The day began earlier than I like it to with a call from the cow man telling me he was on his way. I had prepared for him yesterday, but he didn't show up or call. Today he said they had some trouble sorting the cows. They are big, but not as big as the Simmentals that were boarded last year. These are Red Angus. The calves are the same size as my yearling miniature cows, the Kiloh Highland, and the tie two Riggid Galloways. The Fat Ewe Farm is very fortunate to be in a little valley with a pond and small creed that comes up from the ground. There is water for the cows on the farm and the farm is currently green in the midst of a terrible drought. Most other places are parched and bone dry, browning and dead. This land has had no chemcial fertilizers or anything chemical at all. The grass is native to the land, not planted, so it thrives when other grasses cannot survive. That does not mean it won't dry up to, for every thing does need water, just that it does better with the climate here than some other grass crops.
This morning's cows came in two lots. They are pretty calm. I walked in the pasture tonight to open a gate for them. Kylie, Barclay and Shona were on the other side and already had found the cows and wanted to be together with the herd, because, of course, they are herd animals. Something I just htought of is that Barclay is a bull, a very young one , but he is a fully in tact bull. I wonder if he could hurt himself trying to breed the cows. I don't suppose the cow man would like the purebred Red Angus to be crossed with a Riggid Galloway either. I will call him tomorrow. My three cows may have to be separated and locked in a different pasture with the sheep and goats.
Then foiur young missionaries from the Mormon church came to help me tag the sheep with the Governent issued radio frequency identification tags. I have not tagged my animals previously and never wanted to buy into the program. If animals do not leave the farm, they do not have to be tagged, I think. Another thing to check into, that is.
The four young men and I rounded up the mature rams and I trimmed their hooves, and gave them Ivermectin to slow down the keds, the sheep bugs they have. Then we did the 6 ram lambs and went on to the ewes and lambs. The lambs were tagged and recorded and the ewes who were not tagged were also tagged. Now some ding dong in his ivory tower can observe the number and location of my farm tagged animals, not matter where they are. They try to explain it is for farm safety, but I don't buy that. It is to control food. Control food, control the population, but that is another topic.
The young men and I were very tired after doing all the farm sheep, except one who was still out on pasture. They offered to get her and bring her in, but I said I would do her when they were sheared next week. Joe, the livestock guardian dog was also treated with Ivermectin, but the other dogs were not, so I will have to do that in the next few days. They will be given Valbazen for dog/sheep tapeworms, too. It was a hard day and for me, with my arthritic hands, doing that many hooves, some of them hard as rocks, was difficult. But, it is done and complete and I am grateful for the help.
After the fellows departed, a lovely visitor came to purchase the imitation Buffalo hide blanket and we chatted for a long time. She was very different and I found out she is from Vancouver Island, so then it made sense. She said she would like to come back and visit and I hope she does. She purchased a pumice stone from my store, my very first sale, even though it is not opened yet.
After her departure, I had chores to do. As much as I would have liked to have gone in to eat and relax, there were many hungry mouths to feed and water to deliver to bowls, pools and buckets. The little ducklings and goslings that are in the goat barn area, are eating a gallon of grain and feed daily now. They would probably eat more if I gave it to them, plus they demolish a 2 gallon trough of water in ten to fifteen minutes. It was a hot day and they were without water for some time, longer than I would like them to have been, but they were fine. When the chores were done, I finally came in and made rice and sauerkraut for supper, drank some "greens" and am running my bath, which I delight in nightly in the antique claw foot tub. It is midnight. Oh yes, I also had to water the plants that are in containers, plus the roses. The geraniums froze and the basil shrivelled up and I am sure will not come back. I am not used to having to water so much every day coming from White Rock (Vancouver).
And finally, the day is done. I will sleep well tonight with a grateful heart. I hope you do too.
This morning's cows came in two lots. They are pretty calm. I walked in the pasture tonight to open a gate for them. Kylie, Barclay and Shona were on the other side and already had found the cows and wanted to be together with the herd, because, of course, they are herd animals. Something I just htought of is that Barclay is a bull, a very young one , but he is a fully in tact bull. I wonder if he could hurt himself trying to breed the cows. I don't suppose the cow man would like the purebred Red Angus to be crossed with a Riggid Galloway either. I will call him tomorrow. My three cows may have to be separated and locked in a different pasture with the sheep and goats.
Then foiur young missionaries from the Mormon church came to help me tag the sheep with the Governent issued radio frequency identification tags. I have not tagged my animals previously and never wanted to buy into the program. If animals do not leave the farm, they do not have to be tagged, I think. Another thing to check into, that is.
The four young men and I rounded up the mature rams and I trimmed their hooves, and gave them Ivermectin to slow down the keds, the sheep bugs they have. Then we did the 6 ram lambs and went on to the ewes and lambs. The lambs were tagged and recorded and the ewes who were not tagged were also tagged. Now some ding dong in his ivory tower can observe the number and location of my farm tagged animals, not matter where they are. They try to explain it is for farm safety, but I don't buy that. It is to control food. Control food, control the population, but that is another topic.
The young men and I were very tired after doing all the farm sheep, except one who was still out on pasture. They offered to get her and bring her in, but I said I would do her when they were sheared next week. Joe, the livestock guardian dog was also treated with Ivermectin, but the other dogs were not, so I will have to do that in the next few days. They will be given Valbazen for dog/sheep tapeworms, too. It was a hard day and for me, with my arthritic hands, doing that many hooves, some of them hard as rocks, was difficult. But, it is done and complete and I am grateful for the help.
After the fellows departed, a lovely visitor came to purchase the imitation Buffalo hide blanket and we chatted for a long time. She was very different and I found out she is from Vancouver Island, so then it made sense. She said she would like to come back and visit and I hope she does. She purchased a pumice stone from my store, my very first sale, even though it is not opened yet.
After her departure, I had chores to do. As much as I would have liked to have gone in to eat and relax, there were many hungry mouths to feed and water to deliver to bowls, pools and buckets. The little ducklings and goslings that are in the goat barn area, are eating a gallon of grain and feed daily now. They would probably eat more if I gave it to them, plus they demolish a 2 gallon trough of water in ten to fifteen minutes. It was a hot day and they were without water for some time, longer than I would like them to have been, but they were fine. When the chores were done, I finally came in and made rice and sauerkraut for supper, drank some "greens" and am running my bath, which I delight in nightly in the antique claw foot tub. It is midnight. Oh yes, I also had to water the plants that are in containers, plus the roses. The geraniums froze and the basil shrivelled up and I am sure will not come back. I am not used to having to water so much every day coming from White Rock (Vancouver).
And finally, the day is done. I will sleep well tonight with a grateful heart. I hope you do too.
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