows do. I recently read Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin, about “decoding†animal behavior in hopes of finding out what a cow’s got over me with my husband’s attention. Cows seem…
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The OB Ward and Nursing Home Ranch
The problem with deferring replacement heifers too long is that you’re apt to end up with a lot of really old cows and a bunch of young, first time calvers to take care of simultaneously come calving time. Hanging on to cows too long and not incorporating younger cows into the herd gradually, creates more…
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Eighth Wonder of the World
Most people aren’t aware that South Dakota has two wonders of the world; Mount Rushmore and our Herford cow Annabelle—the eighth wonder of the world. A neighboring rancher told my husband once that a Hereford cow that doesn’t get pinkeye or sunburned udders and doesn’t prolapse is the eighth wonder of the world. Hereford cattle…
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Who’s Running the Show?
Calving season is a challenging time of year for my husband and me to keep up with our kids’ involvement in school, church, and club activities. Obviously, the ones who are running the show around here are the cows we spend most of our time chasing after during calving. Until spring arrives at our place,…
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In My Next Life I Want to be a Cow
In my next life I want to be a cow on a United States cattle ranch so I can find out what it feels like to be spoiled. Cows live a cushy life as a result of a rancher’s hard work and his pocketbook. If I were a cow, I would get to eat an…