Herding Cattle

I've written before about my problems this year with the hay supply. It was an extraordinarily long, cold winter and a late spring, so hay was in short supply. After giving the cows the last available bale of hay, they seemed hungry. The grass in the south field had begun growing, but not fast enough to keep them satisfied. I walked out to see how they were doing and got these plaintive, hungry looks:

So I filled the stock tank in the north field and checked the electric fence. Then I lured the cattle across the road into the north field. I wasn't able to get any pictures of them crossing the road because my hands were filled with food bowls and a cowbell. Besides, they were trotting right behind me and I couldn't stop in the middle of the road. But all went well and I put down bowls full of grain as a reward for their successful crossing:

Rosella was not pleased with the bold chickens who wanted to eat all her grain:

Little Annie bounced around like a deer, investigating this new, fascinating place:

And then she ran for awhile:

Ponderous with a calf due May 27, Jasmine just waddled along and ate grass:

But then the whole herd began to move. They needed to check out the entire field:

Two cows, however, suddenly stopped and went to full attention:

There were people and two horses coming up the dirt road and the cows wanted to see it all. I walked over to say hello and take a picture. The woman on the left, a neighbor, was selling all her horses and moving to another state. She was bringing the big horse with her, but the miniature horse, a 28 year old mare, was walking down to an Amish family's farm where she would become a little boy's first horse:

Once the horses had passed, the cows resumed their grazing:

This is Amy, also due to calve shortly. You see can see her winter coat shedding and looking a bit ragged:

I followed the herd around for a bit, enjoying the lovely weather and watching them graze. They seemed happy - and the grass in the south field would be able to grow again while they're over here: