Randalls have arrived!! š
Oct 24, 2021 9:17:35 GMT -5
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elia, throwback, and 16 more like this
Post by Applelonia on Oct 24, 2021 9:17:35 GMT -5
As many of you know, my first cows were Randallsā¦they had some issues and all were butcheredā¦except my sweet Applelonia who I lost to a random unexplainable broken leg/shoulder. With a breed that is so few in numbers ā¦some say around 600ā¦.and completely closed, absolutely no outside breedsā¦no breed up programā¦etcā¦there is a small gene pool and there can be super good cows and then ones that have issues and culling is best.
I love our Guernseys, but Iāve missed the Randalls each and every day since theyāve been goneā¦.for me, there is nothing quite like them. š
During my search there were a number of closed doors ā¦one sale that was supposed to be a for sure thing ~ the sellers cancelled out of the blue, right before the vet visit ~ I wasnāt upset ā¦more disappointed. The hauler was already confirmedā¦
So we had our hauler all lined up and no cowsā¦I didnāt know if I should just figure after many closed doors to take it as a sign to give up or not ā¦I prayed about it and decided Iād check with one more person I knew from years ago who used to have Randalls ā¦
First number I dialed was no longer in serviceā¦second number they immediately answeredā¦their few remaining older cows had merged with a small neighboring herd - they were taking care of the entire herd currently because of health issues of the neighbor. A good share of the Randalls were being beefed before winter as the owners health made it not possible to keep them.
None of the cows were bred back, as bull was already butchered. And the cows were going to be beefed as the herd needed to go before winter. They were not getting beefed because of anything cullable about them, but because of the owners health situation. The whole sale process went fast. The owner was in the hospitalš¢ā¦I was so happy to be getting Randalls, but I felt so sad knowing they were being sold because of the owners health.
The small herd only had two heifers born the last couple of years - all others steers. There were older cows around the 10 year age range.
The youngest cow was six ā¦next was seven-years old. And the one 16 month heifer ~ daughter to the six-year-old.
When I started my search, I was looking for a couple bred heifers. But as I thought over the options with these cows, there were some really good pointsā¦6-year-old had a 5 month old steer calf at side - her third calf, so she has been very breedable. Small udder, but structure wise better than a number of Randalls Iāve seen.
The seven-year-old had been milked for three lactations in small dairy herd and her fourth she was currently raising her 5-month-old steer calf. Iāve never wanted a cow that was previously milked ā¦but I thought it over and knowing she was handled and calm and easy to work with was a huge plus. š¤ No mastitis history during her three years of milking. She was milked by the Randall person Iād contacted and was his cow before she joined to neighboring herdā¦she was only moved out of the milking herd as the Randalls had been slowly replaced by other breeds that produced more milk for their small dairy.
I was still a little hesitant ā¦until I saw the 7-year-olds pictureā¦it was an iPhone live pictureā¦
Immediately when I saw her picture I said out loud to myself, āAppy. She reminds me of Applelonia.ā It was bittersweet. Never seen a Randall before that reminded of Appy. This cowās eye expressions and movement ā¦the timing of her swinging her head at flies was so much like Applelonia.
My mind remembers certain thingsā¦certain sounds ā¦smells ā¦all there. I sat there trying to block out all the moments with Appy that came flooding back playing back like movies in my mind. I started crying and I looked at the picture again. āSo much like Appy.ā
Then I got the pedigreesā¦she was Appleloniaās half sister!! I knew sheād be completely her own cow ā¦different from Appy ā¦and most likely no cow will ever come close to the bond I had with Appy ā¦she was a once in a life time cow.
Our hauler didnāt know if he could fit both cow/calf pairs and the heifer on his trailer. So, he graciously suggested I check with a different custom horse hauler he knows with larger horse trailer. Turned out the following week (from the original hauler date that was lined up for the sale that was canceled/fell through) would work for him as he would already be out in the east coast area bringing a horse to Vermont! It worked out perfectly as the vet testing ran past itās estimated result date and so this extra week cushion worked out perfectly.
The Randalls were loaded at 7:30 Tuesday night and arrived Wednesday at 6 pmā¦there were two drivers driving round the clock. Long trip for them, but overall they did well!
Peatrice Appyās half sister ..and also Dazzleās half sister has been fascinating to observeā¦she has traits that remind me so much of Appy and a little of Dazzle ā¦I think Iām going to really love this cow!! Sheās super friendly ā¦the others have not been handled ~ they are not afraid of people, but they donāt want to be touched and move back immediately if I reach my hand outā¦in time they should become more friendly.
Hoping to still get the cows breed this fall/early winter ā¦ not sure how challenging that could be ā¦watching for signs of heat ~ realizing the move may affect that for a little while. Randalls can sometimes be harder to settle by AI.
Seeing them everyday from the kitchen and sunroom windows makes me so eager for spring to come so we can start the moving process to the land where they can hopefully expand the herd a little š
Peatrice loves neck and face and chin scratches!
Peatrice and her son
Viola
Viola and her 16 month old daughter ~ unfortunately the daughter and the two steers are dehorned ā¹ļøā¦when I told my mom, she thinks the dehorned ones are the best cows I have because they are dehorned ā¦sheās not a fan of horns on the Randalls or the Guernseys ā¦
Viola with her daughter and son
Violaās son
I love our Guernseys, but Iāve missed the Randalls each and every day since theyāve been goneā¦.for me, there is nothing quite like them. š
During my search there were a number of closed doors ā¦one sale that was supposed to be a for sure thing ~ the sellers cancelled out of the blue, right before the vet visit ~ I wasnāt upset ā¦more disappointed. The hauler was already confirmedā¦
So we had our hauler all lined up and no cowsā¦I didnāt know if I should just figure after many closed doors to take it as a sign to give up or not ā¦I prayed about it and decided Iād check with one more person I knew from years ago who used to have Randalls ā¦
First number I dialed was no longer in serviceā¦second number they immediately answeredā¦their few remaining older cows had merged with a small neighboring herd - they were taking care of the entire herd currently because of health issues of the neighbor. A good share of the Randalls were being beefed before winter as the owners health made it not possible to keep them.
None of the cows were bred back, as bull was already butchered. And the cows were going to be beefed as the herd needed to go before winter. They were not getting beefed because of anything cullable about them, but because of the owners health situation. The whole sale process went fast. The owner was in the hospitalš¢ā¦I was so happy to be getting Randalls, but I felt so sad knowing they were being sold because of the owners health.
The small herd only had two heifers born the last couple of years - all others steers. There were older cows around the 10 year age range.
The youngest cow was six ā¦next was seven-years old. And the one 16 month heifer ~ daughter to the six-year-old.
When I started my search, I was looking for a couple bred heifers. But as I thought over the options with these cows, there were some really good pointsā¦6-year-old had a 5 month old steer calf at side - her third calf, so she has been very breedable. Small udder, but structure wise better than a number of Randalls Iāve seen.
The seven-year-old had been milked for three lactations in small dairy herd and her fourth she was currently raising her 5-month-old steer calf. Iāve never wanted a cow that was previously milked ā¦but I thought it over and knowing she was handled and calm and easy to work with was a huge plus. š¤ No mastitis history during her three years of milking. She was milked by the Randall person Iād contacted and was his cow before she joined to neighboring herdā¦she was only moved out of the milking herd as the Randalls had been slowly replaced by other breeds that produced more milk for their small dairy.
I was still a little hesitant ā¦until I saw the 7-year-olds pictureā¦it was an iPhone live pictureā¦
Immediately when I saw her picture I said out loud to myself, āAppy. She reminds me of Applelonia.ā It was bittersweet. Never seen a Randall before that reminded of Appy. This cowās eye expressions and movement ā¦the timing of her swinging her head at flies was so much like Applelonia.
My mind remembers certain thingsā¦certain sounds ā¦smells ā¦all there. I sat there trying to block out all the moments with Appy that came flooding back playing back like movies in my mind. I started crying and I looked at the picture again. āSo much like Appy.ā
Then I got the pedigreesā¦she was Appleloniaās half sister!! I knew sheād be completely her own cow ā¦different from Appy ā¦and most likely no cow will ever come close to the bond I had with Appy ā¦she was a once in a life time cow.
Our hauler didnāt know if he could fit both cow/calf pairs and the heifer on his trailer. So, he graciously suggested I check with a different custom horse hauler he knows with larger horse trailer. Turned out the following week (from the original hauler date that was lined up for the sale that was canceled/fell through) would work for him as he would already be out in the east coast area bringing a horse to Vermont! It worked out perfectly as the vet testing ran past itās estimated result date and so this extra week cushion worked out perfectly.
The Randalls were loaded at 7:30 Tuesday night and arrived Wednesday at 6 pmā¦there were two drivers driving round the clock. Long trip for them, but overall they did well!
Peatrice Appyās half sister ..and also Dazzleās half sister has been fascinating to observeā¦she has traits that remind me so much of Appy and a little of Dazzle ā¦I think Iām going to really love this cow!! Sheās super friendly ā¦the others have not been handled ~ they are not afraid of people, but they donāt want to be touched and move back immediately if I reach my hand outā¦in time they should become more friendly.
Hoping to still get the cows breed this fall/early winter ā¦ not sure how challenging that could be ā¦watching for signs of heat ~ realizing the move may affect that for a little while. Randalls can sometimes be harder to settle by AI.
Seeing them everyday from the kitchen and sunroom windows makes me so eager for spring to come so we can start the moving process to the land where they can hopefully expand the herd a little š
Peatrice loves neck and face and chin scratches!
Peatrice and her son
Viola
Viola and her 16 month old daughter ~ unfortunately the daughter and the two steers are dehorned ā¹ļøā¦when I told my mom, she thinks the dehorned ones are the best cows I have because they are dehorned ā¦sheās not a fan of horns on the Randalls or the Guernseys ā¦
Viola with her daughter and son
Violaās son