Wow - a Successful Herd Health!

We need more days like this!  There is a bit of anticipation as we work around the barn, waiting for the vet to pull in the driveway.  Each month, as we await his arrival, we find odd jobs around the barn that keep us close and ready when he arrives.  Always in the back of your mind is:  how many cows settled, who can we catch in heat, how many cows need shots, etc.???

We also had the greenhand with us today.  He is still looking at having a herd of his own someday, so we invited him to work through a herd health with us.  It was quite an eye-opening experience for him!  There is so much more to milking cows . . . than milking cows!  Keeping on top of vaccination schedules, breeding cycles, calf care, proper nutrition, the list goes on and on.  But when all of your hard work comes together, and cows are safe with calf, you get a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.  Of the 10 cows that we had pregnancy checked, 9 were safe with calf.  When your income is derived from producing milk, having a cow breed back is so important.  When they calve (freshen), they go on a slow curve up, then gradually down in the amount of milk that they produce.  After several months, if she is not bred back, you have a cow that is not producing enough milk to cover the cost of feed and you have to make a hard decision on whether to keep or replace her.  We try very hard to not only feed and care for our cows.  Having to let one go is a very hard decision because they all become family in one way or another.  So when we have a successful herd health, it is reason to celebrate!  We have been running an 80% heifer calf ratio for the last 4 years.  For every 10 calves born, 8 have been heifers.  I hope that we can keep that up - and keep raising the feed to feed that many!  It is so satisfying to see many of these girls coming into the barn and beginning their many long years of being part of the herd.  We have two right now that are ready to calve and boy do they ever look nice.  Can't wait!