We finished doing the embryo programme in trying conditions (pouring rain!). For the next few days we took out loose lick minerals and salt blocks to the bred heifers and cows. Got to go out to as many of the pastures as the sodden conditions permitted to look at their genetics - saw their donor cows and bulls they've bred, as well as herd sires they've bought, plus a lot of progeny by bulls that are available in Australia that we've used in our own Stud. A tremendous line of cattle!!! Pictured below is Queen of Peak Dot 832S, one of their awesome donor cows. Also spent a lot of time talking about genetics & went through heaps of sale catalogues which was so interesting.
I got to visit several other ranches that Peak Dot Ranch work in partnership with. At one we did flushing & implanting fresh embryos; at another we implanted frozen embryos; and then at another we pulled CIDR's for their AI program. Interesting to see how these relationships work and how these partnerships between ranches are mutually beneficial.
I had an awesome time at Peak Dot and was made to feel part of the family - I had my first weiner roast at one of the boy's birthday - 'weiners' (hotdogs) roasted over an open fire on forks and served with dill pickles, onions, cheese.. whatever takes your fancy! + 'smores' - marshmallows melted over the fire, put between two biscuits with a piece of chocolate, and melted... yummy! They took me to Wood Mountain Provincial Park, where Sitting Bull and his tribe lived after the Battle of the Little Big Horn; also the Rodeo Museum (site of longest continual rodeo in Canada); we went to Regina and looked around; also spent a day in Moose Jaw where we went on a trolly tour and walked down the historic mainstreet with old buildings covered with murals & visited their renowned underground tunnels. I learnt a lot from my time at Peak Dot, and I so appreciate the hospitality the family showed me!!!
