Five Nearly Contented Heifers

I have been able to remove the green weaning clips from the five heifers we moved away from their mothers and into the show barn. Since they have had experience with the outdoor feeders, they all stuck there heads into the stanchions within the first hour of being moved. They were not wild about the idea of the lock holding them in while I removed the clips, but they felt better as soon as I was able to twist the wing nut to release the firm hold and slip the clip out of their nostril.

They have been eating their fill of hay and grass seed screening grain and seem pretty content except for heifer #63. Mike thought he say one of the heifers had been able to sneak her tongue around the green clip and grab a few squirts of milk during the weaning process. It was not enough to keep the mother in full production mode but certainly an added benefit to the heifer that is always hungry no matter how much food was waiting in the manger.

In the show barn she has been calling for her mother even though she eats just as much as everyone else. #63 has a strong, loud bellow that carries through the barn. Everyone knows that someone is not happy. Her mother on the far side of the river has not responded to the frantic cries, it was definitely weaning time.

With several days down, the bellowing has subsided and it is now easier to work in the barn making firewood bundles. It had been hard to hear my audio book through all the noise. #63 may just be enjoying the story now as well as I am!

On a side note the book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohileben was a fascinating listen. Peter talks about the social nature of the forest. Trees that tend to the new members of the family, can communicate shortages and dangers, and how the forest is a network rather than a bunch of individuals not connected to support each other. Although the book does go into the science behind the communication, the book reads like a story and is interesting from start to finish.