Hello 2017! With the beginning of the new year continues the strange weather in Texas. Cold one day and hot the next. 80's yesterday and 30's today. This week has been particularly chilly. With hints of frost and a few flurries. The four-legged's at the farm don't stay far from the hay. Did you know when cows eat the roughage,  and horses for that matter, they are actually warming their bodies at the same time? This is due to the fact that heat is released during digestion. So when they eat a lot, it's not necessarily because they are that hungry. They might just be that cold!

Here we have our "Herd Turd" as we like to call our bull Gentle Jack when he gracefully spreads and wastes fresh hay. 

Seniorita Margarita's new calf has finally arrived! A healthy bull calf. This was definitely one for the books. This was the first time i have been around a momma cow when she calved. It was a once in a lifetime experience for sure! We are all just thankful and happy that everything went smoothly. It is always neat to see a calf experience things for the first time. From trying to find the milk to testing out their new legs!

Trying out his new "land" legs!

Still couldn't quite find the milk at this point. 

"Honey my water just broke and the baby is coming!" Oh how I wish our momma cows could speak! So they could tell us "Yes the baby is coming right now!" or "I'm in labor y'all better stick around!" or even "I think there is something wrong so come help me!". Although that is not the case, I can usually tell when a cow is getting ready to calve. Longhorns typically seclude themselves from the herd and find a nesting place of sorts. Their udders look full and ready to produce for this new life they are about to bring into the world. They also seem to be more protective than ever towards anyone and anything. Not in an aggressive matter per say. But more in a "leave me alone" kind of way. Seniorita Margarita, pleased to meet ya, is in this predicament as we speak. Impatiently awaiting her newborn.

Good morning December! It never fails that our momma cows choose to have their calves at the most inconvenient times. It's either going to be when we are not home or it's freezing cold and wet outside. Maybeline blessed us with her first calf this year on such an occasion. Her last calf was in late December of last year so she is right on time. Typically if everything goes right, you can expect a calf from your cow every year. Usually our Longhorns have their calves 10-12 months apart. Rarely do we see a calf before or after that time span.

Maybeline and her new heifer

No matter who you ask, everyone has a opinion on a subject. Or maybe a point of view you could say. With horses, some say to NEVER leave a halter on them if you are not working with them. On the other hand, some say a simple rope halter will suffice on a daily basis. While still others say a halter is fine, as long as there is nothing for them to get hung up on. Well this is the predicament we found ourselves in at the farm last week. We have never had a problem leaving the halters on our horses because there is no "dangerous" spots where they could get their halter stuck. Mr. T, our draft horse, proved otherwise. How he did it, I have no idea. But somehow he got himself caught on the corral panel gate. How's that exactly? Well, there was no time to figure that out when it's dark,  he was on the ground in a ball, wheezing, back legs in the panel, and two panels angled up off the ground. Long story short we had to cut his halter off and he walked away unharmed besides a few scraps on his legs. And to say the least that is why, in my opinion, to NEVER leave a halter on your horse when you are not working with them. Even if you think there is no danger because they will find it trust me.

Longhorns are known for their easy going personality. Although depending on the weather and whether they are hungry or not is a different story! Because a change in climate makes them a bit frisky! But on a normal day they are considered one of the more docile cattle breeds.
(Photo creds. to boss lady on the farm:)

Big John- steer

Kickapoo- steer

Did I mention we have an abundance of wildlife here on the farm as well? We do! Here are just a few spotted on our deer camera.