As stuff merrily freezes and wheezes and doesn't want to work because it is so cold, we seem to find ourselves spending a LOT of time in the barn.
I know, I know, we're farmers, we're supposed to spend a lot of time in the barn. But supper at 9:30 at night and breakfast at noon is annoying.
This morning we put some heifers that were out in the yard into stalls . One is springing, one is a raving lunatic, and one just got lucky and now has a real nice stall. The first and last were fine. Just a matter of a few gates in pertinent places, some tasty heifer grain and a modicum of calm cajolery.
And hey, presto, they are now stabled among the cows in all their glory.
But, the loony-tooney one, now there's another story.
Her name for some reason that escapes me is Winston. She does not deserve it, being about as bright as a 10-watt bulb, and mean to boot.
In fact our first memorable experience with her was when she was about six months old and Liz and I were ear tagging calves. She smashed the tagger and about got us too. She still has no tag.
Then came time for her to be serviced to have a calf. We use AI for some heifers so she needed to go in a headlock while that was done. Nope, not having any of THAT. On that occasion she jumped through the stanchion, nearly mowed me down, and charged away.
Eventually we decided that all her chances to be a good cow are gone. When you can't get them in the barn, can't get them in a stall, and can't manage them in any reasonable way, they almost never turn out to milk well. Maybe because they are too nervous to let their milk down properly, but I dunno. Her mother was a very poor producer as it happens.
Anyhow, we could not get her into the stall we wanted her in. She jumped into the manger again. So we tried a different one. After a week to ten days...or so it seemed as this morning was deadline for the Farm Side, which was late BTW...Becky finally shoved her bodily into the stanchion. This is a big heifer. Becky doesn't mess around.
Anyhow, I am glad at the moment to NOT be in the barn any more.
Two by four between the eyes or the meat wagon seem viable options for Winston.
ReplyDeletePatience. I have little.
I hate cows like that! I hate any animal like that. Here we ... make hamburger out of them. Just say'n.
ReplyDeleteSometimes after the calf is born and they do settle down. I hope this one does.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
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You guys just know how to have fun--if I wasn't older than dirt I'd offer to jump right on in -- just for the fun of it!!
ReplyDeleteJoated, she has got a screw loose for sure. Or maybe a whole box of them. Ralph had to milk the cow next to her last night and she alternated between trying desperately to kick him and throwing herself on the floor. This animal was bottle raised and in a stall in the barn until last spring. Dang
ReplyDeleteLinda, we are thinking of selling her directly to some folks who want to buy beef from us. She is fat enough.
12, we DO, don't we lol. I was actually pretty satisfied with how the job went. We have been trying to get Winston since early summer and finally did.