a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Friday's Rain, Stampede, And To Market...

to sell the calves.  The orb above could be a rain drop but I like to think it was someone watching over us.
The smaller calves were worked to the right.  The young bull was left in the center pen til loading time.  The bent panel is from Collateral our big bull jumping out.  All went smoothly.
Yes, that is a cattle prod (produces an electric shock)  Hubby is threatening to use on me.  Prods are sometimes used to herd cattle although we only use ours if absolutely necessary.  Today was one of those days...twice.
It was an easy job working all the cattle through slowly.  The calves stayed in as we worked the cattle out. It hasn't rained in a long time but Friday it rained.  Hurrah!!!  Hubby finds another use for the tractor bucket.

Hubby was working the calves into the stock trailer by walking slowly behind them down the chute.  One heifer (young female) decided she was not going.  She turned back right into Hubby and kept coming, butting him knocking him down.  He is kicking her and prodding her and she jumps over him.  She gets reloaded then it's time...
for about eleven hundred pounds of dynamite to try the same thing.  El Toro  comes running right toward Hubby, no time to jump fence.  The prod does deter Super Baby. Hubby rolls minus glasses and hat. Hubby did mention he'd never seen a bull's equipment from that angle.  Unhurt Hubby rises to drive El Toro in again. All the calves will sell tonight
except the youngest.
Mom is grateful.
And that's life At The Farm.

22 comments:

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Risky and dangerous unless you know what you're doing...glad hubby was not hurt!...:)JP

LilliStJohn said...

TM has a sweet kind face and smile. I have never really seen a close up with the sun showing his features, always shadow with cap. You both have the greatest smiles. This was a good day and quite the adventure getting those young calves aboard their journey. I guess that other young fella decided he wasn't ready for that road trip just yet. Do you raise a lot of young calves during the summer - my girlfriends Dad used to have a handful or so with just his small farm. I remember the story about the dent in the fence. Tell TM I took my motorbike way out on the highway last night just before the sun went down to sit on the highest hill and watch the Bay water turn a golden yellow just before the sun sunk into the hills in the west. Didn't have my iphone or camera to take photos - just enjoyed the shear pleasure of watching. Thought about you guys and made a wish :)Hugz to All

Marty said...

Good Grief! Farming is not for sissies. I'm impressed with your day-to-day fortitude.

the canned quilter said...

This is why we do not run cattle! My bones are getting too old and brittle for that stuff : )I'll stick with the smaller stock that I can handle although your cows are beautiful : ) See you got rain too. We got over an inch and boy did we need it!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sounds really dangerous.
Cattle parts - something I wouldn't want to see up close either.
Thought maybe the tractor bucket was coming for your husband!

Country Gal said...

Glad Hubby is ok after all that . When we go into the dollar store Papa always picks up the long handled reach thing that has like two griper prongs on the end and pinches my butt in the store lol Thankfully no electric shock from that lol MEN !! Nice photos . Glad all went well ! Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !

Country Gal said...

P.S I remember those days with our cattle and sheep on the farm . Rams can be just as dangerous with their hard heads .

MadSnapper said...

you know how much I love cows, but I never thought about the running me over... ha ha on the view of the bull parts.. so happy hubby is not hurt. i love the photo of both of you with that cow taser.... hope you get lots of money for the babies, if they were mine i would be crying.

Lynne said...

Great post! Happy market day, hope it goes well and relieved hubby is okay. Scary!

TexWisGirl said...

dangerous work! yikes! even him standing under that parked bucket makes me cringe in fear...

Pat said...

I must say, your husband sure had a gleam in his eye while holding that cattle prod! LOL! Watch out! Scary stuff herding those cattle into the trailer! Glad no one got hurt!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

You two are so adorable together. It makes me smile just looking at the two of you.
See, this is why you live in the country and I am a city girl. My summers at the ranch as a child convinced me that I didn't want to be there for market day or getting pigs or goats ready for the table. I know how it goes, I just really respect those who do it.....but not me.
Hope you get a really good price for them and that your hubby doesn't ever have to see the parts and pieces of a bull up close and particularly at that angle. Oma Linda

Willow said...

Whoa ... hubby got the short end of the stick on that deal.
Even so on some of these I just had to laugh out loud . Gail you are a riot, as well as a good adventure writer !!

Sandee said...

Yep, it's a lot of work to get those calves to market. I so remember.

Glad hubby is okay.

Have a terrific day. :)

Farm Girl said...

I hope you get a good price for your cattle. Your herd looks wonderful. I am glad you are still getting rain. Have a lovely weekend.

Sketching with Dogs said...

I am forever reading about hikers getting killed by cows - they look like such docile, gentle creatures too!
Lynne x

Sandy Livesay said...

Gail,

I'm happy to hear hubby was okay and not hurt after herding these nice looking cattle.

Nothing like having a room with a view, LOL!!!!!!

Judy said...

To market can be traumatic for all...glad you were successful and not injured...have a quiet day tomorrow...

Judy said...

To market can be traumatic for all...glad you were successful and not injured...have a quiet day tomorrow...

LindaG said...

Glad to hear no one was hurt.
Wish I lived closer.
Have a great Sunday!

Susan Anderson said...

Yikes. Life at the farm sounds a bit treacherous at times...

Lots of times!

;)

Far Side of Fifty said...

A little on the wild side, glad no one was hurt:)

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