Winter arrived very quickly this year. We went from a warm October to a full force winter storm in the beginning of November with lots of snow. It seems like we are getting more and more extremes in our weather the past few years. So what is it like on a ranch when winter arrives so quickly? Luckily, we had a bit of warning so earlier in the week we hauled home the last group of heifers that were on neighbouring pasture; however, we did not expect to have so much snow, wind and such cold ... VIEW POST
Six Daily Tasks During Winter
Herd Sire Management
A herd sire is a bull that we use in our herd for breeding our cows. Herd sires play a large role in the genetics of our cattle program and therefore selecting a bull is a very important decision in our operation. A bull contributes 50% of the genetic makeup of each generation of offspring and the cows together contribute the other half. If you think of it this way, we retain heifers from our own herd for replacement cows, so 75% of the genetic makeup of their offspring will be from ... VIEW POST
Summer Pasture Checks
We take great care of our animals and our land while raising beef from pasture to plate for our customers. During the summer months, summer pasture checks are a necessary and fun task that we do a regular basis. It is also one of my favourite jobs to do with my boys. Since we homeschool, it is a wonderful way to get outside and study nature. Some days we will even pack a lunch or snack and have a picnic with the cows. It is extremely important to check pastures on a regular basis to ... VIEW POST
How to Cook the Best Oven Beef Roast
We love cooking an oven beef roast every week. It makes for a delicious supper and then we use the leftovers as cold cut meat for sandwiches. With minimal time and minimal effort, you can make an excellent meal to serve to your family and friends. Some common beef roast cuts that we use for oven beef roasts are prime rib roasts, sirloin tip roasts, outside round roasts, inside round roasts and a cross rib roasts. Beef Roast Cooking Directions Let your roast sit at ... VIEW POST
Cattle Record Keeping with CattleMax
Did you know that we keep detailed records on all of our cattle? You are probably wondering what type of records would need to be kept on cattle? We use our records as a daily management tool to help us run a productive operation. There are many different options for cattle record keeping. Some ranchers use paper based records, others use Excel and/or online cattle management program, such as CattleMax. Similarly, some ranchers keep more details records than others. ... VIEW POST
Happy New Year
Cheers to a new year, friends! It sometimes seems nearly impossible to escape the chaos of life. Yet, this past week has been so relaxing. December and January are slower month on the ranch, and we have been enjoying working on puzzles, watching Christmas movies, doing the daily chores and playing in the snow. We have taken some time for ourselves, relaxed at home with family and spent some time planning out the next 12 months. Adaption is Key Raise your hand if 2021 looked anything ... VIEW POST