Margali's Griffin Wood Ranch

[farmerjan]

Cows also sometimes have an extra teat or 2.... usually removed at the same time they are dehorned at a very early age so they do not develop.... but an occasional cow will have an extra or 2 that do actually have some milk. The cow that I just grafted the calf on that had the crippled up legs that died, actually has 6 teats... The milk comes out of the same "quarters" they do not develop more quarters. Sometimes they are just little extra "bumps" on the back/upper part of the rear of the udder with no actual milk duct to them, sometimes they do actually have a milk duct but often do not have a good system and do not produce much.

 

[Baymule]

I saw that she had a homemade milk stand, with solid wood floor. I have a metal stanchion made of expanded metal and my sheep don’t like it. With the lack of proper facilities that I have, milking is not up at the top of the list. It’s on the list, but way down there. I would build a wood stanchion with a solid floor and hinged drop down sides, so they couldn’t step off the side and fall.

 

[Ridgetop]

I saw that she had a homemade milk stand, with solid wood floor. I have a metal stanchion made of expanded metal and my sheep don’t like it.

Easy to attach a 1/4" piece of plywood on top of the expanded mesh. Drill a couple holes in the plywood and insert bolts through the wood and the mesh. Put 1 1/2" large washers under the nut on the bottom to prevent slippage. If the bolt head is small, you can also put a washer under the bolt head on the top of the plywood to provide more grip since 1/4" plywood is not too sturdy. Cheap and easy fix if the sheep really hate it. I think you also have an expanded mesh ramp so do the same for it. You can add slats on the ramp for better footing if they need it.

 

[Mini Horses]

I'm thinking the milk stand is not the true issue. if you don't like the chore, or need the milk -- why do it? . It's not for everyone.

 

[Baymule]

I’m thinking once I have an actual barn, to build a wood stanchion. There is nowhere to put one.

 

[Margali]

Yesterday was kids birthday party. It went great. We had 9 kids and a teacher show up.

 

[Margali]

Today has been chaos. The sheep broke the water trough so I hauled in the old blue barrel half and set it up. Several of my ewes are limping from impacted oil gland on the ones I checked. I didn't get to them all because Bruno startled them. Three ewes rammed themselves into the chute abreast and tried to climb out over the side. I'm amazed we had no broken legs. After that rodeo, I went to run errands and get more fencing.

I come home two hours later to another problem. LPH21 Hattie manages to step in a bit of high tensile wire I missed during cleanup. She had it wrapped tight around back ankle and then up her body and around the neck. So I'm flipping her on her side, holding her down with one hand while I use bolt cutters to free her. Luckily, I had them handy since I took them to store to break down 16ft panel. This is all done under menacing glare of Mr. Snickers who DID NOT APPROVE! I am so blessed that he has even temperament.

The house is 81F, Cassandra stepped on another nail, Dominic hit his head, and Sonic needs to go back to the vet. Is my "relaxing" weekend over yet?

 

[Baymule]

At least yesterday was a great birthday party. And Mr. Snickers is a nice ram, while you performed wire removal surgery bolt cutter style.

81F in the house, @SageHill told me about aluminet shade cloth, maybe you could put some up as shade blocker for the house?

 

[Margali]

Making progress on Mr Snickers' bachelor pad. It's 7.5ft wide x 5ft deep x 5ft high at front.


I'm wondering if all my ewes are bred. He's sniffing back ends intently again...

 

[Ridgetop]

Leave him with them and mark this date again. Possible they recycled due to heat. If they did not rake, t could be several reasons - heat induced infertility of ram, or ewes failed to drop eggs due to excessive heat. Or he is just double checking in hopes . . . . LOL