Preg Checking

Preg Checking is down to a science out here.

No Veterinarians are on site- Just trained cowboys, telling those mama's if they are pregnant or not,

Unfortunately not by ultrasound

(I do feel sorry for them, I've been pregnant- I have the right too)

Some days we do have Vet Students from Colorado State up to "learn" how- but the cowboys are 10 x's faster than senior yr vet students

November was much like the month of June

Instead of branding everyday- It's preg checking 600-889 head from Sun up to Sun Down

The cows are put in the corrals the night before

In our case- by the wife and son because they were preg checking the day before and setting up all the chutes

The first step is out of the corrals, into the

"Daniels"

A 2 lane ally way that merges to 1

From the Daniel's to the Preg Box

(My job of the day besides cooking)

Our Preg Box is pretty Unique, it enables 3 cows to be restrained and checked all at the same time. With 4 cowboys rotating through to give their arms a break every 4th cow.

From the Preg Box to the Gray Ally

Our General Manager's, Chip, responsibility for the day,

With good 'ole Merel Running the Hydraulic Chute

And the boss of the day, checking each cow, deworming, re tagging if needed and sorting depending on age and if she had any problems this past year.

And the sight you pray to see 93% of your girl's pregnant!

What a long day- but a successful one.

Our herd was the largest on the ranch and they preg checked 889 cows in 8 hours including their breakfast snack break and lunch.