Here we go again...

Time to dust the cobwebs off the old blog. Things are busy, busy on the farm. It's calving season again!

Al turns the bulls out at a specific time so that the calves are due in February. The idea is the snow will keep the calves out of the mud (full of bacteria) and they will be healthier and also larger this fall.  We had a few first-time heifers so this spring's deliveries have been interesting so far.

Right off the bat we had a cow, Leah drop a still-born calf.  Unfortunately the calves's legs were folded backward and she was unable to deliver on her own. The waterbag did not show until it was too late and we didn't know she was in active labor that long.  A day later, a first-time heifer needed help delivering a breech calf. Al basically had to pull. It was a huge bull calf! Thankfully, he made it!

Due to the circumstance of Leah not having a calf to raise, rather than sell her, Al opted to buy 2 Holstein calves for her to adopt and feed (rather than not having a job for the summer). She adopted the black and white, while the red and white calf with a perfect heart on his forehead was left for us to bottle feed.  The kids named him "Fiery Flynn" after a character on Thomas the Tank Engine.

So far we're about 1/2 done with the calving. All the babies are doing fine, still more to arrive.

Also this winter, Al sold some young heifers he raised last year and bought back some bred cows. They will bring in money right away this year while a heifer needs to be fed for 1-2 years before producing a calf.

When you buy cattle at the sales barn, you never know what you might get, but we got Lucky!  First a set of 3 red Angus types from a lady in WI.  She even called our house to see how they were getting along in their new home. One of the three who our kids named "Rainbow" is so tame that she loves to be scratched on the neck. She will actually push other cows out of the way for attention.

Another cow purchased on a separate sale is Harriet the Hereford.  Hereford cattle are my favorite, I love their markings. Harriet's old owner also got our number and told us basically her entire life story from her being a sick calf to favorite family cow. She is also fond of attention but not quite as much as Rainbow.

So here's to spring and some more baby calves!

Sorting & mud = Fun

A few days ago, Al decided the cattle needed to be given their pour-on ivermectin and that the cows and calves should be turned out to pasture and released from the smaller calving yard where they were kept for observation in case one needed help delivering.

Trying to get the cows into the barn isn't such a big deal. Most of them are pretty tame and would go right in to be put into pens and then run through the chute for medicines. The trouble was mostly the calves. I don't know if any of you have ever tried to herd calves, but it's like herding a bunch of deer. They take off and scatter, crashing through fence wire ducking wildly. Once the calves run, the cows usually follow their babies.

It was attempt no. 3 when I joined in. Al and his dad were not having luck. They'd get the cows about half way up the lane that led to the barn when they'd stop and push back out. I came up with another idea. Trot them in. With the two guys working either side, I hooped, hollered, growled and made all sorts of racket. The cows broke into a trot. I kept right after them and behind the barn they slowed to a quick walk. Cows went right in, calves split and went everyplace.Well, that was part of a victory. Only problem was, my boot had gotten stuck in about 2' of mud. Even pulling by hand I couldn't get it loose and- I was directly behind the barn door. If the cows came charging back out, I could be in real trouble.

I raised my purple sparkly dressage whip (which I use to herd cattle) in preparation to chase them around me should they come out of the barn. I thought to myself, I bet not many guys at the sales barns use sparkly dressage whips and then also that few dressage riders would use their whips on cattle. The thought made me chuckle. Meanwhile Al's dad came over and pulled my boot out. It was time to deal with the calves.

We tried to herd them back up same as cows, hoping they'd want to join their mamas in the barn. No luck. We tried cutting loose a cow and sending her back out to gather the calves so they'd follow her into the barn. Nope. Finally, Al had an idea. Go SLOW. Calves can't be worked like cattle they get scared too easy and run without thinking. We literally creeped up on them by inches waiting until each one was looking the correct direction, creeping more. Eventually we got them into the pens with their mama cows and everyone got their medicine and was turned onto pasture.

Cows are always an adventure. Never quite know what they're going to do. I'm still a greenhorn, but I'm learning. I at least have a concept of how to work them as before I'd just end up sending them the wrong way. Could've done without that mud though.

These lil buggars are fast!

(photo by dan routh photography)