Three day storm...

Just finished up with a three day prairie storm with another one on it's tail in a few days...then we drop into a big deep freeze of that 40 below stuff.
Storms translates to living outside ensuring all livestock are well bedded and fed as they dont lie normally lie down in a storm until really tired of standing bucking the wind/snow...nor do they seek out feed and eat....so a person beds, knowing they'll need to re-bed again the next day. We used up some old hay bales for their beds this time around. Gates are shoveled out only to be reshoveled a few hours later.
Both tractors are down with various problems. Glad the snow blower on the one tractor did the majority of the grunt work past few days before the drive shaft went.
On top of the added chore work/calving, was milking the cow that lost her set of twins until we found a replacement calf from a feedlot...then grafting takes several days for mom to take a new baby. Thank goodness for good moms as it didnt take long, just takes up time to supervise. Someone gave me a little black newborn calf from a different feedlot, this one ended up with some exposure ( feet, nose...going to lose parts of her ears ) before coming here, so will see what I can do with her. Not easy when they get behind the '8 ball'. Jury is still out on her survival, I'm not having much luck with bottle feeding.
Trying to get Shea back home with all this crappy weather. What a super nice temperament he has. Great job Laurie , he's an easy dog to live with !
Pups getting into the usual puppy stuff. Love to play in their water, drag anything around be it chore boots, dog dishes, toys....walking through the kitchen is guaranteed in having at least one pup hanging on to the side of your pants only to be joined by a sibling(s).
No more lambs but have ewes bagging up. The first one doing well with the flock.
Around the clock pen checks catching up to everyone as they lose sleep, suppers ate late in the evening, I'm always glad when spring hits. As much as I grumble about winter calving and the extra work...so glad we are done once march hits when it's cold and wet with snow & rain with mud.

5 wks old

Bathed and outside for really quick photo session. First time seeing snow

or being outside.

Gifts...

Picture taken on the 31st of a rainbow seen one morning when checking pens. One of those cold days where the snow has a hard crunch and a wind chill to go along with it. Lost a set of twins several days ago, every one in a somber mood as we rarely lose a calf since we literally seem to live with the herd with around the clock pen checks added to the chorework of feeding / bedding etc. A malpresentation with the twins and cell messages not received in a timely manner when I felt something was 'off'. Farm visit from the Vet to deliver them as unable to get the head into place.
So have been milking the cow for past several days in hopes of finding a spare calf somewheres....not many people winter calve. Cats come
out of the woodwork in the barn when they hear the first few pings of milk hitting the bucket.
Some of the kids able to come home this wkend to make it 'our Xmas' with the last of the gift opening. Weather turned out nice. 3 yr. old grandson Cohen a big help with making deserts as well socializing the puppies. They got along just great, kitchen was strewn with puppy toys from one end to the other...play sessions ending with the pups all piled asleep in his lap much to his great pleasure. A visit to the barn to see the new calf as well to the sheep pen and see 'Nick' the lamb.
Something pretty special when you watch a young person interact with baby animals and the natural gentle care towards them.
Children learn so much about life in general given a chance to share their lives with a companion.
That gift is priceless.

More than a few surprises ...

This Holiday season....

Worked at the hospital all through 'Christmas' and hope to spend some family time in a few days coming up here...looking forward to that. In the mean time have a few 'unexpected ' expected events. We usually start calving right after the New Year and have had one calf already ...with another cow presently pacing the pasture in obvious labour.....I've been up since yesterday am ( came off Night Shift this am) so will be glad when calf is born and I can flip into the calf sled and skid the new born into the barn with Mom following. Already having problems with the diesel heaters, even after everything was just serviced. Thank goodness for a stretch of decent weather...the early weaning of lambs last summer created some ewes cycling on me sooner than expected....so looks like I will be wintering lambing a few ewes on top of winter calving. Wasnt expecting any lambs until abit later this winter...Just want to get them through the cold snap that will be bringing in the new year for us...then looks like an ok stretch of weather...

Breeding Principles, genetic diversity etc

Decided to 'park' a few links on the blog to articles worth reading...breeding principles and strategies coming from different points of views....

http://webcanine.com/2007/17-points-to-consider-when-breeding/

http://www.tybrushe-boxers.com/20_Principles_of_Breeding.htm

http://www.pawpeds.com/pawacademy/genetics/breedingstrategies/chapter6.html

and one on puppy development
http://nwk9.com/dehasse_pupdev.htm#5

The Girls , pics taken today

Gunny

Always great to see the youngsters in training and then coming back to see them later on down the road. Short clip on Gunny...he's looking just fine Jo :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKBxVmFg4o&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL