Although a lot of our focus is on the house build during our visits, or more particularly during visits when I am there too. However, although there is a lot happening on the house now farm activities still need to get done. So in the past week we have been busy fertilising paddocks, shifting cattle, putting up fences and feeding out baleage.
Friday night after we had half-finished building our new shed we went to move the steers from a temporary paddock to the more secure permanent one. Daryl went downhill to open the gate while I went uphill to start pushing the steers towards the gate. Unfortunately they didn't get the memo and started heading uphill too. No matter which way I moved they still moved the wrong way. So as the sky started getting darker the steers managed to get themselves into an awkward corner in the paddock. No biggie I thought I'll just try and sneak past them on the fence line. Turns out this wasn't the best idea and the steers then decided to head back downhill, albeit through a fence. Fortunately the fence managed to turn most of them and they made it round it and down the hill. All except for one steer, who shall now be named Jumper, who thought it would be a good idea to jump over the deer fence into the wind-row. Now you wouldn't think this would be too bad unless you take into account the fact that the row of tall trees is encompassed by deer fencing on both long sides and the ends with no gate into it!
So as I yell frantically to Daryl I try to keep an eye on a now panicking steer pushing his way through fallen pine needles, logs and general tree debris while trying to find a gap in the fence. Daryl races to the wind-row and virtually somersaults over the top to get ahead of the steer before it makes its way all the way down the side of the block. Next step was for me to climb into the row as well and we started walking back to where the steer jumped pushing it ahead of us. Not an easy task as we were now clambering over and under tree limbs etc.
Eventually we get to the end where the steer tries to push/jump/force his way through the fence. Thankfully it was a bit weak at that point and he was able to get his head and forelegs through. Unfortunately the wire then pulled tight over his back so Daryl and I were on either side of him trying to loosen the wire. He then managed to get his back and butt through but ended up falling over onto his shoulder with his head in the mud while trying to pull his back legs through, at this stage we also notice the fence wire was twisted around one of his front legs. With a bit of manoeuvring of wire, moving around ourselves and trying to get the steer to back up to take the tension off the wire so it would release itself, we finally managed it and he was on his way, back downhill and through the gate looking no worse for wear except for being very muddy. As we said goodbye to the last bit of daylight we made putting up a temporary fence to block off the damaged fence a priority for the next day.
So as I yell frantically to Daryl I try to keep an eye on a now panicking steer pushing his way through fallen pine needles, logs and general tree debris while trying to find a gap in the fence. Daryl races to the wind-row and virtually somersaults over the top to get ahead of the steer before it makes its way all the way down the side of the block. Next step was for me to climb into the row as well and we started walking back to where the steer jumped pushing it ahead of us. Not an easy task as we were now clambering over and under tree limbs etc.
Eventually we get to the end where the steer tries to push/jump/force his way through the fence. Thankfully it was a bit weak at that point and he was able to get his head and forelegs through. Unfortunately the wire then pulled tight over his back so Daryl and I were on either side of him trying to loosen the wire. He then managed to get his back and butt through but ended up falling over onto his shoulder with his head in the mud while trying to pull his back legs through, at this stage we also notice the fence wire was twisted around one of his front legs. With a bit of manoeuvring of wire, moving around ourselves and trying to get the steer to back up to take the tension off the wire so it would release itself, we finally managed it and he was on his way, back downhill and through the gate looking no worse for wear except for being very muddy. As we said goodbye to the last bit of daylight we made putting up a temporary fence to block off the damaged fence a priority for the next day.
On another note, our calf is growing really well and getting bigger and bigger. He's now eating grass and baleage and getting some licks in with the salt block.