Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

I'm with you on that one. With the ranch stuff I'm now an hour late to anything else. grrrr
Never liked the change and even less now.

Exactly, I always feel like I am late for everything... DETEST DST......

 

[Ridgetop]

But you can get a lot more done at night. Except having to stop and fix dinner for the men takes half my work time.

 

[farmerjan]

@Ridgetop ... most of the bulls do not throw small calves... but the 2 we had, that did, were great for not worrying about heifers having calves... and we just got 2 more last year that are "slightly" on the calving ease side... because one of the 2 we had, was sold (he was 10) and the other is pushing 11-12 years old... so his time is limited... it is just that these couple of smaller cows always seem to wind up at the pasture the easy calving bull is being used... it is just aggravating... because the one cow throws some nice calves... but I am afraid that this last heifer is going to be "smaller" as she matures...
Yet you hate to "throw away" (sell) a bloodline that is a good reliable easy breeder, calves regularly, and milks good. That is why I want to get the one cow moved out to another place with one of the "cow bulls" (not calving ease).... and there are 3 others there that I would like to put with the "cow bulls" they have had their 2nd calf now,,,
Coyotes are not a problem here at the nurse cow pasture since she has been there for her 4 calves... but I hate to move her to another place when she has become "my pasture ornament" so to speak... she's not a pet, but I just like her being there... we have been looking for a possible mule/donkey to put there but the prices on them are through the roof...
Yeah, once a kid reaches a certain age, mom is just not very smart...or doesn't "listen " to what they tell us... gee whiz.... wonder where we get that from????.

Well, vet check tomorrow... will at least get some time frames "pegged" ... and there are 7 new calves down at the pasture that he pulled those last 4 big heifers out of...they are at snyder's in with the twins and the orphan heifer... will stay in there for a couple days to make sure they know where the grain and all is... then open the creep gate.... he left one other cow that was all swollen around the vulva and big as a watermelon stuck sideways.. he thinks she will calve in a day or 2... so only 4 left to check... one cow is a real PITA ....

It was so windy and cold this afternoon when he brought the 4 heifers to snyder's ... we were freezing... and when I got back to the house the recording thermometer was down to 34 and has since dropped to 32.... and it has been spitting SNOW all afternoon too.... not going to accumulate but it is just COLD.....
Wind chills in the low 20's and possibly teens tonight with frost possible if the wind lays down the next 2 mornings... then 60's and low 70's Wed and Thursday???? Crazy.....

 

[farmerjan]

But you can get a lot more done at night. Except having to stop and fix dinner for the men takes half my work time.

No, I don't get more done at night because my body is saying it is time to quit.... I am a morning person even if lately I have not been up and outta here like I used to... I like to be done and in the house to eat and relax a little before going to bed.. not coming in at 9-9:30 and too tired to cook or eat, and falling into bed to get up and it is "already 8 a.m." when my body is saying NO NO NO NO, it is only 7 a.m.

 

[murphysranch]

My Lord, FJ.!!!

Thank you for the education. I learned a whole bunch just now!!!

 

[farmerjan]

My Lord, FJ.!!!

Thank you for the education. I learned a whole bunch just now!!!

Learned a whole bunch about which topic???? I get carried away with so many different "rants"...

It turns out there were only 4 big heifers at that pasture.. he had brought one back awhile ago, that had actually gotten over the fence in with the neighbors animals... and somehow it never got written down ( don't ever remember him telling me he brought it back to doug's farm)... no harm, all that were there have been accounted for now... and they are NOT going back with any cows... they are weaned as of now....he said if any of their mommas were not far along bred they could go back with the cow for awhile.....NO NO NO NOT HAPPENING.... this is how come there were cows calving with big calves still on them... don't care if one or 2 are a little smaller... they are DONE with having a momma.... PERIOD END OF DISCUSSION......

Wind is still blowing like it is mad at the world out there... DS said he had to go take care of 2 down trees this morning for work... wind is supposed to slow down a little tomorrow... then back to above normal... I did some clothes but did not dare hang them yet... they would be in Texas by tomorrow night at the rate it is blowing...maybe later tomorrow I can hang them or Tuesday morning... will do another load in the meantime...

Ate spaghetti for supper and the garlic bread... but it was not too good... some other stuff besides the garlic and not a fan... Headed in for a shower and bed...

 

[Mini Horses]

Added for FJ....

Vet check did not go too well... 12 preg and 9 open... some of the cows have smaller calves though, and a few are looking a little thin... Got 3 that are 6 & 7 months... 3 that are 4-5 , the rest 2-3 months... Going to get the bulls in and do a BSE... breeding soundness exam... these cows are from the pasture with all different ages and cows calving there and all mixed up...and it is the pasture that we know 2 calves were killed by coyotes, and several other cows we don't know if they ever calved out there... DS said we are not doing this again.... let's hope not... this all happened after the GF breakup last Feb/Mar... and things just got stuck places... but he did not lose his temper or yell or anything... just said, really, and we put a second bull in there to make sure they got bred... there are 2 that are old, one is open and one is 2 months bred... the open one will get sold. For now, he has moved them up on the hill pasture and they will get moved into the autumn olive field where nothing has been in there for months... get them out of the mud and mess at the barn... give them 2 months... and then the open ones will go to pasture to get bred and the calves will all be pulled off... some sold, weaned and kept maybe... depends on the prices... there are a few small but "not bad" heifers that might get kept for replacements. Have another bunch that need to get checked.... some from this same pasture (there were 35 there) that had small calves that he "assumed" were not bred and he put up in another pasture that will need to get brought in and checked.
I think I have finally convinced him that all the bulls need to get a BSE.... and he agrees that getting the heifers bangs vacc is not a bad idea... HOLY COW....he says we will just sorta start over this year with getting them back on track.

He said that he had to go back to work and would be at the barn by about 4, if I could come back and help him move the cows around... we left them in the barn lot after the vet so he could go to work...

Kept thinking it was 2:00 and it was after 3 this afternoon... I went back about 4 (feeling like 3) and we moved the 3 that were 6-7 months into one pen... moved the rest out and up on the hill. 1 got put with the cows due soon (she was 7+ he said) and the other 2 got put in the small pasture right there near the barn with the already weaned heifers until we wean their calves off here shortly...
Then I cam home...

I had gone up and done the bottles and fed grain for all the ones in the barn lot at snyder's...before the vet appt... they were fine... and I will let them out of the barn lot through the creep gate on Wed... want them to get the idea of grain in there for at least 2-3 days... then I will open up for them to use the creep gate. It is supposed to be VERY WARM the next few days... like mid and upper 70's.... big swing from the 29 is was this morning... supposed to get back down tonight then warmer... SO, if the twins don't find their way in the creep gate it won't be a disaster with the weather being nicer. Rain forecast for Friday. I have to test tomorrow... possible test on Wed... graded sale on Thursday eve for the last bunch of steers, and chiropractor appt on Friday...
It's nearly the middle of March already....

 

[Baymule]

DST, dogs expect to be fed at regular time, uhhhh nope! Easing into summer means later feeding times, it will be too hot at 4 PM. I feed dogs earlier than other animals, gives them time to go run, pee and poop, before closing them up with the sheep.

It’s foggy outside, a damp chill. No 32F degrees, and that’s fine with me!

 

[farmerjan]

Cooled down to 37 last night after a sunny day yesterday... little cool but nice. Today is supposed to go up to mid 60's... Rest of the week into the mid-upper 70's.... WAIT.... this is supposed to be March...
Hung a load of clothes yesterday and will get another out today I hope. Love the clothes off the line after a sunny, slight breezy day.

Bottles in the trays for testing, have to go out and get meters and hoses in to the car. Stop and get the samples from the farmer I get my milk from, don't need milk today... and then go test.

Sun coming across the hill... LATE... due to this time change.... Looks like a real nice day.

 

[farmerjan]

Added for FJ....

Vet check did not go too well... 12 preg and 9 open... some of the cows have smaller calves though, and a few are looking a little thin... Got 3 that are 6 & 7 months... 3 that are 4-5 , the rest 2-3 months... Going to get the bulls in and do a BSE... breeding soundness exam... these cows are from the pasture with all different ages and cows calving there and all mixed up...and it is the pasture that we know 2 calves were killed by coyotes, and several other cows we don't know if they ever calved out there... DS said we are not doing this again.... let's hope not... this all happened after the GF breakup last Feb/Mar... and things just got stuck places... but he did not lose his temper or yell or anything... just said, really, and we put a second bull in there to make sure they got bred... there are 2 that are old, one is open and one is 2 months bred... the open one will get sold. For now, he has moved them up on the hill pasture and they will get moved into the autumn olive field where nothing has been in there for months... get them out of the mud and mess at the barn... give them 2 months... and then the open ones will go to pasture to get bred and the calves will all be pulled off... some sold, weaned and kept maybe... depends on the prices... there are a few small but "not bad" heifers that might get kept for replacements. Have another bunch that need to get checked.... some from this same pasture (there were 35 there) that had small calves that he "assumed" were not bred and he put up in another pasture that will need to get brought in and checked.
I think I have finally convinced him that all the bulls need to get a BSE.... and he agrees that getting the heifers bangs vacc is not a bad idea... HOLY COW....he says we will just sorta start over this year with getting them back on track.

He said that he had to go back to work and would be at the barn by about 4, if I could come back and help him move the cows around... we left them in the barn lot after the vet so he could go to work...

Kept thinking it was 2:00 and it was after 3 this afternoon... I went back about 4 (feeling like 3) and we moved the 3 that were 6-7 months into one pen... moved the rest out and up on the hill. 1 got put with the cows due soon (she was 7+ he said) and the other 2 got put in the small pasture right there near the barn with the already weaned heifers until we wean their calves off here shortly...
Then I cam home...

I had gone up and done the bottles and fed grain for all the ones in the barn lot at snyder's...before the vet appt... they were fine... and I will let them out of the barn lot through the creep gate on Wed... want them to get the idea of grain in there for at least 2-3 days... then I will open up for them to use the creep gate. It is supposed to be VERY WARM the next few days... like mid and upper 70's.... big swing from the 29 is was this morning... supposed to get back down tonight then warmer... SO, if the twins don't find their way in the creep gate it won't be a disaster with the weather being nicer. Rain forecast for Friday. I have to test tomorrow... possible test on Wed... graded sale on Thursday eve for the last bunch of steers, and chiropractor appt on Friday...
It's nearly the middle of March already....

Thanks @Mini Horses . Hey 2 months to the poultry swap......