Muddy In Every Direction

Since we had the main herd all together after some of the calves had taken off to foraging up the canyon by themselves the other day, we knew it was time to get the weaning calves separated from the herd.

In the driveway, Mike hooked up the stock trailer to the pickup. That was the easiest part because of the driveway being solidly rocked. He drove the stock trailer up the road and in the logging gate to drive through a pasture to the bridge. The ground was saturated and boggy but he was able to get to the bridge without slipping too much in the grass covered pasture. Across the river the roads are solid beneath but really muddy on top and quite messy as he drove the stock trailer to the corner of the barn for loading.

We picked out the five clipped calves from the herd and penned them safely inside the trailer. It was careful jockeying after that to get the pickup and trailer turned backed around the narrow and windy road to get turned around without sliding off the packed rock where the wheels would sink in the mud. Did I mention that we are in the middle of the Atmospheric River storm system? Yup, raining buckets the whole time. My raingear was soaked inside and out before we had the calves in the trailer.

Mike was able to get the loaded calves away from the barn and back across the bridge. I scooted along in the Gator to pass him and make sure the county road was clear so he could gun it up the slope and onto the road without slipping too much, then back in the driveway and along the rocked path to the show barn.

The calves seemed relieved when we locked them into a dry, comfortable pen without bigger critters around to pick on them. The hay in the manger was piled high and tubs of grain (grass seed screenings mixed with molasses) was set out for them to try. All five stuck their heads into the stanchions without reservations and began eating with gusto. I was able to remove the weaning clips from all five within the first hour and they settled in for the night.

It was quite a day to try to move the five weaning calves. Neither the calves or the mothers across the river are bellowing to the disruption and the calves are relaxed with full bellies.