Frankentractor by Mark Hedges, on Flickr

 

Tiger Swallowtail by Mark Hedges, on Flickr

 

Thanksgiving beach sunset.


DSC_0302.jpg by offrampclimber, on Flickr

 

Bluebird on fencepost by Mark Hedges, on Flickr

 

Clash of the Titans.
My gray and white faced bull, Grayson, jumped into the turnout pen this morning to go after a cow in heat. His first challenger was Gold'o, his biological grandson.



Grayson is seven years old, Gold'o is two years old (going on three in February). Gold'o hasn't had any real competition until today.



There's a reason I call Grayson "the Champ." Gold'o is fine, but was nursing a headache afterwards.

At the afternoon feeding time routine , Grayson came down the field to the barn area expecting to be let into the main herd's feedlot and was escorted back outside.

Then he faced his next challenger, Mr Caboose.



He's nine years old. ... and Grayson is still the Champ.
At least they waited until they got out into the field before starting the match.



The fight continued for another 10 minutes before they called it a draw.

 

DZ6_3945 by Mark Hedges, on Flickr

 

Christmas lights at the Columbus Zoo.

 

Me and my son at the Quick Stop

 

The cattle farming lesson of the day is "Posterior Presentation."



What happens is Sierra was calving and the calf coming out backwards. It's a high risk situation where the calf can drown in its own juices if the umbilical separates prematurely or the mother dies from the complication. Without hesitating, I slipped on some nitrile gloves and pulled during her push. The advantage of domesticated cattle is Sierra didn't panic or get up and run away and I was able to assist her.

Less than five minutes later.



It's a heifer. Meet Arreis. I'll post a follow up later, right now Sierra is tending to the calf and working to get her on her feet.

EDIT! The update I promised.

Arreis is up, and looks like she's nursed but is currently trying to milk Sierra's brisket.



Right front chamber on Sierra's udder is drained and Arreis' nose smells of milk.

 

Some photos of Dunedin New Zealand

 

Why is it when everybody else takes a picture of a bald eagle as this awesome majestic detailed picture, but the second I try it I get one of those blurred nonsense picks like I'm trying to capture the yeti or a UFO?

 

^ Looks like you shot a homing pigeon.

 

Went to see a special showing of the original Friday the 13th last night (on Friday the 13th) at the Elsinore theater. My first time seeing a movie there. It’s this grand old theater with only one screen & it’s really cool. After the movie was over, we took a quick look around the place. It’s like a miniature castle!

Oh yeah, it was a packed theater and the audience laughed their way through the whole movie! I kinda felt bad for the movie! Like, there was a time this thing scared the piss out of people! I did hear one person scream, when Kevin Bacon got killed though! Anyway, it was a great time & everyone had fun.

 

Bonding with Moon Jellyfish

 

Did the SW sites in Death Valley about half a month ago. The only place I couldn't get to was Dante's View where the overview of Mos Eisley was shot due to flooding. If anyone is interested, the rest of my pics are here: Star Wars in Death Valley. SW is the property of Lucasfilm/Disney. Pics are only used for informational purposes only.

 

Today's the champ's birthday.



Grayson, MB-X01-F2. Turns eight years old. The first of our stable Pinzgauer influenced hybrid with Charolais.

How he started. Son of my bottle bull Hungy and Freida my baby girl F1 (First generation Pinz-Char offspring). We assisted in delivering him and stable raised him with his mother. Personality and pedigree was known from the start. Imprinted since birth makes him very personable and manageable as he grew.



Today, the champion sire in his own class.



...and his soon to be three year old son whom we bottle raised.



Jack'o, the spoiled brat who keeps wrecking feed bunks.