This morning we sold the last of our heifers. These are the ones we didn’t choose for our replacements. They are almost 2 years old… ready to have their first babies themselves. In my humble opinion, they are pretty good looking heifers! Many of them I had picked to keep, however, if they don’t make the period of time that we want them to calve, then they get rejected, no matter how good looking. Of course, I don’t want to be calving heifers until May, either!
When I said we sold them this morning… I meant MORNING. Early. It was too dark to take pictures. It was freezing. Actually it was below freezing! This picture looks like it, doesn’t it?
You shivering yet? I was. My longjohns helped, but I had wimpy gloves on… and I kept taking my right glove off to take pictures. My ears weren’t covered either, how stupid was that??
Oh, look! That poor heifer stuck her nose to the metal pole! Ha ha. Not really. That was just my imagination at work.
Step one: Sort off however many heifers the truck driver can fit in his trailer’s little nooks and crannies and pens. The inside of a cattle truck is really an amazing design, you should check them out if you ever get a chance! See Vernon peeking over the chute? He’s there to urge them on up the loading chute.
Step two: They are supposed to walk up this chute. You can stand up when there aren’t any heifers coming your way… Cows are prey and they don’t like things over the top of them, i.e., leaping mountain lions, diving eagles, mad cowboys… Otherwise you kind of hide behind the chute to get them started and then you can lean over and goose them if they need encouragement to go in the trailer.
About this time… I’m freezing to death! I am staying back, taking pics, keeping Boomer from getting in the way and barking, and I’m not moving enough to keep warm. All I can think of is my warm house tucked up under the cottonwoods. Doesn’t it look cozy?
My dogs, faithful creatures that they are, were trying to help me. If you look at this photo closely… that’s Dally laying on my foot, and Lucas leaning against my leg. Those were the only two warm spots on me at that point!
Step three: Put ’em all in! The last heifer is finally loaded and the door comes down. They are on their way to their new home in the southern part of Wyoming. I shake our buyer’s hand, and walk briskly home. The brisk part was to try and warm myself… but nothing felt as good as my house and a cup of coffee! Goodbye, heifers, have a good life!
Find me here!