Breeding Season

Life has been a bit hectic and busy after our short vacation to Denver (which was a ton of fun by the way).  We had some catch up to do and now are getting ready for breeding season (the cows, not us).  Our friend, Roger, is going to artificially inseminate our heifers.  It's our first time doing things that way so we're learning as we go. 

First thing this morning we had to move the heifers from the pasture to the barn.  We've been having the debate for a few weeks now as to whether we will be chasing them home or leading them home.  They've become a bit like pets (okay, A LOT) and come running to us when we come into the pasture.  We pretty much led them to the gate and out of the pasture.  Then we had to cross some seeded fields and had to chase them.  They pretty much knew where they were going, though, so we mostly just had to keep up with the 4-wheelers.

Since that went so smoothly we had time to go to Richland and get a water truck for J and C who were spraying crop before Roger arrived.  We started running the heifers through to give them a shot to bring them into heat, apply a heat sensor patch to their backs and pour them for flies.  M was called away to give C a ride so Roger and I finished up.

Then we rounded up some pairs to move to Opheim and corralled them until after lunch.  After lunch, M had to go get more water for the spraying crew so Roger and I sorted the pairs and loaded them and took them to pasture near my brother's house.  That went smoothly, too.  Roger thinks M has me trained pretty well.

We had two more pairs to take to a different pasture so we got them loaded and M and Roger dropped me off at home and took them.  They then had to go load bulls and bring them home since the vet will be out in the morning to test them.

They had originally planned to do that yesterday which would have been great for me because I was supposed to work so wouldn't have to help.  Sadly, we had to go to the funeral of a friend yesterday so the bull testing was rescheduled.  Now I have no excuse to be absent from that fun event.

Roger lives about 80 miles away so is staying with us while the AI-ing is going on.  He told M to keep him busy while he was here.  M is pretty sure that won't be a problem.  I say, oh Roger, be careful what you ask for!