Busy Summer Week for the Ledingham's!

This week has been bustling with activity here on the ranch! From weighing lambs to preparing for the farmers market, we've had our hands full. Here's a glimpse into our busy week:

Weighing Lambs

John was able to complete the sheep scale and calibrate it after finding a YouTube video. Monday morning the kids and I ran all the lambs through and recorded weights. Thanks to my Honey's handy work, the revamped sliding gates are amazing!

Since we have had no measurable moisture since mid-April we are running short on grass which means that the ewes are maintaining their weights and the lambs are gaining a small amount. With green grass --green translates to protein for animals-- we expect the lambs to gain .75-1 pound per day. Right now they are likely closer to .33 pounds per day. We will double check that in a couple weeks when we weigh again. So since we're running low on green grass we will wean the 20 heaviest this coming week to make sure they are an optimal weight for processing in July. Being weaned means they will get to hang out in the shade with 24/7 access to some great hay, and their mommas can focus on gaining back a bit of weight before it's time to breed again in a few months. Also its a great time to take our ram out of the herd so we don't end up with lambs at the wrong time of year; since sheep are herd animals he'll be pleased with the company.

It all starts back here with Makayla gathering a few ewes and lambs into the 'crowd tub' and crowding them up the alleyway leading to the scale.

Katelyn was the secretary recording tag numbers and weights.

Natalie ran the front gate to turn the lambs out after we recorded their weights while I ran the back gate to let them onto the scale one at a time.

At least I got a picture of Colton while he was happy to be outside. It gets to be kind of a long morning to chill in the stroller when you're eager to explore.

Starting up the Fodder System

Because of the lack of rain we started up our fodder system this week which we created almost two years ago. In simple terms it is micro-greens for cows and it is important since they are lactating and we are getting ready to breed them soon. They need the extra protein and nutrients to make sure they are in good condition to be bred and carry a calf. This extra chore takes an hour or more each day to maintain and manage. We plant 56 trays each day to fill one row. By the middle of next week all the rows will be filled and the oats will be sprouted and ready to feed.

Fodder system is empty, but not for long.

Sheep Showmanship Camp

At the end of the week the older girls attended a sheep showmanship camp. At this camp they learn and practice handling and presenting the lambs for a judge in preparation for the county fair coming up in August. A highlight of camp is the fitting contest (think beauty contest for sheep-- it includes washing from head to hoof, clipping their bodies, and making their leg wool look fluffy). The camp counselors were fantastic, providing valuable tips, hands-on experience and plenty of fun games. The girls love camp and come back ready to really put the work in with their lambs so they are ready for the showring.

Preparing for the Farmers Market

Today we'll start preparing for the farmers market on Saturday. This market is a significant event for us, where we sell not only our eggs, lamb, and beef, but also goat meat the our friends raise. We'll get eggs washed and packed and coolers filled and samples prepared. If you're in the Greeley area be sure to swing by and say hello!

Wrapping Up

As we wrap up this busy week, we're reminded of why we love ranch life. It's a blend of hard work, learning, and family time. We're looking forward this weekend with rain forecasted for our area and a bit of a cool down. Maybe with the rain we'll enjoy a family movie night and relax.