We have a busy weekend ahead S has a horse show so we will be splitting our time between a horse sow with one twin and a cow show with the other. Then we had to get 17 head clipped for the Maternal Gems sale.
Checking out a few of the calves out of our 2034 bull. So far I like the calves out...
I know we are suppose to sell cattle it’s why we are in the cattle business. I get attached to my cattle not like attached to my dog but to the genetics of a particular animal. That attachment makes me go back and forth on should I sell this cow and lose future genetic opportunities. Today a...
Due to drought we got a very late start on planting our winter grazing. Then really cold temps has slowed growth but we finally got to turn cattle out for some timed grazing. Green grass makes happy cows.
A friend had his tank stolen so I am sharing just in case someone hears about a tank for sale. I included a photo of the tank that was stolen, this young man has been working so hard and building a super nice herd. I can’t imagine how bad this loss has hurt him. The tank had embryos as well...
We have started palpating heifers I am now trying to figure out who to send to the sale and who to keep. My issue is I really love heifers and hate to let any of them go. The boss reminds me that we are in the cattle business and part of that is selling them. Its really hard!
Gizmo Eriskay...
It’s that time of year again. Time to select for the Gems sale. This is the only sale we participate in each year so I always try to send top end cattle. This year I have targeted 6 pair and we started palpating heifers this week I like to send heifers that are safe AI. We usually send 6 to...
This has not been a great calving season. Started with a bull calf that was 6 weeks early he made it but bw of 38 pounds is not our goal. 2nd calf stillborn heifer Another 6 weeks early…..crap then a first calf heifer with a 39# bull calf what the heck so you see the trend we ended up with 15...
It is getting time to make decisions on who gets to stay a bull and who goes into the freezer beef program. I try hard to select bulls that I would use myself. Criteria i look at is ADG, EPD’s, genetics and phenotype. I developed a spreadsheet several years ago that I use to track each calf...
We had picture day for at the farm on Sunday Mark Sims from http://simsplusllc.com/ took some nice shots of a few of the Gizmo girls being offered in the 2023 Maternal Gems sale. we recruited one of the Granddaughters to assist this year and having the young legs and energy to run around...
I have said many times when you think you have things sorta figu out with cattle they will teach you just how wrong you are. Jacob and E went to get her show steer out after church yesterday and Jacob said the calf just wasn’t acting right. He watched him for awhile and couldn’t figure out...
We worked calves through for the first time this week. We do it at around 3 months drench, PI test dna and tattoo this makes weaning work go a bit smoother for us. The boss likes to get the tattoo work done ahead of weaning I like getting DNA pulled so I have ET and AI calves verified before...
Trying to finish up selections on the 2023 Maternal Gems consignments. We usually take several cow calf pairs and a group of heifers. I hope they aren’t judged on the quality of the freeze brands lol. The bulls all turned out just great the heifers were hit and miss. Exact same method and...
went through real quick had the boss waiting to preg check heifers so couldn’t take as many photos as I wanted. This is a young cow probably the smallest cow in her contemporary group but when one raises a calf the way she is I don’t care what size she is she is getting the job done
Gizmo...
The vet was here doing BSE on the long yearlings we had one when he checked Scrotal he said ut oh which is never something you want to hear the vet say. Then said oh it’s ok he just has mastitis which of course I have seen in cows just had no idea a bull could get it. He lanced it drained it...
The boss and I are in Statesboro Ga. At a Ranch horse show. Just a fun weekend watching friends show. First thing this morning I get a text from a customer that purchased a bred heifer at the Maternal Gems sale in May she had a heifer calf. I told the boss well we will probably have some...
The girls have a show tomorrow they are pretty excited i Picked them up from school where they could get started getting their animals ready to haul to the show. Pretty proud of the work they put in on these critters.
One of the twins has decided she wants to be a photographer. She is taking some classes and loving it! I have to brag on her a bit she sent me some of the pictures she took this afternoon at the farm, I would say she did dang good for a 10 year old!
This is a bred heifer 2046
Another shot of 2046
F91 safe with calf number 3
G84 safe with calf number 2
2022 as you can see she jumped around a bit during freeze branding bred heifer
Y27 not the most beautiful udder but dang she brings in a beautiful calf every year
we are selling all of...
The boss snd I are going on another great adventure this year in the motor home. Trying to figure out a schedule to get the calves vaccinated. We are going to be gone for 5 weeks so can we give first round before we leave then second round when we return? We have never been gone when this was...