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May the grass rise up to give you food,

May the wind keep pesky flies away,

May the sun shine warm for one week in summer to let us make hay for you for an entire winter (just a small request Lord),

May the rain fall gently on your rump,

May the trailer greet you carefree with open doors,

And then we shall meet again…

Yes, it was that time last week, a family occasion to see another one of the herd leave the steering group. Fearghus went off the croft in one form and will be back in about 21 days. If anyone is wanting beef before it is frozen please get in touch as collection will need to be arranged once I get a pick-up date from the butcher. Steaks and roasts are still available for collection/delivery. All other cuts will be back on the menu soon.

iCalf 2 was born today while the Crofter was home. Typical that the most placid cow does it when there are two of us about and you can watch the event from the kitchen window.

No, we have not named either calf yet but this is the year for names beginning with ‘I’; usually Scottish based, iMacCoo doesn’t count. Unless of course the jokes can continue with iRump, iSteer Pro, and iGrill.

Today’s calf came with the first rain we have had in ages (really, the river is low, the IBC tank for the chickens is completely empty and daily top ups are required!). So, after digging out the waterproofs from beneath the sun hats and sun cream, mother and calf were slowly moved to inside the byre with its fresh straw and sheltered walls away from the intense curiosity of the rest of the herd. Nothing like being inundated with visitors when you’re trying to find your feet!

Two out, one to come…

Always reassuring when the Crofter comes into the house to tell me “Well, at least the chicken coop isn’t demolished!”. Yes, to be fair, the Crofter does work and today’s job has been to remove ‘a few bumps’ from the top field. All well and good but the term ‘tip of the iceburg’ comes to mind. Just small stones, until you start digging and hence a machine digger was used. And after three were placed in the tipping trailer, two were too big and had to be rolled. One being pretty flat sided so needing nudging all the way; the other, just a wee push and it headed straight for the coop. At the last gasp it swung wide and came to rest in front of the coop. Thankfully there were no chickens in that one at the time (its their winter house while they are currently residing in their summer abode).

Just a few more stones to shift if anyone wants to join in the rolling stones competition? Reward: you can keep the stone you dig out.

Wild thing…makes my heart sink! Breena, you over-hormonal cow who gave birth to the first of our calves this year, caused my stress level to hit jackpot. One charging beast and I quickly left the byre! Mini Crofter was dropped off at our lovely neighbours who had to make out what I was asking for while in tears (laugh if you want but don’t come running to me if you get charged by a hormonal cow post calving while on your own with a toddler bawling his head off while watching…he can get his counselling once he’s older, I was working on strong coffee and prayers…).  Back to the byre to try and pen the beast. Still wild and my nerves on a very fine balance. With that I did the unthinkable, I called for help. Two local farmers…however, how do you keep cow-cred with a situation that you know fine rightly what needs done but don’t want to go anywhere near one of your own cows? My thought: stuff cow-cred! Breena, your future’s not bright, it’s burgers at this rate! Phone advice: leave her alone for a few hours…So, at lunch time along came Farmer Ian. A man who’s confidence had not been shot to pieces and has years of experience. And wee stories of similar situations help you feel less of a baffoon.

Seeing a calf get a good stomach full of feed helps to know all is well. Not witnessing this means you look for clues, but clues can be deceiving. Having someone to compare observations can help. Often with our cows you tread carefully but they let you help the calf on or you see it happening. No such luck with this one. We tried several options but she wouldn’t allow much and a near miss meant we figured we’d leave them for another few hours.

This evening, after the Mini Crofter was asleep I was back in the byre, a night in with the girls. Breena was not head butting gates although was still occasionally shaking her head at me, three other contented cows munching on hay, and a wee bull calf sleeping. If he had been sucking I oils have been sleeping easier tonight. But as it is, the Mini Crofter and I will be back out before breakfast to reassess the situation. Oh well. If only cows could communicate…

Move ‘em on has been what we’ve done. Renoir and Fearghus were let out of the byre to allow the girls to have their own maternity unit. A frolicking bull dancing in the spring sun…great, as long as you’re on the other side of a solid fence! Fearghus did trot gallantly through the electric fence but eventually headed back to the approved playground and off the hay field. Getting them to the far field required some nerve and a food bucket. Walking through a field with two hefty size boys being high as kites is not for the faint hearted. Soon they were joined by last year’s steers, two boys that I have been working with so a bit more chilled and have a stature more attuned to frolicking around,

Their new quarters is the ‘Rough field’, a field that is one of my projects of improving. This all meant the tune of Rawhide was whistled while the ring feeder was moved through two fields to join them. Never mind the hassle, they all looked at me saying the only thing on their bucket list was a bucket of nuts!