Get Yer Toque On!

[Blaithin]

Oh dear, I fell off this thread! It's been such a nice winter I just haven't really parked at the computer.

Stella popped with a surprise calf just before Christmas. No wonder she seemed extra rotund on the pasture move! For whatever reason her little bull never got up and going though, so we went and got her a foster Fleck. It's taken a while (as expected when it comes to Stella) but she's finally decided she's ok with being his mom. He had some Mycoplasma issues but seems to have recovered and it just a giant PITA.

He likes to climb in the sled. Which bovine doesn't want to step in it and stop you....

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=244447990452319

And yesterday I harnessed up Stella for the first time in years for a bit. Calf couldn't ride so well as her passenger She did some driving though which is a first for her, normally I lead her.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=255624059334712

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=255624209334697

Got some udder development on who we THOUGHT would be the first calf of the season (I suppose Stella could be the last calf of last season Lol). Based on the old farmer tale of 3 weeks for an udder, she should drop mid to late February. She's a humongous beast as she's been dry for a year. She was a first calver at the dairy when the barn burnt down and they dried her off so she's coming on 4 and this will be her second calf. No clue what size her udder is going to strive for!

 

[fgc325j]

Oh dear, I fell off this thread! It's been such a nice winter I just haven't really parked at the computer.

Stella popped with a surprise calf just before Christmas. No wonder she seemed extra rotund on the pasture move! For whatever reason her little bull never got up and going though, so we went and got her a foster Fleck. It's taken a while (as expected when it comes to Stella) but she's finally decided she's ok with being his mom. He had some Mycoplasma issues but seems to have recovered and it just a giant PITA.

He likes to climb in the sled. Which bovine doesn't want to step in it and stop you....

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=244447990452319

And yesterday I harnessed up Stella for the first time in years for a bit. Calf couldn't ride so well as her passenger She did some driving though which is a first for her, normally I lead her.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=255624059334712

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=255624209334697

Got some udder development on who we THOUGHT would be the first calf of the season (I suppose Stella could be the last calf of last season Lol). Based on the old farmer tale of 3 weeks for an udder, she should drop mid to late February. She's a humongous beast as she's been dry for a year. She was a first calver at the dairy when the barn burnt down and they dried her off so she's coming on 4 and this will be her second calf. No clue what size her udder is going to strive for!

Welcome back- this is what i like about TFF - seeing farming around the world.

 

[Blaithin]

Welcome back- this is what i like about TFF - seeing farming around the world.

Wouldn’t say much of that is farming, just me having fun

If I can’t have fun, then I don’t want to do it. Even if it is live in the country.

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

Could have at least put fake antlers on sled cow

 

[Blaithin]

Could have at least put fake antlers on sled cow

Or taped her toes together so she only has one hoof?

 

[Blaithin]

It’s bull sale season which means pages and pages and pages of bull photos on social media. Ad nauseum.

But in that river of bullishness, this guy stuck out.

A Medicine Hat Bull!!

 

[2wheels]

when we stayed overnight in regina there had been a beef conference. some native americans had been giving a talk to the first nations beef producers on how to improve their performance using the resources they had and how to market their beef to their advantage. some of the attendees were staying in our hotel and deemed it fit to continue the conference in the lobby outside our room ( some drink taken) when all we wanted to do was get our heads down after a long day touring around. yes i know i should have gone and conversed with them but was too knackered.

 

[Blaithin]

when we stayed overnight in regina there had been a beef conference. some native americans had been giving a talk to the first nations beef producers on how to improve their performance using the resources they had and how to market their beef to their advantage. some of the attendees were staying in our hotel and deemed it fit to continue the conference in the lobby outside our room ( some drink taken) when all we wanted to do was get our heads down after a long day touring around. yes i know i should have gone and conversed with them but was too knackered.

Would have been interesting. Some of the Reserves have some great programs on the go/in the works.

 

[Blaithin]

The early birds.

I actually don't know when any of the older girls are due so they could be around the same time Lol They were at a different pasture though so I don't have any records of them being wooed by Bullcephous. They also all calved last year in April so I don't expect them to calve again until at least April. These three should be ahead of the game. No real signs of udders starting on the heifers yet, but based on calendar dates they will drop end of March so should have development starting any time now.

 

[Blaithin]

I always tell people you can’t visually preg check a cow.

Here’s me visually preg checking

Gwen has always been a very lean girl. Especially in her hind gut area. BUT she might just be getting that tell tale, late pregnancy blob back there.

Time will tell.

 

[Blaithin]

So we’ve got this to look forward too on the weekend.

 

[Ukjay]

So we’ve got this to look forward too on the weekend.
View attachment 938664

Looks a tad nippy for us softies over here, but suppose it is a walk in the park when accustomed to it

 

[Blaithin]

Looks a tad nippy for us softies over here, but suppose it is a walk in the park when accustomed to it

Not accustomed to it. It’s been very warm this winter. Average temp for January was -8, and that’s including overnight lows.

It was 4 above on Monday.

 

[Ukjay]

Not accustomed to it. It’s been very warm this winter. Average temp for January was -8, and that’s including overnight lows.

It was 4 above on Monday.

Ahh, going soft in your old age are you. People over here moan when it is -1°C let alone your temps

 

[Bill dog]

@Blaithin , how do you keep water flowing to your cattle ? As @Ukjay just said, it’s high time I stopped being a big pansy !
Its to get down to -6 here next week!

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Looks a tad nippy for us softies over here, but suppose it is a walk in the park when accustomed to it

-49 is no walk in the park for anyone. Even the Inuit would take great care at that.

Can you prepare in any way @Blaithin ?

 

[Karliboy]

And our lot are panicking about a cold spell next week

 

[Blaithin]

@Blaithin , how do you keep water flowing to your cattle ? As @Ukjay just said, it’s high time I stopped being a big pansy !
Its to get down to -6 here next week!

My trough is right at the well so when I shut the water off it drains back down. No freezing. Have a de icer floating on top that can’t keep the whole surface ice free when it gets that cold, but can still keep it open. I’ll try and grab a photo Sunday morning if my phone can make it.

-49 is no walk in the park for anyone. Even the Inuit would take great care at that.

Can you prepare in any way @Blaithin ?

Get as much done before it hits as we can. Lots of feed out. Bedding out.

 

[Blaithin]

Started the cold snap yesterday afternoon. Going to gradually get colder over the next couple days.

About -27 last night. Well froze up. Guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow!

Meanwhile, according to Twitter...

Watch out UK! It’s past the point of sheep moving

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Started the cold snap yesterday afternoon. Going to gradually get colder over the next couple days.

About -27 last night. Well froze up. Guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow!

Meanwhile, according to Twitter...
View attachment 939281

Watch out UK! It’s past the point of sheep moving

God help us in the UK if the Gulf Stream ever stops. We'd see your sort of winter conditions and the shock would kill us all!