After a successful event hosted last year by Malcolm and Jenny MacLean at the Pincher Creek Rodeo Grounds in southern Alberta, the second annual Ultimate Stockmanship Challenge was held in mid-July at the Silver Slate indoor arena near Stavely. The event involved a three-day stockmanship school to introduce people to the low-stress livestock handling methods […] Read more
Cowboy competitions
Second annual Stockmanship Challenge teaches low-stress handling techniques
Haying season gets underway, a tribute to a great-granddaughter
Warranty was applied to replace a bull bought last year
June 20 Two weeks ago, after the doctor here checked Dani’s baby, they were sent to Community Hospital in Missoula to be checked and monitored overnight (see ‘Tribute’ at bottom). Ammarie was doing better by next day so Andrea brought them home. Later that week we had a vet look at Barney, our new bull. […] Read more
Cattle out on pasture for another season
Rancher's Diary: Family gathers for birthday celebrations
May 21 Last Sunday was cold and windy all day. We were glad we’d branded and vaccinated the calves the day before. After we fed the cows, Andrea put the feed truck in the stack yard so Lynn could load another big bale, and hiked home to get her four-wheeler. Now that Charlie got it […] Read more
Water diverted to fields to get grass growing
Rancher's Diary: Cattle are processed and soon heading to summer range
April 27 This past week was cold, windy and more snow. Last Thursday we put the last two pairs out of the barn and into pens with windbreaks and roof shelters over the corners so those new babies could get out of the wind and snow. Friday evening grandson Nick came by and we gave […] Read more
Ideas for extended fall and winter grazing
Annual crops and protein supplements are among the options
There are many ways to extend the grazing season on most farms and ranches. In years with not enough rain in regions without irrigation, native pastures and hay aftermath don’t produce as much forage as normal, One option to increase forage production is seeding and grazing annual crops, which may include cereals and brassicas. Extending […] Read more
Weather didn’t co-operate for calving beef cows
Rancher's Diary: After a short labour, a new great-granddaughter is welcomed into the family
March 22 We’re about to start calving. Andrea put boards over gaps at the bottom of the barn wall where critters have been crawling into the barn —to block their access and stop the wind. There were sheets of ice where water ran into the barn when snow fell off the roof, melted and ran […] Read more
Females figure strongly in maternal bull selection
Look at calves, heifers and cows to get a better idea of maternal traits
There are several factors to consider when selecting a bull to sire replacement females. The bull makes a lasting contribution to the herd (good or bad). The quickest way to change genetics of a herd is through sire selection. You want that contribution to be beneficial, moving the herd in the best direction to meet […] Read more
Winter shelters have saved calves
Having protection from wet and wind made a difference, even under extreme weather and low temperatures
Ranchers who calve early know the value of shelter for baby calves. When my husband Lynn and I started ranching in 1967, our cows were calving in March and April and we had terrible scours, especially when the weather was wet. The pastures on this place were contaminated with scour “bugs” after intensive cattle use […] Read more
Cold temps slow fencing and yard cleanup
There were a few antique treasures in the old sheds, and also some junk
February 21 This past week has been bitterly cold. On Valentine’s Day we had a snowstorm and nasty wind. We decided to move the big bulls to the main corral sooner than planned since they refused to drink the water coming through their pen. It’s murky and probably bad-tasting after the waterway was rechannelled through […] Read more
Brush clearing creates more pastures
Rancher Diary: A little dental work had Sprout eating again
January 28 Last Saturday morning I noticed Sprout was having a little trouble eating when I fed her hay. That evening the problem was worse; she had some soreness in her mouth, sometimes tipping her head upward and to the side (as if to get away from pain) as well as spitting out food. I […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
