The Sun Peeked Out for a Minute

[Silver]

so I thought I better capture the image! Haven't seen sunlight in a long time.

Day pen:

This is why we don't bale graze (sorry about the quality)

The weather man claims mild weather will be here in a couple days. One more night of snow and -20C and maybe we'll be out of the woods.
We've had about 60 calves so far, 3 sets of twins.
Brought a cow in today that was trying unseccessfully trying to abort her calf. That did not go well, so we are short 1 complete pair now :?
We did a c-section the other day, calf was coming upside down with the head back. Calf is fine, but the cow is not real perky.
Calving is one challenge after another isn't it?

 

[leanin' H]

Neat pictures Silver. Are the piles snow covered manure or just snow? Fresh elk steaks this time of year would be tempting. I better stay on the desert cause i'd be eating lots of elk if i was up your way.

 

[Silver]

Neat pictures Silver. Are the piles snow covered manure or just snow? Fresh elk steaks this time of year would be tempting. I better stay on the desert cause i'd be eating lots of elk if i was up your way.

Those are snow piles 'H, we plowed the day pen down clean before we started calving. We've since had 8 or 10 inches, but it will disappear quickly when the heat arrives.
If I were a meat cutter with a place to cut it I'd likely have some fresh elk steak. Instead I will await your arrival to give me some relief from the hordes :wink:

 

[George]

Here in Indiana about 5 years ago I took pictures of the white tail deer ( 48 in one picture and mid 30s in several ) and DNR sent an officer to investigate. It was determined they were causing excessive damage to my crops and property.

Was given permission for an extended hunt and while we normally take about 30 deer each season - - - we took 75 that year and back to around 30 each year after.

I think I will get an extended hunt again this fall - - - I am sure going to apply. We took 35 this fall and we don't seem to have made a dent in the population. On our normal permit each hunter can take 1 buck and 3 does - - - if a hunter takes a buck and does not come back to hunt the does he (or she ) will not be allowed back.

Do they have such programs in your area?

 

[gcreekrch]

What do you do with fresh calves if you're penning at night?

Other than heifers that are kept in a 2 acre pen, both bunches of cows are left right where we feed unless help is needed. It might take a bit longer to check and/or bring a cow in but we find it favourable to the chasing flies effect of moving new pairs.

 

[Silver]

Here in Indiana about 5 years ago I took pictures of the white tail deer ( 48 in one picture and mid 30s in several ) and DNR sent an officer to investigate. It was determined they were causing excessive damage to my crops and property.

Was given permission for an extended hunt and while we normally take about 30 deer each season - - - we took 75 that year and back to around 30 each year after.

I think I will get an extended hunt again this fall - - - I am sure going to apply. We took 35 this fall and we don't seem to have made a dent in the population. On our normal permit each hunter can take 1 buck and 3 does - - - if a hunter takes a buck and does not come back to hunt the does he (or she ) will not be allowed back.

Do they have such programs in your area?

We pushed for a deal like that several times over the years but fish and feathers will have nothing to do with it. I think the local rod and gun clubs have a lot to do with that because they think we may somehow profit from such a venture :? Instead they upped the number of limited entry winter tags awarded, but it turns out if people cant just drive up and shoot then the elk dont get shot. Sad part is if I wanted to drive up and shoot one I could, maybe I'm sneakier than they are :???:

 

[Silver]

What do you do with fresh calves if you're penning at night?

Other than heifers that are kept in a 2 acre pen, both bunches of cows are left right where we feed unless help is needed. It might take a bit longer to check and/or bring a cow in but we find it favourable to the chasing flies effect of moving new pairs.

Cow yet to calve stay in the pen shown in the picture during the day (south of the barn), at night we feed them and pen them in close quarters right beside the barn so if we need to fiddle with them the facilities and saddle horse are right handy. As they go into labour or calve they usually spend a day in the barn or shelter pens until they are proven good to go. Once things look good they get kicked out to the north about a mile to high ground where it bares off and dries out the quickest and they seem to have the best chance of staying clean and healthy. The pairs don't need to be pushed up, they know the routine and just head out.
Minus 30C here this morning and calves coming like crazy. Awful glad to have them close to the barn. April calving is looking pretty appealing right now :lol: