farm girl i ain't

cowsme
Originally uploaded by sillyhapa.

On Saturday, I woke up bright and early to accompany my host father to the farm and see what real Japanese cowboys do. Highlights included: feeding a baby calf a bottle of milk and then watching it follow him around like a pet dog. Trying to cut a new path to the pasture, but realizing it was too narrow when the cows jostled into the electric fence and then were too scared (or perhaps too jolted) to take the path any more. Standing as a human wall as the cows were guided by the road into the new pasture. Driving through the pasture to look for new calves; finding one, lassoing it, and piercing an identifying tag onto its ear. Repairing the electric fence. Cutting the greenery around the fence. Repairing the barbed wire.

cows Originally uploaded by sillyhapa.

The most interesting/gross activity of the day was surely dehorning the new batch of cows. Wait, cows or bulls? Hmm. Anyway, the process involves shooing one cow at a time into this little metal cage, and then when they stick their head through the end, slamming a metal bar down to catch their head. Then they are relatively unmoveable, and their ears are free to be tagged and their horns are free to be clipped off (as my otoosan demonstrates in this picture). The horns come off with a clean clip, but as soon as they're set free, the blood starts to gush.... Yeah, not so pretty.