Good Monday morning to all you critter and land loving folks. I missed our time last week as we were tucked in waiting a big snow storm, and the thought of venturing out to town to get the computer we had left at work was one, no one wanted to act on. We thankfully missed the large part of that system, but they did get it to the east of us, and it looked yucky, lots of wind. We were very grateful that it missed us as babies have started to arrive on the Conry ranch. Our eight heifers started the bunch out and we have four to go. My in-laws have several heifers and then their cows should start soon after them. It is such a fun time of year and the cute factor is in full swing with all the babies around. The coffee is also flowing a little more freely as night check is a sure way to make you feel like you have a newborn keeping you up all night in your house again, which you do some nights, just not that kind of baby, and usually not in the house, unless they are freezing and need brought into the back room, then it is a newborn baby in your house…you get it…coffee, more coffee.

On the funny farm at home, things have been fun and full of babies as well. This past weekend we were busy with weaning our four baby goats. This is one of my least favorite chores dealing with stock. It is always a few noisy days and it sounds so pathetic. I remember hating all the noise as a kid when calves were sold, and the cows would bawl through the next night. I have determined I am a fan of the fence- line wean strategy. It allows for just a fence to separate the momma and baby pair, so they still have visual contact, and can still smell and hear one another. It appears to be a low-stress way for all involved to transition, myself included. The pairs will have two weeks to transition this way, and then all four babies have new homes already lined up. With no babies to nurse I now have three nannies in milk, and I am proud to report that those nannies not only raised four healthy goat kids, but now are also raising five bum lambs, way to go girls!! The nursery is definitely full around here, and we are enjoying it!
I want to take a quick minute in closing today and give a big shout out thank you to the wonderful Working Cows Podcast listeners who blessed my husband with a gift of a new microphone this past week. What a cool thing for him, and I will admit I was a little happy when it arrived and I was the one home, so I could rip it open and send him a picture to let him know it had arrived. We are both so thankful for the opportunity to share this part of life with others and are endlessly blown away by the generosity of others! Hope you all have a wonderful Monday, I have shared a link below on fence line weaning, and as always, blessings to you, yours, and your operation.
https://am.gallagher.com/us/in-practice/fence-line-weaning-low-stress-handling-keys-to-calmer-calves