November 2017

Diary

New field for cattle / Barn progress / Tup moved

Monday 20 November, 2017

by Rosemary at 10:08am in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 23rd October

Utterly miserable here today – as dreich as it gets, but at least not cold or windy.

Fed the steers in the catching pen, ready for Wednesday.

Blizzard is behaving like she’s in season – or at least, Ace is behaving like Blizzard is in season. Had an email exchange with the vet – and the manipulation of the uterus during the ultrasound could have caused a release of prostaglandin, which brings cows into season.

Apparently, palpation of the uterus is sometimes used on organic dairy farms to bring cows into season – but the palpation associated with an ultrasound would be much less than in those circumstances. Prostaglandin is also the hormone that’s used to stop unwanted pregnancies L

Barn floor laid / Cattle winter quarters / Tup out

Wednesday 22 November, 2017

by Rosemary at 1:41pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 30^th October

Ooh, big frost this morning, freezing the water to the fields but it clouded over by lunchtime. Still nice and dry though.

Dan shoveled even more Type 1 into the barn floor.

Bug was a bit lame this morning.

Much sheep flirting going on at Astwood, which is good.

Teasing the tup Tup teasing.

Tupping underway / Bug improving / Florentines / Forfar FM

Tuesday 28 November, 2017

by Rosemary at 1:56pm in Smallholding 1 comment Comments closed

Monday 6^th November

Frosty start – really enjoying this good, dry spell though. Caught up with paperwork this morning then up to Astwood to check the sheep.

Found one ewe couped – could see the legs waving in the air when I arrived. She obviously hadn’t been over long and was fine once I turned her the right way up.

Four yellow bums – including the two that he “surprised” yesterday, so I’m not sure if they are genuine yellow bums or pretendy ones.

Tupping / Smoking / Steers housed / Cattle in for winter

Tuesday 28 November, 2017

by Rosemary at 2:16pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 13^th November

Grey and wet here but none of the snow other places have had.

Niamh has a very yellow bum; she’s seven past in April and didn’t lamb last year, so I wasn’t sure if she’d be OK this year. But hopefully she will be.