Ranch Work and Calving

We've been getting some spring work done. It finally dried up enough to drive on the hay meadow, so that's where we focused. 

First we pulled some posts from an old fence line. Here's a handy device Tom made. 

He throws a couple half hitches down low on the post with the chain, pulls it up over the metal tube, and fastens it to the back of the tractor.

When the tractor is driven ahead, the chain tightens, and the leverage lifts the post out.

We pulled maybe twenty posts and filled the holes, then moved on to the next job.

(These next pictures have a blue tinge. Somehow, my camera gets on some weird setting that does this. Guess I have to pay more attention.)

Tom hauled compost down to the hay meadow, while I went to dragging.

It went from looking like this,

to this.


The spotted cow disappeared over to the neighbors to calve again. The next day we went looking for her and the calf.

 We found this sleepy little guy.

When he stood up we realized he was having problems. As you can see he can't walk very well. His ankles bend over and he ends up walking on the joint with his hooves bent under. Since he was other wise healthy and nursing, we left the pair alone so he could get stronger.

The next morning the cow had rejoined the herd, but the calf wasn't there, so we went looking for him. He had tried to follow his mother back, but couldn't get very far before he had to stop as those front joints are so weak. We decided we better bring the pair up and put them in a pen.

Tom found this little sled at an auction. It was made to pull behind a snow machine, but it works well as a calf transporter also.

Normally this cow is pretty ornery, but she realized her calf needed help and cooperated with us.

 

Yesterday evening more storm clouds rolled in. It began raining shortly after, then it turned to snow. Poor little calves, but their moms are good at keeping them dry and their bellies full of warm milk.