Big Girl Tags, Fence-Line Weaning & a Noisy Night or Two

What’s Happening at the Ranch

You might want to grab a cup of coffee and sit for a minute; it’s been a week to write home about.

Of course, our schedule changed. Of course, the weather pitched a fit. Of course, we had to buy a new refrigerator. And of course, everyone did their best — and in the end, it all worked out.

How can you expect it to end any other way? It all led up to yesterday.

Yesterday was one of those full ranch days that leaves everyone tired — people, cows, and dogs alike.

We brought all the heifer pairs home from their pasture as soon as the sun was up and sorted them before the vet arrived.

The vet was supposed to come last week; that was the schedule change part.

And by afternoon, the heifers had officially crossed a line from “calves” into something new. The vet gave them their bangs shield, which meant they could officially become a momma cow, but most importantly....

They got their Big Girl tags.

Each yellow tag tells a story: a letter for their birth year, and a number that ties them back to their mama and cow family. It’s how we keep track of generations, and how we keep the long view in mind.

Yesterday was also weaning day.

We wean across the fence line — the least stressful way we know how. The heifers and their mothers can see each other, smell each other, stand side-by-side, and even lick noses. They just can’t leave together anymore.

The cows wander off to graze, then come back to check on their girls. The first-calf heifers are the most worried about their babies; the older cows have been through this before.

The young heifers stay put, calling out now and then.

It’s noisy for a few days — especially at night — and everyone involved looks a little red-eyed, ranchers included. But it’s gentler in the long run, and that matters to us.

By the time the sun was setting, our work was finally wrapped up.

Heifers tagged and weaned, mothers close by, the big cow bunch settled, pastures ready, water tanks set — and tomorrow we’ll pick up a ton of mineral in town.

Tomorrow, the heifers will start lightly on the same pellets as the steers until green grass shows up in spring. Next week, when we move them out, we will take the pellets out of their pasture every day.

And when we got back to the yard at the end of the day, Fritzie got back first and was already waiting — two balls in her mouth, ready to throw, like she was saying, “Chores are done. My turn.”

Some days are loud.
Some days are long.