The first order of business for cowboys is feeding the livestock. Generally this is a three hour job from loading the hay, taking it out the the field, and distributing so every animal gets a share.
Today, I rode on with Henry, Frank and Kyle as they feed 720 cows. These cows are fed once a day with 15 bales of hay. Each bale weighs about 1200 lbs and measures 4'X4' square. The hay is loaded on the back of an open trailer using a fork lift. The trailer is then hauled to the field by a John Deere 8200 tractor. Three men run the feeding operation; one to drive the tractor and two to "flake off" the hay into manageable chunks.
Henry pulled up in front of the house about 7:30 am to pick me up and I rode in the warm and comfortable tractor cab. There is a radio, heat and a swivel cushioned chair complete with a cup holder for your coffee. It was a slow 2 mile ride to the meadow where the 2nd year calf cows were waiting for their breakfast. (2nd year calf cows are three years old and they are giving birth to their second calf.)
Once we got in place, Henry stopped the tractor and Kyle help me climb up on top of the bales for a great advantage spot for taking pictures. Frank climbed up and he and Kyle stationed themselves on the back of the trailer to start the days feeding. The cows knew what was about to happen and began crowding near the rear of the trailer. Strings were cut from the bales and the cowboys gently peeled off about 50 lbs of hay and slide it over the side of the trailer.
The cows pushed and shoved each other as they grabbed for the falling hay. The tractor continues forward and hay is pushed off each side as the cows hover nearby. New mother cows bring their babies but according to Frank, they just kinda play with the green stuff and don't really try to eat solid for the first two weeks of their lives.
It took about 30 minutes to distribute the hay in an orderly fashion. As each big bale disappreared, I would move toward the front of the trailer. At the end of feeding, I climbed back into the comfort of the tractor cab and we made our way back to the house.
It was a beautiful, frosty, and foggy morning as you can tell from the pictures. If you look closely in the picture of Frank you can see 4 calves playing near a momma cow a short distance away from the main herd. Wish you were here!
3 comments:
Is that Henry in a cowboy hat? Jen
I have no concept of this many cows!!! They sure are pretty though! This from the wife and daughter of former cow farmers no less!! Jen---Henry's sister!
Looks like a feeding at the Nest
Hal
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