Curious-er and Curious-er

March 24, 2021March 22, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

I’m reminded about Pooh Bear and his adventures when out in the nursery field at feeding time.

Once a day, usually in the evening, we try to give the young herd sire a little grain to go with his hay meal in an effort to keep him strong and vigorously growing while he is attending his new herd. It is a two-person venture to keep the cows from stealing the delicious grain that they remember well from their time being pampered in the show barn. While watching the big cows, the calves come over to see what is going on.

The young calves are curious about why we stop the Gator in the middle of the field and are guarding the herd sire, so they come up to investigate. The poor dogs are torn between watching the Gator for critters trying to steal bites of hay that still need to be fed at the outdoor feeders for the remaining main herd, and helping keep the young calves from encroaching around Mike and I without barking or harassing them (a big rule for the dogs that would just love to chase a baby around during a full field game of tag).

The calves inch closer and closer while there are several standing together for courage, individually they will chose to munch on slabs of hay that are doled out and in clumps around the Gator and us. Their bravery comes from the strength in numbers.

During this time of cautious sniffing, I spend quality time talking to the young calves and getting the opportunity to touch one every once and a while. There are only a few moments of this quality time. They are very skittery around us and move onto other adventures quickly like fighting with each other, head butting slabs of hay, eating or bedding down in the sweet smelling hay.

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Unplanned Sharing

March 23, 2021March 21, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

If you are reading this, you are on my original Schmidlin Farms site. With my limited computer skills and capacity that this site has available, I am slowly losing the ability to post stories in their entirety and will eventually not be able to keep this site active. You may have noticed some scheduling errors in the last week, I blame my fretful internet connections, but I think my skills are most likely more of a problem. Please visit SchmidlinAngusFarms.com to stay connected, I don’t want to lose you in the process!

The calves in the nursery field are at that really fun age where the older ones are teaching the younger ones the rules of the field.

During feeding time, the calves will run circles around the rest of the herd and around the Gator as we throw slabs of hay out for eating. Some of the calves will be running while others are putting their heads down and fighting with the slabs while still others are finding the hay is a soft, dry spot to plop down for a rest.

The cows are not disturbed by the twitchy action going on around them and are busy eating with gusto amidst the chaos. Between wild cavorting spurts, the younger calves are learning to nibble while the hay is available just like the elders.

On this day, the bale had a good amount of clover in it so when a calf would grab a bite, long strings of clover came along with it. A younger calf noticed the delicious dangling and stuck her head right in to sneak a bite just inches from the mouth of the first calf. It was so much easier than having to put her head a foot lower to get her own mouthful from the slab on the ground.

The two shared a good meal before heading off for some running action on the other side of the herd.

ByGosh, ByGolly

March 22, 2021March 21, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

Cow #8 Crystal delivered her last calf May 8th last year, it was a good looking bull and we sold him in the fall just after we weaned him. He is growing up to be a herd sire at a couple of small farms around Vernonia.

We were noticing that Crystal looked like her udder was beginning to fill up and her back end was starting to spring out. It seems that she wasted no time to get pregnant again after delivering her baby boy last year, but she still looked like she may be a week or two from birthing. She surprised us.

When we were getting ready to drive the Gator across the bridge this morning we saw her standing near the brush line with a little calf by her side. Mike drove over to check the pair and saw that it was a bull calf, small but getting the hang of standing on those wobbly legs. Just past the mother and son, back further in the brush, a second baby was resting entwined in thick buck brush. We stood it up and saw it was a girl.

About that time #8 decided she was hungry and started to take baby number one toward the river to cross with the rest of the main herd headed to the outdoor feeders. This baby was much too small for crossing so we fed her just enough hay to keep her busy while we scooped up still resting calf number two. Placing her in the bed of the Gator, I was sprawled over the top to keep her from trying to get up, Mike drove over the river and deposited her safely inside the barn. Then he got the tractor with a flat pallet on the front loader and we went back for #8 and her baby number one.

This time I sprawled on top of the baby on the pallet and Mike slowly backed the tractor through the river (luckily the river is low since we have been between snow/rain systems for nearly a week now). #8 followed right behind, gently nudging me every time she wanted to make sure her baby was safe. She was mooing in a cooing type of way and baby number one was answering her the whole way across the river, up the road, across the log landings and into the barnyard. Here we moved #8 and number one into the barn to be reunited with number two.

After checking the babies over, we got them both nursing. This was their first taste of milk since neither had nursed yet. #8 was gentle with both babies and attended to them equally. We will keep the trio in the barn and small outside yard until the twins become bonded so they sleep, eat and play together before moving them out into the nursery field with all the other cow/calf pairs.

Welcome to the farm, bull calf ByGolly and heifer calf ByGosh both weighing in at 52 lbs and born on 3/17/21.

Sorted Into The Nursery Field

March 14, 2021March 12, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

Our next birth looks like it will be coming from cow #35, we have been watching her over the last couple of weeks and she is showing all the signs that her due date is approaching.

She also happened to be standing near the gate to the nursery field as we drove over the bridge for the morning feeding. Mike didn’t hesitate to open the gate for her and she walked right in happy to be nibbling on the greener grass on the other side of the fence while we loaded the Gator with hay.

Once loaded we drove out to the rest of the cow/calf pairs that were in the nursery field and began feeding. #35 joined in and was eating wit gusto as if she had not been away from these fellow-mothers while they tend their babies.

Mike was muttering under his breath while we were feeding. I heard him mention that he hoped he was correct about #35 and that she delivers soon. The hold out cow that waited more than a week to deliver after we put her in the nursery field was a blight on his good record of sensing impending motherhood. Stay tuned for calf updates!

Same Headline, Different Critters

March 13, 2021March 11, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

I could have used the same title as yesterday’s post, Catchin’ Some Rays, for today’s story or maybe just Ditto. Seems like everyone is getting into the sunbathing routine.

I noticed every time the sun came out, even for a little while, the critters would flatten themselves out for maximum hide exposure. The little calves in the nursery field are so good at it that it is easy to miss counting what is barely a bump in the grass.

While the bovine bunches are not sunning themselves, they are up and munching on the new grass spears that are popping out with the moderating temperatures and longer daylight of this time of year.

Little Gangs Everywhere

March 6, 2021March 4, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

The ten calves in the nursery field are sure enjoying the warmer weather and the longer days. I have been enjoying this stretch of good weather myself by spending time in the barn across the river, splitting firewood and loading it into the cribs for final drying. With the earlier light in the mornings, I have been able to find between a half hour to an hour of production before it is time for the breakfast feeding in the field.

While the splitter is running, the barn is full of noise from the motor, and the splitting ram and even me as I toss firewood this way and that. The young calves in the nursery field are attracted to the noise and like to come over to investigate.

The calves tend to gang up, giving them more courage than single-handedly. By three’s and four’s they sneak around the corner of the barn to the gates. If the chains are loose and not holding the gates securely closed, the calves like and suck on them. They like the smooth texture and the coolness of the metal. If the gates are open enough to let a small calf through, they expect to be welcomed into the dry work area of the barn with open arms.

The dogs are not having any of it. Jackson and Butler do not mind them cavorting around the field or even meandering near the barn, but they do not appreciate the curious calves getting too close to the gates or god-forbid attempt to step inside. This creates a conundrum for the dogs. They are supposed to protect the barn with me inside, but they are not supposed to upset or bark at the calves. So they do the next best thing, they turn into guard statues and stand vigil by the gates and the corners.

The stillness of the dogs is like a beacon for the calves and sniff around investigating tips and tails of the canine mimes. The dogs try not to move, but the calves are relentless until one dog or another nips, growls or barks to startle the calves. That is when they get into trouble and I threaten to put them into time out.

This same scene can play out multiple times during my work time in the barn with the dogs, the calves and me all agreeing that we are glad for the warmer weather and longer days.

The Next Waiting Game

February 11, 2021February 8, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

Now that Plum has finally had her calf it is now time to start watching the other females to see who is next up.

The most likely cow out of the bunch is #41 Ruby. She is a well-established cow and has a good track record with birthing, but she has a large bag that tends to fill with milk before delivery causing it to drag through every muddy spot on the place. We moved her out to the nursery field a couple of days ago so that the more grassy than muddy space will help keep her bag clean for the new one to nurse once born.

She is taking full advantage of the spa lifestyle out in the nursery field with the other cow/calf pairs and does not look any closer to calving than the day we moved her out there. Perhaps these more senior cows have collectively concluded that Mike and I can be outsmarted just by them looking like they are near calving. Time will tell is she was just fibbing or if she is really serious that she will be next one to deliver.

Babysitting In The Nursery Field

January 18, 2021January 15, 2021 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

The unfortunate choice opted by the main herd to meander across the river before our big storm dumped 5 inches of rain and brought the river up to levels that they could not re-cross, has the cows in the nursery field keeping a close eye on the four newest members.

When the main herd is where they are supposed to be, which is residing just outside the fence line of the nursery field, there are many eyes watching the youngsters for dangers such as coyotes (common) and cougars (not so common). While the main herd is stuck on the wrong side of the river, the mothers of the four calves are watching closer the babies closer than ever.

The cows are taking turns babysitting the young ones while the other three head off to graze. The older of the calves sometimes abandon the babysitter is search of their mothers forcing the sitter along with the younger ones move along until everyone is together again.

Too Fast For Pictures

December 24, 2020December 22, 2020 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

I carry my handy dandy little pocket camera wherever I go. I have had it in my pocket when I trek into the woods, while I run a chainsaw and during those long summer days bucking hay or driving tractor. I have it during the snowy winter days when feeding cows, planting seedlings, cultivating the riparian areas and when out for a stroll along the county road picking up trash.

I do not keep my phone or my handy camera on me when I am in the river, splashing around and putting up the barriers to keep the cows on my property, rock hounding, or just cooling off. One slip on those slick rocks and my technology (even though it is dated and well worn) would be toast and I would be up a river without it.

Even with my camera within reach at 99.999% of the time, I still miss those wondrous photos that I have come to enjoy sharing with my readers. Like walking up on a herd of elk as they are grazing, or when they run careening around me as they go a different direction than I want them to. I have missed documenting the births of newborn calves since my arms are busy at the working end of the bovine instead of snapping pics, or when tethering a stuck rig to pull it out of a precarious pothole on a slippery slope, or when the bald eagles fly right over where I am working.

Even the other day, I wanted to show how the dogs are behaving this time of year with the two newborns with their mothers in the nursery field. Both dogs are deliberate in their sniffing to find the calf poop wherever it is in the field. They start with the source and smell each baby, sometimes while they are still sleeping. The dogs don’t hurt the calves but sniff them from stem to stern in the hopes that there is a pile around there somewhere. The older calf, NinetyNine, does not like the idea of the dog snooping and will run out of the area rather than get the sniff test. The newborn, Titan, is much more relaxed about the whole thing and usually doesn’t even acknowledge the dogs in their investigation.

During all the sniffing, I tried to get a picture of the dogs in action but they were so quick, all I got was shots of the cows, babies and a tail or nose of a dog as they air plow their way this way and that.

I Spy

November 4, 2020November 3, 2020 / Susan Schmidlin / Leave a comment

It was a chilly start for the morning chores, the thermometer was reading about 28 degrees. The fields were all white with frost and the sky was a clear, crystalline blue.

We were heading out past the barn with the morning ration of hay for the main herd. Mike was the first to notice a black dot smack dab in the middle of the field, He pointed out the spot to me. There were no cows or calves close to the area and it was a v-shaped wedge that had sunlight shining on it through the trees in the riparian zone of the river.

This was where little Francie calf had plopped herself down while she waited for breakfast to be served. It was a small impression in the field so that just the top of her head and ears were visible. Most mornings, our little social butterfly of a calf, would be nestled in with the bigger calves or near some of the mothers, but today Francie had found the perfect spot and didn’t invite any other guests to join her.

Schmidlin Angus Farm

Registered Black Angus Cattle and Humorous Farm Stories

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