Opal Relocated

Along with the copious amounts of rainfall we have had over the last week or so, the mud level has grown exponentially. The main herd seems to have shrunk in stature since the mud sucks their big bovine hooves well into the soil.

The largest area of mud is around the outdoor feeders. Mike had river rock around the area where they stand and eat, but the mud and poop overtakes the base of rock. Several areas are sinking fast until the moisture dries up a bit.

Opal, one of the lead cows, had the look of nearing her due date. Her udder had begun to fill with milk leaving the teats dragging in the mud/poop mix. Mike worried that a newborn would not nurse with the bag all gunked up so the decision was made to move Opal into the nursery field with Softy and her heifer NinetyNine, and Pressure with her baby bull Titan, so that her bag would be clean for the newborn.

We fed the main herd, with Opal in the bunch, at the feeders. Then tried to move Opal around to the barnyard which is the first step to get her out into the nursery field. Opal was insistent that she was famished and planned on eating breakfast with the larger group. She had Mike and I dodging this way and that, but I should rather state it as slogging through the thick goo, while she rounded each feeder and tucked in beside other cows in an effort to hide from our deliberate fussing. She was not being mean about it, just stubborn.

Once we finally got her turned toward the barn, she saw the gate was opened and walked calmly into the yard where we closed her in with a solid lock, then opened the gate into the nursery field. She walked over to where the other four were eating and restarted her breakfast.

We will be able to monitor her better for impending delivery out here and she will stay cleaner.

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