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Testing Bulls for Motility



    Be prepared to answer children's questions.
 Cheerily
 IJK

Comments (1) Permalink April 28, 2009


Stuck at HIllcrest Farms


    We were gathering cows and calves this morning at Hillcrest Farms so we could vaccinate all and tattoo and tag the calves.  I had to back up to reposition and I was closer to the fence than I thought when I felt a 'bump'.  I thought I had hit the fence so I placed the truck in first and tried to pull forward bu to my surprise I was going nowhere.


    I had backed up on the only stump in the fencerow and it had lifted the rear of the truck.  We had the cattle moving so we had to finish following them on foot.  We completed our task of 'working' the cattle and :


    Glen and his son Chris (on tractor) and I went back to the truck and pulled it from the stump.  I was afraid that it might tear up the fence but we were luckier than that as were immediately able to start gathering the bulls from another pasture so we could 'work' them also.  It was a long tiring day but we had a lot of fun 'carrying-on' also.
Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink March 25, 2009


Testing Bulls at Harris Hillcrest Farms

    Doc Roger, from Mtn Grove came out to test the Angus bulls for Harris Hillcrest Farms so we can put the most fertile bulls in the fields with the cows for the breeding season.  Each year a person should have their bull s tested for fertility.  It could cost a person a calf crop if they are not tested and later are discovered that their semen was not effective.  The following videos try to explain the process somewhat:
Here, Doc Roger's assistant is inserting the electronic ejaculator to start stimulating the bull to produce semen.


 
Here, Doc Roger is measuring the circumference of the bull's scrotum, part of the final score.


 
    Here, Doc Roger is collecting the fluid being given by the bull. Doc Roger will, after collecting the fluid, look at it under the microscope to ensure that the "little swimmers" are swimming and then place a numerical code to the effectiveness of the "little swimmers" which is part of the final score. One should never use a bull under a final score of 70 and expect to get a good calf crop.
 Cheerily
 IJK

Comments (0) Permalink May 15, 2008


Hillcrest Farms Feeding Hay


I got lucky and found a quick upload. Here is the video I talked about in the previous entry.

Cheerily
 IJK

Comments (0) Permalink December 19, 2007


Harris Hillcrest Farm

    Today I went to Harris Hillcrest Farms and helped Ronnie with a gadget that is supposed to save hay. The first photo is the parts to change  two existing hay feeders to  cone hay feeders. The second photo is the original hay feeder.  Third and fourth photos are the base and the arms that extend up to the sides of the existing feeder. The fifth shows the arms attached to the feeder and the ring that was added above and the sixth is Ronnie tightening up one of the bolts. Photo seven is Ronnie putting in the first bale of hay. The eighth and final photo was taken about four hours later after the cows had eaten for awhile.  See how the arms that extend from the base to the top of the original feeder hold the hay up off the ground.  The arms form sort of a cone and keep the cattle from pulling hay out of the feeder and dropping on the ground for them to trample.  The theory says it should save hay. Ronnie purchased the "cone feeder inserts" at MFA in Mtn Grove, MO. Ronnie will be monitoring to see how it works before we add four more to the feeders.  We fixed two today.  I also got a video of him placing a bale of hay into the feeder and if I can catch a fast enough upload speed I will be posting it.
Cheerily
IJK

Comments (0) Permalink December 18, 2007


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