Two New Calves

1 December 2013

Two New Calves

At the local Auction there was a trailer load of poddy calves and grass eating calves for sale separate from the auction.  I bought two girls calves for $200 each.  Of course I hadn’t brought my trailer, so I had to go home to get it first.  They’re about three months old and very shy.  I have named them Harriet (like Harry the Hereford) and Penny (the pirate, due to her patch).

Back Dam Dry Again

On the last day of the year the dam was again dry, so the cows are now in the front paddocks.  They saw the two new calves and mooed softly to them, just like they did with their own calves.  I will keep the new calves separate for a few months more, though.

Dams & Cicadas

27 October 2013

Empty Dam

The dam disappeared completely at the end of October.  So the cows were given access to the trough in the top paddock.

26 November 2013

Some Rain at Last

We had 30mm on 12 November and 15mm in the few days before and the back dam is looking a bit better and there is a flush of green over the whole farm. It's wonderful what a little bit of rain can do.

Late November

Cicadas

This year the cicadas have been deafening.  Plus they’ve been very visible, and not just the shells that they leave behind.  They are everywhere. 

Shearing

Early October 2013

 

Shed Flooring

Before shearing I wanted to make it easier for the shearers to fetch the next sheep for shearing than it has been, so I constructed a elevated slatted area for a small pen on the same level as the shearing platform.  I used old pallets and tomato stakes for the flooring and sheep panelling for the dividers and gates.  It was a bit of work but I am pleased with the result.  I intend to extend this raised area, probably after crutching next year

 14-15 October 2013

Sheep in Veggie Garden and Orchard

The shearing was delayed and the grass had been eaten down and not grown, because there was no rain, and I didn’t want to move the sheep to the next paddock before they were shorn, so I moved them into the veggie garden and orchard.  I hadn’t done this before but it gave the sheep fresh grass and I didn’t have to mow this area. 

 

 

24 October 2013

Shearing

Bobby had been shorn on 13 October and after resetting the date a few times the sheep were finally shorn on 24 October.  Steve helped with sheep handling and skirting, I couldn’t have done it without him.