My Bad Attitude : ) or Thurs to Sat

Thurs- Bruce set up the bagger after milking so we could actually cut and chop the overgrown pasture.  This isn't really a project as simple as it sounds since the bagger has to be put in place and then the bag has to be mounted on it and tied off.  It is heavy and awkward.  The end gets folded over and double tied so it looks like it has a big belly button "outie".  The backstop is then put in place to support the end and hold pressure on the bag while it is filling.  There are cables that run from the backstop to the bagger that hold tension so the silage will pack the entire 250ft length of the bag if we would fill it all.  Then we are ready to start chopping!

Vicky, our nutritionist, came today.  We had all the normal discussions of how the fresh cows are doing, feed inventories, feed mix results in relation to production, fat test and MUN's.  Feed samples were taken to be sent in and analyzed so we know what we are working with.  We also verified who had been bred, who was on the list, and why we are behind.  The days don't expand to fill all the requirements, nor are we getting faster.  That doesn't include animal cooperation...or lack of it.  LOL

We started chopping pasture by mid afternoon.  These areas are set up for pasture and not cropping so they can be awkward to get around, especially the first round which is chopped counter clockwise.  Added to that is trying to stay off the fence but getting everything that was  cut off the field so it can regrow, and the fact that the pasture is rough compared to our fields.  The grass is mature and there was a lot of feed out there so I could only chop in 4th gear, 2.7 mph!  Lets just say I took a physical and mental pounding.  Feeding started late, milking started later. Yesterday it was hot.  The cows spent the day in the pasture with plenty of breeze and only one seemed to show signs of stress.  By the time we started milking the humidity was building into what I have always referred to as "murder and divorce" weather.  High temps, humidity and body heat from 1500# cows...lets just say that there were no romantic illusions  about the business we are in. By the time we walked into the house it was after 11 again and I had had enough!

Fri-After a short night of sleep in the air conditioning!!!!  we are back at it.  When Bruce left the house this morning it was sunny and our weather station said it was 79 degrees with 99% humidity and wind at 17 mph.  The cows stayed in the barn today.  This kind of heat and humidity can be deadly so keeping the cows in the barn minimized the work they had to do.  The temperature topped out at 97. The cows seemed to handle the day very well, at least as far as we can tell.  We will see what the bulk tank says.  I had 2 calves with heat stress issues.  By evening one was back drinking for me but the other one had been under special care a couple days before the heat and didn't want to stand.  I drug him out in front of the hutch where he was content to drink what I wanted him to but didn't want to stand, even with my help.  I left him in front of the hutch for the night since there was a nice breeze and it really was fairly pleasant.  We FINISHED chopping today!  A full month later than would be considered normal but we are finally done.  Chopping was easier today because the heifer pastures are longer strips and lighter animals cause less damage when its wet.  I could only chop in 3rd gear since there was a mix of clover in this stuff and there was a lot of feed out there.  I was extremely grateful that our equipment worked well.  Most years we don't even think about it but this year has us just a bit guarded.  Because the cows were already in the barn, I could start milking myself while Bruce fed.  It was just plain miserable in the barn but we managed to get done at a reasonable hour.

In hot weather I prop the back of the hutches up so they create shade but allow for ventilation.  Even with the hot weather yesterday there was a nice breeze blowing through. 

This is the inside of the bagger.  The "fingers" pack the haylage upward until it is packed tight.  The tractor is left in neutral and as the silage packs the pressure moves the tractor forward.

The bagger set up and in use.  You can see the end tied off towards the bottom of the backstop.  This is 7 loads done.  The bags we use have a 9 ft. diameter.

Bruce drives the load up and unloads into the elevator.  The fingers pack the silage as the cables hold tension.