Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

I don't know that I have ever had heifers calve out so fast. It's only 14 days into the first cycle and we are all ready over 60% done. At this rate we will easily make 75% of the heifers calved out in the first cycle. I throw that magical number out because all the "experts" of the industry say that is the goal and can only be obtained by special diets when breeding and synchronizing your heifers at breeding time. This will be the second year in a row I've manged the feat with no artificial drugs and on simple hay and grass proceeded on the ranch itself and not using all the special high priced feed. Just shows you what the "experts know.



This picture was taken 2/7/2006 before the cold, wet weather hit. So peaceful and nice. I am so tired myself, wish I could lay down and rest. That's not in the cards though.

Getting some of the critters moved around to get ready for the cows to start calving. I like to move the cows to a new feeding area just before they start calving to give the calves a cleaner place to lounge around. I have noted that it reduces my scours problem tremendously. Any way of attacking a problem naturally and without expensive drugs I am all for. Another one of those things the "experts" won't tell you about. They just want you to buy the drugs to treat your cattle. Bah, who needs it.

The cows could start dropping calves anytime now. I sure hope the weather straightens out. I have a simple philosophy for calving out cows, if they can't do it on their own, they don't need to be in my herd. The first calf heifers are the only ones I watch and help. That doesn't mean I won't help a cow but they are in a two thousand acre pasture and I don't have the time nor energy to drive around and keep an eye on them. They have done it once and they can do it again on their own. The only time I will break this rule is if it gets really cold. Then I will drive around and help them warm up their calves.

If the weather gets halfway nice though there shouldn't be any problems. That's what I am praying for.

It is the nature of babies to be in bliss. Deepak Chopra

Almost 20% done with the heifers all ready and I just got in from pulling my first calf. That's pretty good if you ask me. It wasn't what I would classify as a hard pull but she definitely needed help. Have to go out and check on another one shortly. Boy the nights are short when calving heifers. We're making good progress though.

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error. Voltaire