Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[greybeard]

2 nights ago, we had a 'severe Tstorm' advisory, warning of 60 mph winds, quarter sized hail, as much as 5 inches of rain over the next couple of hours and after all the trouble of squeezing my wife's car into the shop, all we got was a northerly breeze, a little thunder and about 1/4" of rain.

 

[Mini Horses]

So far this year my area is about 7"above norm. It's been good rains though -- light showers mostly, the kind that soak in and don't destroy the new plants in the gardens. However they have been several days in a row and the overcast cloud cover is depressing that long. Sunshine today and next few, rain again Sunday evening. It's good -- I love a clean pasture and it's sure growing well. Just hope mid summer doesn't bring the dreaded "drought & high temps" we can have. Like LS, I'm having to cut my fields.

Does that mean we both need to buy more grazers? NOPE. The cost of gas to mow is far less than the cost of hay in winter. I have proof.

 

[farmerjan]

You don't keep the "additional graziers" through the winter. You buy them thin, put the extra grass into them, then sell when it gets drier, or you need some money, or fall comes and you don't want to supplement. If you bought some that were thin, and could get them at a decent price, they ought to put on weight and even if selling for the same price per pound, you will gain in the added income from the added weight. And no "mowing time" or gas involved....

 

[Latestarter]

Gosh... it just sounds so simple!

 

[Bruce]

Apparently easy as pie!

 

[greybeard]

Gosh... it just sounds so simple!

It is. Unless you make the mistake of buying fleshy cattle because they look so good....they won't put on much fat weight and will do it at a slower rate than thin cattle will.. You just got to know when to sit on your hands and keep your mouth shut.

Timing, is important too.

I just don't believe in cutting down cow feed.
I have a 4', and a 6' mower. Haven't hooked on to either in about 4 years and probably never will again. Only thing I mow is my yard.

 

[Mini Horses]

In my area there is virtually NO market to sell a cow/calf without hauling it a good distance. My horse trailers are built for mini horses, so not as tall, only 5' interior height. The cow/calf would have to stay long enough to butcher. Then, hire to haul. Depending on breed, they may fit...not want to go in if tight.

I agree with the "no mow, feed it live" theory. Just not set up for the larger sized now. Yeah, could get one to butcher but several to any market -- nope.

Goats or sheep, I could do! Those are not "oversized" for me. Yep, often consider buying some for butcher. Don't want to buy at auction and possibly expose my healthy herd to issues. Have looked at a couple small farms or backyard "pet" owners just wanting to sell lambs & may still buy two JUST for feed out & butcher, only for self. Prices are a consideration. At least I am already fenced!!!

 

[Bruce]

Have looked at a couple small farms or backyard "pet" owners just wanting to sell lambs & may still buy two JUST for feed out & butcher, only for self.

Don't tell the sellers what you plan to do with them.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Exactly what Bruce said! Some will wig out on you!!

 

[Latestarter]

OK, so I have stayed up till 4-5am the past couple of nights. Combination of dozing during the day cause my knee isn't working right and watching YouTube videos all night on the recent volcanoes (Hawaii & Guatemala) and then that naturally leads to earth quakes, and tsunamis and landslides... you get the idea I'm sure.

So here... for your listening (&watching) pleasure:

What, not what you expected?

Got my OB wire and handles in the mail yesterday. Figured I'd better give them a shot as the scur was directly rubbing a raw spot in the back of RJ's neck. I could tell it was bothering him because he kept tossing his head around trying to relieve the pressure. I must confess the handles were about 20% of the size I expected (pictures can be very misleading), as they weren't even as large as a magic marker. They basically unscrew in 1/2, the wire goes in the slot, then you tighten the handle back down to hold the wire. Doesn't work worth a $hit... put tension on the wire and it slips right through the handle and I had to start over. Meanwhile, RJ is clipped and tied to the gate and not happy about being restrained.

Long story short, once I fanagled it to get the wire held enough that I could keep it from sliding (too much) I started cutting off the main scur. As soon as that wire started really cutting (under pressure/tension on the horn), he settled right down and stood nice and still so I could finish. At that point, the tie down strap had fallen off his head/face and it was just the collar clip holding him to the fence. I was pretty happy about how he handled it. Still not happy about the handles though. I can't imagine how someone would use those little things to do a cow. Anyway, I picked a good spot and drew no blood. I think I took off about 4". Of course when it grows back out further, I'll have to do it again. That wire gets right fricken hot! He has a dime sized raw spot on his neck from the scur. I put some antiseptic blood stop powder on it. When I released him, he walked off a bit and shook his head a little, kinda to gauge the new weight distribution and lack of pain, then reached up with a rear hoof to touch/scratch the raw spot gently, then came up for some scratches and petting. He's a good boy (most of the time).

I also removed the top portion off the other scur as he had broken it and it was loose. So both dogs got some horn to chew on. Speaking of dogs, I've been lathering up Mel twice a day with the sulfur oil in the irritated area. It continued to spread a bit, but I think it's stopped now as I extended the oil coverage outside the actual affected area. Seems to be healing back up. Sure makes him a mess though as he has a tunnel dug 1/2 way to China out under the oak tree in the middle of the pasture. When he lays in it you can't even see him anymore. That dark brown dirt has his white coat all stained and clumped up around the rash area.