the cows.

The cows across the creek seem to be doing well. They are keeping the grass clipped pretty low. We heard the lonely cry of a male bobwhite quail last weekend while we were across the creek checking on the cows.  That was a very nice surprise. 

Pepper, is still the prettiest cow on Mocabee creek.

Here's frank. He'll be a year old in just two more weeks.  by the end of the summer he'll be in the freezer. I'll try to get some photos of the new calf and donkey soon.

more gertrude.

Still no calf.  These will probably be the last of the photos of Gert's private parts... unless we're lucky enough to be around while she's having it.  Keep your fingers crossed for a heifer calf.

What do you all think.?  Tomorrow.?...

Gert is getting closer.

Her bag is filling up a little. and her vulva continues to swell.  General consensus says she'll have it this sunday or monday. We can't wait for fresh milk and butter....mmmm.

big as a bathtub, but sweeter than sugar.

Ok everyone.  Gert's getting close to having her calf.  Claire was spot on with the due date of the piglets... Let's see if our vulva whisperer has what it takes to get another one right.

Good luck everyone. 

keenya

We went across the road to have a closer look at Tank's eye.  He's got pinkeye.  It's not as bad as it was last week, and he hasn't passed it along to any of the other cows (or us).  All the other pictures I took of the cows and donkies over there turned out blurry.  Here's one shot of Keenya, filling in nicely.  Oh, in other cow related news... Gert's plug has started to disolve... so we should have a calf within the week (hopefully). I will have photos of that soon, so those of you trained in the ways of brith, can give your best birthday guesses.

gert and corn

Gert Enjoyed the cool weekend weather out on the pasture, she could have her calf anytime now.  The corn in the garden is just now starting to sprout. The only thing left to set out is tomatoes (now hardening off on the porch) and a few vines of cucumber, and squash. Potatoes are about 6 inches tall.

there's something you don't see everyday!

The new cow pasture.

We worked on patching fence across the creek yesterday and were able to get all the cows (except for gert) moved onto their new pasture.  Also in this field are Shelby and Davy, The donkeys.  Davy's been alone on the other side of the road for several months, and Shelby's never been with a jack.  There was spring donkey love in the air on Mocabee creek yesterday afternoon, and into the night.  Next step... fence off the creek, and buy some electro-net fencing and get the sheep out on pasture.

The scottish highlands.

Tank, the future herd sire to all our cows, still seems tiny to me.  He's really pushy with the other cows and acts like a bull. Maybe he'll have a growth sput soon. 

Blondie was supposedly bred, and should be due to calve next month, if all the math and number work out correctly.  She looked pregnant last month, but now I'm not so sure. This girl is a bit high strung for our taste, so her future here might be uncertain.  After she has a calf, we'll reevaluate her pros and cons.

The cows, except for Gert the jersey, have all been on green pasture basically since the snow was over.  They have had access to plenty of hay as well- to try to prevent some bloating.  So far, we've been dealing with a little runnier than ideal droppings, but no sign of major grass sickness. You can see in this photo that Blondie has a dirty back side, but with hair like that back there, it's to be expected.  The cow patties are thickening up though, and spring seems to be going full throttle.

still the prettiest cow on Mocabee creek

I can't wait to see Pepper, the lineback cow, shed off her winter coat.

The plan still remains to allow her to breed to Tank, the highland bull, if he ever starts to put on any size.  I will be on the lookout for a lineback bottle bull from a dairy, either from Wisconsin or New York.  We have to go to New York this fall anyway to pick up a new Teeswater Ram, so why not bring home a little bull too.?

Frank, the steer

This guy is getting really big.  The plan is to slaughter him this fall, and then eat tacos every single day, until snow falls, or the meat runs out-whichever comes first.  I look for him to really put on a lot of weight out on all that fresh green grass.

He's about 10 months old now.

field shot.

Here're the cows all out in the bottom.  Waiting, just like the rest of us for the grass to start growing, and for the trees to green up.  It's always amazes me how different this view looks in the middle of the summer, and how empty all the trees look this time of year.  Maples are starting to bloom now, though-so you know...it won't be long.

new cow.

The weather broke long enough this weekend for us to be able to drive over to Waddy and pick up this, our newest and last cow for a while.  She's a lineback heifer, prob. about 9 months old.  I'll be on the lookout for a lineback bull for her.  But If I can't find one this year, She'll more than likely be bred to the highland bull

 (if he ever gets big enough to make contact)

YAY!!! winter's over (for now)

family shot

New heifer-keenya , Is she full jersey or a cross?

Frank is so happy to have a little girlfriend, even though he's a steer now, and won't ever be able to do anything about it.  Yesterday I caught him nibbling on the burrs stuck in Keenya's neck.  Looks like love as far as I can tell.

She was advertised as a full jersey heifer, based on the fact that she was sold at auction with her mother and father in the ring at the same time.  Her markings make everyone think she's prob. got some holstein in her.  What do you all think?

the single tear of a steer.

update of frank (now a steer)

he's getting a lot bigger now, still drinking milk.

cow update...

here is where our milk comes from. been making butter and tomorrow the first batch of cheese. Also The pig loves to slurp down her homemade sour cream...















mother and child, looking forward to the big graze...

a family shot. Once Gert is bred back, her husband, is moving on to the next stage in his life. He's been sort of a handful to deal with, which is a shame, because he really is a pretty bull. I'm sure he'll taste pretty good tho.

New life

This is Gertie,

And her new baby boy...Frank.

I am continually reminded that life is always renewing. As one dies so too another begins its life. We have had a couple of losses this spring, but yesterday our Jersey milk cow Gertie had a healthy bull calf. She is such a good mom. She delivered about 330pm and by 5p had the little fellow cleaned up and ready to nurse. Of course she chose the furthest point of the pasture to have him. It made for a long walk to the barn. Now what to do with all that milk?