Reproduction, Regulations, and Real-World Decisions
#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk
Week 9 was another full and varied week, and one of the highlights was something I had genuinely been looking forward to getting more hands-on time with the animals alongside a professional. This week we had the veterinarian come out to semen test all of our rams. Getting the rams gathered and prepared went smoothly, as that part of the process has become fairly routine. The collection and separation portion took longer than I anticipated, but it was time well spent. The vet was open and generous with his knowledge throughout the process, which I really appreciated. He let me look through the microscope and walked me through exactly what he was looking for and what healthy cells look like, what raises a red flag, and how he evaluates what he is seeing. That kind of one-on-one conversation with someone working in a field I am genuinely curious about is something I always try to make the most of.
The results, unfortunately, were not what anyone was hoping for. A significant number of the rams came back with poor results, which apparently is not something that happens often here. After talking it through, two likely factors emerged. The first is the lack of rainfall this season, which has limited grass growth and may have left the rams without the level of nutrition they needed. The second is heat such as if the rams got overheated during a move on a warm day, that alone can affect the results. I found that second point particularly interesting because it is not something I would have thought to connect on my own. It made me curious about what a retest would show on a cooler day under better conditions, and I hope they get the chance to do that. As for the rams that tested poorly, a decision still needs to be made about what to do with them. I may not be here by the time that plays out, but my understanding is that they will likely be sold.
Alongside the vet work, we also applied scrapie tags to the rams being sold out of state. These are identification tags that track where an animal came from, which is required for interstate sale. It was a small but important detail that I had not come across before, and it added another layer to my understanding of the regulations and recordkeeping that go into livestock sales. The rest of the week was built around my usual chores and general ranch maintenance. One thing that has become increasingly clear as the summer heat has stretched on is just how critical water and supplemental nutrition are for the animals during these conditions. Making sure every animal has access to enough water, especially on the hottest days, is not something that can be overlooked or pushed to later. It is one of those non-negotiable daily priorities that I have come to take seriously.
One of my favorite experiences of the week was helping gather hay from a field and haul it out. We loaded two trailer loads headed to South Dakota, and I was out in the field walking alongside the trailer, throwing bales up to be stacked. I kept at it until the stack got high enough that I could no longer throw bales up effectively, and then on the next round I got to drive the truck, which was a satisfying way to stay involved as the work shifted. It was a good day and the kind of physical, all-hands work that I genuinely enjoy. That said, it did not wrap up without a few reminders that things do not always go according to plan. On the way, one of the trailer loads came loose and a good number of hay bales ended up on the road. We also had to stop to change a tire. Neither of those things derailed the day, but they were good reminders that even a well-organized operation runs into hiccups, and what matters is how you handle them and keep moving. We got the hay picked up, got back on the road, and made it back later that evening. It was a long but memorable day. With my final week coming up next, including three days shadowing a veterinarian, I am looking forward to finishing out this internship on a strong note.
Submitted by: Kaci Jericoff
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
