What's everybody doing today?

[Haertig]

Jake castrated all of the bull calves

The old cowhand was teaching his new-hire how to castrate a bull.

"You just sneak up behind him holding two bricks, one on each side of his balls, then smack them together hard."

"Yow! Doesn't that hurt???"

"No, but you do have to keep your thumbs out of the way."

 

[Peanut]

Quiet day, needed to go to the big town, maybe tomorrow. Another day with music and the tv.

@hashbrown Does your friend know he has Perilla in his grass? I've known this plant for years, didn't learn it'd kill livestock until last year. It a very common pasture weed. It's get tall here, 5/6ft. Below is a pic of me bush hogging the perilla my kinfolk didn't take care of when he had cattle here. He let it grow unrestricted for three years. He ruined about 6 acres of pasture. It got so thick it literally killed the grass. It may have been part of the reason he had cattle dying those last few months.

Anyway... in case your friend doesn't know... looks like he bush hogged that area sometime near the 4th of july. The perilla came back but bolted right away. Didn't have time to get taller. I circled the perilla in yellow.

Oh, he has some fine looking calves, I'd be proud the own them. Here is an article from U of M extension service... and pics below...
…………………………………...

Plan to kill toxic perilla mint this spring or summer
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole said he received a report recently of cows in southwestern Missouri being killed by perilla mint, a toxic plant.

Cole urges producers to plan to destroy the annual plant in pastures next spring or summer. Broadleaf pasture herbicides, applied April through June before seed set, provide control when applied at the correct rate, he says.

Perilla mint, also known as rattlesnake weed and beefsteak plant, generally does not cause problems in healthy cows, said Cole. Mint poisoning occasionally occurs in thin cattle that are hungry, when pastures are overgrazed or when there is limited forage.

https://extension.missouri.edu/news/plan-to-kill-toxic-perilla-mint-this-spring-or-summer-5442
……………………………………………………………...

Edit... I kept perilla bush hogged for years to control it. Just a few little spots here on the farm, not an issue. That boy didn't do anything and it got out of control.

My cousin brought a herd of heifers over and he had to use a spray, wiped it out... but also found smudge grass in a couple spots. Gonna have to do something with that.

 

[Pearl]

Tough ping pong competition tonight, nobody won! Now we are all old and tired! Everyone have a great night!!

 

[Neb]

You can lead a horse to water...

I arranged my day to do small projects so I can drive down Finleyvile way to tutor the granddaughter. Changed air and water filters for the fridge. Assembled a shower caddy...

HomeHelper Rustproof Shower Caddy Corner Organizer for Bathroom, 4 Tier Bathtub Shower Storage Organizer with Tension Pole for Shampoo Holder, 56 to 114 Inch, White Sorry! Something went wrong!

I am convinced there was a design review meeting where a management type asked "can we build everything from plastic? and a Dibert type's head explodes.

For the shower. Called to alert the granddaughter I was on the way. I talked the son to stay on her but it was another nothing day. Next attempt will be Thursday.

So...

Tomorrow the last mowing of the season and prep engines for winter.

Ben

 

[zannej]

I set up a curbside pickup order for Walmart to get a home Covid test. Went and got it. Went to the post office after closing (they leave the front doors open so people can check their boxes) while nobody was there. Cooked dinner-- the family size meals barely fit in the new microwave, but they fit-- and took the Covid test. Not sure how to read the results. Either I messed it up or I might have Covid. Going to get another test for my brother.

As an aside, the swab thingies for the testing are great for cleaning the nostrils out and I want to get more of them. Need to figure out what they are called so I can get some bc my nostrils feel a lot better after the test.

I informed my brother. I also think I caught a very faint whiff of my dinner but I had to lean in really close. it could have been my imagination though-- wishful thinking-- because I can't smell anything else.

I'm hoping the test is wrong though. Might take my brother to the doctor and get him tested since he's the one who would have brought it home & I think his insurance will pay for it.

 

[Weedygarden]

Glad your husband is driving, Snappy. Husband is saying he's going to drive himself to the foot doc today and get his walker out of the truck by himself, and go into his appt. and not use a wheelchair. We'll see. I'm not feeling well today, but I can make myself take him if he insists. Husband hasn't driven for maybe 3 months, but now he's had eye surgery, so there's that.

Hope it is not serious and that you will better soon

 

[Weedygarden]

I bought one of those Costco chickens about a month ago. The thing was huge. I don't know how they can call it a "chicken". It was more the size of a turkey. I was able to eat 1/2 of one side of the breast, and I was stuffed. And I am not a "light eater". I wonder how many hormones and other things had been injected into that chicken to make it so large. The breast meat was very soft. I don't know how else to describe it. It just seemed kind of "inflated feeling". Light a big muscle, but a weak muscle - if that makes any sense. The chicken tasted fine. It was a texture thing, not a taste thing that slightly turned me off. But it didn't turn me off so much that I didn't eat the entire chicken. Took me like four or five days of daily munching, but I ate it all. The wife didn't touch it, she says there is some kind of spice they use on them that she doesn't like. I didn't notice anything like that myself. I would buy one again. But not often.

It is likely injected with hormones, but it might be a meat bird. They sit at the feed dish and eat all day long. It doesn't take long for them to grow big enough to be harvested.

 

[zannej]

I wonder if the Costco chickens are like the ones at Samsclub. Samsclub gets 3lb rotisserie chickens for just under $5. Walmart has smaller ones for just under $9. Samsclub chicken is better though because the flavor is infused in the meat.

My brother took the home Covid test and it was positive for him as well. He was acting like I was going to give him Covid and I said "Dude, I'm pretty sure you're the one who brought it home!" and then he saw the results. He had symptoms before any of us did. It's entirely possible they are both false positives, but I ordered more kits to see. Can use them after over 24 hrs from the 1st test.

At least my nose isn't running as badly as it was before.

 

[ssonb]

FACTORING POLYNOMIALS ...... Why thems fightin words down here!!!

 

[Pearl]

I wonder if the Costco chickens are like the ones at Samsclub. Samsclub gets 3lb rotisserie chickens for just under $5. Walmart has smaller ones for just under $9. Samsclub chicken is better though because the flavor is infused in the meat.

My brother took the home Covid test and it was positive for him as well. He was acting like I was going to give him Covid and I said "Dude, I'm pretty sure you're the one who brought it home!" and then he saw the results. He had symptoms before any of us did. It's entirely possible they are both false positives, but I ordered more kits to see. Can use them after over 24 hrs from the 1st test.

At least my nose isn't running as badly as it was before.

Hope you all feel better soon!

 

[Amish Heart]

Yep, those meat birds just sit in their dishes all day long and eat and eat. I have 21 of them right now that will be ready real soon to butcher. They're the ones that came out of the flooding milkhouse.
I think the chimney sweep is coming this afternoon. Amazingly, no doc appts today.

 

[Pearl]

Big cleaning job this morning. Working with my Aussie, mostly with the owners after that! Going to be in the lower 70's today so I will be outside this afternoon. Plenty of odds and ends to do!

 

[sonya123]

Quiet day, needed to go to the big town, maybe tomorrow. Another day with music and the tv.

@hashbrown Does your friend know he has Perilla in his grass? I've known this plant for years, didn't learn it'd kill livestock until last year. It a very common pasture weed. It's get tall here, 5/6ft. Below is a pic of me bush hogging the perilla my kinfolk didn't take care of when he had cattle here. He let it grow unrestricted for three years. He ruined about 6 acres of pasture. It got so thick it literally killed the grass. It may have been part of the reason he had cattle dying those last few months.

Anyway... in case your friend doesn't know... looks like he bush hogged that area sometime near the 4th of july. The perilla came back but bolted right away. Didn't have time to get taller. I circled the perilla in yellow.

Oh, he has some fine looking calves, I'd be proud the own them. Here is an article from U of M extension service... and pics below...
…………………………………...

Plan to kill toxic perilla mint this spring or summer
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole said he received a report recently of cows in southwestern Missouri being killed by perilla mint, a toxic plant.

Cole urges producers to plan to destroy the annual plant in pastures next spring or summer. Broadleaf pasture herbicides, applied April through June before seed set, provide control when applied at the correct rate, he says.

Perilla mint, also known as rattlesnake weed and beefsteak plant, generally does not cause problems in healthy cows, said Cole. Mint poisoning occasionally occurs in thin cattle that are hungry, when pastures are overgrazed or when there is limited forage.

https://extension.missouri.edu/news/plan-to-kill-toxic-perilla-mint-this-spring-or-summer-5442
……………………………………………………………...

Edit... I kept perilla bush hogged for years to control it. Just a few little spots here on the farm, not an issue. That boy didn't do anything and it got out of control.

My cousin brought a herd of heifers over and he had to use a spray, wiped it out... but also found smudge grass in a couple spots. Gonna have to do something with that.

Peanut, this is the same plant humans eat??? I am pretty sure it looks like the Perilla that is used in Korean food. We have lots growing in the woods here and have eaten it....no effects
The goats have eaten it also I am pretty sure
Or am I confusing this plant with something else?
If it is , wow, thanks for the tip, had no idea! ( don't think it is in the pasture but it is definitely in the woods around the house) . I even collected seeds to plant in the garden...oh no....

 

[sonya123]

Yep, those meat birds just sit in their dishes all day long and eat and eat. I have 21 of them right now that will be ready real soon to butcher. They're the ones that came out of the flooding milkhouse.
I think the chimney sweep is coming this afternoon. Amazingly, no doc appts today.

the meat birds can actually eat themselves to death, we take their food away overnight, so they have to take a break,we have had a few that ended up not able to walk they were so fat ( they went in the freezer of course)

 

[Amish Heart]

Mine are pretty much at that point. Fat ol cornish. Freezer camp right after Thanksgiving.

 

[sonya123]

Zannej hope you feel better soon!

Castrating animals: do you just cut them off on a calf? Our goats and sheep are castrated at around 5 weeks, and just banded. You put a band on them and it dries up and falls off. Definitely not my favorite job but has to be done. They lie down for a few minutes and cry , then they get up and continue eating like nothing has happened most of the time.

Today I need to put the rest of the groceries away , did buy some cans ( beans , coconut milk, bamboo, pineapple, manderin oranges)
Do laundry
stack wood
take dogs for walk
after taking care of the animals they stayed out last night, so not much cleanup

 

[sonya123]

Mine are pretty much at that point. Fat ol cornish. Freezer camp right after Thanksgiving.

we never wait that long, too cold here , my hands would fall off LOL
We usually do 2 batches ( have 1 chicken tractor) and they are done by September

 

[Magus]

I woke up, let's see how long that lasts...

 

[hashbrown]

Quiet day, needed to go to the big town, maybe tomorrow. Another day with music and the tv.

@hashbrown Does your friend know he has Perilla in his grass? I've known this plant for years, didn't learn it'd kill livestock until last year. It a very common pasture weed. It's get tall here, 5/6ft. Below is a pic of me bush hogging the perilla my kinfolk didn't take care of when he had cattle here. He let it grow unrestricted for three years. He ruined about 6 acres of pasture. It got so thick it literally killed the grass. It may have been part of the reason he had cattle dying those last few months.

Anyway... in case your friend doesn't know... looks like he bush hogged that area sometime near the 4th of july. The perilla came back but bolted right away. Didn't have time to get taller. I circled the perilla in yellow.

Oh, he has some fine looking calves, I'd be proud the own them. Here is an article from U of M extension service... and pics below...
…………………………………...

Plan to kill toxic perilla mint this spring or summer
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole said he received a report recently of cows in southwestern Missouri being killed by perilla mint, a toxic plant.

Cole urges producers to plan to destroy the annual plant in pastures next spring or summer. Broadleaf pasture herbicides, applied April through June before seed set, provide control when applied at the correct rate, he says.

Perilla mint, also known as rattlesnake weed and beefsteak plant, generally does not cause problems in healthy cows, said Cole. Mint poisoning occasionally occurs in thin cattle that are hungry, when pastures are overgrazed or when there is limited forage.

https://extension.missouri.edu/news/plan-to-kill-toxic-perilla-mint-this-spring-or-summer-5442
……………………………………………………………...

Edit... I kept perilla bush hogged for years to control it. Just a few little spots here on the farm, not an issue. That boy didn't do anything and it got out of control.

My cousin brought a herd of heifers over and he had to use a spray, wiped it out... but also found smudge grass in a couple spots. Gonna have to do something with that.

View attachment 119648View attachment 119649View attachment 119650

I’ve seen/smelled that plant my entire life, I had no idea it was poison.

 

[Magus]

I think I've made tea out of it!
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-477/perilla

 

[snappy1]

I'm amazed that I got everything on my list done, yesterday! Rarely happens with a bigger list.

Walked at 6:30 this morning.
Need to pick up friend and go to bigger town for shopping and errands. That was easier than listing 8 places.
DH will have therapy while I'm gone.
I hope you all have a good day!

 

[ClemKadiddlehopper]

I treat meat chickens like laying chickens and never had a problem with them. They do very well with exercise. Three to four years is their life span but they are crap layers. I have crossed them with layers and now have decent sized hybrids for dual purpose. The roosters I just butchered averaged 10 lbs dressed out.

 

[Magus]

Oh well. went to the store for some trivial crap and my back pops out like clockwork. no matter, its going to rain.

 

[Magus]

Update, its worse.
I went to the work shed to fix up a couple of projects, I took the cover off
my vice table and the whole damned thing collapsed on me! Since when
do termites eat cedar?! Shop's closed forever, I know when I'm beaten!

 

[kenv1950]

Oh well. went to the store for some trivial crap and my back pops out like clockwork. no matter, its going to rain.

Maybe its time for surgery . Best thing I ever did

 

[Magus]

You're the only one who it worked for I know of, what did you get done exactly? I have at least 2 crushed discs and a wad of mashed nerves. Its so messed up gout gets into it! that's super rare because normally it just gets joints!

 

[Curmudgeon]

I take it that Aldi is a store? I've never seen one.

We recently got a new one, they renovated an old Kroger location, nicer than the other one in the area, clean and well lit........and larger than the other.

 

[Neb]

I mowed the yard and back field to mulch up the leaves. Prepared lawn tractor with fuel stabilizer and pulled the battery which will put on a trickle charger iver winter. The lawn mower got some of the stabilizer treated fuel before I ran it dry.

When retrieving packages from the front stoop I was faced with a nice surprise. The orange tree ....

Has started to bloom!

It smells incredible and the oranges ripen about February for a good source if vitamin C.

Ben

 

[LadyLocust]

I mowed the yard and back field to mulch up the leaves. Prepared lawn tractor with fuel stabilizer and pulled the battery which will put on a trickle charger iver winter. The lawn mower got some of the stabilizer treated fuel before I ran it dry.

When retrieving packages from the front stoop I was faced with a nice surprise. The orange tree ....

View attachment 119674

Has started to bloom!

View attachment 119675

It smells incredible and the oranges ripen about February for a good source if vitamin C.

Ben

Orange blossoms do smell good! Enjoy.

 

[Peanut]

Peanut, this is the same plant humans eat??? I am pretty sure it looks like the Perilla that is used in Korean food.

I’ve seen/smelled that plant my entire life, I had no idea it was poison.

Yes, one and the same plant, called beefsteak or perilla. I learned of it's toxicity in '21. But what is toxic for livestock may or may not be toxic to humans. Perilla is used in korean and japanese cooking, in a few dishes. It's not a staple by any means. I nibble a leaf occasionally, no issues. I like the taste.

Healthy livestock with grass don't eat much of it... It can be a big issue for hungry cows without enough grass. Too much is not a good thing. Similar to acorns, one or two, no issue. Too much and acorns will kill cattle. The tannic acid eats away their stomach lining, they no longer absorb nutrients and starve with full bellies.

From the alabama extension service.... Perilla ketones are one of several volatile compounds found within the plant that cause atypical interstitial pneumonia (AIP) in cattle and other domestic animals when ingested. Fluid accumulates in the animals’ lungs, causing reduced oxygen levels and shortness of breath. Depending on the amount consumed and/or animal susceptibility, death may occur within a couple days or in as little as a few hours. Little is known about the amount of perilla mint needed to cause detrimental effects in livestock, nor about the factors that make some cattle more susceptible to its toxicity than others.

The reason I never tried to eradicate perilla... For a couple thousand years in western china and tibet the seeds have been pressed for oil. It's then used as lamp oil. Chinese immigrants brought it to the US in the 1840's. I've never seen a reference that the oil was used for cooking, it was only burned for light.