Artificial Insemination
In early December I had the cows AI'd. The photograph is of Tawnie, as she was the first to cycle. After they had all been done over the next few days we put heat/pressure patches on them again just before Christmas and waited to see if any didn't take. I had Jemma and Sandy done again in early January. I will observe them over the next three weeks, but I think I will just leave it now and see what happens. The AI girl has a few other commitments over the next month and may not be able to fit me in. Initially the cows were very reluctant to go through the race but they are getting better at it now. Today I got them all through by myself and removed the heat patches, leaving Jemma and Sandy in ready for the final AI.

Cows to Market
Before I started the AI process I wanted to sell the cows that I didn't want to breed from because of their behaviour. Star continually pushed through or jumped over fences breaking them in the process and Freda fiercely protected her calves, which in turn made them scared of me and difficult to handle. I would prefer calm well-behaved cows. So in late November I sold Star and her calf Twinkle and Freda and her calf Anna.
They brought a sum total of just over $3,200 after deducting the costs of selling them, including carting. It was sort of sad to see them go, as I had raised both Star and Freda from poddy calves. But I hope that the cows I have left are less trouble now with the trouble makers gone.