Cow country & the ‘off’ switch
I know I have been MIA a little lately… no excuses save that I have been actually working here at Granite Glen (my aching muscles and crunchy knee will testify) and I am just too stuffed at the end of the day to transfer my images off my camera and into the back-end of my blog. Hey, I could sugar-coat it for ya, but I am just trying to paint a piccy for my beloved readers!
One of our main jobs of late is weaning – but the weather has been less than condusive to this particular task. The outlook has been a lot like this …. impending dampness.
We have had lots of drizzly rain which is lovely for grass-growin’, but not so nice for young fresh-off-their mamas bovines standing in yards. Muddy is what it is. We have managed to get the first lot of calves weaned, vaccinated and safely out in their paddocks. And while this sounds a little tough, most of the cows barely moo-ed for their youngsters, and ended up looking much like these cows within a day:
Thank goodness I can just concentrate on eating grass and growing my next baby, they seem to be saying! And the weaners are contentedly grazing in their newly assigned paddocks.
It was the red cows turn this week -I was a little too busy to take decent pics during the actual muster, but these few shots were taken during the hour-long walk to the yards.
We have some pretty serious gullies in our neck of the woods… if you ever have to help us round up cows remember: FEET FORWARD, LEAN BACK going downhill. And LEAN FORWARD, hang ON going uphill. Simple really.
Rules to live by…
Violet has all these techniques down pat. She’s a mad keen horsewoman (if you haven’t already spotted that) and is always the first out of bed and dressed on muster day (as opposed to school days, when she is a long last from her blankets).
Her horse, Sandy, is a ‘goey’ little steed – which suits Violet to a ‘T’. She loves being out front of the mob (mostly ’cause Sandy hates being behind)…
Dash and Pickles, on the other hand, are more sedate. Pickles can apparently snooze mid-stride…
How’s a boy to daydream about Tranformers or snow-skiiing if he’s constantly slowing his horse up? Mind you, when push comes to shove, this pair are worth their weight in gold. Once that ‘daydream button’ is switched off, Dash has some serious cow sense.
Of course, I can hardly blame my son for getting distracted from the practicalities of weaning, can I?
Ooohh… look! A groovy reflection in a horse’s eye!!!
Yup.
Where is that ‘off’ switch again?
😉
BB
9 Comments
Leenie
Like Cher said (I have no idea how she would know)
“Ride, I like to ride again some day
I think I still know how to play
I’d play games now but it’s not fun
A cowboy’s work is never done.”
Kelly
I always enjoy cattle posts – this one included. 🙂
Kelly´s last blog post ..Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Fiona
I think everybody’s weaners have experienced some muddy feet this year BB, but we won’t complain will we.
Aren’t the cattle in beautiful order.
And isn’t it lovely when the kids are old enough that you can all ride out together.
Fiona´s last blog post ..Rapunzel, Rapunzel
KAddy
What a beautiful way to start the day…I know what I will be daydreaming about today…cattle and horses : )
Colin (HB)
BB. Well eveything looks great up in yur neck of the woods. Prime conditioned beef and plenty of grass, should be a bumper year. I never noticed before that you seperate the red and black brangus. Must be time for my eye check up??? Wonderful to see your two kids assisting. Yep, Violet, mustering is more appealing than school – ha ha!
I see Mr.’I’ is sprouting a fuzz???
Cheers
Colin
Fleur McDonald
Love that last photo, BB. Glad weaning is going well – we’ve just finished marking the calves and have started to put the bulls to work. Funny how we live in the same country and yet the timing is different!
Fleur McDonald´s last blog post ..Kylie Stretton: Passionate Agvocate and author of ‘My Story’
Jayne
Love the photos and envy you the sublime vistas, even with impending damp!
Jayne´s last blog post ..Aussie History June Four + Teen
Bill
Cattle look fit and fine. Wow, that is a whopper of a stump in the gully of the red cows.
Cazzie!!!
I just go all mushy when I see images of horses. Nawww, I love the horse snoozing mid-stride 🙂 What a wonderful upbringing for the kids.
I absolutely loved owning a horse when I was a kid. And, as you write it, I remember it.. the way to ride a horse on the incline or decline.. yep, Old Mabel (my horse) was a goer too 🙂
Cazzie!!!´s last blog post ..Twins born on the day of a Full Moon!!