Selling the Calves

 

our frozen pond

 

 

Today, the dogs and I walked down to the pond.  The water was so still.  In reality, it was frozen.  I was surprised! The temperatures have gotten colder over the past week, but I had no idea there was enough cold weather to freeze the pond…yet.  Evidently, there was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, a large stock trailer rolled up our driveway to collect our 2015 calves that we had sold.

It was cold. The ground was frozen. The weather was perfect for loading cattle.

I actually bundled up in a heavy hooded sweatshirt, down jacket and rain boots (I have no insulated winter boots) to help Glenn and Becky separate the herd prior to the truck’s arrival.  I am no fan of cold weather, but I had to admit that I felt very comfortable.

 



cattle and sheep coming into the barn lot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, all the cattle and ewes were the led out of the pasture and into the barn lot. Easy. Some of the early leaders along with all of the ewes were secured into the back pen. Then, a slight miss cue caused the remaining cattle to reverse course and run downhill through the fenced paddock, out the still open gate and back to their pasture.  The process had to begin again, this time with a bit more frisky animals as if they were playing a game.  The recapture was no game for Becky or Glenn.  The fourth attempt by Becky and Glenn finally yielded success with all the cattle back into the barn lot. Gates closed and chained.

 

The ewes were moved into the empty barn paddock. Our ram lambs already occupied the second barn paddock.  All the cows were separated from the calves.  It was my responsibility to open the paddock gate to let the cows back into the pasture.  So, every 6-8 cows separated, I would release them from the barn lot. I had the easiest job, and one which I performed without incident.

 

Next, the horse and donkey (yes, they have been hanging out with the flerd) were moved in with the ewes.

 

Then, the bred (pregnant) yearling heifers (yet to have a calf), 2015 open (not pregnant) heifer calves, and a few steer calves were separated off into the third paddock.

 

Are you still following this process?

 

We ended up with 14 steer calves in the barn lot to load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once loaded, Glenn and I followed the trailer to the steers’ new farm home where they were weighed and retagged with new numbers before being put on their new pasture.

 

loading a calf onto the scale

the weight of our largest calf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the end of the story.  But, the story of loading the calves actually started on November 30.

 

The purchaser, Daniel, had a free day before leaving on his annual holiday trip to see family in Texas. November 30^th was that day.

 

The stock trailer arrived.  We had been having weeks of rain and the pastures and farm tracks were muddy and slick.  The calves were at the lower loading area as our upper loading area had been in the process of being rebuilt for over one year and the containment fence still was not complete.  Daniel made the decision that he could get his truck down the hill, load the calves, and return up the hill with no problem. Besides, Glenn was at the ready to help with his tractor.

 

The calves were loaded.  As the truck with loaded trailer made its way uphill, the tires started to spin.  It inched its way, sliding, until it could proceed no further.  Glenn retrieved his tractor to help pull the truck and trailer up the slick hill.  That trick worked once before, but not this time.  The calves were unloaded.  They would have to be picked-up another day (that being yesterday, January 6, 2016).  Daniel backed the truck and trailer up, hit a rock and took out his fuel filter. The inoperable truck and now empty trailer was pulled up the hill by John Deere, the tractor.  The damaged rig came to rest in our yard.  Daniel would need an alternate ride back home.  His truck was rescued the following day. And, Daniel made his trip to Texas as scheduled.

 

Having the upper loading area is really the best option for moving livestock by trailer.   So, after the above incident in November, Glenn seriously got to work and finally completed the rebuilding of the barn lot pens and fences.  Not only is the barn lot more functional now, but it is aesthetically more pleasing to view which I do on a daily basis.

 

Hallelujah!

 

Note:  The upside of selling calves is finally getting a paycheck for a year’s worth of labor.  The downside of selling calves and weaning calves is the near constant bellowing by mama cows and calves.  Basically, the mamas are engorged with milk and the calves no longer have access to that milk. The normally peaceful farm is obnoxiously noisy. Thankfully, the clamor subsides in a few days.