A month off now ...

for the dogs that is.  Although the heading dogs will get to go around the ewes on the daily cast ewe run, riding on the back of the bike so they don't disturb the lambing.  The Boss is picking up 2 or 3 ewes a day at the moment, mainly due to slightly damp wool, but it is surprising how they suddenly reach a stage where they get cast.

                                    Curious 1st Calvers as we were waiting for the Boss to bring his mob down the hill. 

We calve our cows as 3 year olds, which is different to a lot of farmers.  We just feel that with our climate they need to grow out properly first before rearing a calf.  The majority of farmers calve heifers at 2, so that means they are put in calf as yearlings, which I feel is too soon for most really, as they seem to have a lot of problems calving them unless they have managed to grow the heifer out really well.  It is many years since we have had to help a cow calve, although it is the time of year we will lose 2 or 3 out on the hill if they have difficulties often due to the spot they have chosen to calve in, or the calf has pinched a nerve in the cow as it is being born, and the cow can't get up properly.  And the last few weeks leading up to calving is when the cows will slip somewhere and injure themselves badly.  But in saying that it is not many out of about 185 calving.

                                          "Don't you worry Mum, I'm keeping an eye on them"  (heifers in previous photo)

               Cruise keeping out of trouble by getting into the Argo - then he's not tempted to do the wrong thing (mostly)!

                                                                 1st Calvers heading out to their calving block

                                                                                  That's it Cruise time off now

                       A mixed mob being fed the last of the hay, before they get split.  These are 2 year heifers and yearlings.

                                                            Yesterday morning's view - getting a little sick of this!!