{"id":4033,"date":"2011-05-20T04:00:12","date_gmt":"2011-05-20T10:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/?p=4033"},"modified":"2011-05-18T23:33:45","modified_gmt":"2011-05-19T05:33:45","slug":"down-on-the-farm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2011\/05\/20\/down-on-the-farm\/","title":{"rendered":"Down on the Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Patty Wilber<\/em><\/p>\n

So, I bought five Angus-cross cows Mar. 6<\/strong>. Price of cows has been through the roof (due to a decrease in cows in the US–been sold to Japan, and the price of feed…amazing how you can sound like you know what you are talking about if you ask enough questions and then repeat back…)<\/p>\n

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My cows in March<\/p><\/div>\n

Three were “three stripers”<\/strong> and two were “late two stripers”, according to the to the preg checker (via the seller). “They”ll all calve within 45 days.”<\/p>\n

“Three stripes”<\/strong> means they are in the third trimester and “two stripes” means there are in the, yes, you guessed it, second trimester.\u00a0 Gestation in cows is 9 months.<\/p>\n

Hmmm. There’s a problem right there<\/strong>. The two stripers are gonna take at least 90 days.\u00a0 Buyer:\u00a0 PAY ATTENTION!\u00a0 (Well, in self defense, there is a learning curve.)<\/p>\n

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Here are two of the three stripers in early March. Neither has calved yet!<\/p><\/div>\n

A “preg checker”<\/strong> is a person you hire to stick their hand up the nether region (rectum) of the cow to feel if the cow is pregnant, and if so, determine the calf size.\u00a0 This indicates how far along they are.\u00a0 If you want details, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This preg checker also does teeth<\/strong>, and according to him (via the seller), I have three three year olds and two four year olds. I haven’t got second opinion on those facts!<\/p>\n

Cow Red 4,<\/strong> which is now Blue 11 (more on that later), had her calf immediately.\u00a0 The rest of them…um NOT!<\/p>\n

I have been<\/strong> (not so) patiently waiting.<\/p>\n

The cows are heading to the high country to spend the summer<\/strong>, in just a few weeks.\u00a0 The heavily pregnant cows will not be able to hike in with the rest of the herd.\u00a0 They are either going to have to go to a cow way station to have their calves and then hitch a ride in, or they are going to have to be trucked in, still pregnant.<\/p>\n

Fortunately,<\/strong> my four are not the only hold outs.\u00a0 There are three or four others.<\/p>\n

Once you buy cows,<\/strong> they MUST be branded with your brand within 30 days of purchase. They do not have to be ear tagged, but many are, to make it easier to tell them apart.<\/p>\n

To get a brand in New Mexico<\/strong>, you go down to the livestock office, check out the brand book to make sure you are not copying a brand in use, fill out a form, draw\u00a0 three possible brands, choose a location on the cow (L or R, shoulder, body or hip) and pay money.<\/p>\n

In 30 days or less,<\/strong> you get a brand! And a brand certificate (suitable for framing…well not really that nice) AND a plastic card you can keep in your wallet.<\/p>\n

The brand is good for three years.<\/strong> Sort of.\u00a0 Brand fees are due every three years, but ALL the brand fees are due at the exact same time.\u00a0 I got\u00a0 a new brand in March 2011 for $75 (the OLD three year fee).\u00a0 But all brands have to be renewed July 2011, for $100. Pro-rating?\u00a0 Not a chance.<\/p>\n

To view NM brands<\/strong>, click here<\/a> and then type in a name.<\/p>\n

Here is my brand (also good for horses):<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Here is my brand on a cow.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Cow Blue 14 (formerly red 19) with her left shoulder "body art". She is one of the two stripers. <\/p><\/div>\n

My cows were branded,<\/strong> vaccinated, treated with an anti-louse agent, and re-ear-tagged.\u00a0 The old tags were hand written and fading.\u00a0 Plus, I liked the blue color!<\/p>\n

The bull calves were banded.<\/strong> This will make them steers by cutting off the circulation to their testes.<\/p>\n

I went to visit them Wednesday and arrived around 5 pm<\/strong>.\u00a0 I try to go to the farm 1 or 2 times\/week.\u00a0 I usually take two or three horses with me and today I took T, Buckshot and Penny.<\/p>\n

A front was blowing in from the southwest, dropping off the Manzano Mountains and zipping across the plains (where the farm is). <\/strong>The wind was horrendous and it was trying (not very hard) to rain.\u00a0 I was able to count 24 (three were mine) of 36 cows on my way in and saw another bunch to the south. (There are also around 22 calves, one of which is mine.)<\/p>\n

I unloaded (and the trailer door about blew off), tied Penny and Buckshot and got on T<\/strong>.\u00a0 We had a few words about what he was and was not able to do, on his own, in a gale.<\/p>\n

I won.<\/strong> I was somewhat sympathetic as the wind was blowing so hard it seemed to be moving his feet around when he picked them up!<\/p>\n

We made it to the southern group<\/strong> and there were 12 cows (2 were mine).\u00a0 All animals present and accounted for.<\/p>\n

Cows are herd animals (duh)<\/strong>. What has surprised me is how closely they seem to bond. For the last 2 months, every time I have checked, my 5 have been together.\u00a0 This was the first time I’ve seen them split up.<\/p>\n

I took a picture of my calf,<\/strong> and the weather, worked T a bit to reinforce “who’s the boss” and rather than ride the other two in the miserable conditions, loaded up and drove home (35 miles). Got there around 7 pm.<\/p>\n

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Cow Blue 11 and bull gonna-be-a-steer-soon Calf Blue 1<\/p><\/div>\n

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Weather on the plains--but the picture didn't capture the wind! <\/p><\/div>\n

It was calm at my house (nestled behind the Sandia Mountains and NOT on the plains)<\/strong> with only a raindrop or two, so what the heck.<\/p>\n

Rode Buckshot!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Patty Wilber So, I bought five Angus-cross cows Mar. 6. Price of cows has been through the roof (due to a decrease in cows in the US–been sold to Japan, and the price of feed…amazing how you can sound … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[59,89,54,100,55,23,158],"class_list":["post-4033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-write-horse","tag-adventures","tag-horses","tag-land","tag-new-mexico","tag-pasture","tag-riding","tag-the-write-horse"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb2lc3-133","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1443,"url":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2010\/06\/18\/meet-the-rest-of-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":4033,"position":0},"title":"Meet the rest of them!","author":"BlogPatty","date":"1006.18","format":false,"excerpt":"Patty Wilber To the west, the Sandia Mountains rise up to 10,800 ft, practically from my back yard.\u00a0 In winter, the sun sets into Tijeras Canyon and now, in June, it sets\u00a0 farther north\u2014almost over the highest point of mountain.\u00a0 This is my backscape. \u00a0Sometimes watermelon clouds streak above as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Write Horse"","block_context":{"text":"The Write Horse","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/category\/the-write-horse\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/appy-show-%2B-April-snow-016-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11569,"url":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2014\/11\/21\/dusty-the-cow-horse\/","url_meta":{"origin":4033,"position":1},"title":"Dusty the Cow Horse?","author":"BlogPatty","date":"1411.21","format":false,"excerpt":"By Patty Wilber I have a soft spot for Tennessee Walkers because I leased several from a lady who rescued them when I was in high school. I ended up getting to ride a gob of them. At Rainbow Ranch.\u00a0 So, when I got the chance to work with Dusty,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Write Horse"","block_context":{"text":"The Write Horse","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/category\/the-write-horse\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mardigras, a Tennessee Walker, me and my cousin Amy, in 1977 or so","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/526087_3468475503873_2072518246_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10909,"url":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2014\/06\/20\/the-next-adventure-gathering\/","url_meta":{"origin":4033,"position":2},"title":"The Next Adventure: Gathering.","author":"BlogPatty","date":"1406.20","format":false,"excerpt":"By Patty Wilber I love cows. I guess I should really say that I love working cows from horseback. If I get a chance, I will drop most everything to load and go.\u00a0 Or I am happy to plan ahead as well! This one was planned (There was even a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Write Horse"","block_context":{"text":"The Write Horse","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/category\/the-write-horse\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red cliffs!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_4915-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3587,"url":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2011\/03\/04\/run-fever\/","url_meta":{"origin":4033,"position":3},"title":"Run Fever","author":"BlogPatty","date":"1103.04","format":false,"excerpt":"By Patty Wilber I took Penny and Risa to a ranch sorting in the fall.\u00a0 Penny had a really good day, but unbeknownst to me, it was too much pressure.\u00a0 The next time I went to work cows, she wanted to charge them, bite them, buck, and flip her head\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Write Horse"","block_context":{"text":"The Write Horse","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/category\/the-write-horse\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13399,"url":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2016\/05\/06\/in-search-of-cows\/","url_meta":{"origin":4033,"position":4},"title":"In Search of Cows","author":"BlogPatty","date":"1605.06","format":false,"excerpt":"By Patty Wilber Up to recently, I had been travelling an hour each way to work with Troy Rogers using his cows. \u00a0He has been a fine coach for me. Unfortunately, that is no longer an option since he is moving out of state. So, I have begun hauling\u00a0138 miles\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Write Horse"","block_context":{"text":"The Write Horse","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/category\/the-write-horse\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"cows! 011","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/cows-011-300x213.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2505,"url":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/2010\/10\/01\/i-wanna-be-a-cowgirl-part-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":4033,"position":5},"title":"I Wanna be a Cowgirl, Part II","author":"BlogPatty","date":"1010.01","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0\u00a0Just as we (4 of us) were saddled up and ready to go, the cows busted out of the holding pen.\u00a0 Apparently, they were unsatisfied with the accomodations.\u00a0 Grass too short? Water too cold?\u00a0 Too shallow?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was unclear, but Penny must have had the same thoughts, because she\u00a0escaped in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Miscellaneous!"","block_context":{"text":"Miscellaneous!","link":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/category\/miscellaneous\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/cattle-drive-0181-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4033"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4055,"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4033\/revisions\/4055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.changespell.com\/wordplay\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}