Cementing it

I mentioned earlier that we're pouring more cement to make a larger silage pad.  (A silage pad is a cement slab where we pile the feed we grow.  We cover it with a plastic tarp and tires, then take a little of it out every day to feed the cattle the rest of the year.) 

Pouring the pad is quite a process - and really fun to watch.

First, there's the sky high pipeline.

 It takes a lot of guys to do it, since of course it sets quickly.

Look how far that angles!

Pasture to pavement.  It was a really wet part of the pasture anyway.

They used something called a laser screed.  I don't know if this is the brand they use, but the link offers a good description of how it works.  Basically, it levels the concrete using lasers. 

I've only heard the word 'screed' to describe a written rant before, but I see now that this use is the second definition.  No angry rants here!  It looks great and we're ready to fill it up. 

Moving day

Today was a big day - we moved the heifers to their winter pasture. 

This means we have to move them a long way - including under the bridge.  In past years, this has proven to be quite an undertaking.  Why?  The bridge is different.  It worries them.  They have no desire to walk under it.  Sometimes you think they're going to go ... they look like they're going to go ... and then they all turn around and run like mad in the wrong direction.

One benefit of rotating pastures is that we move them pretty often, so they're more used to being moved in general.  (When we first got here we didn't do that as much, and this big move really threw them off.)  That's not to say today was easy - but it did take two hours as opposed to half a day. 

Kris and two of the employees did it by splitting them up.  There were 115 cattle total, but they would take 10 at a time.  Two guys would push the 10 from behind until finally they would walk under the bridge.  Then they'd go back and do 10 more.

Of course, the ones they already led through broke through some fence tape.  They're just wild, wondering where to go, and all excited that they're moving.  But it was expected and not a big deal.

Eventually, Kris and the guys led/pushed them all across, and got them in their new pasture.  Now they're in a pasture next to the dairy barn.  All winter long - since obviously the pasture won't be growing - they'll get silage.  So tomorrow, they'll be having their own Thanksgiving feast, too.