Today we spent preparing for our first animals. The day was spent putting the roof on the milk barn, chasing mechanics to get the cutter moter installed, and aquireing building materials, all while trying to keep the workers all busy. We never did get the cutter setup today so the cows will have to graze pasture for the night.
On the way back from buying wood in Nagua, and picking up a truckload of rice husks, we spotted a few dead coconut plams along the beach. Being the proud owner of a nice little chain saw, I figured on coming back for them in the afternoon. After lunch, Felicita and I put the saw in the truck and decided to take a guy along for help. Well, two would make it easier so I we took two. It is a bit of a drive, but the wood is free. We stopped and got drinks and a snack for everyone at the bridge (If you are from around here, you know what I mean, otherwise nevermind) and soon found our first dead palm.
The trunk was straight but had a good lean to it, unfortunately, right into another palm. Ater getting the trunk hung up in the other tree and having some fun getting it down, we cut it into 3 eight foot pieces. Then we tried to move them. to make a long story a wee bit shorted, next time I will bring one more guy, or maybe two.
The second tree was more fun. For one thing it was straight up and breezy. There was an old wrecked car nearby which I badly wanted to drop it on but I missed by about 2 feet. Near the top of the trunk there was a small bat nest of about 8 bats. All seemed rather upset at losing their home, but I had a chainsaw so they scampered off to find a dark spot.
Our total take was 5 rather heavy logs which was fine until we tried to get up the hill to the farm. At that point they all slid off the back of the truck, along with two haitians, a chain saw, gas can, and other junk. No one was hurt thankfully, but we had to go find the rest of the guys to load it back up and a rope to tie it in.
Around 5:00 pm the trucks arrive with 12 pregnate cows and 2 producing ones. We don't have our loading ramp built yet so we off load about a half mile up the road in a little village of 5 or 6 houses. We pay 5 pesos an animal to off load so that works out to a little less than 2 dollars.
It is a quiet little spot and our animals are of particularly good quality
so we draw a crowd to see the animals come off the trucks.
Well, as big of a crowd as 5 or 6 houses can produce that is.
In the mean time there is a lot going on.
Felicita and I are frantically trying to read ear tag numbers to make sure we have the right animals,
Tiny (my dog) who ran the whole way behind the truck is being held back by one of my guys and barking with all the excitement.
The cattle are stirring around.
The truckers waiting for money.
The haitians all milling about and talking.
The dominicans all milling about and talking.
Soon we head off back down the hill, with the haitians driving the cows.
I am up front on the pasola and Felicita in the rear with the truck.
Who knows where the dog was but he got back alright.
By the time we got back it was dark and we spent a while trying to get the cows fed and milked. Figuring out which two cows out of fourteen need to be milked by the lights of a truck is no easy task. Considering it was dark, all went pretty well. A few of the cow stalls needed adjustment, but that is a small task. Our fencing for the feedlot isnt built yet and that made things a lot harder too.
