Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Whoops, hit post instead of the enter to skip to the next paragraph.

Schedules are made to be changed.... NOT testing Sat morning... (tomorrow)... farmer called me and his dad had a seizure, and is in the hospital and not doing so good... they do not know what happened... had another seizure at the hospital.... doing tests. They are a fairly close knit family, so it is tough on him.... and his mom is not taking this well...since they don't know what is what yet... it is harder...
He said he was sorry to put it off... I told him not to worry about it... just let me know how things were going, and we will make it work... WHEN it works for him...

The mock convention thing went smooth... got there and it was bedlam with all the kids getting on the "floats" in costumes that showed some representation of what each state is famous for... all the trucks hooking up to the trailers and wagons... it went pretty smooth... and after parading through the town, went to the school grounds and the kids took all the stuff off the trailers, and then we were done.. Had them leave all the lumber they used to build props and stuff... got several sheets of plywood, some of the pressboard... 2x4's.... DS managed to get some out of the dumpsters they had for the kids to dump stuff when dis-assembling other trailers... SO MUCH WASTE.... so we salvaged what we could during the "taking it all apart"...

I stopped at TSC on the way home since they are cheaper for the panels and got 4 hog panels and 2 cattle panels... got 4 decent pallets for nothing also... need some up at the nurse cow catch pen as the couple in there are falling apart. Use a couple for when we load out of the barn and the gate comes around near the water trough but does not cover the space... I want to get a few more to make a compost place near/in the garden.... so the wind does not blow away things like leaves and stuff...
I want to get these 2 calf hutches moved and set and panels for the new calves.... BEFORE ... too many calves start coming... I think I might put a couple of the sheets of the metal roofing across the tops of the hutches to make a bigger covered place for them... especially if I get a bunch... will make a couple of "sections" so I can feed the calves in peace.... and separate them so there is not mass hysteria when they all want bottles at once. Forgot the T-posts... need to check out prices....
Since I have been hauling 1 or 2 calves in the very large metal wire dog crate on the back of the truck... I have come to a decision that I need to do something a little bigger for the whole back of the truck... may need to use at least one of the panels to make a larger "box" to go on the back of the truck... and use the ratchet straps to hold it down... and then I can haul several at a time... light weight to put on and off.... and can use the panel/pieces, for something else if no longer needed...

Got home by 11 a.m., so not a very long morning... It was fairly decent, sunny, not too cold... perfect for the kids for this mock convention...
Donald Trump JR is addressing them tomorrow at the "convention". There were alot of "pro-Trump" signs and things ....rather unusual for this ultra liberal college.... There were a big group on the trailer I pulled... representing Mass... and they were all very polite... thanked me for coming to help... several other kids walking by the vehicles also said thank you for coming and driving for the event...
Brought the truck and trailer to my house and parked it so I could take the panels off after I went up and fed.

Went up and fed calves and the calf on the old Charolais cow, (the surprise calf at the pasture where there were the 4 animals) is not feeling good. Very mopey... so I got done feeding them... then went and got the bale truck, and went and fed 2 round bales to the pasture "behind" my house, and then 2 bales to the nurse cow pasture. Then went and got the other car that has the LA200 I keep... and the grain for them, since it was in the car I drove down to pick up the truck this morning...playing musical vehicles... and went back to the pasture... Could not get close enough to grab the calf... So, I went by the house and took the little truck with the garbage for the dumpsters, and went by the co-op to see if they carried a "calf leg hook" ... to snag a calf leg like the ones they make to catch chicken legs but bigger and strong... NOPE... they didn't have one and called several other places, and no one had one. Came back up and had the shots with me... went to the pasture and finally found the calf again...and managed to get the truck parked at an angle to make a V against some of the woven wire fence... and the calf was feeling weak enough that I managed to walk him into the V before he realized and he put up a little struggle... but I got shots into him... He is raspy,,, so some sort of a respiratory thing...virus.... shouldn't be pneumonia.... but you never know...Cow is doing good taking care of him, and he is not fat but in decent flesh. Hopefully this will reverse whatever is bothering him... a virus will have to run it's course, but the antibiotics ought to help fight any bacterial stuff... he was not running a fever.

In the meantime, DS had to go back to work after he dropped off the truck and trailer he was pulling, and got the VDOT truck he is driving since the boss is off on the medical.... he is basically on call the whole time....

So, then DS texted me and said he was on his way back with the last 2 wagons (you can pull 2 in tandem, as they have a hitch on the back and the drawbar on the front....) and could I help him back them into the barns. It is supposed to rain tonight and maybe tomorrow... and more for Sunday and the first of the week... so we got them all in the barns under cover... and he got the other truck and trailer in as it has 4 sheets of plywood and 2x4 's in the stake holes and all for the "frame to hold the plywood" and they had painted it on the one side......he will get the plywood off so it doesn't get wet and warped...
Then I came home and got clean clothes on and went to the dinner meeting...had a program about "depression and stress", and other farm issues that farmers do not always "recognize" and get help for...
Supper was pretty good, the program was done in several "skits", it was okay...

And now I am home...

Of course, I set up to stop and pick up calf grain, on my way home in the morning since I would be coming right by there...(they are closed on Saturdays).... and now I am not testing so will not be "coming by the feed store" that I prefer.... But I will make a trip and get the grain and do a few other errands in town while up that way... They leave it out under cover for me when I call for it... I have had a monthly account there for over 30+ years...It has better grains and less pellets, and the calves like it better... Not my farmers fault he postponed testing... and that it messed up my getting the feed.

OH WELL.... there are worse things. I will see when she wants me to come get the bull calf...

Called the vet's office to see if he can do the cows on Feb 19th since DS is off for Presidents day holiday... They will talk to the vet and get back to me; since we could not get things put together for this coming Mon or Tues...when he is going to be close; mostly with DS working so much still...

Deb is supposed to come out this weekend...

So that is it for now... I am sure that something else will come up...

 

[murphysranch]

You are always wonderfully busy!

 

[Ridgetop]

but I have never found it to be worth feeding them out to heavier weights...

I wean the lambs at 2 months old, remove the rams, toss them in the livestock trailer, and take them straight to auction. When I have had to wait to take them to auction at 3 or 4 months, I get the same money so it ends up costing me more in feed. While I will have them on pasture in Texas, I plan to see whether I make significantly more selling at 4 months or not. Depending on the difference in price I might continue doing the same thing in Texas and selling them young. The ewes will have a month to flush and then breed back.

When we started raising Holstein bull calves I called the auction I used and talked to the owner. He gave me great advice about raising bottle calves and selling them for major profit. I was originally planning to raise one at a time to 3 months old (300 lbs.) and then sell it but he told me not to do it that way. He said to get 2 or 3 (more if I had the milk) and raise them to 2 months (200 lbs.). Then bring them in together and they would go through as one lot and bring more money than larger calves. That is what I started doing and sure enough I got a lot more for the calves at a younger age. I could raise them, get them out faster, bring in a new set, etc. and make more money for hay. For a while they paid the hay bill for the goats. We did have to raise the Fair veal to 300 lbs. but that was only once a year. For the first 2 months of lactation I needed all the milk for the kids, but for 7-8 months I could raise calves on the goat milk (we were getting over 12 gallons daily from the dairy herd) and I used the alfalfa hay the goats picked over. No hay wasted, the milk used for calves, and $$ coming in to offset the hay cost. The children had a huge dairy goat project they loved, got to show in Fairs all over southern California and win premiums. They didn't get an allowance, they got to keep the premium money (more than allowances would have been), learned to buy auction animals and keep track of feed bills and expenses, and kept the money they made on sales to buy the next year's project animal. While it didn't make a lot of money, raising and selling calves supported the livestock breeding projects for our kids.

 

[farmerjan]

Was an off day for me.... cloudy and I got the calves fed in the morning and finished just as it was starting to shower again. Had some off and on all day... enough to get wet.
Took some of the meters out of the car since I will only need 8 at the next farm and all the short hoses. need to put a few of the longer medium length ones in... just in case some of the others are too short.

Saw the calf I gave the shots to up nursing the cow when I went up to do the bottle calves, so that was good.

I guess DS had "help" again today, he said that he moved one of my cows that had a newer calf to the nurse cow pasture since she had it before he got all the bigger calves out of the field, and there was a bigger calf sucking her also... probably her last year's calf; she bred back shortly after having it since the bull didn't get pulled from that place... and it is probably 10-11 months old.... another one of the , didn't get it done things... Kinda glad she is at the nurse cow pasture... the bigger calf will be getting sold whenever another group that he fits in with gets shipped. There are days I have to just sit back and keep my mouth shut. I think Caleb is coming Wed or Thurs to look at the next calves to put together a group to take to the sale while these calf prices on the 5 wts . are doing good . Suits me. Then he will get the others home from that pasture and get those bigger calves off too... and get those cows preg checked, hopefully Monday the 19th... No snow or bad weather in the forecast... just chillier temps than this past week.
I am hoping he is still planning to take the cull cows to the sale on Wed when there is a bred cow sale also...

Wanted to work outside some but it was just wet enough to make it not a good idea... don't need to get wet and chilled or anything and get sick...got too much going on now to get a cold or anything.

Did not get much done in the house either... not motivated today... I am going to bed.... maybe sleep off this "funk" mood...

 

[farmerjan]

Sunday. Wet again, but we have not had any real downpours so that is good. Not going to complain about the rain as it is at least fairly soft and is soaking in. It was 48 again this morning, too warm for this time of year really. It probably won't get much above 60 again... 10 degree swing is pretty normal with a showery wet day like this with no wind. That is a good thing, no cold wind whipping around the animals out there. I didn't even think to look in the rain gauge...

Calves all fed and saw the one that was feeling bad, on the cow, up and nursing again when I was out there... I will try to get up closer to it and check it, when it is closer up to the top of the hill on the grass... not going to go sliding with the car on the slicker layer of dirt down off the hill there. But up and nursing is good.

Saw my cow that he moved up there, yesterday, with her calf too... checked the records and the bigger calf that he said was sucking her, is her calf from last time... .... she is thin since she never got a break from the last calf to now... at least she will get a break from the bigger one now, and I am going to start feeding some grain up here, so her, and the old cow with the "sick" calf get a little extra nutrition... won't get alot but they will get some... In fact, I think I am going to put a tub or 2 in there so they will get some extra nutrition and then the ones that are a little thin, can get some extra whenever they want. Tubs are expensive, but they do give everyone a chance to get to them since no cow will stand around them 24/7....
I want to get the 5 bigger calves to come in the pen and eat so I can get them caught up to get them out of there...plus their momma's are due in April/May and they are going to get a break. Period. If nothing else they will get penned in one side of the catch pen and barn and kept in... and since I am feeding the hay there now, I will unroll a roll and put the "core" of the roll in the pen for them if I have to. Tired of some of what is not getting done right, again... He should have the other ones home in a week, and they will get mixed in with all the bigger calves we need to get off the cows. Once he sells another group, then there will be room for this next group.

One of the bred heifers is starting to bag up some... I think they are due starting mid-March so only a couple weeks off.

I never went to town to get the feed they left out in the scale area for me so am going in to get it, here in just a little bit. I had 1 bucket of feed for the calves yesterday, but they had very little left and I didn't have any to feed them this morning... I will feed them grain this afternoon when I go up to do bottles. The big calves will maybe get milk for another week... then are going to be weaned. They won't like it , but they are 12 weeks and are big... don't need it. As it is they are getting watered down milk now...only once a day for the past 2 weeks.....

Not going to get the bull calf at the farm for a couple days, they said it was a little "scoury" and they didn't want me to get a sick calf... that's fine. I got the 2 calf hutches moved, they are flipped over and slide easier that way to where I want them for now... BUT... I cannot get them flipped back up.... top heavy and they are BIG .... they were the "deluxe" model I guess and are bigger than most calf hutches... NICE.... but heavy. I might be able to get up on the truck and get them flipped back over that way... got to get that center of gravity up enough... and I can't seem to with the tops being thicker so can't get them lifted high enough to get them over by myself... It was not so hard to get them to flip upside down since the weight of the top worked in my favor and it made it so much easier to move them on the tall grass there... but then going back over right side up is just not working by myself. They are big enough to be very awkward. Yes, I asked for some help... I told him it will take 5 minutes to do them... going to get them done somehow. Would've asked Deb but she didn't come out to the farm again...

May as well go get the feed and have a list of a couple of things I want to look at so might go by Lowe's also... not going to do anything outside in the wet. I also need power steering fluid for the outback.... was going to do it on the trip through town yesterday... wonder how my farmer's dad is doing... he's in his 80's I think... so not a good age... has had some health problems and very bad knees and hips and wouldn't have them replaced before, and now they won't do them, so he does not come out to the barn or anything anymore.

 

[Mini Horses]

Thinking of you -- just took one of the roaster chickens I got from you out of the oven. Potatoes, pan of dressing coming out soon.

 

[farmerjan]

Thinking of you -- just took one of the roaster chickens I got from you out of the oven. Potatoes, pan of dressing coming out soon.

Hope it is as good as the last one I did... they seem to have good moisture in the breast meat (I prefer the leg/thigh) so that when sliced it makes good sandwiches that are not too dry...
It will take me too long to get there for supper !!!!! .

 

[farmerjan]

Still rainy damp but at least it is not too cold. I looked in the rain gauge and it looked like about .3 inch but the forecast is for a more significant rain to come through late Mon aft. and drop 1/2 to 1 inch through Tuesday.

I will feed hay at the nurse cow pasture tomorrow... they have really worked on the last 2 rolls.... get some in there before it gets too slick from rain. Then 2-3 days of sun and dry so will be able to feed again on Wed/Thurs... after it dries up a little. Trying to not tear up the grass if if can be avoided; and sure don't want to go sliding down the hill or into a tree or anything...

Went to town, got the grain, went to Walmart as I needed the power steering fluid, did some looking; realized that there is not much I "need"..... not from there... now turn me loose in Rural King or even TSC... and I can wander the aisles... lots of crazy people doing last minute shopping I guess... or maybe there are alot that just do shopping on Sunday afternoon... didn't go to Lowe's... didn't feel like going another place and it was getting time to come on home anyway...

Made up 4 bottles, took grain and went to the calves. The big calves did not even come out looking for bottles; I put the grain in the bunk feeder and the 3 bigger ones went right to eating. I managed to get the 4 fed without any pushing and shoving... and put hay into the bunk feeder... they had eaten most of what had been in there... and came on home. Chickens in crate for the night and I am in. Bottles washed and trying to decide what to eat for supper. At least I am in a better frame of mind today even though it is still drab and dreary out.
Going to find a movie to watch and figure out what to eat tonight... Football does not hold any interest and no TV so not a big deal to me...

 

[Ridgetop]

lots of crazy people doing last minute shopping I guess... or maybe there are alot that just do shopping on Sunday afternoon...

Maybe grabbing last minute stuff for the Super Bowl game.

 

[farmerjan]

Another wet day... Just enough misty damp to feel wet.
Fed calves and one of the 2 bigger calves got out the gate... and of course, decided to have all sorts of fun and would not come back in for a bottle/nipple tempting... So I let the other bigger one out so it was not alone. Changed the gates around a little, and opened the gate in front of the creep gate so they could go in if they try to get back in. I just decided I was not going to get worried about them being out. Kept the orphan in with the 2 sets of twins so she could eat and not get "lost" if she went looking for her mother amongst the beef cows and calves up there. I don't want her out running loose at this point. I figured the other 2 would be wanting in the barn lot/barn by this afternoon.
It was slick out there with all the misty showers... I did not take hay up, there were several cows digging through what was left of the one roll of wheat/rye..... and most were out trying to find some green morsels of grass to eat. They will be looking for hay tomorrow but the rain is supposed to stop after another round tonight. I will take some in tomorrow and stay up on the top of the hills so as to not slide all over. Safer that way.
We are supposed to get some wind with this next rain coming through... so it will dry up the ground on top in a day or 2. I might only take 1 roll up there tomorrow and then it will be drier to get around, in a day or 2. The other pasture still had plenty of hay, but DS is feeding silage there too.

Temps today were from a low of 46 to a high of 49.... It didn't feel too bad since there was no wind, just damp.
If this is anything like in the northwest... I would go nuts living there...

Went back up this afternoon, and the 2 calves were outside the lot, and hadn't figured out the creep gate... Almost funny... went to the creep gate,,, tempted them with 2 empty bottles from the other calves feeding.. and they walked right through the bars... then I put opened the barn door and they went right in to the bunk to eat. There was some grain left and the hay I had put in there this morning...
Decided they are weaned... easier this way. Tomorrow I will NOT let them out loose since I will be leaving to go test mid afternoon and don't get home until 11 p.m. or so... they will all get extra hay in the bunk and grain... Wed I will be home and will let them out into the side of the lot with the creep gate and see if they go out it and then they might learn to come in it too... But the weather will be dry and I won't worry about them for the night.
Once it quits raining, I am going to go get the tarp of hay DS said I can have... The calves are eating 3 sections of a small sq bale a day and cleaning it up...Plus eating 3/4 of a 5 gallon bucket a day... but that is still only about 2-3 lbs per calf a day... there are 7 in there now and they are all eating... I am going to snitch a couple more sq bales too when I go get the tarp of loose hay... it is pretty good amount... 2-3 days worth... I will take the truck down to get it... Have the 4 pallets on the truck, to take up to the catch lot at the nurse cow pasture to use for when we load... the couple up there were not good to start with, one cow tried to jump that didn't want to get loaded awhile back (she is not coming back there) and broke one up some... and they are falling apart now. If the weather is decent Wed, I should be able to do it... all according to how the ground is drying out around the barn.

Was thinking of burning the brush pile but not being here tomorrow afternoon made me decide to wait...plus call for windy the next 2 days... maybe the end of the week. Might be more rain over the weekend..

Northeast is calling some serious snow the next day or 2... our rainy weather heading up the coast... We should be getting another good bout of rain tonight... with a possible little bit of flurries in the mountains in the early morning... but the colder weather is going to mostly stay north of us. Fine by me...

Cooked a big pot of diced potatoes for potato salad, last night, and made that this afternoon..

Got to get a tray of bottles for tomorrow, meters/hoses all in the car already.