Another Version of Sunday

I was wrong.  No calf this morning and we were perfectly OK with that since we aren't quite ready for more anyway.  By the time we got done milking though, we had a new heifer calf.  It's pretty surprising sometimes how quickly calves can be born.  I guess within the basics of nature you need to get it done and move on or potentially be eaten.

This morning Bruce was talking to Jim, who asked what broke on the unloader.  This was the conversation-
B--set screw that holds the weight bracket to the tube that pulls out worked lose allowing the tube to slide into the frame . then the weight bracket tipped sideways and the weight fell off.  and then................. the unloader ate it   Jim says "is that bad???"  B--torch, hammer ,welder, back in buisness.  I will not even pretend to know exactly what they are talking about since I have only been in the silo a few times.  I am just glad Bruce is talented and he managed to fix it with only some labor involved.

It was windy and dreary today so after breakfast I made the choice to take a nap.  Bruce was going to study his chemical book for his spraying certification but a nap managed to sneak up on him on page 6!  : )  The rest of the day he spent feeding everything. He managed to get 2 loads of manure out on the fields after first taking the tractor alone out to see if it would work.  Checking the fields first is much better than just going out and getting a tractor and full spreader stuck.

Tonight in addition to the 3 special needs cows we had a new heifer to milk.  Bruce usually gives them a shot of what they call heifer calm.  This is a combination of a sedative and oxytocin.  This not only helps the heifer relax but promotes her letting her milk down and making the whole experience more comfortable.  The less stress the first few milking's, the faster they settle in to the routine.  This heifer spent the whole time eating while she was milked.  It's easy to get hurt milking heifers when they are excited so its a win for both heifer and farmer.

Nothing broke today.  Given recent history that feels unusual.  Bruce did fix a stanchion that had been broken for a couple days.  An old cow stands there, and had been doing so on the honor system.  Guess she was content where she was at since she never did go checking anything else out.  Tonight, just before Bruce started milking the heifer it started to rain, and then pour, and then hail like crazy.  The hutch calf panicked and ran out into the rain and hail in front of her hutch.  Luckily Bruce saw her and grabbed his coat to go rescue her.  He pushed her back into the hutch and put the storm fence back on but by then she was totally soaked.  We decided to bring her in the barn for the night so she could dry off since its warmer in there.  She didn't really need a cold bath given her history.  Either did Bruce!  Tonight she is upright on all 4 legs and eating her bottle with it just hung in the hutch.  We will consider this all a win!