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My little herd is finally here and I am delighted, disillusioned, and disgusted.
The lead cow is approaching 11 years old and supposed to be with calf. She has a huge frame and a gentle nature but could use couple of hundred pounds to slick her up a bit.
Her calf from last year weighs maybe 250 pounds; little in the way of flesh just a big hay belly.
The next best cow is 4 years old and again has the frame to make a great duel purpose cow but she is a might thin. She has a new bull calf of about a month and a half old. He is doing great so she is giving lots of milk. Iâd like to try to milk her but she can be frisky to say the least; maybe if I was 20 years younger and my barn was built a lot stronger?
The next cow is also 4 years old but very thin. She is supposed to be bred as well and was due 2 or 3 weeks ago. The vet says she isnât and may have lost her calf due to her poor condition. Who knows? There may be a 35 or 40 pounder hidden somewhere in there, but I wouldnât bet $.02 cents on it. Our bull is chasing her around the paddock with a silly "grin" on his face.
Her last yearâs calf is much as the one described about: about a year old and about 250 pounds.
There is a 3 year old cow due in July but I cannot see her having a calf. She is all bones and moves very slowly. I have good hay and 16% supplement for her and all of the cattle but fear they couldnât stand much of the supplement, so Iâm giving them all of the good Timothy and Clover hay they can eat; no supplement to her just yet; maybe in a few weeks or two after she puts on some pounds.
There is a bred heifer that will be 2 years old in October but is due with a calf in August. She is very small but seems healthy.
The bull is fleshing out nicely. He is nearly 2 and of a different blood line than the rest. Iâve read that a Milking Devon bull ought to weigh 1400 pounds at 3 years old to fit the standard. He will need to gain another estimated 800 pounds during the next year to make it.
I may sound like Iâm unhappy with the little herd, but they are registered Milking Devons and I place no fault or blame on anyone for their condition up to now. Who knows what happens in other peoples lives that adversely affect their livestock?
Now they are mine and the bull will not have access to heifers under 2 years of age, nor will any heifer be allowed to mature without being gentled or halter trained so that they may be milked as adults. I mean really, they are a triple purpose breed of cattle, not pets, and not Beef Devons. If the cows cannot not be milked then the whole idea of the perfect house cow with a great beef bull calf is missed.
Haggis @ Wolf Cairn Moor
The lead cow is approaching 11 years old and supposed to be with calf. She has a huge frame and a gentle nature but could use couple of hundred pounds to slick her up a bit.
Her calf from last year weighs maybe 250 pounds; little in the way of flesh just a big hay belly.
The next best cow is 4 years old and again has the frame to make a great duel purpose cow but she is a might thin. She has a new bull calf of about a month and a half old. He is doing great so she is giving lots of milk. Iâd like to try to milk her but she can be frisky to say the least; maybe if I was 20 years younger and my barn was built a lot stronger?
The next cow is also 4 years old but very thin. She is supposed to be bred as well and was due 2 or 3 weeks ago. The vet says she isnât and may have lost her calf due to her poor condition. Who knows? There may be a 35 or 40 pounder hidden somewhere in there, but I wouldnât bet $.02 cents on it. Our bull is chasing her around the paddock with a silly "grin" on his face.
Her last yearâs calf is much as the one described about: about a year old and about 250 pounds.
There is a 3 year old cow due in July but I cannot see her having a calf. She is all bones and moves very slowly. I have good hay and 16% supplement for her and all of the cattle but fear they couldnât stand much of the supplement, so Iâm giving them all of the good Timothy and Clover hay they can eat; no supplement to her just yet; maybe in a few weeks or two after she puts on some pounds.
There is a bred heifer that will be 2 years old in October but is due with a calf in August. She is very small but seems healthy.
The bull is fleshing out nicely. He is nearly 2 and of a different blood line than the rest. Iâve read that a Milking Devon bull ought to weigh 1400 pounds at 3 years old to fit the standard. He will need to gain another estimated 800 pounds during the next year to make it.
I may sound like Iâm unhappy with the little herd, but they are registered Milking Devons and I place no fault or blame on anyone for their condition up to now. Who knows what happens in other peoples lives that adversely affect their livestock?
Now they are mine and the bull will not have access to heifers under 2 years of age, nor will any heifer be allowed to mature without being gentled or halter trained so that they may be milked as adults. I mean really, they are a triple purpose breed of cattle, not pets, and not Beef Devons. If the cows cannot not be milked then the whole idea of the perfect house cow with a great beef bull calf is missed.
Haggis @ Wolf Cairn Moor