While the grass is still green and the cows are still milking really well, we’ve made a management decision to wean the calves that are now around 6 months old.
Calves will be on good tucker for another few months and the cows, now entering their second trimester of pregnancy, will be able to have a rest from lactation and gather body condition in order to see through the dry season.
This is the business theory for mustering but the other reason for a weaning muster over the Easter holidays is:
School is out and we have a ready and able workforce!
While gathering the cows on horseback yesterday, Lachlan found himself too close to a wasp nest. Poor little mite was bombarded/flattened/under siege and ended the battle with at least 15 stings. It certainly took the spring out of his step for the rest of the day but this morning he was again an eager beaver. Some residual swelling still though…and we’re all very wary of wasp nests or brushing past trees now…
Mustering has been a complete family affair this week, with Tess virtually participating out in the paddock. We had a great chat on Facetime while bringing the cattle together. Knowing that this works in the field opens up endless possibilities.
I still can’t believe I was chatting to Tess’s host, Laura Field in Nebraska, and waving to her gorgeous twins while riding a horse in the middle of the paddock kilometres from the nearest house….
Technology and its adoption excites not only me, but of course the kids as well. Andrew, when asked to write down some weaner weights for us, had no hesitation in using Dad’s iPhone as his recording device. Weights and cattle numbers are all now niftily synced to my iPhone and the office.
Today we were at a different set of yards and with no weighing scales installed, and hence no electronic data to record, Andrew took on a more traditional role.
Preparing some lunch on a BBQ plate…
Too easy!
He was ably offsided by Adelaide who cut the bread rolls and added sauce.
Lachlan was happy to work the calf gate for Dad while waiting for the sausages to sizzle.
Eliza and I were kept busy carting weaners in the truck. She was amused with a piece of baling twine for a while……
…….before the mid afternoon drowsiness set in.
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