It's been a while since we had an update and I can't apologise enough. Life for everyone is hectic but life on the farm (no matter the size) is another issue altogether. I have friends all over Australia with cattle and the last six months has been tough. Friends in NSW spent $5000.00 seeding & fertilising their farm for winter feed, only to have it wash away in the recent rains. Another friend on the NSW/Vic border has had to sell all his cattle because they can no longer afford feed. A friend in northern Vic had a fire on a lease block. Thankfully no cattle were killed, but it means a dispersal sale to reduce numbers because of the loss of feed. And SA are in a crippling drought.
We are so very fortunate here in our little piece of Gippsland, that we were able to get enough pasture rounds that I've not been buying feed other than for the show team. I also have two paddocks that have been left to spell until calving.
Kenzie has been running with the cows and as her due date fast approaches, and I prepare to head away for the AHCS National Show, I moved her into the house paddock so the family could easily keen an eye on her in my absence. First time calvers can be so unpredictable!
While moving her, I looked at Willa who I believed to be due 28/07/2025 and decided not to bring her home as she still had a little while to go before calving and could wait another week. Except .... the next morning, while sitting on the verandah with a cuppa, I looked over the frosty paddock and saw my neighbours dog. I thought it was weird he was out, but on second glance realised while it was the right colour, it was the wrong shape ....
Willowdean surprised me with a little calf. Definitely not premature, but in fact a perfect healthy little heifer, Aberdean (Abi). I will need to DNA, which will confirm how in fact I managed to get my dates so wrong. But the good news in all of this is Kenzie now has a mentor for her upcoming delivery. and the calves will be a lot closer together in age than I first expected.
So ... we are getting closer to her due date. Mark your calendars (hopefully I got it right this time)... and we count down to June 15!
Until next time!