03/02/2022
We started weaning calves in December bringing home the moms with their big babies from different herds at different farms by turns. Doing this event helps the moms gain weight without all their calories going to sustain big bull & heifer calves beside for the last 8 months. Plus, they’re already bred back so, they need to conserve calories for the new life..the calves soon quit bawling for their moms & focus on the new tastes & sounds all around. They get used to being close to us which in turn makes them easier to handle later. It’s a full days work that continues without fail even through the snow, sleet & below zero windchills. We didn’t have a runny nose in the bunch. After being separated for a couple weeks they learn to eat cake cubes from bunk feeders & the bales of hay we put in front of them. They’re gaining weight daily. The moms (which are putting on weight also cause they’re not feeding 2 calves) & a couple bulls are next to them in a different fenced in pasture. Helps calm the weaning calves. As they’re successfully weaned we transfer them back to our different farms then start the process all over again with another group of pairs. This time of year on the ranch is exciting cause their dropping new babies daily & each one’s so cute. The cycle of life continues no matter what’s going on in the world elsewhere. The tribe only know they have new lives to begin with all their friends. Soon, they’ll have green grasses to graze & warmer days ahead to do what they enjoy. The view isn’t too bad either.😊
