New Heifers

Immediately after milking we let the cows out into the yard, ate breakfast and then headed out to check on the heifers we are considering purchasing.  There are reasons we are excited about doing this.  Bruce has known this farmer since high school.  We have had direct contact with the farmer who is now milking the previous group of heifers from this farm and has reported good things.  They come from a closed herd, meaning they are home raised in a herd where they have pedigrees from multiple generations and they have not brought in other animals. This decreases the risk of disease transfer.  They are due in November which fits well here, and December, which is slightly more complicated since we then have some of our own heifers due.  We were able to walk among them and see their dispositions when we were there.  They have been raised on pasture so they will be ready to go back to work when the grazing season starts in spring.  The things we have mixed feelings on are they are carrying calves from an Angus bull.  They will fit just fine in our steer yard but they won't create milking replacements.  They are due in November and December which means I will be feeding 18 calves over Christmas.  We have only purchased heifers one other time since I have been here.  We paid $2,200 each  and one of them was mean, did significant damage to Bruce's shoulder, and left here earlier this year for our own safety.  We have decided to make this purchase and will pay $1,475 each which included delivery here.  They will not really create much extra work since we milk and bed and clean the barn regardless but they will increase our milk income at a time when we are drying up cows.  All that being said, I am not looking forward to the freshening vigil, new heifer learning curve and newborn calf worries.  Already I am looking forward to January!

By the time we returned home it had started to rain.  The cows probably got their last bath of the year while they were waiting to be let back in the barn.  As the afternoon progressed it rained harder and then snowed enough to make the grass nearly white for awhile.  Wet, sloppy, 37 degrees and windy.  We are definitely in the transition towards winter!  Bruce gave Vicky a call to discuss the transition of these heifers.  They are already eating corn silage and haylage so they are already heading the right direction towards the milking ration.

Tonight I bleached one stall and we moved a cull cow to another one so we can get ready for the first group of heifers.  Since we are culling and moving animals Bruce ordered new mattresses and will install 3 that we have on hand.  Suddenly we have a project with a deadline along with the need to get ready to harvest corn.  Oh well...bedtime : )