Friday, March 15, 2002

Good afternoon all! Ruth - how much snow did you get? Kilgore, Nebr (Cherry County/Sandhills) had 24 inches of snow yesterday. I wonder how many calves were lost during that storm. Weather is a bit nippy out here but we didn't have any snow. The sun is shining now.

Lana - by one week of age we have our bottle lambs and kids down to 3 feedings a day. By two weeks - they are down to twice a day. I know people don't agree with this but it seems to work with us. We do make an exception if the lambs or kids are unusually weak from being born premature, etc.

Dh took the day off work today to get some stuff done. I notice Daisy was off by herself. DH was running errands for awhile. I called him and said she was getting ready to calf but I wasn't too worried. He comes home and then tries to get her in the barn. We got into an argument - I said leave her alone. So finally he listened to me and she started calving. At one point she is walking around with the calf hanging 3/4 out of her and then plop - the poor calf fell out her on its head. But the calf is already standing and nursing. Daisy is full Angus and very protective. She's the cow that hisses like a goose every time you get close to her calf and you don't want to turn your back on her and keep a stick when you do get close.

Mary - we've given Vitamin B-12 and a product called Appetite Express to our ewes and cows to get them to eat. However, you know how sheep are - if they want to die, they will. I wouldn't be surprised though that the appetite express is similar to the beer/oatmeal.

Better go - lots of office work and laundry to do today. DD starts her spring break this afternoon. She was grumbling - other kids go to Florida - she comes home to wash calves!