Pneumonia and Larkspur Control

#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk

This week we vaccinated the calves on the mountain. I learned that although having a great vaccine program there is still potential for problems. The Galloways have vaccinated for pneumonia, but a different strain has hit and plagued the heard. We have doctored over 50 calves this week.

We continued to spray for poison[ious weeds]. This is an ongoing struggle and moral dilemma. We have been spraying larkspur, which is extremely poisonous to cows. The dilemma comes as larkspur is a native plant. So, you are left with the decision to target and destroy a native plant or risk losing a large portion of your calf crop.

It’s not so much [of] a challenge, as due to government intervention, there is an inability to handle the issue of sagebrush and Juniper. There is [an] over growth of both shrubs. Through my current education and knowledge, I would rather [use]due prescribed burns, as the Native Americans handled the range before technology such as machines and chemicals.

The Galloways would like to also do prescribed burns but have not been allowed [to] by the Forest Service. So, left with short options, they are opting to bush hog [cut] the Sage Brush down.

[This past week I learned to] actively prescribe burn my deeded pasture whenever it is safe and practical to do so. I believe that this is the best way to maintain healthy species diversity in you pasture and deal with issues of over growth of shrubs like sage brush and juniper as well as invasive species like cheatgrass.

[Questions I have this week are:] How do you take vacations? How do you compete with other ranchers that have alternate income specifically the ones that own other businesses? How do you communicate with consumers to let them know that you aren’t the bad guy in the climate change discussion? How do we bring ranchers back to having a relationship with the consumer ?