Micking is going to be a McBurger

Today one of our bulls is leaving.  He is a two-year-old red and white dutch belt, but he has outlived his usefulness on this farm.  We had him breeding heifers earlier this season, and he was doing fine there, but when we brought him up to put him in with the milking cows, trouble started...

First, he would start just by bawling and walking up to the fence where I was standing on the other side when I came out in the evening to watch for cows in heat.  A few days ago he added palling at the ground to his routine.  By this time, I told Danny that Micking had just bought his golden ticket out of here.  We know it is dangerous to use bulls for breeding, but it is labor efficient.  We aren't stupid, though.  If a bull is showing outward signs of aggression we get rid of him.  Danny asked me if we could afford to get rid of him (are there enough bulls left to handle the cows in heat?).  My reply was, "We can't afford NOT to get rid of him."

Then yesterday, if there was any doubt or wavering in Danny's mind as to whether we should keep the bull, Micking made it a loud and clear, "NO."   He gave clear evidence that he was herding the cows.  Yesterday, he wouldn't let the cows get to the water trough to drink the water.  He had all 188 cows herded into the corner of the lower part of the field, away from shade and away from water.

Here is a video of Micking showing signs of aggression.

I urge every farmer who uses bulls for breeding to please be careful.  Don't keep a bull once he starts showing signs of aggressive behavior.  You are not replaceable.  The bull is.

The Lost Have Been Found

Yesterday, we received word from Danny's dad and brother that 10 three-month old calves had gotten loose and were missing.  They searched for about six hours for them.  So, after chores, Danny and I headed down to his dad's farm to help look for the missing babies. 

On a side note, we conveniently got there in time for supper (grin).  Always a blessing in any circumstance.  You just have to be looking for it. :)

Danny's brother and his wife also came over to help look for the calves.  His brother, being the avid hunter that he is, found them after searching for them for about forty minutes.  Unfortunately, there were TEN missing and the group that he found only consisted of EIGHT calves.  With a bucket of grain, Danny, his dad, his brother, and his brother's wife got the group of eight back to their pen and shut them in.  (The calves had gotten out in the first place because they were training them to the fence and someone started the lawn mower right behind their pen, which scared them and they took off through the fence.  The person who started the lawn mower, obviously, didn't hear any of this, which is why they didn't see them get out, nor did they see which direction they went.) 

So, after securing the eight calves in the pen, off we all went back to the woods (which there is at least 60 or 80 acres of woods) to search for the still missing two.  We searched and called and searched and called from about 6 PM to 8:30 PM and found nothing.

Today, Danny went back to search for the two missing ones and joy upon joy, he found them!  This is the video I received:

We are thankful to God that the calves are ok, just a little hungry, and we are praying that it won't be too difficult to get them back to where the others safely in their pen.