Thursday 28th September 2017
More farewells!
Today was our last day with Sage, Blackcurrant and Parsleys’ two steers. Their new owner (James) is a young farmer with a dairy herd of 50 who wants to start raising a bit of beef as a small additional enterprise, initially just for his immediate family and friends!!
We got all eight cows into the Collecting Area with a mere wave of the yellow bucket (!!) and then into one of the shelters, from which we then extracted the four to go. We were quite nervous about the actual loading up but after a few awkward moments, we managed to get all four into James’ trailer and secure. As James drove away we then prepared ourselves for Parsley’s protests as she of course had been separated from both this year’s and last year’s calves. She is still mooing and calling this evening...
We got all eight cows into the Collecting Area with a mere wave of the yellow bucket (!!) and then into one of the shelters, from which we then extracted the four to go. We were quite nervous about the actual loading up but after a few awkward moments, we managed to get all four into James’ trailer and secure. As James drove away we then prepared ourselves for Parsley’s protests as she of course had been separated from both this year’s and last year’s calves. She is still mooing and calling this evening...
It has to be said that we do hate selling because there is always that worry about any new owner and the nagging thought that they might not look after the animals as well as you! It’s worse when it’s an animal you bought in and were hoping to keep!
We know however, this was the right decision and planning ahead, we now have the option of not needing to sell any calves in their first year which is probably better for cow and calf and will avoid the separation anxiety we have just put Parsley through. Next year for example the steer we have now will go for meat before Christmas leaving us with Thyme, Carraway, Parsley and the two new 2018 calves. In theory we could take ALL five of these through the winter (with all 3 girls in calf) and then the following summer (2019) sell Caraway and her calf with one or both of the 2018 calves, leaving us with just four or five again...
It’s a plan!!!
We know however, this was the right decision and planning ahead, we now have the option of not needing to sell any calves in their first year which is probably better for cow and calf and will avoid the separation anxiety we have just put Parsley through. Next year for example the steer we have now will go for meat before Christmas leaving us with Thyme, Carraway, Parsley and the two new 2018 calves. In theory we could take ALL five of these through the winter (with all 3 girls in calf) and then the following summer (2019) sell Caraway and her calf with one or both of the 2018 calves, leaving us with just four or five again...
It’s a plan!!!