They Found The Breach

The field where the cows and calves in the nursery field was getting quite messy while the snow was coming down. Large swaths where we had tossed out slabs of hay for the feedings was going to waste as the soppy ground oozed up with each step of their feet. The critters themselves were searching along the fence line for the few trees that could provide shelter. We figured that we would open the gate to the small six acre field so the group could have more options. In the six acres they could hang out under the old growth tree or go down further along the fence to the back of the field where they could hang out in thick brush under towering big leaf maples, hemlocks and tall fir trees.

Instead the cattle found a spot in the fence line beneath the old growth fir tree that had been flattened by a snow covered branch that fell during the storms.

The branch had wiped out the fence for a space of about fifty feet and half of the nursery group was able to walk right out of the six acre field and go tromping along the river side of the fence. Dinner time had calves separated from their mothers, a heifer distanced from her pen mate, and bleating calves upset about the turn of events. We got a gate open to reunite the group back together and fed hay before closing the six acre field for a while until we could get the necessary repairs completed for a secure pasture.

Yesterday, we were able to get some supplies assembled and headed out to repair the damage. We had spare fence posts, extra wire, clips, fencing hammers and the chainsaw to clean up the breach.

Cleaning up the larger bits of the branch created enough wood to fill the bed of the Gator, the rest of the smaller branches were picked up and tossed into a pile around the old growth tree where it will decay down and feed the stoic fir. Now that the field is secure again we will be able to let the nursery herd graze and feed on hay during mealtimes. If they so chose they can still meander down to the back of the field to hang out in the dense underbrush.