My favorite cattlewomen.
As mother nature breathes new life onto the earth and all its treasures, we prepare the ground, and plant or sew, in anticipation of a harvest of her bounty. The pastures are starting to green up and blooms abound. Busy times at the farm are ahead.
We have had quite a few more calves, four in one week. It was a bad rainy week of course, so the little calves were soaking wet and cold. But know they are healthy and happy now.
Yesterday we worked the herd through the chute. We ran 36 through starting with the adults and then the calves. Only one momma to be heifer really gave us a hard time. It took forever to get her into the squeeze chute. She better not make a habit of it, or I will buy a cattle prod. As a matter of fact I think I will buy one just to have on hand. I had much needed help from family. Jeanine turned into super cattlewomen, and shocked me with her skills, she was jumping gates and wrangling calves like a seasoned range hand. She was really bruised up this morning and hurting a little. But ya know, I think she really enjoyed it. My sister in law Shelly, who has had medical training, was indespensible helping with vaccines and setting up my tatoos, and ear tags for the calves. All I had to do was hold my hand out, and boom, what I needed was in my hand without even asking for it. Joey my brother in law was awesome on the head catch, as the smaller cattle are too small to use it automatically. He moved all the cattle out after they were worked. Angela Piette, our friend was the record keeper, she had to track the blackleg and respiratory vaccines, cattle number, sex, worming, ear tagging, ear tatooing, and castrations. She was awesome. Mimi looked after Ariyana, Shelly and Joey's baby and our kids so we could work uninterupted. Papo worked the chute gate which is an overhead pull type. That is a workout in itself. He also helped me with the hay feeding after the chute work. We worked over six hours straight with only a five minute water break. The work was exhasting but very rewarding. We should have five more calves due before mid June, then the cycle will begin again. There is still plenty of hay left so I have to decide to either sell it or keep it in case of a drought summer. I will wait and see what the new hay season brings.
We have had quite a few more calves, four in one week. It was a bad rainy week of course, so the little calves were soaking wet and cold. But know they are healthy and happy now.
Yesterday we worked the herd through the chute. We ran 36 through starting with the adults and then the calves. Only one momma to be heifer really gave us a hard time. It took forever to get her into the squeeze chute. She better not make a habit of it, or I will buy a cattle prod. As a matter of fact I think I will buy one just to have on hand. I had much needed help from family. Jeanine turned into super cattlewomen, and shocked me with her skills, she was jumping gates and wrangling calves like a seasoned range hand. She was really bruised up this morning and hurting a little. But ya know, I think she really enjoyed it. My sister in law Shelly, who has had medical training, was indespensible helping with vaccines and setting up my tatoos, and ear tags for the calves. All I had to do was hold my hand out, and boom, what I needed was in my hand without even asking for it. Joey my brother in law was awesome on the head catch, as the smaller cattle are too small to use it automatically. He moved all the cattle out after they were worked. Angela Piette, our friend was the record keeper, she had to track the blackleg and respiratory vaccines, cattle number, sex, worming, ear tagging, ear tatooing, and castrations. She was awesome. Mimi looked after Ariyana, Shelly and Joey's baby and our kids so we could work uninterupted. Papo worked the chute gate which is an overhead pull type. That is a workout in itself. He also helped me with the hay feeding after the chute work. We worked over six hours straight with only a five minute water break. The work was exhasting but very rewarding. We should have five more calves due before mid June, then the cycle will begin again. There is still plenty of hay left so I have to decide to either sell it or keep it in case of a drought summer. I will wait and see what the new hay season brings.
Newborn during a downpour.
Ear tag just like the big bull little buddy.
Hard workin cowpokes.
Ready for those cool tatoos and ear tags!
Beaver, about 45 lbs.
I think that the beaver situation is under control as I have been doing some trapping. It seems they have moved further upstream and have not been damming up at the creek bridge. The beaver is an incredibly smart animal, and pretty tasty too. Now there is about 5 tons of dam debris to clean up, aarrgg! As if I didn't have enough to do.
Shilo with a little colic.
One of Ami's horses, Shilo the gelding had a case of colic two weeks ago, so I called her and she came immediately and started working it out of him. She is pretty darn good with her horses. He is fine now and back to normal. Ami just purchased her first house just 5 miles from the farm, and close to where she teaches. I am so proud of her. She is a great mom and an awesome daughter. Cash my grandson has started playing T-Ball this year, 3rd base. He is so cute.
Six young calves resting after play.
A look ahead will be getting the pastures and hay fields ready, fence mending, adding some gates in the cattle working pens, and tractor maintenance. We have also decided to raise some chickens this year. Probably some Naked Neck and Golden Nugget breeds, that will give us both good egg layers and meat birds. Now to build the chicken coop. Well back to work!
RSS Feed
