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We're a bit of both. At the moment we're building up stock by breeding our own, servicing the cows and heifers with the best bull we graze over each winter. We use a different bull each time to avoid genetic issues. All bulls are bred elsewhere, we just graze them to fertilise the paddocks between cropping seasons.
We're always aware that there is an inevitable end for the males. Our job is to give them the happiest, healthiest, least stressful life while we host them. We name them and get to know them, but we consider that part and parcel of being a good host.
All our females up until Buttons have been healthy and strong, and we have so much grass that having her in the herd as a pet/Judas cow (one that is easily handled to influence the entire herd's movements) isnt going to strain resources. She's looking healthier now the weather is warming up, and in the long run she'll be right. If she takes a turn for the worse and appears to be suffering unduly we'll put her down.
The only male we currently have on site is Benson, our 3 month old steer (Buttons' half brother/Nuboy's offspring), who will eventually take Spats' place in the freezer.
Meanwhile, the crops do their thing to (hopefully) bring in the big money, as well as provide hay for next winter.
Boy we had fun last night. Roxy attacked a skunk and got a face full. OMG the smell was unreal. She was foaming at the mouth. Of course, your first instinct is to spray her with the hose and that is the worst thing you can do since water enhances the smell. We watched this video and followed it step by step. It worked and she's fine now. But we had to throw out of all items she was wearing - alert collar, light collar, reflective vest, etc. as we could not get the smell out of the items. She went in the house garage before we realized what happened and it stinks like crazy even after airing it out all night with a big fan. The stink must be in the wooden stoop leading into the kitchen. We are going to try a commercial spray rather than make a big mess with the brew we used on her.
Sadly, Buttons took a turn for the worse yesterday. She seemed less energetic when we fed her in the morning, and wouldn't latch onto her mother. We fed her again late morning and she was listless and sleepy. We already had a vet coming out at 1400 but my wife found her unresponsive at 1300, and I had to make the difficult decision.
I buried her along the side of the driveway, we're going to plant a cherry tree in that spot to grow from her. Everyone is obviously upset that we couldn't get her through this but it was always a 50/50 thing, and we learned so much from her that will help us with any future marginal calves.
Adeline, her mother, has been put back in with the rest of the hrrd.. We let her see Buttons' body before she went out and she seemed to understand. Her first action was to go to her own mothet, then play with our remaining calf, Benson.
10-09-2023, 01:11 PM
Poor kitty doesn't like change, I guess.
