Well, I was posting some pictures to the website and came across this post to my blog that never got posted. The facts are different(some of them at least) It is not August. It is not 100 degrees. But something is still true. Today is Easter. A great day. We woke up this morning to find a flush cow with her leg in a cattle guard…..I mean in the cattle guard. The last time I saw this, a leg was broken. We couldn’t find the new Ranger heifer she just had. We had them in the pen, the calf, though small was nuckling, something I had never seen in a small calf before. We couldn’t find the calf anywhere. Karra had heard coyotes last night so close it woke her up. We assumed the worst. You see, it has been that kind of season for us. Trial, hardship, stuff going wrong that just seemed impossible. Last week the 4 wheeler came off the trailer…totaled. Week before that, sewer line collapsed, week before that…you get the idea! I know there is at least one person that God will bring to this blog (someday) that needs to hear what I am feeling, what I know to be true. The truth in the Gospel is that God is kind and He loves me and will see me through all my trials. You too. Don’t giveup. Happy Easter!
August 2, 2010
Man, I wish there was another topic of conversation. I’m getting tired of talking about how hot and dry it is. It sure feels like August, but it looks like January! As of today (8/2) Childress has had 68 days over 100 degrees, with 46 of those, consecutive. And it seems like it is usually 108 or above. I have always asked God that if I am to go through a trial (and this is a doozy), I want to make sure that I learn the lesson…..I don’t want to have to go over it again, if I can avoid it. So what can we learn from this weather.
Water is important and very valuable. Don’t waste it. Make it available to your cattle. Water intake has a great deal to do with daily gain.
Use this time to learn about your herd. The heat is very hard on cattle. They are less heat tolerant than we are. It affects their fertility, makes them not want to eat. The very best of your herd will rise to the top. If a cow breds in this weather, she is doing a great job. Even great cows can miss in this weather, a cow that breeds is a keeper for sure! This weather will make you get rid of those cows you love, but gave a pass when grass was plentiful. Freeloaders don’t get to stay when there is not enough grass. Those that stay will make you money.
Manage your grass. In times like these you have to be a better manager. Move your cattle sooner. Feed hay to help conserve grass. Put it in the outside of the pasture, away from the water. Make the cows work for a living and do a better job harvesting ALL the pasture.
Lots of producers have sold out by now. The rest of us know it will not be a profitable year. Hay is expensive, and if you are gonna stay in business, you are gonna feed hay….period. Karra and I have decided to stick with the ones we have. Our herd has been culled. We have no freeloading cows. I can’t face selling them all and going through the herd building process again.
So, we are gonna learn. The cows will have to prove their worth, or go somewhere else to work. In the meantime, all we can do is pray. And try to learn from this trial!
But here is what not to forget. God uses trial to grow us. I have studied the Bible alot….and I STILL can’t find where He grows us through blessing. Of course (!) He loves to bless us. He just knows more about us than we do. He knows what we need and how to get us there. I’m believing He loves us, He wants us in the cattle business and He will see us through.
I see this every day. I see that canyon when I leave my front door. I still pinch myself that God has blessed me in such a way. He created all this, and He loves me (and you)
