Creek crossing

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

We were low on pastures due to cold wet spring. So, we moved our cows to a small section in our hay ground - which is on other side of woodland & a small creek. This is video of cows coming home.

[Silver]

I envy you your hard bottomed creek. Our creeks are beaver dam infested and have no bottom.
Your cattle look great, thanks for sharing.

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

LOL - yes, we actually have some beavers down stream from here. When we wanted to build a lane way through the woods and across the creek, DEC wanted to have concrete slabs put across creek. A "real" person came out and looked at our situation - said it would be worse if we put anything down. Had good gravel base. Cattle only cross it in a "normal" year twice - coming & going because we graze 3rd cutting late in the fall.

[sim.-ang.king]

I envy that creek as well. Ours may only be 15' wide, ankle deep, but the banks are 8' high at the best spots. Takes a lot of digging to make a crossing.

You got some sunshine so that should help the grass.

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Yes, we are drying out a little and the temperatures have been decent. Actually was 80F yesterday!!! I really hate to complain about being wet, with what is going on in Indiana and other states.
Our land/soil type is "designed" to be "watered" about every 3-4 days. We have just been getting maybe 1 dry day (maybe some sun) and 3-4 days of moisture. When I started mowing lawn, I buried my 0-turn mower at least 4 times in areas of my lawn that has never been soggy.
Having enough grass for the cows has been challenging this year. That's why we grazed 4-5 acres of hay field. Looks like the grass is really kicking in now, so hopefully it won't be so stressful (on me!!!). No hay and no grass sucks.

[Bright Raven]

I was so impressed with those meat wagon cows, I didn't see anything else. I really like the mass of those cows?

[greybeard]

I envy you your hard bottomed creek. Our creeks are beaver dam infested and have no bottom.
Your cattle look great, thanks for sharing.

Same here. I hate beaver. At least we get enough rainfall for the water to wash them out about once/year.
I agree with the cattle looking great too.

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

thanks guys. Been a struggle to keep them fed. Kinda one day at a time, but I think we are ahead of the game now. Warmth does wonders for growth!! Just good working momma's. Since we rotational graze, they follow us anywhere. Been 1 day here, 1/2 day there. But, been on this latest field 2 full days. Woohoo! We will start splitting the paddocks next field we go into.
"Normally" in the spring, we are wasting grass. Letting them glean what they want & mowing it, and/or setting a few paddocks aside to cut with 1st cutting. Different areas, different problems. Sure not used to not having pasture.

[Kingfisher]

I was so impressed with those meat wagon cows, I didn't see anything else. I really like the mass of those cows?

Those fatties would give your fatties a run for the money! Lol. Good thing that creeks got a hard bottom. I think that group would be over the weight limit of a bridge.

[Bright Raven]

I was so impressed with those meat wagon cows, I didn't see anything else. I really like the mass of those cows?

Those fatties would give your fatties a run for the money! Lol. Good thing that creeks got a hard bottom. I think that group would be over the weight limit of a bridge.

That was a good one.

[sstterry]

thanks guys. Been a struggle to keep them fed.

Doesn't look like it has been too much of a struggle....

[Coosh71]

Been an odd year for sure. Our cattle/calves usually slick off early to late April here. We just fly sprayed and wormed about 40 head today and they were mostly hairy as they could get. It's finally gotten hot here so they shod get to shedding now

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

LOL - my cows come through winter pretty well. Baleage is great feed - better than what they need while they are dry, but perfect for start calving 1-1. I keep the mature group separate from the 2 & 3 year olds, so I make them clean up pretty good in between feedings. The 2-3 yr old group, I only make them "clean up" super great maybe once a week. Let um get a little hungry & they eat the "refusal" pretty good.
But, if you were looking at them from the front, you won't see any heavy brisket on them. I put them at about a 5.5 - 6.5 BCS.
If you take a look at the video again, you will see very little sign of fat pockets around tail head. They are just that thick & wide.
Mine normally don't shed out until June. You can see some have and some have not yet.