CattleTales
	Recent Calf Crop Calves sold Two weeks ago, we penned all of the cattle. Calves from the Jess Cox Place (Florida Cattle), Adair Place (B & E Combined) and the Home Place (K) were delivered to the shipping lot for the purpose of shipping to a feedlot and storing for sale in 2009. Eighty-Five calves were delivered with Five retained at the Adair place and one retained each at the Home place and the Jess Cox place. Of the Eighty-Five delivered, Seventy-One shipped and Fourteen were held out of the shipment. Due to the predicted feed prices, the shipped calves were subsequently sold. As per previous discussions with Wharton Family members, the calves from the Home Place would be combined with the calves from the Adair place and the proceeds would be divided in thirds between K, B and E. The Florida cattle would reimburse feed and services and the remainder would be divided by all participating parties. A decision is yet to be made regarding the Fourteen calves currently at the shipping lot.
	Late December cattle purchase Florida cattle come to Texas When the Wharton Family met in Big Sandy, Texas at the Holly Lake Resort, a decision was made to purchase more cows to expand the existing herd. Forty-One cow and calf pairs were purchased, with an additional cow. This herd was delivered and housed at the Jess Cox Place.
	Summer of no rain Florida cattle eating dirt As the summer progressed as most, the cattle at the Jess Cox Place have eaten most of the grasses available. Currently, we plan to move the cows from the Jess Cox place to the Forty Acres across the lane from the Home Place for two weeks. There should be adequate grass there for this short period. It should help that land develop more into a grass producing place to be grazed by cattle later. This also should give the Jess Cox place a chance to regenerate grass from usual fall rains. Homeplace cows are fairing much better, with what seems like ample grass for the size of herd. It is planned to let the cows at the Adair place graze the Smith place for a short time this fall, since we will not be grazing calves there this winter.
	2007 Calf Crop Current status Twenty-three calves produced by the B and E combined herd were combined with Eleven calves produced by K herd. These calves were housed and fed at the Walton Place/Smith Place from November 2007 until May 2008. Of the Thirty-Four combined calves, nine heifers were separated to have the opportunity to be bred to sell as bred heifers later. Eight of these calves are currently at the Walton Place and will be added to the Adair herd to increase the herd. One of the Thirty-Four had a respiratory infection and was sold at the Buffalo auction. One of the heifers was found dead by the gravel/gas road on the Adair Place. Based on the evidence surrounding the corpse, it was determined that a gas/water truck must have hit the calf. Another steer attempted to cross the cattle guard separating the Adair Place from the Smith Place. The crossing was successful, but the steer broke his leg in the process. That steer has been taken to a meat processing plant and will yield meat to be distributed to anyone that wishes. One of the heifers had a physical defect. We (Michelle, Rachel and I) have named her “Humpback”. She is currently at the Walton Place. She will be added to the herd at the Adair place with the Eight heifers. The bulk of the calves were sold in May and shipped in June.
	On the horizon Coming soon After a short discussion with certain Wharton family members. It has been decided to cull the older cows at the Home Place and increase that herd in late winter or next year. Currently, we have Thirty-one cows at the Adair place, and with the addition of the Eight heifers from the 2007 calves and ”humpback” that would increase the herd to Thirty-Nine.
	Hay, what’s for dinner? Limited rain affects hay crop We have bailed hay at the Jess Cox place and the Walton place. Initially, we bailed early at the Walton place to clean up the hay meadow and hopefully improve the quality of the subsequent cuttings. There were Twenty bails produced in this initial cutting. When we bailed the meadow there the second time, we cut and bailed the entire place for the same reasons. The grass outside of the meadow produced Thirty-One bales and was stacked at the Adair place. The meadow produced Thirteen more bales. It has also been stacked at the Adair place. With recent rains, we should have more hay at the Jess Cox place and another cutting at the Walton Place. The hay meadow at the Grimes place may not produce this year. We had fence problems throughout the year and the cattle seemed to have easy access to the hay meadow. More than six holes in the fence were fixed, and it did not deter the cows. We have built a new fence along the terrace to increase grazing down the hill and to restrict the herd from the meadow. Unfortunately, an unknown guest left the gate open separating the cattle from the meadow, and the cattle were found grazing the fresh growth.