Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

The calves are finally really starting to look good. I don't know what the bug was that was holding them back but they are finally over it and going strong. All told I probably doctored about 25 of them for coccidiosis. Just under 20% of them. I think a few more had it but got over it on their own. I lost two calves in the battle. Both of them were under 300 pound potty calves that have been sickly from weaning and no big surprise to lose.

I looked into more than one way of doctoring the whole herd but my vet recommended just doing what I was doing, doctoring the sick ones. He felt that no sicker than they were and how easily they cured up, it would be more cost effective to doctor the sick ones than to treat the whole herd. The only warning he gave me was not to lock the herd up in a small space. I told him that wasn't a problem since I hated putting the calves in a small space and loved keeping them out on open pasture and had planned on keeping them there. Hopefully they will stay better now.

The two year olds are getting very heavy and it is time to bring them home. Tomorrow is the day I think. Get them home so we can take care of them while they are calving. I'm not looking forward to the long nights awake and going short of sleep all the time but that's the way it goes. Maybe someday I will be rich enough to hire the whole job done. Yea and pigs can fly. I would still have to do the job and see that it is done right.

Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. Kahlil Gibran

I had to laugh the other day. The Hired Hand was making some wise comment about how much we were feeding all the critters. I told him that it was so nice to have enough hay to feed everything all they want and not have to worry about running out. Hell, even feeding all they want we will have enough left over to last almost another winter. That's something nice.

Something not so nice, the coccidiosis problem I talked about. Still linger on. Again it's nothing serious but I need to keep doctoring a few. I would really be curious to know what set this off. Doctored another 10 now. I looked into treating the water so they all get some dosage but it is way too expensive. Cheaper to doctor the sick ones.

Cows and two year olds are looking great so no problems there. No more flat tires so I guess I just get to worry about the calves. Damn the bad luck. Would like them all healthy and nothing to worry about. Right, have critters and not worry about them. That's not going to happen, is it.

UPDATE: Spoke too soon. Had another flat tire on a pickup today. This is really getting tiring.

Without getting into to many details, 2008 has to get better. Five flat tires in five days feeding taxes anybodies sanity.

Then I have had a small out break of coccidiosis in my calves for some reason. Usually there has to be a stressor for this to happen and I have no idea what that could have been. Most of them have been getting over it but I have had to doctor some and a couple of potty calves have died. Yesterday I got the whole bunch in and doctored about 20 head that had a loose stool trying to get a handle on the situation. It's not a life or death thing right now but it definitely is irritating.

It just makes it feel like 2008 is starting on the wrong foot here. I know it's not but damn, it's irritating.

When in danger or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout. Lazarus Long