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Post by willowgirl on Jun 20, 2019 12:11:23 GMT
Cindy Lou Moo, aka "Brat," tested open at about 300 DIM after having previously tested pregnant. Must have been a false positive or maybe she slipped a calf? She's making about enough milk to whiten your coffee, so onto the truck she goes! Luckily she's one my pets so she gets a reprieve. She's already fat as a tick so she should fit in with the rest of the herd quite well! She grew up with Lizzy (she's #1226, Lizzy was 1220) and it will be interesting to see if they remember each other.
Trying to line up a hauler; hoping to get her this weekend. Hopefully she won't give us any trouble loading ... she's a boisterous one!
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Post by willowgirl on Jun 22, 2019 17:54:09 GMT
Cow rescue something-point-oh (by this point, I've lost track) is underway! Stay tuned for a new and exciting development ...  |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Jun 22, 2019 18:09:48 GMT
Looking forward to pics and/or video if it works out!
You guys are just too cool...
~Mari
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Post by willowgirl on Jun 23, 2019 2:02:18 GMT
Well, we took TWO! Cindy Lou and Skunkie (named because the markings on her face make her look just like a skunk! As was the case with Bitey, if I'd known I'd be adopting her someday, I would have given her a nicer name). Last night Numb and I were talking and I mentioned it was a shame that another friendly cow would be going on the truck Monday as she wasn't bred either. When I told my boss I'd take Cindy Lou, he asked me if I wanted #20 (Skunkie) too ... he's been putting off selling her for a long time. She aborted a calf in September and didn't settle to a couple of subsequent breedings. I think she made all of 9 lbs. of milk on her last test, so I guess it was finally time. (He hates to sell cows too.) Anyway, when I mentioned her to Numb, he felt we should take her! I guess I wouldn't have been brave enough to take on two more, especially both at once, but what the heck! Might as well go for broke, eh?! Will post pics in the morn ... I think the ones on Numb's camera will be better than the ones I took this evening. The trip was uneventful and they seem to be settling in OK. Skunkie is very laid-back and seems to be staying on the sidelines, just keeping out of everybody's way. Boisterous Cindy is the exact opposite ... she's going around trying to boss everyone (and Snowy and Roz aren't having any of that!). It's interesting because our herd dynamic has always been very laid-back ... before tonight I couldn't have told you who the 'boss cow' was because they very seldom squabble. I guess they'll sort things out to suit them within a couple of days. Oh, an odd thing ... Skunkie wouldn't touch the sweet feed when we gave them their Saturday treat! Now, I have never seen a cow who wouldn't absolutely gobble sweet feed. She's grazing and picking at the hay we put out for them, but wouldn't touch the pellets. Weird! We'll see if she changes her mind tomorrow.  |
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Post by willowgirl on Jun 23, 2019 21:37:46 GMT
Here they are! This was taken yesterday right after they came off the trailer:  Numb checked on them this morning on the way to town and said the whole herd was sleeping in the barn in front of their fans. We'll go out shortly to clean the barn in the cool of the evening. |
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Post by willowgirl on Jun 24, 2019 2:39:27 GMT
Skunkie has decided she likes sweet feed after all! Big surprise there ... NOT. Herd all grazing peacefully this evening but came gamboling over to the feeding station when we rattled the bags. Didn't take the new girls long to catch on to the program ... They both stood nicely while Numb dusted them with fly powder, which is a definite plus. Most of our cows are down with it, but Shady and Roz are kinda stinkers. The next test will be whether they'll let Numb handle their feet for trimming, but we'll let them get settled in a bit more first before attempting that! |
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Post by LauraD on Jun 24, 2019 13:06:47 GMT
Just wow. So how many girls are you up to now?
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Post by comfortablynumb on Jun 25, 2019 0:31:22 GMT
8 at the Willowville Sanatorium, and one in the backyard of the house.
I was just out there fixing a fence and it started to rain. Cindy Lo went under the tree line with the others to eat weeds, and Skunky stood out in the rain slurping the rain running off her nose. it would seem rain is something she had not seen before.
After it started coming down harder, she trotted off looking for Cindy and parked herself under the tree with her.
Freedom has a learning curve.
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Post by willowgirl on Jun 25, 2019 4:13:56 GMT
Just wow. So how many girls are you up to now? If you know how many cows you have, you don't have enough!  |
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Post by LauraD on Jun 25, 2019 12:38:33 GMT
Just wow. So how many girls are you up to now? If you know how many cows you have, you don't have enough!
Sort of like "chicken math"? |
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Post by willowgirl on Jun 25, 2019 17:21:35 GMT
'Zackly!
The new kids on the block seem to be doing fine. Wormed them today as a precautionary measure.
I don't know what's up with these cows though! It's hot today. The open part of the barn is 11x36 feet with a bank of four fans blowing cool air down from the ventilation panels under the eaves. And where are the cows? Five are jammed into a 12x16 box stall that is cooled by a single fan, while the rest are gathered in front of the doors to the stall, waiting for someone to stand up so they can take her place! They do this every day ... jam up together in that one stall. They don't seem uncomfortable but I can't help thinking they'd be better off lounging in the main part of the barn!
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Post by countrymom22 on Jul 3, 2019 22:38:51 GMT
Glad you were able to make room for two more. Any idea what your cow limit will be? I'm sure it's somewhat flexible, depending on who it is that needs a home, but I was wondering if there is an upper limit to what you think your place can handle.
When I die I want to come back as one of your cows!
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Post by comfortablynumb on Jul 5, 2019 4:12:00 GMT
WHats the limit.... when the neighbors can't bale enough hay to sell us.
We just parked 60 round bales in the willowville sanatorium's parking lot. We have 20 more pending delivery later.
Then again, we can just build a bigger parking lot.
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Post by willowgirl on Jul 6, 2019 12:05:01 GMT
I think I may have met my match here, lol.
Well, first we have to finish paying off the ones we have now! My boss still hasn't given me a price on the girls. He was waiting until he shipped another cow to see how much they're bringing. He send 2 last Monday; he heard one brought $700 and he doesn't know about the other one yet. Neither were as big as Cindy Lou. So it sounds like we're gonna owe somewhere around $1,500.
Mercy ain't cheap.
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Post by willowgirl on Jul 7, 2019 5:30:53 GMT
$1,500 was indeed the price! For the pair, not per cow, lol. I make $10 an hour on the dairy, so I guess I traded 150 hours of my life in order to save theirs. Told my boss that seemed like a fair trade; he laughed and said, "They probably think so."
We will be kinda broke for awhile but the garden's producing, which will cut down on the grocery bill!
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Post by aoconnor on Jul 31, 2019 0:12:43 GMT
You guys are SO awesome!! I love hearing about your Cow adventures, and seeing those beautiful girls in a safe and lifelong home is fantastic!
Double kudos today for you!
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Post by comfortablynumb on Aug 4, 2019 20:51:25 GMT
Maybe we need to open a petting zoo to help pay for the hay... lol
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Post by willowgirl on Aug 5, 2019 11:58:12 GMT
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Post by aoconnor on Aug 5, 2019 13:28:27 GMT
That’s pretty!!
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Post by willowgirl on Aug 6, 2019 4:15:00 GMT
The funny thing is, there was NO rain! Just the rainbow ... (it must have been off in the distance).
We could actually use some rain here ... (words I haven't uttered in a couple of years!).
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Post by willowgirl on Sept 9, 2019 12:47:43 GMT
Cindy Lou and Skunkie got their feet trimmed for the first time yesterday! Well, the first time since they've been with us. They were both very good girls. We were a little worried as to how Cindy would behave since she's gotten a little wild since she's been here. (Numb says she's "gone native," lol.) She was pretty scared when we locked her in the stall we use for trimming, but after talking to her and reassuring her for awhile, Numb was eventually able to get the job done. A good thing, as she was getting a bit long in the toes ... He trimmed everyone except Lizzie, who didn't need it (her hooves are in fine shape now, knock wood!) and eventually had a line of cows waiting outside the stall door as it was rumored that good girls got an apple as a reward for standing nicely. LOL |
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Post by comfortablynumb on Sept 9, 2019 18:57:08 GMT
This method has served me well for many yrs. Most recently, for cows.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Sept 10, 2019 1:02:54 GMT
This method has served me well for many yrs. Most recently, for cows. After spending several years helping out my dairy farmer friend - Daniel - and now reading this - I'm sorry - I'm hopeful that I am in the right as totally taking this as "tongue in cheek"! Thanks for the chuckle ---- naughty!!   Ya'll take care now! ~Mari |
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Post by willowgirl on Sept 10, 2019 3:43:34 GMT
Hey, where's my apple?! I was promised an apple here ... |
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