Winter 2017 | Issue Two
doctoring that needs to be done, but sometimes you have to factor in extra time for any potential problems. Knowing the stock that is getting ready to calve or kid is crucial to the success of calving and kidding season. Some stock have more problems during the birthing process than others, especially if they are young. You can think of it as being a first time mom; you’re nervous, ensure of what you are doing. It’s the same time for first time for livestock as well. They need an extra eye to ensure that she knows to lay down (rather than wander), that the calf is coming out the right way, and to make sure that the calf gets cleaned off and the mother accepts the newborn. Even if a calf or a kid is born successfully, the work doesn’t end. George must make sure that the newborn can stand up to feed from the mother, that it’s healthy, and ensure the safety of the newborn from harsh weather and predators. “There are no set hours,” he says of his work. “You go until there’s no daylight or mother nature fights you so hard you can’t fight it anymore or you’re just finally done.”
THE GOOD DAYS AND THE BAD
There’s also a lot of pressure leading up to calving and kidding season. “There’s a lot of anxiety and stress about a week before it happens, or two weeks before it happens,” says George. “Before you just run yourself ragged because you’re always watching and constantly and worried about this and worried about that. But once it happens, it’s not such a big deal.”
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Like any job, there are good days and bad days. “For me, probably the worst day we’ve had this year is when we had seven does [female goats] kid in one day in a 15-hour period, half of those needed assistance,” says George. When it comes to calving, some of the hardest times are due to weather. When a cow goes out to calve in a situation where there is two feet of snow, that’s what makes for difficult days. “Then you have to go out, thaw it out, and fight mother nature and fight the cow...Those are the hard days,” he says. George says good seasons, like this year’s kidding season, looks like only losing one kid, with 15 left to kid, and the rest being active and healthy. For calving seasons, their best was about two years ago when the market was high and they didn’t lose any of the calves. Ranching is an around-the-clock job, and Mehal knows better than anyone that supporting a rancher “is not for the faint of heart.” Date nights look a little different than the typical dinner and a movie. “It’s not glamorous by any means,” Mehal said. “Dating a rancher isn’t for the girls who are afraid to get dirty, his lifestyle comes with a lot of mud, dirt, and cow shit.” Because of George’s unique lifestyle, Mehal explained that she usually spends a lot of time helping with chores and keeping George company as he works. It’s a job that is full of unpredictability, long hours, and hard labor. It takes a certain person with a passion that drives them to continue each and every day. This is a way of life that means more than awards—it means bringing new life into Kittitas County.