Canesister's 2025 journal - Bushel & Peck Farm

[farmerjan]

I have known Kymberly for many years... while she was still a kid in high school. Her dad worked at one of the local stock yards for years and years. She is one of the most sensible people I know to be working in the VDACS system.
If she says there is a confirmed case, I take it as gospel.
She did not tout any fear mongering crap... or shut down or panic or anything... just to take biosecurity of your poultry seriously.
Yes, she works for the government, and yes they follow certain protocols... but she is not a "book learned, no practical experience" college flunky.
I don't believe alot of what the gov't espouses... but she is not one of "them".

She goes to the big poultry swap that @Mini Horses and @canesisters and I meet up at... and goes to our Va Poultry Breeders show and lots of other poultry "events"... checking for blood tests and looking at birds and seeing if there are sick birds etc.

 

[SageHill]

It’s here again as well

 

[canesisters]

I was informed this evening that we'll be doing a 'changeover' Tues AM to start another trial.... and that I am expected to be on hand - as the only certified Beamer operator on my shift - so that I'll be able to do this on my own if needed.
1st... I work nights & changeovers require an engineer to be present (days only)
2nd... my supervisor SHOULD be the one being required to be there
3rd... I'll get off Mon AM from my 3- night set & will have to be up & on the road by 6am Tues
4th... I DID say I wanted overtime

 

[farmerjan]

Whether they are following the "actual protocol" like you said your supervisor SHOULD be there...or fudging it by "expecting" you to be there..... that might be a real feather in your cap since they are expecting you to be there. Obviously your skills are above that of the supervisor.... may be time to see about some sort of "elevation" of your status ?????? Seems to me you are becoming indispensible...
WAY TO GO.....

 

[canesisters]

Eva started bellowing as I was leaving last night (1/17) and is actively serenading this end of the county today.

She was a couple of days late starting. She's almost always been exactly 21 days from one heat to the next. This time I thought it had been 24. However, on the last couple of heats, she bellowed for 2 days instead of 1. If I count from the first day she was quiet, it's still 21 days until the bellowing starts. I'm wondering if the extended cycle is gong to make timing her breeding tricky. Maybe just have him come out 2 mornings in a row instead of the usual 1? If I've calculated correctly (& her hormones cooperate) the cycle in Feb should be over a weekend when I'm off.

 

[farmerjan]

Can't get her bred now? Here the breeder gets calls in the morning and breeds in the afternoon or calls in the afternoon and breeds the next morning. And yes, after breeding the first time, have the AI tech come back in 12 or 24... and breed a second time... yes, twice the cost of semen, much better chance to catch her during ovulation... and ask about maybe giving her a shot of Gnrh... to stimulate release of the egg... if there is a question. Many cows go on a 21-24 day cycle.
Are you seeing a clear discharge? that is a sign of a good heat as it lubricates the tract for the bull to breed them... natures way... That is when I like to catch them; standing with a discharge...

 

[canesisters]

Whether they are following the "actual protocol" like you said your supervisor SHOULD be there...or fudging it by "expecting" you to be there..... that might be a real feather in your cap since they are expecting you to be there. Obviously your skills are above that of the supervisor.... may be time to see about some sort of "elevation" of your status ?????? Seems to me you are becoming indispensible...
WAY TO GO.....

My supervisor has become a challenge. When he started, he was engaged & eager to learn about the process. Since then he had begun spending more & more time in the office & is pressuring more & more for production over anything else.
A few weeks ago he started having us rotate through breaks so that we didn't have to stop the machine. Problem there is that neither him nor my trainee should be monitoring the Beamer alone before being certified. When the engineer found out she was furious.
Last night, not only did he have us rotating through breaks again but I had to wake him up so he could cover for the guys in the creel.
Yes... in the office, leaned way back in his chair, mouth open, snoring...
If he continues with that, I'm going to start taking my break at my station... over to the side, with my coffee & "banned from the floor" cell phone watching TV.
He can't fuss about me doing something against policy in order to adhere to a more important safety policy.

There isn't anywhere in my department to move up to except becoming a supervisor (which I don't want to do). The Beamer operator is the highest certification. Being able to set up a changeover will make me a bit more valuable... but not any more so than the other operators who have been here for years.
I DO like that they seem to have growing confidence in my work.

 

[farmerjan]

A few pics with the camera of the supervisor sleeping ??? For insurance against his wanting you to rotate through breaks and not having the proper supervision.....
I understand about not wanting to move to supervisor position.... I think the engineer might need to be made aware of your wanting to make sure that the safety protocols are utmost in your thoughts when taking your "break" and still watching your equipment when you should be able to "take a break" completely.... and maybe there needs to be a policy on NOT doing rotating breaks unless there are proper CERTIFIED people to cover them....
Good for you still... you have shown your worth to them.....

 

[SageHill]

@farmerjan beat me to it. Pics or video (short - ya' don't want to get caught), and make sure the engineer knows the supervisor isn't there and is expecting you to do it all --- mostly because if anything goes wrong it's not all on you.

 

[canesisters]

Can't get her bred now? Here the breeder gets calls in the morning and breeds in the afternoon or calls in the afternoon and breeds the next morning. And yes, after breeding the first time, have the AI tech come back in 12 or 24... and breed a second time... yes, twice the cost of semen, much better chance to catch her during ovulation... and ask about maybe giving her a shot of Gnrh... to stimulate release of the egg... if there is a question. Many cows go on a 21-24 day cycle.
Are you seeing a clear discharge? that is a sign of a good heat as it lubricates the tract for the bull to breed them... natures way... That is when I like to catch them; standing with a discharge...

He doesn't have any easy calving/small calves semen at the moment.
And I want to check out my 'squeeze chute' & clean up the stalls first.
But I'll certainly be monitoring her backside more closely.