Stepaside Farm

Quality thoroughbreds, Angus, and fullblood Wagyu

  • Stepaside Farm
  • Home
  • Thoroughbreds
  • Angus
  • Wagyu
    • Fullblood Wagyu embryos
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Facebook
The Ranch at Stepaside Farm

All uphill: Winter ranch work at Stepaside Farm

Improving the new ranch property

We’re working on the new road on the ranch property up the hill and putting in a new processing area for the cows. We’ve got a great level space for it. Instead of a mechanical squeeze like we use on the farm, this time we’re putting in a hydraulic squeeze chute. Hopefully, it will be a lot kinder and friendlier to the cows.

Before we chose the squeeze, I really wanted to see one in person. So I went out to look at a chute installed at a feed lot nearby and ended up hiring someone to set up our whole processing area. It was a happy accident. The guy I hired knows what he’s doing, is methodical, and will save me expensive mistakes. It takes a lot to admit, but I just can’t do everything. If all goes as planned (and that’s always a big IF on a ranch), our cows will be up on the ranch property by the middle of February.

The site of our future processing area.

Adding to the team

Also starting in February, we’re gaining a herdsman to take over the primary duty of handling, caring for, and breeding our herd. It’s great. I’ll still be around the cows, but now we’ll have someone with experience to take the reins and steer us in the right direction. Now the herd’s needs won’t be all on me anymore, but I’m looking forward to it. With a herdsman in charge, I can focus on doing the things I enjoy most.

The cows keep coming

We’ve got load of calves coming along soon. Our new Wagyu bull is out in the pasture with the girls. Our two new heifers also arrived from Vintage Angus Ranch, both pregnant by a well-known sires. One of the heifers was small, but she’s caught right up. Just like thoroughbred yearlings–sometimes they look like weanlings, and they’re a gamble. But with such good bloodlines, they will be big girls. Later, they’ll help us create embryos to build our herd.

That’s all the news for now. I’m headed back up the hill to do more work getting the ranch ready and will try to keep the Caterpillar upright going uphill.

«
»

news 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get updates via email

Recent Posts

  • About Julia
  • Getting the babies ready for the track
  • Stepaside Farm update — September 2018
  • Calves, skunks, and mud: Stepaside Farm update
  • Our retirees at Stepaside Farm
  • Putting in water

Categories

  • Angus
  • Farm projects
  • news
  • Thoroughbreds
  • Uncategorized
  • Wagyu

Archives

  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015

Copyright © 2019 Stepaside Farm. All rights reserved. · A Sprout New Media website.