SBMF 2015
Well-known member
I like to think of myself as a Cattlemen; I plan ahead, strategize, don't go into a situation half cocked.
Well that's pretty much gone out the window this summer. For reasons out of my control I've had to be gone from the farm a lot more than usual.
My fall heifers are still out on grass. Started calving the 30th of August. Dad called me last night to let me know a hfr had calves and was still pushing, and that I needed to get there ASAP. So I hauled tail to the pasture. There was the hfr laying next to a calf that she had stole from another hfr. She had a foot sticking out. No catch pen in this pasture. So I had to cowboy up, roped the hfr, got her drawn up to the bale feeder, got a halter on her, and the lariat off. Jacked a big live heifer calf out. Took the halter off and the hfr never even looked at her calf, just hi tailed it to the back of the pasture. Damn! Went and got the tractor and some silage. Called the cows and she came up with them. Reroped her, went and got the trailer, and hauled the new pair home to the barn.
By tonight I've had her in the chute twice. The calf finally figured out tonight that milk tastes good. She was happily still nursing when I got them back to their pen.
I'm glad I have the skills to solve these types of situations, but it's a lot more fun when I don't have to intervene like that.
Well that's pretty much gone out the window this summer. For reasons out of my control I've had to be gone from the farm a lot more than usual.
My fall heifers are still out on grass. Started calving the 30th of August. Dad called me last night to let me know a hfr had calves and was still pushing, and that I needed to get there ASAP. So I hauled tail to the pasture. There was the hfr laying next to a calf that she had stole from another hfr. She had a foot sticking out. No catch pen in this pasture. So I had to cowboy up, roped the hfr, got her drawn up to the bale feeder, got a halter on her, and the lariat off. Jacked a big live heifer calf out. Took the halter off and the hfr never even looked at her calf, just hi tailed it to the back of the pasture. Damn! Went and got the tractor and some silage. Called the cows and she came up with them. Reroped her, went and got the trailer, and hauled the new pair home to the barn.
By tonight I've had her in the chute twice. The calf finally figured out tonight that milk tastes good. She was happily still nursing when I got them back to their pen.
I'm glad I have the skills to solve these types of situations, but it's a lot more fun when I don't have to intervene like that.