This week is always one of the busiest on the ranch. We AI our momma cows and heifers (artificially inseminate) for the best possible genetics for superior meat quality and to continually improve the genetics of our breeding momma cows. It’s quite a process that involves lots of cold early mornings checking to see who is in heat and bringing the cows through the corrals every other day. The girls are a big help for the whole process and work hard to make this happen. We finished the AI process yesterday and then had to move the whole herd up on the mountain where it’s drier to feed all winter. It didn’t quite go so smoothly but we got it done just before dark. I also had a save a bloated calf mid-way through moving them up the hill. It’s unusual for a calf to bloat up but it happened quickly and started suffocating the calf. The calf laid down and was trying to breath but we started loosing him so I grabbed James’ knife and stabbed the rumen to release the pressure. We had to pump its heart and continue to push to get the pressure down (even used a straw) and finally we got it breathing! It was pretty intense but the calf is alive! He will need antibiotics and will recover in the barn with momma. But everybody is motivated to push through the long week because our tradition has become to head to the NFR in Vegas as a reward after the hard work week and before we start lambing next week!