Fall Vet Visits

I am sorry for being absent lately. The month of November has been quite busy for us. We have been preparing for the upcoming snowy winter season. Semi trucks have been delivering green round bales of hay, the smells of summer’s grasses wafting in the air. The barnyard conditions begin as frosty frozen mud, gradually thawing with the sun’s warmth. The occasional light blizzard creates a blank white canvas, only to melt the following day. The daytime temperatures are in limbo, balancing somewhere between an early spring day and late winter. If not for the fallen leaves, one might think summer was coming instead of winter. A gradual fall is a blessing to both man and beast. The stock cows are still searching for remaining dry wild grasses, along with the addition of hay feedings. At first sight, the sheep rush to the pasture gate, “blatting” to be let out for the day. Upon filling their hay feeders, they are reminded of winter’s feeding routine. Their wool fleeces are covered with frosty highlights each morning. Some days, the little cowboys are still able to play outside, unhindered by the multiple layers of warm clothing.

One fall task that we happily completed this month, was our biannual visit from our veterinarian. He completed our stock cow’s annual pregnancy exam, along with vaccinating heifer calves and health checks for the herd bulls. This is a physically demanding appointment for the veterinarian. We worked the previous week, planning & preparing to help make the process run as smoothly as possible. We sorted livestock into various groups. Shuffled herds closer to the corral facilities. Gathered the needed supplies & vaccinations, to prepare our cattle for the winter and spring seasons. Arranged to have extra help, spreading the laborious task among friends. We checked the weather, hoping for the best. During this time of year, it seems the weather can go from one extreme to the next. As luck would have it, Mother Nature had blanketed our part of the world with freezing snow. We anxiously awaited the arrival of each friend, praying for safe travels over the icy roads. Thankfully, each was able to drive slowly, in order to negotiate the winter conditions.

Our current veterinarian is an amazing fountain of knowledge. He can tell stories for hours, recounting various situations involving animals. He never ceases to amaze us. GC is 78 years young, having practiced veterinary medicine for over 50 years. I don’t believe he has ever forgotten anyone’s name either. GC’s stories range from emergency caesarean deliveries on chihuahuas to caring for wild buffalo. Spanning generations, he remembers working for my grandparents, parents and now us. GC doesn’t keep regular business hours anymore, preferring to work out of his well equipped veterinarian truck. His truck has more magical powers than Mary Poppin’s bottomless carpet bag. GC keeps it well stocked, prepared to handle any animal medical situation that may arise. He will arrive for a standard scheduled appointment, but can confidently handle any “surprise extras” that happen. GC is truly devoted to his career. He is quick to answer the phone, helping walk you thru any emergency, often saving you the chaotic trip to the clinic. On off days, GC will meet you at his house, performing minor medical appointments in his driveway. He offers a wealth of knowledge for resolving common livestock problems. I have devoted a journal to recording his hard earned wisdom, knowing I will need to refer back to my notes someday. We are truly blessed to have called him our veterinarian these past few years.

We had planned to process our cattle on Sunday, then processing my parent’s cattle the following Thursday. This would allow GC a slight break, having traveled the 2 hours one way, to the ranch. It would be an extremely full day for any veterinarian, two days would be easier for all involved. On the Friday before, GC called early in the morning, with a proposition. He would come Sunday, spend the night, then process the remaining cattle the next day. GC said it would save him travel time, resulting in a lesser farm call fee. We quickly agreed. Sunday came and we managed to get our cattle processed by early afternoon. The chilled processing crew enjoyed a warm meal, swapping stories before heading home to do their own chores. Nate and Papa shuffled cattle around, bringing the next group in for processing. We stayed up late, entertained by GC’s endless stories. The little cowboys were excited to have company stay over. Big W managed to play his favorite card game, “War”, throughout the night. Monday morning arrived with the same frozen icy roads. We set about the task of processing the remaining cattle. The sun briefly broke thru, warming our backs. We finished just after noon, thankful for a smooth work day. After a quick lunch, GC and Papa headed home.

It is always a big relief, to accomplish fall cattle work. The cattle pregnancy rates, sets the tone for the spring calving season. Predicting beginning and ending dates, extremely busy weeks. The cattle are given mineral and dewormer vaccines, helping prepare them for the additional nutritional requirements needed. Cattle can then be sorted according to their individual nutritional needs. Older cows require a little more special care, reflecting their advanced ages. The first time mothers will be separated, allowing us to monitor their calving processes easier. They are more apt to require help during delivery. The whole process reflects a huge company wide meeting, planning for the best outcome in the coming months. A well thought out planning strategy. A slight boost to our rancher’s ego, an attempt to be in control and organized during spring calving season. I fear it is all in vain, considering almost all our stock cows are predicted to be calving during the month of March. In addition to all of our sheep lambing then, as well. Guess, I will have to reschedule that fantasy vacation trip to a different month, or maybe a completely different year. We love our lifestyle and wouldn’t change it, if given the choice. We are so very thankful to get to raise our boys around animals, and those special people, like GC.