It was nice to be able to eat some meals out on my porch during the warmer weather the last few days and the critters seem to enjoy the sunny days too. But it won’t be warm enough for that the rest of the week. Plus the critters and birds might have trouble finding any seeds on the ground if there is new snow layer.
Chow Time
The first day of summer wasn’t very sunny but the little calves still needed an afternoon nap on a lazy day of summer before making the hike back across the pasture.
Summertime Calf Nap
Although it wasn’t a warm or sunny day, the calves didn’t care and still kicked up their heels when they where let out to the pasture for the first time this year.
Kicking Up Heels
On the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, the cattle are enjoying a nice summer day. Tomorrow sounds like a wet and humid day, which some of the humidity could be coming from “corn sweat”. The transpiration from corn puts a lot of moisture back into the air, as an acre of corn can give off 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water each day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Office.
Cattle Grazing on Rolling Hills
My birds were complaining that their feeder was empty today. It seems like all my pets are demanding – my cats, even my frog, and birds – all wanting food, petting or other attention. Even these steers are wondering where their feed is and why their dinner is late.
Where’s the Feed
A half year can make a world of difference as instead of green grass and trees full of leaves, cattle are staring at a white world and trying to stay out out of the wind with wind chills dipping to minus forty.
Hereford in June
A herd of cattle head back to the buildings for water after a day of grazing in the pasture.
Herd Heading Home
The little calf was giving her mommy some face nuzzling while the mother was trying to eat grass.
Nuzzling Calf
At the beginning of the 20th century, before indoor plumbing became more common, a weekly Saturday night bath had become common custom for most of the population. A tub would be filled by carrying buckets of heated water and the bath water was shared by all family members so the first in line had the cleanest water.
The mother cow doesn’t have to carry water so she can give her calf a cleaning on the go as she licks the calf clean with her tongue.
Saturday Bath Time
The early bird gets the worm but in this case the speedy cattle (or the meanest) get the shade of the tree on a warm day.
Pasture with Herefords
