Goings Ons on the Property

At times, when working on a farm/property, things just don't make sense and you simply have to walk away and accept it. Today the chainsaw wouldn't start... no matter what. For forty minutes I tried getting it to roar to life, only to hear a muffled cry emit from the chainsaw engine, followed by an abrupt stop. Around 30 cattle were circling me, smelling the chainsaw, ute, and my own body odor. They are so curious. Unfortunately I just couldn't get it started and had to drive off. Very frustrating. 

On a positive note, after leaving the chainsaw behind, I was checking a muddy dam which should be dry in another week. A sheep had gotten stuck in the mud. Luckily I was able to pull it out. If I'd been cutting Mulga trees it probably would not have lived.

 It was a strong sheep that tried to swim away from me in the mud. They really are specimens. Always trying to do what is worst for themselves. Luckily the sheep got up as soon as it was out of the dam and ran away. A running sheep is always a good sign of health. 

Yesterday my brother discovered a cow that wouldn't stand up. Today my Dad and I checked her out. She was looking healthy and seemed to be doing well. But then she died.... Doesn't really add up. After that, we lit a fire and burned the carcass to make sure flies don't breed and spread disease among other livestock. The heat of the flames in this arid heat is incredible. 

Like I have mentioned in previous posts, the Sun in western QLD is intense. It bakes the ground, the wind roars along with heat. It just never lets up. Ironically, as soon as night comes, it cools down and you would never guess just how hot it can get during the day time. More of that same blinding Sun to follow tomorrow! 

Loose Stragglers: Hunting For A Golden Fleece

When it comes to shearing, which usually takes place in the colder months of the year, there is a lot of pressure and time restraints to get the sheep into the shearing shed. The sheep cannot stay in the shed for more than one day and getting the sheep into a small yard for general healthcare and handling can seem like a daunting challenge. Properties in western Queensland are huge (generally 50,000-75,000 acres). That means property owners need to schedule a muster and decide which paddock of sheep gets shorn first. After all, different paddocks, different sheep demographics (age, sex, breed). You don't want to mix them all up and have a incest frenzy on your hands or a lack of newborn lambs. 

Logistics are key. Decide which paddock gets mustered first, gets shorn first and then gets returned to the original paddock first. It's a matter of juggling a routine with an animal that is known for its disagreeing, cunning nature. You have got to be on alert when mustering and handling sheep. That's why time restraints and pressure mount as the big shear nears. 

Once inside the shearing shed, a shearer will shave the golden fleece off the sheep's back as efficiently as possible. Like property-owners, shearers also have schedules they need to follow and often travel long distances from property to property clipping wool. Shearers have to know the number of sheep to be shorn, how long it will take and how many employees they need to take along to the shed to get the job done. Classers, pen-uppers, wool balers sum up the shearing squadron. These wool professionals handle the fleece, keep the sheep up to the shearer, and bale the wool for export to Italy or China. It's a huge logistical task for shearers too. 

Then there are the sheep you miss. 

Since it's such a busy time of the year, and properties are so big, it's no surprise that you are often left with stragglers roaming very large paddocks alone, or in small groups. A straggler is a lone sheep that is cunning - or wild enough - to evade the musterer and his motorbike. Often you don't realize just how many stragglers there are until the heat and blinding sun of Summer arrive. These specimens stick close to the water to keep cool and refreshed. That's when you pounce, chasing them down on motorbike and with dog, cornering them, tying them up, pushing and pulling them into the trailer. Once inside the trailer these woolly sheep - or double-fleeces as they are commonly known - are taken to a smaller paddock, often near the house. When the shearing contractor next comes around these sheep will then definitely have their fine, fatty fleece clipped off and sold - probably to China. 

Drought Affects: Cuttin Scrub for Cattle To Eat

Since arriving back home in Western Queensland for Christmas/Summer break, it's been a hard slog feeding animals. Here in this part of Australia, seasons are extreme - either extremely hot or cold, wet - or in this case - dry. My father has been pushing Mulga trees (as seen in the pictures) for livestock to eat for the past year. Thanks to a new and open-minded State and Federal Government, feeding livestock natural, green trees has become a lot easier. Laws and restrictions set by past Labor Government's have been restricted/minimalized in an effort to keep these animals healthful for all Australians to eat.

No rain - no grass. No grass - no food for the cattle and sheep. Alternative? Mulga trees. It's a high source of protein. The catch: the protein cannot be fully processed by the livestock, and to make the most of the Mulga protein, the sheep and cattle are supplemented a Kelp/Algae liquid mix in their water. This liquid supplement, which smells of aniseed is vital for the livestock's physical condition. It increases digestive activity (among many other health benefits including electrolysis, phosphorus, and selenium) and boosts the appetites of the livestock. Result? Cattle and sheep devour the mulga and by looking at their physique, you would not know just how dry and desperate Western Queensland country is right now. Particularly in the dry Summer heat. Humidity hovers between 15-30% and the sun beats down on the Outback. When you wake up at 6AM, judging by the brightness of the sunlight, you wouldn't know if it's early morning or midday.

I've just started cutting Mulga for the cattle and find it a rewarding hands-on job. Not only do you use your own judgement and strength (it's not a walk in the park) to cut the trees, you also watch the cattle follow the line of fallen trees to eat breakfast. A satisfying start to the day!