Post by Selden on Dec 5, 2005 6:48:55 GMT -5
Ferdinand is just a year and two weeks but last night he lowered his head and shook it at me briefly. I had moved his grain pan, he couldn't find it, and I was coming into the stall to show him where it was. He immediately lowered his head as though to ram and push me out. He has been becoming more bumptious recently and I immediately roared NO! and slapped his nose. However it did give me pause. I had been considering carrying him through the winter and then on through fresh grass next spring -- to slaughter as an 18 mos. old -- but now I think I'll never keep him that long.
The issue is that I don't believe Katika is bred. She appeared to come into heat again around November 25/26 -- not from her behavior, but from Ferdinand's. He was giving low lovesick moos and jumping Jiminy, my donkey, desperately. (Jiminy has become so inured to this bizarre behavior he hardly kicks any more.) I was working so many hours at the time I wasn't able to separate the donkeys out across the highway to a different paddock. So I'm taking it for granted that we missed that heat. That would mean my next opportunity would be the week before Christmas.
The height thing is definitely the problem. During the heat six weeks ago (when I did remove the donkeys) Ferdinand was indefatigable in his efforts and Katika just walked out from under him. Their paddock is as flat as a board -- no convenient hills or valleys. What can I do?
I will be very, very frustrated if after all this effort my bull-raising was for naught. However, I also know I don't want a dangerous animal around. He did not seem very dangerous last night -- more like a petulant 15-year-old boy stamping his foot -- but it gave me a chilling window on the possibility. I am taking my children for a week to Florida (driving the 23 hours down) in March. I think Ferdinand will need to be in the freezer before then. I couldn't risk him hurting anybody covering my chores. And meanwhile I watch him carefully.
But boy, am I frustrated.
The issue is that I don't believe Katika is bred. She appeared to come into heat again around November 25/26 -- not from her behavior, but from Ferdinand's. He was giving low lovesick moos and jumping Jiminy, my donkey, desperately. (Jiminy has become so inured to this bizarre behavior he hardly kicks any more.) I was working so many hours at the time I wasn't able to separate the donkeys out across the highway to a different paddock. So I'm taking it for granted that we missed that heat. That would mean my next opportunity would be the week before Christmas.
The height thing is definitely the problem. During the heat six weeks ago (when I did remove the donkeys) Ferdinand was indefatigable in his efforts and Katika just walked out from under him. Their paddock is as flat as a board -- no convenient hills or valleys. What can I do?
I will be very, very frustrated if after all this effort my bull-raising was for naught. However, I also know I don't want a dangerous animal around. He did not seem very dangerous last night -- more like a petulant 15-year-old boy stamping his foot -- but it gave me a chilling window on the possibility. I am taking my children for a week to Florida (driving the 23 hours down) in March. I think Ferdinand will need to be in the freezer before then. I couldn't risk him hurting anybody covering my chores. And meanwhile I watch him carefully.
But boy, am I frustrated.