Monday, October 29, 2007

Calf Sale

Guy and Ginny went to the auction on Friday. By 4:00 pm the calves had not yet been auctioned and Guy thought there was still about 1,000 calves to be sold, so they came home.

The calves were sold for about $1.15/lb. quite a bit under the price a few weeks ago of about $1.30/lb. A lot of calves showed up that day and anytime there's over supply the price will go down.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

9/29/07 Hay, salt, Knoll's mill

Guy, Steve, Chris, Ashlee and Matt Garner work at ranch.

Guy bought 44 blocks of salt, 3 varieties- unloaded into storage shed (more specifics on the salt in the operations handbook)

Unloaded barn full of hay.

Knoll's Mill drinker tank has small leak. Attempted to fix with JB Weld (water compatible mix). We'll have to see if it holds.

Moved appr. 10 head of cattle that were near the mill from Knolls pasture onto Cierro Hueco . 3 cows weren't cooperative and Guy feels there are still a few more on the Knolls.

Collected info on Knolls Mill Generator. Will post to Operations Handbook.

Guy wants to know final tally of riders for roundup by Thursday so he can get horses shod.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

9/25/07 No Help Needed with Hay

Guy called and said that the people delivering hay will be unloading it themselves. No one will need to help.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

9/23/07 No Hay next weekend, salt only

Just called Guy and they will not be getting hay this weekend (9/29) because they are cutting the hay this week and have to let it lay in the field and dry. He thinks it may be the next weekend (Conference Weekend). I told him to call as soon as he knows. I'm going up to help with the salt unloading this weekend. Greg will not be needed.

As a sidelight, dad mentioned that he purchased 8 cows this week and two of them calved already. I asked him why and he said as replacement cows. He mentioned that he was thinking of getting some more and I just mentioned that we ought to sit down and talk about this because of the possible obligation we have to get some money to siblings that are wanting to cash out their share of the Nicoll property. He was open to that discussion.

He said that he probably wasn't going to ask George Wallace for help during roundup since it's hunting season so we can take his name off.

Steve

Friday, September 14, 2007

Calf Sale Work - Add your name if coming

* Tue 10/23 Roundup (we need 8 people)
Guy, Steve, Don, Brig, Ginny, Ashlee, Conrad, Dan Kuefner, Cami, Caleb, Jacob, Ryan, Matt Mueller,

* Wed 10/24 Separate and work cows (we need 5 people):
Guy, Steve, Ginny, Dan Kuefner, Ryan, Matt Mueller?

* Thu 10/25 Load calves (we need 3 people):
Guy, ? Hall (Truck Driver), Steve, Ginny

* Fri 10/25 Auction at Belen, New Mexico:
Guy & Ginny

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Sep 13 - Cattle Moved, Calf Sale Set, Hay Bales Coming

Guy, Ginny, Darren and Don gathered about 95 large animals that moved through a broken fence into Jennie's pasture and returned them to Cerro Hueco. About 85 of them, along with calves, were taken to the NE corner of Cerro Hueco. In that corner is a dirt tank that still has a 12-15 day supply of water and lots of good grass. We hope they will stay in that area while the water lasts. Another 10 head (along with calves) were put back into Cerro Hueco but not into the NE corner. [Edit 9/16]

The 10 head that were moved from Cerro Hueco into the Knolls pasture on Sep 4 were found but we didn't have time to move them back to Cerro Hueco.

The fence around the dirt tank that is at the SE corner of Jennie's Pasture needs repair in 2 spots.

4 horses were shod last Sat - Winston, Guapo, Chitah, Buddy. Chitah was not ridden today.

We need 2 strong bodies to unload a trailer of hay probably on Sep 29. The exact date is not set because the hay hasn't been cut yet. The trailer can be left at the ranch for a few days until we can get people there to unload it. [edited 9/14]

The calves will be sold at the auction in Belen, New Mexico on Oct 26. See next posting for work needs. [Edited 9/14]

The dead cow identified by our neighbor was found at the dirt tank in SE corner of Jennies pasture.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Sept. 4 Knolls & Cerra Hueco Fence

Steve, Guy, Chris & Jared Dana spent 5 hours at the ranch.

Knoll's Pasture Fence: Fixed two fence problems. Still need repair at west fence dirt tank but too much water right now (not a bad thing). Minor repair at southwest corner still needed.

Cerra Hueco Fence: The cattle are supposed to be on Cerro Hueco but we found 10 cows in Jennie's pasture which we moved to the Knolls. We then found most of them on Jennie's Pasture and the fence down at the dirt tank separating them. Fixed fence at Dirt tank between Cerra Hueco & Jennie's property. Dad is going to get 4 horses shod and needs four experienced riders on the 15 to ride Jennies Pasture and push them back on to Cerro Hueco. Because he's only shoeing 4 horses this won't be a kid's ride. Let me know if any of you can be there (I will be out of town), if not, we'll have to look at another day. Gate on east fence needs two new posts set. Guy has been in contact with rancher to east and he wants to help fix it. If it's not done by the 29th I plan on doing it then when I go up to work.

Guy picking up one ton of salt in Phoenix about 9/25 (40 blocks/ 50 lbs each) and we'll unload on the 29th.

Horse Lady (squatter on Cerro Hueco) told us we had a dead cow somewhere in Jennie's pasture- killed by lightening.

The ranch is really green and beautiful now. There are parts of Cerro Hueco where the grass is 12-18 inches high.