Now that's a lot of bull. Probably 4 1/2 tons worth, in fact. (That's about 9,000 pounds for the math-challenged like me!)
Soon, they will be put to work, so to speak.
We started the morning on 4-wheelers. But when the big guys didn't want to move, we hopped off and encouraged them to keep on moving toward the corral.
There was a hay bale in the lot. They ended up looking like toddlers with food from head to foot ... or head to hoof, in this case.
For their chauffeured ride back to the farm, we needed to separate them, one by one. It reminds me of separating a couple of feuding siblings. During a dispute, you send one to sit in the living room and another to sit in the dining room until they realize they can be friends.
It's kind of like that with bulls. Most of the time, if the ladies aren't around, they can coexist quite well. But in close quarters like a cattle trailer, it's best to keep them separated.
These three were patiently waiting their turn to the limousine (AKA the cattle trailer). One of our trailers can be separated into two compartments. The other has room for three to be kept apart.
All was going well until only the Hereford bull was left. I guess he didn't like it that his buddies left him behind, so he jumped a fence. Since I was supposed to stay out of the line of sight, I didn't get any photographic evidence of his misbehavior. He's now pleading the fifth.
However, the second time was the charm. Randy and Ricky got him caught again, and they got him loaded into the back of the trailer.
The bulls will have a little over a week with a buffet of hay and silage before they are to begin their job.
The veterinarian will come this Friday for their annual
"job interview." The four Angus bulls will be turned out with the heifers on April 19. The Hereford bull will begin mingling with the cows on May 2. His buddies will join him with the more mature ladies at that time.
We hope they will have an excellent track record with their "job," resulting in a brand new class of County Line 2017 calves beginning in late January next year.
Gosh! It's never easy, is it! There's always one kid (bull) who refuses to cooperate. That final photo hints that the your wayward guy is still longing to escape. Better keep an eye on him!
ReplyDeleteI agree. When his buddies go off to visit the heifers, I hope he'll remain content at the corral. There are some other cattle there, so that should help.
DeleteI just love the way you relate the story of life on the farm. Your pictures then enhance the story. I just love the expression on the Hereford's face in the last shot.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helen. Yes, he definitely had personality - maybe a bit too much on that day!
DeleteSpring time flies! Your done calving and ready to turn out bulls. What you started farming?
ReplyDeleteWe are half done calving and have the oat crop seeded. It's been crazy around here for the last few days.
They guys have been working on going through and servicing the new-to-us combine. We are waiting to see if we get any rain to plant corn. Some people in Kansas got rain, but we didn't. Since it's not a major crop for us, we may not plant any if we don't get rain.
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