WAITING FOR THE CALVES AND LAMBS...

In the meantime, there was plenty to do. Over the Easter holiday weekend we moved the four calves out of the shed. Although reasonably halter trained we decided it would be quicker to load them on the cattle trailer and drive them to the field. And it was quite quick. As soon as I popped into the front end of the trailer and shook a bucket they all jumped on. I then jumped out of the door and off we drove. 


When we opened the back of the cattle trailer five minutes later the calves were a bit hesitant.  One finally got brave and stepped down on the grass, the others following and then they exploded!  It was all so exciting - running around the field, kicking their legs in the air like little lambs! The play continued for quite a while and then it was all about some serious grass eating.  And when I go visit them they come up to me when I call, my lovely little coos.


Next project was cleaning out the calf shed in preparation for lambing. This takes big equipment, the digger and the big trailer to heave the mess into. Luckily this was a job for Dan and Richard. It was surprisingly quick, all cleared out, then Dan went in and hosed and then disinfected. I had the easy job of putting down plenty of fresh straw, all ready for the ewes. 


We also shifted the seven heavily pregnant highland cows out of the field they were sharing with the bull and three bullocks. They are now all together near the house so I can check them quite easily, peaking out the window first thing in the morning.


Archie came home for the Easter holidays and got harrowing, now that we have had some dry weather. I just hope the drier weather continues so he can get all the harrowing and rolling done before his last term at university starts.