Almost Gypsy Soul

I've been in a funk at work, not really knowing what the problem was....then I realized.....ITS FEBRUARY AND I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A SINGLE SHEEP CAMP. doh, easy fix right there! So I spent my day off in coveralls on the desert and just like that I feel better! I love it, I love spending time with my ranchers, I love meeting the herders, I love the dogs, I love the sheep and I love being in the wide open spaces. Hours melt into minutes on the desert and I honestly can't think of much I'd rather be doing than helping move camps, deliver groceries and making sure everything is ok. Q: I know most of your dogs aren't aggressive towards people, but this one is extra friendly...what's his story? A: Usually we put the guard dog puppies in a corral with sheep so that they will bond with the sheep and not with humans. Fugo didn't spend as much time in the bonding pen as he should have ie, he was "adopted" by humans. Fugo is not only a guard dog, but...

When Assistant Pack Leader came for Mountain States Circuit Finals rodeo this year, she wanted to visit sheep camp, so we went to visit one of my ranchers and he showed us the ropes of his multi-state, multi-county range sheep and cattle operation. Q: What is the oldest you will keep ewes? A: I keep older sheep than most people around here do because I have the set up to keep them in on better ground instead of going out into the desert. If they have good teeth and are raising lambs, I'll keep them until they are 7 or 8. Q: How often do you see the sheep? A: In the winter, I will see the sheep (and the herders) every 2-3 days. Winter range is about 100 miles from the ranch so its a pretty big trip, especially when we have to feed the sheep because I can't fit all the supplies into one pickup load. Q: After you cut the bucks out and make them into their own herd, do you have trouble with them fighting and hurting each other? A: Not too often, they are usually ti...

Q: What is the percentage of twins that are born? A: We usually expect about 115%, this year is looking better because of the great weather we've been having...I wouldn't be surprised if we dock at 130%. Catching a nap in the warm sunshine Q: What happens if a ewe has trouble lambing? A: If we find her, we will help by pulling the lamb. Any that don't breed, don't take a lamb or have trouble lambing get a permanent marker. They get two chances to raise a lamb before they are culled. Any ewes that have had trouble before or have big bags get cut from the main herd before lambing and are kept at the ranch where we can keep a closer eye on them. Its easier to help them there than it is on the open range. Q: How does this range lambing work? A: After shearing all the sheep are trailed to the lambing grounds. Once they start lambing, each day the 'fixer' will cut out the ewe and her lamb(s) and they are put into a 'bunch'. The 'bunches'...

I went through it once when my family stopped farming and I felt like I went through it again when one of my favorites sold his sheep a couple weeks ago. 31 trucks, that is what it takes to haul away a third generation ranch's range sheep herd.   Loading and leaving the desert A band waiting to be loaded onto the trucks Watching those trucks being loaded and then driving away made me sad. Things are changing and I'm don't like it. Aurelio and I at sheep camp I said goodbye to my favorite herder, Aurelio and goodbye to one of my favorite ways to spend a morning, going to sheep camps. Oscar, Aurelio's son pushing sheep to the trucks Its hard to comprehend the amount of red tape, controversy and plain BS that these guys have to deal with in order to run their operation, provide food and fiber to the world and take care of their families. Unfortunately most of it is government red tape and its making the outlook on survival of the range sheep ope...

Well its official, other than the whole ability to actually find a sheep camp on my own (I'm not a very good mud driver either so that might be a strike against me), I've been deemed worthy of being able to go to sheep camps on my own (this deeming may never be tested!). I think its because I know all the herders by name and I can say Hola and Hasta luego.....what else can you really need to know right? Although I did find out that one of my favorites may be able to speak fairly good English. I tried it out on my latest trip and I got some answers in English, probably need more cookies to really liven up the conversation........ So what did I find out on my latest sheep camp outing? Q: At what weight are lambs usually slaughtered? A: Lambs in the feedlot are usually slaughtered around 165 lbs. Q: Where do the bucks go after they do their work with the girls? A: After the bucks are cut out of the herds, they make their own herd until they head back to the summer cou...

I had a less than awesome week at work last week, so when one of my favorites came into the office on Thursday afternoon an impromptu field day Friday was planned. He is on my County Committee and I spent most of Friday helping him out, getting out and seeing the country and it was an almost perfect Friday....cold wind and all. I know at least one of my readers, plus me is interested in range sheep operations and as with most things....no two range sheep operations are the same. Even as they winter graze the same BLM allotment, they are quite different. Q: You don't have any black sheep, what do you use for markers? A: As soon as we are done shearing, we "paint" our markers red. As the wool grows out it is only on the outside edge so their wool can still be sold after the next year's shearing. Q: Do you have to keep the died wool separate? A: Yes, it doesn't affect the quality of the wool, but it is kept separate to be washed a little differently...

I am in awe of range sheep operations here. I just love them and I always have so many questions that I'm sure that my guys hate love taking me with them because I probably ask stupid questions, but they humor me and answer without laughing at me too much. Q: How many times are your sheep ran through "corrals" in a year? A: 6; shearing, docking, mouthing, before they go up to the forest for summer, coming off the forest and when we take the bucks out. Q: How do you protect your sheep against predators? A: We use herders and guard dogs. Great Pyrenees - Guard Dog Q: Are your dogs aggressive towards people, like people they don't know, like me!? A: Ours aren't, but some people have more aggressive guard dogs. Q: How often do herders get groceries delivered? Do they get to pick what they want to eat? Do they change it up? A: Groceries are delivered every 2 weeks, herders make their own list and anything goes as long as they don't eat better ...