what country kids do for fun

...take their calf for a walk in the orchard

Breeding Season

Jazz was AIed yesterday to In Focus (page 5), a popular bull in the Angus industry. If she takes, her Shorthorn Plus (50% Shorthorn-50% Black Angus) calf will be born around March 24, 2012.

I was really starting to worry I might not catch Jazz in heat and not be able to get her bred back on time. So, this is good. A late March calf is good, and only a month later than this year's calving. Timing was crucial. I looked out the window 7:00 Tues. night and caught a glimpse of Jazz with her chin on Crater and him rushing forward away from her--maybe she started to ride him? Two hours before dark, asking kids to watch for more signs, on the internet, a few phone calls, was given the number of apparently the only AI guy around from Canby {see 'Local Resources' section in sidebar}. Called him and he could come in the morning. Nice. Narrowed down bull to go with next. Another call to 4R Ranch down the road to check on options for bull semen and finalized decision. Cow is mostly grazing, a little mulling around and head rubbing with steer, but kids saw her try to ride calf and steer again. That was it. I never really saw much myself, so good thing I didn't end up going anywhere that night. Good thing I forgot about the 4-H Leader meeting/fair orientation at the fairgrounds.

This first year of being back into raising cattle is like one hurdle after the other--just busy, and new things to learn and get set up. You really need a lot of resources {see 'Local Resources' section in sidebar} that come from networking with other breeders. Where to buy cattle, feed, show supplies, hay, who to use as a vet, AI tech, which shows to go to, where to register, on and on. Calving, vaccinations/worming, weigh-in, steer feeding program, showing, AI breeding, vet scheduled for Bangs vaccination, registering heifer, hauling hay, weaning, and on and on. I can't imagine how overwhelming it would be if I hadn't grown up with all this and had that background to guide me. Most of all, couldn't do it without support from husband, his skills at building fences and feeders, pasture management, driving a tractor and stock trailer, and...his money for investing.

Quizz

I thought it was time to take calf growth photos again. Here is Quizz on June 14 at 113 days of age--a week from 4 months. We are excited to get her in the show ring and see how she does. I am impressed with her overall size, thickness, and width across the top. She is going to be a real easy fleshing cow like her mama. This is the type of calves we set out to raise. If you're going to grow beef cattle, you want thick, meaty, sound cattle that put weight on easily instead of costing you for needing extra feed. She also has a good temperment, which is important for trouble-free and easy-growing cattle. If they are flighty, not only are they hard to handle at home and at shows, but they tend to not feed, grow and keep their condition as well when easily stressed.

The kids got the halter on Quizz last night and we walked/worked with her. We rigged an old, yellow rope calf halter to keep on her so it will be easy to work with her over the next week. It stays loose around her nose, but is knotted to not come off, and has a short, two-foot lead hanging down. To catch her, we just grab the halter when she comes in to feed, instead of having to rope her around the neck, wrestle with her to halter her, and get stepped on and splattered with manure at the same time. To work with her, we just clip on a neck rope around the knotted end of the short lead.

Spring Classic

2011 Spring Classic Junior Livestock Show in Canby, Oregon at the Clackamas Co. Fairgrounds, May 27-29

Jess showed Crater in the market steer class on Saturday, and in showmanship on Sunday. Crater weighed in at 1237 and was in class 6 out of 7, putting him on the heavyweight end of things. And yet, he still needs to put on more weight to be finished out for county fair. He has too big of a frame, and not enough muscling and thickness to be the ideal type of steer. But, he has been a fun first steer project for Jess. Crater has been super easy to handle at home. Pulling him out of the pasture and bringing him to the fairgrounds stressed him out, though. He was difficult to show, and had a lot of 'Angus' energy to work out, I guess.
Jess had a really fun weekend showing, and it was a great warm-up to fair. She gained a lot of experience and confidence in the show ring. A big thanks to our county's champion senior showman, Justin Jones, for taking time to give her a few private lessons before showmanship! And, CONGRATULATIONS, to Kylee of Rusher's 4R Ranch for taking Supreme Champion Female with their Angus show heifer.
The best part was having her cousin, Morgan, there. Morgan showed her Boer Goat, and won Reserve Champion Junior Showman! Little sisters, Catie and cousin Reese, and the brothers, Andrew & cousin Grant, also had fun hanging out at the show.













   





State Fair Reminiscent

Quizz



1.5 months {46 days}



We're documenting the growth of our first calf on the farm. This photo was taken last week.

We just put a halter on her last night; not quite two months old yet, but the younger she is the easier it will be to halter break her. I left the halter on her for 24 hours, and have been keeping an eye on her while she drags it around the field. I've been tying her up while the cow and steer feed and they're all in the barn. She pulls, jumps around and goes wild; not fun.

4-H Project Steer

Clackamas County Junior Livestock Association 2011 4-H Market Steer

Jess selected and did the bidding on Angus steer #16 at the 4R Ranch Victory Sale this Fall. He weighed 705 pounds in October. He was halter broke and had a gentle disposition, so Jess was able to bring him home and work with him right away. Crater is shown with his new eartag from the CCJLA steer weigh-in on March 6. He weighed 916 and will end up being around 1300 pounds at fair in August. He is now up to eating 19 pounds of grain per day. Jess & I have researched, decided on a feed program, typed up a feeding chart, printed and posted it on a clipboard in the barn. We weigh and measure the feed carefully, and check off the two feedings at 7:30 am and 7:30 pm everyday. Crater gets brushed and worked with the stick while he is feeding everyday. Jess will start to wash and blow his hair out every week now that the weather is warming up. Her first show of the season is the CCSA Spring Classic Jr. Livestock Show at the fairgrounds Memorial Day weekend.

Quizz

Two weeks old

One month old

One month old

Jazz, Crater & Quizz

2010 Clackamas County Fair, Canby, Oregon--August 17-22

 

Jess & Jazz at home before fair--needed a 'friendly' photo to put up on the stall card.

Every morning, after feeding, they'd be at the wash racks. Jess was usually the last one in and out--still learning the wash routine at her first show!

After washing, into the chute to blow dry and set the hair.

The first day of fair, entering the show ring for the open class Shorthorn show, Jess tripped, spooked her heifer, and was stepped on by the 1200 pound animal. She was unable to show, as the paramedics were busy checking her out. There was some concern over the extent and seriousness of her injury to the upper leg, and the paramedics had her in the ambulance at one point. After further evaluation, we decided I would drive her to the ER to be checked out. Her injury turned out to be a very large 'hematoma contusion'--or in other words--a very large bruise! Grandma, cousin Morgan, little brother and sister, who were en route to the show already, changed their course and met us at the ER in Oregon City instead. A few interesting stories from the ER--when checking J in, the young receptionist asked what had happened and when I told her she was stepped on by a 1200 pound cow at the fair, the girl ACTUALLY stated, "Oh, well, that's not that big is it?" Ahhhh, hmmmm....did I not just say 1200 pounds? Seriously, to this day I don't get that comment. Next, we had a visit from a woman chaplain who came in to the room we were put in. She was just there for support and see if she could be of any comfort, so she asked questions about the fair and then told stories about growing up on a farm herself. Several minutes later, as she was leaving she goes, "Well, I guess I'll be MOOO-ving on now," and she laughed at her own joke. Morgan, Jess and I exchanged looks and saved our snickers for after she was gone. But, then I noted a panicked look on Jess's face, and she said, "Mom!" with disgust. "What?" "She didn't even check my leg!" Jess had thought that woman was the doctor and couldn't believe she never even checked her out. Hilarious. Finally, after the doctor, a man, finally did come in and check her out (he was quick to assess the situation and note that his patient was without major injury), Jess had her leg wrapped and was dressed again in the shorts we brought in for her. As we were leaving the girls decorated the room's dry erase board with comments: "I was stepped on by a 1200 pound cow!" Now how often do you think they come across that in this ER? Most likely, never again.

The next morning, bolstered by huge support from everyone as word got around the fairgrounds that she was the girl who got stepped on yesterday, she entered the ring with confidence and made her mommy very proud. I could not believe how well she did for her first show, and showmanship class at that! She placed third behind sixth graders who were two years older and third year juniors. Her cow didn't stand still for the judge, but sidestepped a bit when he came to handle her. This got them out of line a bit, but Jess recovered and was able to keep her still for the judge's second pass. Jess was pleased with how she did, too.

Jess & Jazz in the stalls, that we all helped whitewash the Saturday before the fair, by the way. That is a yearly project when you come to set up for fair. Jazz's neck rope I made myself with a ring and clip. I haven't taught Jess how to make rope halters yet, though. That is a good lesson for this year.

A look at the barns and tack area with Morgan, Grandma (my mom), Catherine, and Jess. My mom made that little red tack box for Jess and Jim put casters and a latch and lock on. We also got outfitted in the summer with an old blue blower we purchased second hand, and small blocking clippers, show stick, hair stimulator comb, comb holder and all the sprays ordered from Sullivan's. The blocking chute, leather show halter, large clippers, a comb and 2 brushes, a bucket and feed pan were all hand-me-downs from my show days, which we were lucky to not have to purchase. We were also sporting a very nice, new (barely used) stock trailer we purchased a few years ago from our neighbor. All things considered, Jess has it very good. Surrounded by people with experience has certainly put her ahead for just starting out.

Cowgirl Catie spent much of her time at fair sitting and 'holding' this sweet little calf stalled the next aisle over. She was in her element for sure.



Rustic Vegetable-Beef Soup

I came up with this last week on a snow day and it really hit the spot. I later wrote down the 'recipe' as best I could remember of what went in, and will retest and photograph when I get to the store for some more fennel seeds and maybe cabbage, as well. So, for now, amounts of ingredients are approximated as per usual for me, but slight variations should be fine. By the way, I always do soups in my enamel cast-iron 6-quart dutch oven--the cast iron holds the heat well and does a quick job of bringing the flavors together like an all-day slow cooker.

Ingrediets:

1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 c. turkey bacon, chopped
1 sm. onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1-2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can french cut green beans
3-4 c. raw potato, peeled (or not) and chopped
1-2 qt. water

Spices:

1 T. onion powder or minced onion flakes
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. fennel seed
1 1/2-2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 fresh, finely gound pepper
1-2 T. sugar

Directions:

Brown beef and bacon with onion and celery in dutch oven until all are thouroughly cooked and have rendered their flavors. Add remaining ingredients, stir and cook on medium (keep at a low simmer) for 1 hour, give or take. Towards the end of the cooking time, adjust liquid and spices to taste, simmering 15-20 minutes longer if adding any.


Additional Notes:

When making soups, I think about varying colors, textures, and tying together flavors with with the ingredients. If you get too crazy with spices, they work against each other, but the combination of cumin, oregano and fennel along with onion and garlic powders compliment each other. Leaving peels on the potato lends a more rustic sense, while soft, white squares of peeled potato add a very appealing look to the soup. So, you be the judge.

To add to the 'rustic-ness', I added larger chunks of chopped, fresh tomato mostly because I had some to use up, but realized this added another layer to the soup. Other vegetables that would work very nicely are cabbage, corn and shredded carrot.

Calving Season

Sunday, February 20, 2011
Shorthorn heifer calf born--

JAC Quizz 220Y

BD: 2/20/11  
BW: 83

Sire: Ar Su Lu Tonic

Dam: HR All Jazzed Up of OSU

My daughter's show heifer from last year finally had her calf, after we've been watching her closely all month. She is the first calf born to our little suburban farm/ranch. Good timing, right after church when we were all home, and fair weather, dry and not too cold during the day.

It was an exciting day for us as we have been anxiously waiting to see what this little calf would look like. That is one fun part of raising Shorthorns; they can have any combination of red and white markings--spotted, patches, and my favorite, roan. This calf has some roan, but she is mostly red, which we also like. The coloring is good for a show heifer.  

The kids came up with the name 'JacQuizz' because it has 'Jazz' in it, and because they are big Beaver football fans. Jacquizz Rodgers, OSU running back, is one of their favorite players. Also, we purchased Jazz as a bred heifer from Hillside Ranch, which was owned by Oregon State University as part of their Ag. teaching program. I thought it was a clever choice. They call her 'Quizz'.