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
Which brings me to the unexpected surprise. I've spent six months with due dates of cows in mind - Kenzie is due 15/06/25 and Willa was expected to calve 28/06/25. You can imagine my surprise then when I went outside on a frosty 1st of June to discover ....
What at first I thought was the neigbour's dog in training, on second glance I realised it was the right colour but the wrong build. Willa surprised me with a little calf.
Friends had been visiting the day before, in the paddock brushing all the cows, including Willa, while I stayed at the gate with Kenzie who was being moved closer to home for calving. I had looked at Willa and how big she was and went ... "nah you're not due until end of July, so you can stay here another week". I head off June 3 for the Australian Highland Cattle Society Inc National Show and wanted Kenzie home to make it easier for the family to watch while I was away.
I will need to DNA profile to confirm the Sire, but for now ... Willowdean has given us a beautiful little heifer - introducing Aberdean (Abi)
Until next time!