Beef Calf 2024

[Peanut]

My little #*$%^# butthead got out twice today. Winter rains have started, chilly, drizzled off and on all day. I got him back up the first time then… must be the day for it because my neighbors cows were out on the highway, half his herd. Spent 2hrs helping him (83yrs old). It was nearly dark when I got back home only to find my little butthead was out again. This time he took out 8ft of fencing. I couldn’t fix the fence in the dark so I blocked the area off.

Tomorrow I’m leaving for an overnight medical apt, possibly 2 nights. If he’s out in the morning I’ll shut him up in the corral. I’ll feed him when I leave but he’ll have nothing but hay until I get back. I’d figured out a way for my dad to give him sweet feed while I was gone. That’s not possible if he’s shut up in the corral. If he wants to be an ass I’ll show him what happens to buttheads! He can’t get out of the corral so he can stand there and bawl till I get back.

 

[Mountain trapper]

My little #*$%^# butthead got out twice today. Winter rains have started, chilly, drizzled off and on all day. I got him back up the first time then… must be the day for it because my neighbors cows were out on the highway, half his herd. Spent 2hrs helping him (83yrs old). It was nearly dark when I got back home only to find my little butthead was out again. This time he took out 8ft of fencing. I couldn’t fix the fence in the dark so I blocked the area off.

Tomorrow I’m leaving for an overnight medical apt, possibly 2 nights. If he’s out in the morning I’ll shut him up in the corral. I’ll feed him when I leave but he’ll have nothing but hay until I get back. I’d figured out a way for my dad to give him sweet feed while I was gone. That’s not possible if he’s shut up in the corral. If he wants to be an ass I’ll show him what happens to buttheads! He can’t get out of the corral so he can stand there and bawl till I get back.

Sounds like he's ready for a one way trip to the sale barn.

 

[Peanut]

It's still raining, weather man said it'll be raining in the morning. Didn't want to give the calf a chance to get out before I get up. I have too many other things to do before leaving for the city besides chase a wayward calf... so I decided to shut the calf up in the corral tonight.

I just went up, he was under the trailer shed. Took some convincing but I got him to come to me and into the corral. He has hay, water and a dry place to sleep. He'll be fine for a couple of days.

 

[Peanut]

I no longer have to carry water!!! Yea! Rocky has a herd now. All mature cows and selected because they were steady and calm. They know coyotes so he'll be safe. I felt comfortable turning him out into the main pasture with them. He was thrilled too! Glad to have company.

My cousin turned the cows out in the high field. Rocky was excited but he was separated by 2 fences. I had to get Rocky to follow me out of the bull pen, then about 400yrds before he could finally join the small herd.

I hung around for about a half hour, even got the cows to start answering when I called. They followed me nearly back to the barns. I'll feed all of them a few times, then they'll all come when I call. Have to get used to my voice.

Tonight or tomorrow they'll find their way down to the bottoms and the creeks for a good drink of water. Do some exploring too. They'll wander around a few days before developing a pattern. They are free to roam all 6 pastures, about 100 acres. 40acres in timber, lots of protection from cold weather.

 

[Peanut]

Yesterday I tried to get a count on the cows, I failed. They kept moving to tall fennel. Plus I didn’t know the cows. I didn't talk to my cousin when he brought them over so I didn't know how many there were.

Took a trip to town today so I picked up 400lbs of all stock feed (16%). When I got home I took a trough, 50lbs of feed and a bucket over to the main pasture.

I got the cows to come to me. Called them, then used universal cow language, pound on a plastic bucket!! I let them fight over feed in the trough while I feed Rocky out of the bucket. He was a lot more timid than usual. Over night I figure those grown cows have taught him he’s no longer the biggest thing in the pasture. Good, he needed an attitude adjustment. He was happy to get some sweet feed though.

Anyway, the count… 3 black cows, 1 white, 3 red and 1 yellow, 8 total. Plus my calf makes 9. Tomorrow I’ll see if they’ll come to the bull pen when I call. I’ll feed them again, make sure they know where the salt block is at in the corral.

I want them to come to the bull pen and corral everyday so I don't have to go find and count them. Few more days I'll have them answering when I call, even if they are down in the bottoms, 800yrds away.

 

[Peanut]

Busy day, got home just a bit ago then went up to the shop. I called once, the cows answered, they were in the pasture by the highway. Came out of the shop with a bag of feed on my shoulder and a bucket. I could see the cows coming quickly.

I fed them in corral, no problem, they walked right in. There's a roll of hay and a salt block in there also...

These cows are fat, easy to keep healthy over winter when they are this fat the first week of December. My cousin knows how to grow beef.

 

[Peanut]

Went back up for a better look at each cow. I like the looks of the Charolais and the short horn. Good looking cows, they are all gentle. Except maybe the angus, can't ever trust an angus. She's shown no aggression though, the other two angus mixes are extra gentle.

Rocky the calf is up to 600lbs now. He'll do better now that he has older cows to teach him a thing or two.

 

[Hardcalibres]

.........

These cows are fat, easy to keep healthy over winter when they are this fat the first week of December. My cousin knows how to grow beef.

It is much easier and more efficient to retain condition on cattle than it is to regain it.

 

[Bacpacker]

Good lookin cattle

 

[Mountain trapper]

Went back up for a better look at each cow. I like the looks of the Charolais and the short horn. Good looking cows, they are all gentle. Except maybe the angus, can't ever trust an angus. She's shown no aggression though, the other two angus mixes are extra gentle.

Rocky the calf is up to 600lbs now. He'll do better now that he has older cows to teach him a thing or two.

View attachment 169102

The only issue that I've ever had with Angus is they can kick sideways. Most cattle can only kick straight back. Usually.

 

[Peanut]

Went over and checked on the cows this afternoon, nice day, bright, sunny. Annnnd since the cows followed me back to the barns and begged... I fed them something. I'm not feeding them hay yet, they don't need it. Still getting plenty of good graze in the main pasture.

Rocky the calf is looking pretty good, still gaining weight. Instead of a pest he's acting like a cow which in nice. Didn't have any trouble out of him.

Oh, put on a fresh table cloth when I got back too.