This year’s cattle gather was the first we had done without horses in my time at Saguaro Juniper, and I wasn’t entirely sure how it would go. I was optimistic, as the cows are used to following the little pickup for hay, and they move on foot with us between pastures in the summer; but […]
Yesterday was our big cow move off range, which we made this year by shifting the herd from the Fenceline Drinker to the Lower Drinker, then walking the whole herd from the Lower Drinker the mile-and-a-half along Cascabel Road to El Potrero. From there, we spent the day trailering them one load at a time […]
Believe it or not, Mycha’s calf Myco, who was born on range, is almost two months old and it is time to think about castration, branding, and vaccination for the little guy. To this end, Madi and I brought Mycha and Myco off range to El Potrero on Wednesday. Madi and I had spent a […]
Last year we home-slaughtered Konchita, an older cow who had become permanently lame. I can’t say it felt “good” to do this, but it felt right to give her a quick, humane death, and to pass on the skills of food harvesting and preparation. Working together to feed ourselves is a primal and satisfying experience. […]
Lucia had her first calf on November 15, 2024, and Madi named her Lumen in honor of her lineage — Blaze was the mother of Flame, who was the mother of Candela, who was the mother of Lucia. Lumen is a little light in the fields, with her long delicate legs almost like a fawn. […]
May 26: Today Andrew and I arrive to find that the cows have somehow lifted the loop on the Texas gate and let themselves into pasture #1 from the native grass pasture where they were supposed to be. We were moving them to #2S this morning anyway, so we walk them out of #1 over […]
This is the “full” time of year with lots of tasks, mostly focused on the ranching version of the three R’s: Weeding, watering, and worrying. When the work starts to feel overwhelming, that’s the time when I most need to sit down with the land and herd — to let the answers arise out of […]
The mama cows at the Mason Pastures get a hay treat after we drop Konchita off from El Potrero.
The dance of moving animals this fall is in full swing with another load out on range now, including the two heifers who have been at El Potrero all summer. The bull found the new girls right away, and every time I see them they seem genuinely pleased with each other’s company. At their first […]
