A Report From the Lassen County Cooperative Extension
A Report From the Lassen County Cooperative Extensionby Nancy Hemphill
Hello, my name is Nancy Hemphill from the Lassen County Cattlewomen’s organization. With the days getting shorter and mornings getting cooler we know Fall is in the air. The local ranchers are putting up the hay equipment for the year, planting winter grain crops, and sowing
new alfalfa on irrigated ground.
The cattle are coming off the mountain ranges. Processing cattle and branding fall‐born calves is also in the works. Processing cattle means preg checking cows and giving shots for preventing reproductive health problems.
Weaning the calves born last Spring is also a chore that has to be done this time of year. My husband and I use weaning devices called blabs when we wean our calves. A blab is a ring with barbs on it that is placed in the calf’s nose to deter the calf from nursing the momma cow. It does mean handling the calves an extra time. But, after seven to ten days with a blab in the nose, the separation of the calves from the cows is relatively quiet and calves go right to eating
some great chopped alfalfa hay.
We are praying for rain to ease the drought we are experiencing. With rain we have green grass and higher cattle prices. The Lassen Cattlewomen are participating in the Rails to Trails Chili Cook Off, so stop by this weekend for some great Beef Chili and support another awesome community event here in the wonderful land of Lassen.
