09/08/04, 11:46 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 9
|
|
|
Dear Copesq,
I meant no disrespect with my last post. Just couldn't help myself. I still get a chuckle out of it whenever I think of it. Anyway, I have a couple of pet "cows" too. They're five years old. Ones never been bred 'cause I've never been able to get a bull or technician and her together. Not for lack of trying. I have semen in someone's tank right now, but no knowhow or AI tech handy (she's a 5-6 hour roundtrip drive away). All the bulls in these parts are distant too. Securing a trailer and hauling has proved to be difficult. Plus, they're all beef breeds and I want dairy. Bringing a bull to my girls isn't an option either. I use flimsy electric polytape fencing. It only works because my girls have been trained to it since calves.
Which brings me to Mabel. She's calved three times. I'm milking for the first time during this third lactation. She's bred because no fencing can hold her when a heat is on (every three weeks). She's gone through rails, electric, barbwire and stone walls to get to freerange bulls on the ranch "next door." I better add some of those fellas have made it over here too. Estrus and mating can be staggerly irresistable drives.
For me and the childrens school I'm associated with, pets are almost enough, but not quite. As I'm an organic farmer cow manure is REAL important to me. I often refer to my girls as the "Nutrient Enrichment Program." Meat and milk are almost (repeat, almost) secondary.
Wishing your friend good fortune, Phyl
Last edited by bdfarmer; 09/08/04 at 11:50 AM.
|
