Nicer day today!

Well, little bit better day today.  Some sunshine but mostly cloudy giving the rain we got some time to finish soaking in.  Creek is still very low.  It didn't rise at all which tells me the ground is still very dry.  We did get enough rain to green up the lawn though so I may get to mow it this month!

Pigs are doing well!  They and the cows are starting to make friends.  It is amazing what a little hunger will do for making friends!  The cows hay feeder is very close to the area where the pigs sleep and rest.  I will try to get a couple pics tomorrow so you can see!. 

This was Saturday morning.  These are the three little ones.  The largest is precious, she is mostly angus.  The closest is frosty, 50% Angus 50% shorthorn, she is named after the frosted appearance of her hair.  And the one on the right is Stormy, 25% red Holstein, 25% Hereford, and 50% angus and got his name from being born during a summer thunderstorm.  They were watching me as I was getting stuff ready for the day and stopped to see what they were up to!!  Precious is 5 months old, Frosty and Stormy are 2 months old.

Interesting note for today.  Beef cattle and dairy cattle differ on how they take care of their calves.  A beef cow will hide her calf when young and only go to it to feed it.  The beef calves will run around when the herd is near by but otherwise stays pretty well hidden till momma comes to get it.  Dairy cattle are quite different in the fact that they do not hide the calves and keep them with them most of the time.  Dairy calves will mingle with the herd more at a younger age than a beef calf will also.  This is difference comes from the fact that the diary cows have been more domesticated and are used to being kept in an enclosed area whereas a beef cow is more likely to be on open pasture or range and would rely on their survival instincts to protect them instead of mankind!

This is showing quite a bit in these three.  Precious and Frosty, which are both pure beef calves are commonly hiding most of the day. Stormy however, who is part dairy, is normally running around with the herd or bothering the other two to go and play.

Dreary day but needed rain!

Well the rain is slowly moving in.  Supposed to get a little over an inch.  We need four!!  Took my daughter out today to clean up some broken bales and little clumps of missed hay.  She had a blast.  Let her drive a little bit but at 4 she is to little to reach any pedals! 

The changing of the guard

Wanted to post this pic.  This was taken in late winter/early spring when my new 9540 arrived.  The one on the right is my M6800.  I loved that tractor as it was my first and was perfect for its size.  However, with small kids and a need for a little more power with a cab I traded up for the new one.  I will always miss my 6800 and if I ever get the chance I will get one again as it was great for raking and tedding!

4th cuttingis in the books

Well,4th cutting is done.  Due to the cool temps, clouds and being late in the day, it did get pretty tough on me but it is done.  Tuff or Tough means that the hay was dry but starting to draw dampness.  Usually happens late in the day.  It doesn't really affect the quality of the hay but does allow the hay to pack much better.  This means really heavy bales.  Instead of the normal 55 pounders you can get up to the 90-100lbs mark depending on the dampness.  These were averaging 80lbs. 

Got a pic of the pigs sleeping this morning.  The pen is as clean as the day we brought them home.  What most people don't know is that pig are actually highly intelligent.  They will not poop or pee where they eat or sleep if they can avoid it.  Since we give them access to 7+ acres of pasture they eat and poo elsewhere and keep their pen neat and tidy for napping and rest!  I can't wait till the little ones arrive!

When we stopped at grandmas today she had picked up all the fallen apples in her lawn.  We brought them home for the cows and pigs, they thoroughly enjoyed them all! 

Here is a pic of the rake.  I can roll just shy of three 9' swaths into one row with this rake.  This thing makes raking easy!

Beautiful day

Hay is drying....slowly.  Been a hot summer and I got used to drying hay in two days.  Now it is 65 and it isn't drying as fast.  It is almost all dry, have to bale tomorrow, no choice with rain coming in.  Might have a few tough bales the cows will get as treats but most should be fine.  Just a couple shady spots still damp.

I will post some pics tomorrow of the rake and everything when I start raking!

Weather is not cooperating

Trying to get hay dry.  Three minute rain shower last night made hay slow to dry off today, it is equivalent to a really heavy morning dew.  Going out to fluff and possibly rake later.  Probably bale it up tomorrow!

Got the hay mowed

Just finished mowing the hay.  What I mowed yesterday is already dry so I should be able to start raking as soon as I get home from work tomorrow.  Pretty short this time, doubt I will get many bales. 

Time to make some hay!

Seems like just a day or two ago I was chomping at the bit to cut the first cutting of the year.  Now I am making forth, and probably last, cutting already!  Where does the time go?

I also promised pics of the mower once I got it hooked up.  I have a Kubota 9540 2010 model.  It is 95hp with 24 Forward, 24 reverse speeds.  Cab is a first for me and will not be the last!  It is so quiet there is no need for earplugs and you can jam to some good tunes while doing field work.  BTW, did I mention AC and HEAT!?

 

 Hooked up and ready to go.  It is a Taarup 3pt. hitch disk mower.  Cuts a 9' swath and lays it full width to dry faster.  I can mow up to 15mph with this mower.  The old Haybine was good for about 4mph!

 

Pic during hookup to show cutting disks with it in raised position.

Pic in lowered/cutting position showing disks.  Tarp folds over to protect from objects that may be thrown from knives.

Starting to get along!

 

 Well the pigs and the cows are finally starting to get along.  They were all walking and eating together when I got home from work today!

Daisy went for a run along side the tractor when I went out to check hay.  I use her as a height gauge.  I can tell how tall the hay is when she runs through it chasing animals in the fields!

A quick shot of my shorthorn momma and her little one.  The calf's name is Frosty.  She gets her name from the frosty look of her hair, it comes from the shorthorn x angus cross. 

Need rain bad!

Well possibility of a good rain tonight....only 4 more inches and we will get close to being back to normal again!  Cows and piggies still not getting along perfectly but at least they will get within 100 yards of each other now!  Going to give up on 4th cutting growing much more and just go ahead and mow it.  I will post pictures of the rig once hooked up.  Hope we get a decent cutting!

This is a beautiful sight!

This pic was taken after first cutting was made this year. I took entire family for a ride out to pic up bales and wife snapped a quick pic!

The New Guests Have Arrived

The pigs have arrived and are making themselves at home. Here they are checking out the creek for the first time and eating some of the apples that were on the ground there!

Note of interest. Pigs do not sweat! That is why they roll in the mud to cool off. Here however they can just go for a swim!