112 in the Shade - Record High Today
Weeks of heat over 100 degrees in the Central Valley extract their toll in various ways after a while, sapping energy and derailing good intentions not essential to family and cattle. [Hence, no posts here for the past week.] After a very pleasant end of May and most of June, it’s turned predictability hot, nights now near eighty degrees as the clay hillsides retain our all-day blaze. In the canyons along the foothills we have fairly steady breezes, but in Visalia, it’s still and stifling, noticeably warmer with asphalt, concrete and buildings radiating warmth well after dark.
Last week we were pleased with how our steer calves weighed when we shipped Thursday, averaging 750 pounds gross – a first for us, but testifying mostly to an exceptional feed year. We have a load of cows headed to the bred-cow sale tomorrow, and another load of steers to ship Tuesday. In between, we’re feeding yearlings and bulls, pumping stockwater and trying to stay cool.
The cow/calf business in our vicinity has changed dramatically over the past decade. Whether Electronic Identification (EID) tags, vaccination programs, Internet and video sales, gone are the carefree days of getting to the work when we want. The difference is money. Having cattle for sale that meet the requirements of buyers you don’t know, uniform truckload lots to any Western state might mean $50-100/head as opposed to hauling them to the local sales barn when you get around to it.
All new ground for us as we try to gear-up to satisfy a broader market, selling natural beef when we can. Forty years ago we held our calves over for a second grass season, selling them at 18-20 months and aiming for 8-weight steers. Today on the same ground, our calves are sold with a 45-day wean at 10 months of age. Most of the difference is genetics and hay.
Though pleased with the results, it’s a lot more physical work than it used to be. Add-in the heat and one always wonders if this is the direction a man over sixty ought to be going. But still beats the hell out of punching a clock!