Zoom's Transformation

Last October during a virtual farm tour on our dairy farm,

the students found out how we raise  baby calves that are born

on our farm.  One of the students thought the name ZOOM

was a perfect name for the youngest calf on the farm 

that particular day.   Of course, we agreed!

She's been called Zoom ever since tour day but

she is also identified with her ear tag number of 3381.

That number identifies her in our computer records that

document information about her growth and development

and assist us in making management decisions as she grows

and develops into a milking cow.

At three weeks after the tour, I could tell that 

Zoom was growing  but

changes are very obvious at three months!

Zoom no longer looks through the wire panel--

                                                                   she's looking over it !

                               Over the next couple of weeks, we will be getting 

                               Zoom ready to leave her calf hutch and enter life in

                                   a small pasture with a few of her herd mates. 

                                    I'll miss the everyday interaction with Zoom

                                    but I will love  watching her continued growth

                                      and development  into a healthy dairy

                                  cow that produces  nutritious   high-quality milk.

                                           

                                               

                                               

Farm Snow Days

What do we do on snow days down on the dairy farm?

The same as we do on a summer day!

Feeding the calves and milking the cows are chores that we

do every day of the year regardless of the weather or the 

holiday schedule.

I will say that snow days serve to remind us to enjoy 

the beauty of nature  and remind me of how blessed

we are to live and work on the farm  and experience

God's creation everyday.

I'm not particularly fond of cold weather but snow days

do alter the schedule to  doing the absolutely necessary chores

and sometimes allow for unexpected  time together with our family.

Snow days are always good days for enjoying 

a little chocolate cream pie

 (made with real whole milk, of course),

 a cup of coffee made from this week's family  find

of an antique coffee percolator,

and a few family  stories about the good old days

 down on the dairy farm!

                               
 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

So far, January weather has just been teasing us with skiffs

 of snow and frigid temperatures that blew in from the north after

 seventy degree temperatures during the holidays.

These extreme changes of weather are a stress on all of us.

It becomes even more important to closely monitor the cows 

and calves for any sign of illness during stressful events and

provide comfort and protection as much as possible.

Blanket coats for the calves and hay rolled out for the cows to rest

on during frigid temperatures are ways we can reduce the stress 

created by  weather conditions beyond our control.

I'm thankful for the healthy calves that have been born during 

challenging weather conditions,

for our devoted farm dogs that provide entertainment

for us and the cows,

and for the warm blanket coats  for the calves and

the farmers that care for all the animals down on the

dairy farm.