first calf of the year

I went out with Daddy Bird last evening to feed and check on the cattle, and even though it was chilly, it was really nice to have a half an hour or so just the two of us.

First we he loaded some square bales of hay on the tractor to take back to the bull and steers.

Did you know that a castrated male cow is called a steer?  Now you do.

Daddy Bird LOVES when I snap photos of him.

One nice thing about being pregnant is that I don't have to lift 50-70 lb hay bales!

Then we hopped on the tractor and drove back to the back pasture to feed.  Being pregnant does NOT, however prevent me from having to get down and open and close all the gates.  Oh well.

Here's our "red bull"!  He still doesn't have a name.

He's pretty tame as bulls go.  He will eat out of your hand, which is more than I can say for most of our mama cows.

Then we drove the tractor back to the middle field to grab a big round bale of hay for the rest of the cattle.  Do you know how farmers move those big round bales of hay around to feed their animals?

Like this.  Sorry I don't have step by step photos, but there is basically a big spear-like thing on the back of the tractor that grabs the bale and lets you carry it around.

After we grabbed the round bale, we drove up to the big field where our mama cows live, and we got to see this!

Our first calf of the season!  He/she (I couldn't get close enough to tell) was born a couple of days ago.

It's always so rewarding when the first calf is born healthy and strong.  There is so much work that is involved with raising livestock, and the little successes like this remind us that it's worth the work!

We are so blessed to be able to witness little miracles like this in our everyday lives, and my prayer is that I don't ever begin to take them for granted!