Much better day

Oh it is so nice when you have a good day. Especially when the previous day was so disappointing and deflating. I was able to corral the 7907g (typo yesterday on her number) cow and bring her home in the stock trailer. Tonight I put her in the squeeze chute and let the orphan from Sunday give her full udder some relief. This cow is very gentle and the calf knew just what to do as well. I expect in 3 to 5 days they will both be very happy with each other. Keep your fingers crossed.

I wont be posting much tonight because I am just drained physically and mentally. I tried to go to bed about 11 last night but it was useless to try and sleep. I got back up and worked on budget and other financial things until 5 am. Then I took a two hour nap and faced today. I was sure hoping that catching the cow that lost the calf would go well and it did. Her innate desire to be a mother caused her to follow her calf over a half mile to the corral.

I do not yet know if I will be able to confirm it but it looks like the calf was afflicted with “crooked calf syndrome”. This happens when a cow consumes a lupine plant between day 40 and 60 of her pregnancy. The plant can contain an alkaloid that will affect the developing fetus. There is not a lot of lupine on my spring and summer range but there is some.

I went to see my banker today and that went pretty well in general. The way things are these days maybe the fact that my bank was still open was reason enough to celebrate. Right now I am going to post this and celebrate with a shower and some sleep time.

Today’s real environmentalist species found on the ranch is velvet lupine aka Lupinus leucophyllus.

Today’s picture is of two bull calves and two heifer calves enjoying the sunshine this morning. I just love the face markings on the calf in the top right.