Turned Out

We finally got the first group of cows and calves worked so they could be turned out. 

We had them up in a smaller field last night so they would be easier to corral. 

Cows got one shot and dewormed and calves got two shots and their ear notched. Joe has been notching ears instead of tagging. Then the heifers we keep as replacements get a tag later.

It was just 17 pairs so Joe and I whipped it out in no time. 

 Then it took three loads to take them across the road to our rented farm.  17 down, 150 or so to go.  

Transfusion Update

The video speaks for itself. 

 I guess the transfusion bought enough time for the calf’s bone marrow to catch up on making red blood cells and maybe for his immune system to help fight off the theileria. 

Cattle Work

Yesterday Mike helped us with some cattle here.

Some were vaccinate, some dewormed, some both and one dehorned.  It was nice having the extra help.  Mike being there always makes things easier for me.

After we were done, the cattle when back out where they came from.  

Today we were at it again.  Mike was busy this time so it was just me and Joe. 

We were not doing anything with the cows, so we sorted them out first.

More deworming, vaccinating and 3 to dehorn.  That is always the drawback to using a horned Hereford bull.

We we were done, the cows didn’t go back to where they came from, they went to new pasture.  You can tell how excited they were for that.

 

First Hummer

I was sitting at the kitchen table yesterday when I saw a hummingbird at the irises off the back deck.  I yelled “it’s a hummer, my first hummingbird”. 

I went directly to the garage to get the hummingbird feeder. I think he appreciated the sugar water.  

4 Random Things

Monday was Mimi day with Allie.  She chose to go to the playground while we waited for Sadie's dance class to conclude.  

It was a beautiful day and she had lots of fun.  There was another girl there that her father was talking on the phone the entire time.  She kept asking me to take her picture and video her.  She wanted me to push her on the swing and watch when she was doing something difficult.  I felt sorry that her father didn't pay more attention to her.  

Allie didn't want to leave when it was time.  I said Sadie would be scared and worried if we weren't there.  She said, no she wouldn't.  We left on time anyway. 

I went with Joe yesterday to check the fence at our rented property before we turn cattle out there.  Of course there was a tree down on top of it.  

But I did find some nice wild flowers, this is wild ginger. 

Cancer root, 

and stonecrop.  

And my first peony is blooming! It is over a week earlier than the earliest I have recorded on the blog so far.  

 

Transfusion

We had a 10 day old calf that had gotten off to a great start. Then he suddenly started staggering, falling and laying around. I decided he probably had theileria.  There is still no approved treatment in the US. But some people have had success giving blood transfusions. 

Might as well give it a try.  I didn’t have a large enough collection bag so I used an iv fluid bag and added some heparin as an anticoagulant. 

Another jugular catheter, and the calf got a little over a liter of blood. 

 He was stronger when we let him back out. But only time will tell. I am sure he would have died had we done nothing. 

Sunday Funday.

Virginia and Mike brought Sadie and Allie over Sunday afternoon. First things first,

We rode Clyde!  After riding in the barn Allie said she was done. I had told Sadie that I would take her down the driveway. Allie decided she was not done and wanted to go too. They did a good job doubling. 

They wanted to go inside and watch TV. But I kept them interested in staying outside by letting them “help” me water the flowers.  

Of course we had to pick flowers. I wanted their picture and Allie just held the flowers in front of her face. 

 I made her try again.  When we were picking flowers I told Sadie that I had some different colored irises around the house. When she turned the corner and saw them she let out a gasp. She really loves flowers.