think I'll have a new calf pretty soon...

[milkmaid]

One of my nurse cows is getting pretty close.

It's 162. She's due the 24th but I don't think she'll go that long - I'm thinking more like the 15th way she's bagging up. (Picture was taken 3 months ago, btw.) I'll also get to see how good my vet is -- he did an ultrasound at 85 days and said she's carrying a heifer calf. Sure hope he's right! :lol:

I've waffled back and forth over keeping or selling this cow -- put an ad in the paper for her last week and didn't get any serious buyers. Guess they didn't want to pay what I was asking...but at 1800lbs I know she's worth almost $900 on the slaughter market out here. Problem is that I know I've put that into her (including purchase price), she raised two calves for me over the winter that I haven't sold (haven't even seen lately; they're on the back 40), and so she hasn't really made me a dime yet. If something happens to her or the calf I've made a real mistake and I would have been better off dropping the price I was asking and getting rid of her.

But at the moment I'm thinking I'll take my chances, keep her around, hope she gives me a live healthy heifer calf... I already have three other holstein/angus cross calves and four makes a full set. I'll bring 311 back from the dairy to raise the set of calves and send 162 to the dairy as a fresh cow to make me a little money. 'Course, with milk prices at 10.50/cwt I don't think I'm going to get real rich with that plan.

 

[Alice]

Make a decision and stick with it...and don't look back and second guess yourself. If you win with the decision, wooohoooo! If you don't...we'll there's always a next time.

Alice

 

[milkmaid]

Most decisions I can make and not wonder about -- just this one that's preying on my mind. Keep or sell, keep or sell? at this rate she'll have the calf and make the decision for me. :lol:

Looks like I'm going to keep her -- to an extent, I've always wanted to calve her out, just to see if my vet is as good as he thinks he is with the ultrasound machine. 8) (Sure hope so!)

 

[Alice]

You're alright, Milkmaid... Win, lose, or draw, you'll do well.

Alice

 

[Beefy]

keep her milkmaid. shes my favorite cow of yours. that also means she's probably your worst cow, btw.

 

[milkmaid]

:lol: Beefy, haven't really made up my mind what I think of her. She's done OK before -- I'll give her a chance as a fresh cow to prove herself for me and then decide. I'm only running 3 mature cows at the moment, and with one of them being Knock Knees, 162 can't do any worse than 2nd place. :lol2:

 

[WarriorPatriot]

You know if she doesnt give you what you want you could send her down here. ;-) Heck if her heifer calf turns out to be a bull he can go to county fair with me. :lol:

 

[sidney411]

I vote for the 15th! That's my BD too! post a pic when she gets here please MM.

 

[mnmtranching]

My bet is she will do you good, have a nice calf on her own and have way more milk then it needs.

mnmt

 

[Beefy]

i think it will be black and white. maybe white and black.

 

[milkmaid]

Beefy........ :lol2: :lol2: Thanks for the laugh.

I made a commitment some time ago to be out of town this afternoon through tomorrow morning. I asked boss if he'd do me a favor and just look in on her for me -- my folks are so not cow-savvy. Caught 162 this morning so I could bring her into a smaller pasture and realized she's MUCH closer than I thought she was. Hadn't been able to get my hands on her before. Hopefully she'll wait until I get back home to calve, but who knows. Cows are predictable in a very unpredictable way. LOL.

And of course I'll have pictures after the fact. ;-)