It is never too early or hot to check cattle for standing heat cycles. I suspect you fellers that are using AI are on your toes about the necessary times to check. I have used several ways of catching the exact times, but the best and most sure way is to see the cattle for yourself. I sometimes use two methods and still think there are some who have silent cycles that I might miss if not for the help of modern inventions.
This has been a strange month for weather. I mean we have had to eat dust in June and July has been surprisingly damp. I have been very aware of the thick mats of grass that never dry between showers and keeping hoof rot to a minimum, meaning none at all. We have one field that seems to be hard to dry out and I have fed some cubes on a high spot that is hard ground for the benefit of giving hooves time to dry. No problems have been detected as yet.
Fly populations are rampant and we are doing some spot spraying. The bulls seem to love it and stand still for the mist. Haven't found any more pinkeye and all seem to be mostly healthy. I have mixed the iodine with the minerals and it seems to protect hooves and maybe even the entire system. The heat is a factor for man and animal, so we try to consider that as we constantly look at the cattle, seeing body conditions. I do see the entire animal, but I see the diagram explaining body condition against each one. Not too well conditioned or too thin, hard to keep them exactly where we want them in this heat.
I much prefer the heat to the cold, and so do the offspring although they talk about the ski slopes of Colorado every day at the dinner table. We have the air conditioner set so low, per my close relative, that the body begins to chill under the damp clothing in about five minutes! I manage to eat and shiver, never missing my mouth with the biscuit. My close relative has had garden-fresh tomatoes and other vegetables at each meal for some time now and I appreciate her garden more than when I had to help get it going!
The members of the round table are moving pretty slow. They drag themselves in for coffee until about ten, drag themselves home for their lunch and then back to the emporium by two for the afternoon session. Not too much visiting going on, just sipping iced tea. Of course, the recent events of mass destruction and loss of human lives in our country have been absolutely dissected, solved, unsolved and fussed over. No fisticuffs have broken out as of yet, but age doesn't negate our opinions!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, as much trouble as we see our country in right now, we aren't whipped. I believe we are still a Christian and free country. Our whole reason for coming here was to worship as we saw fit and we had better start seeing fit again! We know who is in control and we had better begin to appreciate the blessings we have been afforded up to now. A multitude of knee action on the part of the American citizens would sure be a good weapon against all this evil and crime!
Keep your horse saddled and your powder dry!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette-area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 07/20/2016