new girls....

On the day before christmas the big truck brought to us.....

...... fifty-three lovely young heifers......

 this is the first of the new girls stepping off after a VERY long journey (more than 12 hrs on the 'double' truck...)

and after that loooooong trip a young girl's thoughts turn to FOOOD! (oh and water)

these are the first of our new dairy herd - they are heifers (for those not familiar with the term - a heifer generally means a female bovine that is hasn't had a calf yet). They are a mixture of Friesians (black and white) and Jerseys (blonde/brown) and Friesan/Jersey cross (smaller animals, usually brownish/ black possibly with white....)

 

All the girls arrived safe and sound - which is just as well - as they are all in a family way..... the first are due to give birth sometime after February.... 


Already I can see certain animals that have distinct personalities.....

like this girlie...

Previously known as '4133' - she shall now be called 'Bossy Bex' - she's short, blonde and as 'attitude' - I LIKE HER! (I also suspect, that like other short, blonde, bossy girls, she will prove to be quite a headache in the future!) 

and this girlie.....

I'm calling her 'Buttons' - she's bright and sassy - and was quick to make her acquaintance - she's no aloof princess this one!

Sass just liked getting inside the big truck! (I think he was hoping this was an early gift from santa!)

well this is just the start of the dairy herd - we really need to find a nice herd of COWS (not silly young heifers!) so with any luck this truck will be returning with quite a few loads of nice big milking girls in the not too distant future.... 

....

taking charge

the new building is still moving ahead .....

Sass and EJ- inspect the works most days.... 

Here's how the main section is shaping up -

The pit is in (that's the 'trench' looking bit in the middle just in case you didn't know what a 'pit' is! this is where the humans stand and work - yep down below the cows) - the steel structures for the milking bays are going up - one side of the floor is going to be poured shortly.....

Today the floor is being poured in the vat room and the wash room (that's the wash room below)

The concreting is the most labour intensive (and energy and money intensive) part of the project - it would be lovely to get all the main floors in before Christmas, but I can't really see it happening.... fingers crossed - there's so many things to organise and manage right now - it's mind boggling! lucky it's all on FP and not me to manage!

 Although I think I spot a likely successor for FP.....

 Sass is always ready to explain to the builders how it should work......

ooooo I'll be pleased when this is all finished - it's worse than building a new house!

....