Summer's over.

Why the beautiful weather had to finish the day before we were Pregnancy testing the cows I don't know.  Heavy rain overnight, then snow in the early hours  of the morning did not make for an enthusiastic CC&B turning out the door this morning.  Think I'd rather have spent the day in the kitchen, even maybe doing other housework - but not to be. 

We get a Vet in to do this testing, and so we can cull any cows that are not carrying a calf.  As a calf is the only income you get from a cow so she has to earn her keep.  So through the yards they went today.  Thankfully the snow stopped just as we got them to the yards, so all we had to contend with was a biting cold wind and mud, mud and more mud.  I was a bit lucky as I was up on the catwalk with the Vet, so not in the mud much, and we have a very handy lad staying at the moment who helped "the Boss".

Then the horses had a worm, dogs vaccinations, and the Rams had their balls  palpated to make sure all was healthy.  We hopefully only have the Vet on the place once a year, so make the most of it.  And they're all A-okay so that's good.  They should be rearing to go when they get put out with the Ewes in Mid May.

Brrr, not looking forward to a day out in this



Better, the sun is starting to shine.  It didn't last, but neither did it snow again




The modern way - A probe inserted up the anus (carefully!) and the image of the calf shows on the eyepiece




The old way (imagine doing hundreds of cows like this), but now the Vets always check any drys from the scanner just to make sure they're correct.  There were 3 in calf that had looked empty (no calf inside), so worth doing.  But as the Vet said did warm the hand up nicely!




Just a little bit of mud!!!!