This morning we split up the cattle.

 

It was very windy at 7:45 this morning and so I anticipated a miserable experience coming along, but the wind died down and it really wasn't too bad.  Of the 17 steers, 5 of them are much older and therefore, bigger.  Dan thought we should seperate them from the other12 so we could start giving them a scoop of grain everyday.  He thinks they will be finished and ready for someone's freezer 5-6 months from now.

 

Things went really well.  With Abby & Dan cutting the steers away from the rest of the herd, and me working the gate, things went quickly.  The five are now set up in pasture #1 where the red lean-to is.  They have their own water & hay bale out in that paddock.  The bummer is that waterer doesn't have a heater/melter in it so at least twice a day, I'll be out there breaking up the ice on it for them.  Also, I'll be draining about 200 ft of hose after I fill their water every day, so that the water won't freeze the hose solid.

 

The 12 will be happier now and be able to get to their hay easier.  The 5 bullies would push them away from it quite often, even though it seemed there was plenty of space for everyone.  Steers don't "share" very well.