Feeding the cows

Up to this point, we haven't had to feed the cows. They've been picking at the new-growth grass in the pasture, and we've rotated them around a bit to other locations as well. However we knew those opportunities would become limited as autumn advanced.

On November 1, we decided it was time to start feeding them, at least in the evening. We've had hay stacked in the barn since last year, but haven't used much of it.

So on the evening of Nov. 1, we went out and put about a third of a bale in the feed rack.

Then we called in the animals. They were a bit suspicious and weren't inclined to be cooperative.

But it was late and they were heading into the corral for the night anyway, so with a little persuasion, they came into the barn.

The moment – the moment! – they realized they had hay in the feeder, they plowed in and never looked back.

They've also been sleeping inside the barn every night, which I like. We're having rainier weather moving in, and it pleases me to know the animals are snug and dry in such conditions. It also means I have to clean the barn every day, but that's just part and parcel of having livestock.

Now in the evening, they're all waiting for me to fill the feeder. Oddly it's Filet (our massive and pregnant Angus) who leads the herd into the corral at night. She's usually the most stand-offish since she's a former range cow, so we find it amusing that she's the most eager to get into the barn each evening.

Very soon we'll start feeding them twice a day, and once there's snow on the ground we may even keep them locked in the corral. We're also close to using a stock tank heater to keep their water unfrozen (I had to break a layer of ice on the trough this morning).

Winter's a-coming.