Zimmerman Family Ranch

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but seems like calving season is when I get the urge to update. Now I keep pretty good records and know gestational period for most cattle is 283 days. Based on when bull entered the herd, today "should" have been first calf. But as in all pregnancies, time is relative, this little gal couldn't wait. She and mama are doing fine. However, due to the fact mama is hormonal and crazy to boot, little girl will be lucky to get her ID tag anytime soon.

So when your ranch is in the city limits and you can't use a wide area poison for your rodent problem, you must rely on ancient and slower processes. Enter the Red Tail Abatement agents. We have three that frequently hang out in trees and on power poles. Unfortunately, they get their fill quickly and won't be seen rest of the day.

So, 2018 calving season started yesterday. Healthy baby bull for a first calf heifer. Today he found a calf sized gap in the corral fence and spent the afternoon lounging under an orange tree. When I find him he blots. Across two pastures, through four hot fences and one plain. Makes his way to the canal next to our property and follows it to a road. Along a brick fence to an opening to an urban box canyon. A gated mobile home park. Residents and manager catch him until I can get there with the pickup. I get him home and back with mama in small corral for the night. All's well that ends well. Special thank you to the Willows Mobile Park and all who helped catch little Houdini.

It's been an eventful 24 hrs or so. First was yesterday starting off with the dreaded 5 yr colonoscopy. Then in the late afternoon/early evening calf #2 decided to show up. Then just before midnight #3 made an appearance. This morning was when the real fun began. One of the older cows dropped her calf near #2 laying in the pasture. Then wouldn't you know who does she see first? Yep, wrong calf. She imprints on it and a fight begins between older cow and real mother, completel...y ignoring her own calf. I couldn't get her interested in her own for more than an occasional lick or two. I knew I'd lose it if I didn't act fast. I go to supply fridge and no colostrum (wouldn't you know it). I forgot what I had expired last year and didn't need any until now. So, I knew I had to get them together exclusively, somehow. Both small corrals are occupied by new bull still getting acclimated and steer for fattening. SO I manage to coaks her into big corral, rig small temporary corral and put baby in it. I get her in temp corral and let nature take it's coarse. Oh, did I forget to mention, new baby still wet and had to carry 3/4 of way across pasture and all the way across big corral. I think I'll call it a day until something else happens. See more

2017 Calving season first entry. Mother & son posing for photo op.