It has been an eventful few days at Romesdal. It began with penning the three yearling heifers, loading them into the livestock box and taking them the quarter mile or so to an adjacent croft.
The heifers, understandably, were a bit bemused by their new surroundings and true to bovine form walked the entire perimeter of the croft in order to get some sort of bearings. I followed them about for a while to keep them company. A pocket full of cattle cobs at the ready for reassurance. They ate the lot.
Reason for the departure of the heifers to pastures new was that it was time for Big Iain, our Highland bull, to leave his winter quarters and join the cows of the herd for a season of loving and doing what comes natural.
As for the heifers, his offspring and not ready for the bull for another two years, time for them to put out of bull reach. Also, Iain's winter companion, only known as 'the big bullock', is for the off in the next few days and will provide our freezer with a much needed fillip of prime beef. The bullock has to be trained, by feeding, of course, to just about walk into the livestock box when it comes the morning of his demise.
And by lunchtime it was all over. Mission accomplished, as they say. The bull and bullock were now with the cows and three new calves and the heifers were safely away.
Getting ready to vacate the byre for house and food my attention was caught by a ewe, bleating like crazy and staring into the burn at the back of the byre. I had to investigate. There is a small waterfall there (see previous blog for photo). A lamb was standing on a little ledge, just above the falls. I ventured forth and caught said lamb and returned to mother. Phew!
The resident rabbits nearly paid for another lamb a few days earlier as the poor wee thing had ventured (word of the day) down a hole. Again, ewe bleating and not happy was the dead giveaway. I cast around looking for absent lamb and after peering down a rabbit's hole and seeing wooly tail, felt sure the beast was a gonner . But I persevered and pulled the lamb out and lo and behold it was alive.
A few days later: Just back from taking the bullock to Lochmaddy slaughterhouse. This entailed a road trip the half dozen miles to Uig and then the ferry across to North Uist. The weather was beautiful, for a welcome change and all went well, including the fried breakfast on the ferry.
Was going to relate the story of halter training the heifers but got sidetracked. Like I said earlier. Lots happening here.
The heifers, understandably, were a bit bemused by their new surroundings and true to bovine form walked the entire perimeter of the croft in order to get some sort of bearings. I followed them about for a while to keep them company. A pocket full of cattle cobs at the ready for reassurance. They ate the lot.
Reason for the departure of the heifers to pastures new was that it was time for Big Iain, our Highland bull, to leave his winter quarters and join the cows of the herd for a season of loving and doing what comes natural.
As for the heifers, his offspring and not ready for the bull for another two years, time for them to put out of bull reach. Also, Iain's winter companion, only known as 'the big bullock', is for the off in the next few days and will provide our freezer with a much needed fillip of prime beef. The bullock has to be trained, by feeding, of course, to just about walk into the livestock box when it comes the morning of his demise.
And by lunchtime it was all over. Mission accomplished, as they say. The bull and bullock were now with the cows and three new calves and the heifers were safely away.
Getting ready to vacate the byre for house and food my attention was caught by a ewe, bleating like crazy and staring into the burn at the back of the byre. I had to investigate. There is a small waterfall there (see previous blog for photo). A lamb was standing on a little ledge, just above the falls. I ventured forth and caught said lamb and returned to mother. Phew!
The resident rabbits nearly paid for another lamb a few days earlier as the poor wee thing had ventured (word of the day) down a hole. Again, ewe bleating and not happy was the dead giveaway. I cast around looking for absent lamb and after peering down a rabbit's hole and seeing wooly tail, felt sure the beast was a gonner . But I persevered and pulled the lamb out and lo and behold it was alive.
A few days later: Just back from taking the bullock to Lochmaddy slaughterhouse. This entailed a road trip the half dozen miles to Uig and then the ferry across to North Uist. The weather was beautiful, for a welcome change and all went well, including the fried breakfast on the ferry.
Was going to relate the story of halter training the heifers but got sidetracked. Like I said earlier. Lots happening here.
