Showing posts with label calf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calf. Show all posts

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Thankful Thursday


April brings more than showers!
We welcomed this new calf just after the showers
and a cool down in the temperature.  
As you can see, the calf found a cozy spot on the 
hay as her Mother continued to eat before going to
the milk barn.

I am thankful for all the blessings of spring--


new life on the farm,



celebrating our precious Hattie's 6th birthday,

                                                                              and 

                                                 to live in a country that gives us the opportunity

                                                     to seek election  to serve our community.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday




In October we hosted a virtual farm tour for school age
children. During the tour,  we were asked if this new baby calf had
a name. Since we were using the Zoom platform for the tour,
one of the students stated that we should call the calf, Zoom.
We thought that was a perfect name and that is what we
call her. She also has her number name 3381 attached 
to her ear.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to share how Zoom is 
growing and changing and for the new ways
we have learned to use technology to provide
learning opportunities  for all of us.


I'm pretty sure Zoom knows she is a movie star!


                                  Zoom and I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas!
                                       
 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                           

                            It's been a week of wild weather changes from balmy

                          70 degrees  down to the  low thirties .   To go with 

                           the changes,  we have welcomed five new calves

                            this week.  I don't know   if it is scientific or just 

                            coincidence,   but full moons and   barometer

                           changes  often bring   calving action in the pasture!


One of my favorite jobs is to be the Uber driver for
picking up calves and delivering them to their calf hutch.
I am a good driver going forward but watch out for those 
trailer back up skills!


Our calves will  spend the first three months in
an individual calf hutch where they are closely monitored
and fed milk and grain twice daily.
A healthy calf is the beginning for high-quality milk.


                                       I'm so thankful to live and work down on the dairy

                               farm with my family and for the opportunity to    share 

                                         with my friend just where milk comes from. 

                                                        

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Zoom goes Virtual




Have you ever been on a virtual dairy  farm tour?
I have watched a few and now I can tell you that
we have hosted one  with the technical help from Midwest Dairy
  to highlight dairy and  celebrate  the Arkansas  Farm to School 
program  during October.

As stated on the Arkansas Grown  website:
" Arkansas Farm to School activities improve public health, 
strengthen the local economy and communities, improve food access
 and food abundance for all, and protect the environment."

As Arkansas dairy farmers we were honored to share  from down on the
 dairy farm where nutritious milk and dairy products
are produced for our Arkansas students and their families.

Here's the link for the virtual tour:

It's been my experience through the years, the favorite 
part of the dairy farm tour is visiting the baby calves in the hutches.
It was also true for the virtual tour!
On the day of the tour, this baby was two days old and drinking milk
twice a day from a bottle. The students actually named her
Zoom!
What a perfect name!  We thought it would be fun to 
share how she will grow and change over the next two months.


Just like all of our baby calves, Zoom received her mother's milk in
a bottle for the first three days. That first milk is so important because it
contains colostrum that provides antibodies to aid her immune system in
fighting illness. After those three days, we taught her to 
drink milk from a bucket.  She was a fast learner!



Zoom is now  two weeks old.
She drinks milk twice a day followed with a small
handful of sweet grain. 
If you look close, I think she's smiling at you!


                                                         

                                               The highlight of my virtual farm experience was 

                                                the gift of thank-you letters from Sheridan,AR 

                                                    written by Ms. Caldwell's 1st grade  class.

                                                       I'm so happy that Zoom went virtual!

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

 

Who would of thought we would still be working
on this wheat crop!  The boys are wrapping it up this week 
with hauling and storing  straw bales in the barn.
Making room for the straw in the barn was a great 
incentive to clean out old hay and make it handy when  
straw is needed for use on the farm or to sell.


We  also have welcomed a few new calves
in the last couple of weeks.  It's always a treat
to find a red one! 
The Ayrshire cattle in the herd belong to Cody.
His first one was purchased for his 4-H dairy project.
I love it when Hattie and Breck spot these red cows and
calves because they instantly know they belong to them!
I'm not sure their daddy has given up ownership!





                                              I'm thankful that July is winding up and

                                      we are looking to what August has in store 

                                                 for us down on the dairy farm.

                 




Thursday, July 15, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Teamwork is part of life down on the family  dairy farm.
While Ryan and Casey moved straw bales off the fields,
Cody was preparing to spray the fields before planting 
hay grazer and millet seed.  

Once the fields were sprayed, it was another  picture of teamwork
as Cody and Ryan added seed to the planter.



With the spring rains delaying our wheat harvest  and crop planting,
the race is on to get the crops planted while we can still
hope for a few rain showers and moderate growing temperatures.


The donkeys even seemed to be working as 
a team as they strategically moved 
close enough  to make sure we didn't have 
any feed with us!


I'm thankful for the teamwork we  experience
down on the dairy farm and for the cutest surprises  
when we least expect them!
 

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Today was what we call "Preg Check Day".
Knowing if a cow is pregnant is a big deal on a dairy farm.

Thanks to science and technology, we have a 
variety of ways to confirm if a cow is pregnant.
Pregnancy checks can be done by  manual palpation , 
 milk test or blood test.   Our chosen method for 
the last few years has been blood test. Blood tests
can detect pregnancy in a cow as early as 30 days bred.

I had the easy job of making the list from our computer 
records that give us breeding dates.
Cody, Casey and Ryan had the job of collecting
the blood specimens that will be
submitted to our dairy cooperative's lab.
In just a few days we hope to be celebrating
the news of many pregnant cows!

I'm thankful for my family of farmers that  
work everyday to care for our cows 


so that we can have healthy calves
that will eventually grow up to be the
cows that give high-quality milk.


There's beauty in every season and
cycle of life.


 

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday



Can you guess which one is the mother?
Fortunately we found this new calf with her mother
earlier in the day so there was no guessing down on the dairy farm!
It's fairly common for other cows to try to adopt a new calf even though
they will have there own calf in a short time. 
Having too much love is never a bad trait!


This week seems to be filled with a lot of sharing experiences.
I'm thankful for witnessing the sharing of maternal instinct,


for the donated  Ginko tree  received from the 
Tree Program sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation
for citizens living in the county
and


                                      to witness  love  while sharing your favorite popsicle.

                                                     Life is too sweet not to share !

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday




One of the best things about farm living is that we have
so many  moments  that fit the old phrase
 "a picture is worth a thousand words".


The sun has been more than welcome in helping to melt off
the two weeks of cold temperatures, ice and snow.
Last week we had cows calving in below zero temperatures and
today's baby arrived with a warm forty degrees.
Isn't is amazing what a difference the sunshine makes to our stress level?

In the very same day, I received a box of sunshine from my
dear friend that is working every day as a nurse during the 
pandemic of our lifetime.
In her very own words, "a little ray of healthy vitamin C and
sunshine". She's my hero!


I'm thankful for the sunshine gifts of life and love
that God sends us everyday! 







                                    

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Preparing for extreme cold weather is always a challenge on the dairy farm
but when you add a layer of ice it's a double whammy.
As we tried to bring the two expectant mamas into the maternity barn
to shelter for the night, the first cow slipped on the ice.
Luckily, she was able to get up and walk on to the barn.

After seeing the struggle of the cow getting up on the ice, 
it was decided the other cow would be  left in the pasture.
Cold weather doesn't create the same risk as the broken leg or hip injuries.
Several large hay bales were unrolled for the cows to rest on.
As luck would have it, the cow in the pasture calved and the cow in 
the maternity barn did not.

Cody brought this new baby into the maternity barn as soon as he found her
and put her in a hutch with a heat bulb. She looked pretty cozy when I 
went to check on her after calf feeding.
I thought about climbing into the hutch with her for 
a warm-up!


It's been a rough couple of days trying to stay warm
and upright walking on ice but I'm thankful for the 
fact that we have a healthy new baby and that 
no animals, employees or family have been injured
down on the dairy farm.

 

Friday, December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas!

Fifteen degrees was not the temperature I was hoping for
on Christmas morning but with several layers of clothing for 
myself and a new calf coat for the baby, we really had
nothing to complain about.   
Even though our chores of calf feeding, milking and feeding
all of the cows continue as usual, our celebration will take place when
all the work is done. 

I hope that today brings you an abundance of 
love, peace and joy as we
celebrate the birthday of our Savior.

From down on the dairy farm...


                                                     Merry Christmas!

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday


You can't help but smile when you see such a new sweet
red calf with its mother early in the morning down
on the dairy farm.

As you can tell from the angle of this picture, the mother
wanted nothing to do with posing as I followed along trying 
to get a better shot to share.


                     Our milking herd includes several of these beautiful Ayrshire 

                        cows that belong to son Cody. His Ayrshire herd began

                              during his 4-H dairy project days many years ago.

                     I'm thankful for these happy reminders  of great 4-H dairy project days

                                    and the expansion of the herd that will  continue to

                                                          produce nutritious milk.


                                 

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Just as hay and crop harvesting are winding down,
the fall calving season is beginning to ramp up with a new
calf arriving every day or two.

This experienced Mama that has had at least two calves before 
today's arrival, just couldn't complete the birth without assistance.
She was walked from the pasture to the maternity barn because the 
calf would need to be delivered by  the farmer.
In just minutes after delivery, she was welcoming her new baby
with heavy duty tongue licking to stimulate  and clean him.
Mother and baby are doing well.



There's never just one job happening down on the dairy farm.
While Casey was delivering this calf,
Cody was planting wheat. 
Just a routine day that requires management
and multi-tasking skills.


I'm thankful for these two sons that work so hard
every day to care for our cows and the land we call home
and 
for the fact that I have been  blessed to work with 
them every day down on the dairy farm.




 

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

No matter the month, all new calves are welcome down on the dairy farm.
We don't typically try to have too many August calves due to the heat but
sometimes, it just works out that way. I'm thankful that all the calves and their
mothers are doing very well and probably adapting better than the farmers!

This baby bull was born yesterday  and has  been moved to 
his own individual hutch where he can be fed and monitored closely. The
baby does receive his mother's milk the first three days to make sure he
gets all his mother's colostrum.
Mom has moved to the milking herd where she is being milked twice a day.
The milk she produces will not be put in the milk tank for at least
 five days or when we receive the results from the test on her milk to
 make sure there is no medication present.  
It is the absolute truth that there are no antibiotics in milk! 


We are so thankful for the opportunity to work everyday 
to produce high-quality,antibiotic free  milk for you and your family!





 

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Finding this new baby hiding in the buttercups was a little like playing 
hide and seek with granddaughter Hattie. The obvious clue was the
 Holstein mother standing close by just waiting for recognition!

It's a comfort during these days of COVID19 to  experience 
normal activities down on the dairy farm.
Our daily mission of caring for our animals and producing safe, 
nutritious  high-quality milk has not changed.

I'm thankful for our dedicated employees that have come
to work everyday and for the fact that all are still healthy,


for the surprise visits from our flower loving,watering girl Hattie,


and for the beauty around us
confirming who is in control of all circumstances


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

"It takes a village" was the phrase that came to mind as I observed
this mama-to-be assisting with welcoming the new calf. It's not unusual
to see this behavior  in a pasture full of expectant mothers and although it
appears to be helpful, it can be a distraction to the new mother causing her
not to do her job of cleaning off the calf.  

We don't always separate these cows but today due to the frigid,damp weather, we
moved the new baby and mama to the maternity barn for protection and to assure
that the mama could do her important job.


Observing the behavior of animals is always interesting and part of the 
dairy farmer's job in providing good care of their cows and calves.

I'm thankful for all the birthdays down on the dairy farm
and in our family!




Happy 1st birthday,Breck!

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Early this summer we had a little extra help from
our cousin Ethan.  Ethan is the great grandson of our Uncle Deric who
 worked on our farm after his retirement from the Bentonville 
Casting Company and had taught Cody and Casey
 a lot of useful mechanical skills as they grew up. 

Ethan had a lot of  new experiences 
down on the dairy farm including feeding a new calf.


Unfortunately for us, school started just about the time
we began having new calves every day!



I'm thankful for the fact that Ethan wanted to come to 
the farm and experience the day to day life  down on 
the dairy farm and for the kindness and patience of my son,Cody,
who mentored Ethan and provided a great summer experience. 

I'm pretty sure Uncle Deric and Aunt Fritz would be
extremely proud of Ethan and Cody!


Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

When I spotted this new calf lying next to the fence in the 
 early evening,she was all alone. It was only a few seconds
 before Mama joined us to make sure I was not a threat.

  I thought it was a perfect example of how the mothering instinct
 kicks in to protect her baby.The sun filtering through the trees
 seemed to put her in the spotlight!


I'm thankful for a healthy new calf  born on one of the 
hottest August days without any complication to the mother's health!


Thursday, May 2, 2019

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Don't you just love the month of May?
Spring showers bring the beautiful flowers, budding trees,
green grass and the all too prevalent allergies.

Although my Mother  transplanted the iris from the garden 
last spring to the bottom of the mailbox, we were not
really sure what color iris would bloom.
To our surprise, the blooms are in the shades of purple.

I'm thankful for the daily reminders of how God is in control.


Today's scripture on my kitchen calendar emphasized my thoughts:
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you,
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like on of these. 
If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow
is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, 
O you of little faith?"
                   --Luke 12:27-28


                                                 From down on the dairy farm, Happy May!

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

We experience new life on the dairy  farm year round, 
but there's nothing like seeing new calves born in the spring
on a carpet of new green grass and the beauty around us. 

Our expectant mothers have been watched closely 
   to insure a healthy delivery.
 It's always exciting to meet our new baby!


Our days are filled with routine chores and common every
day challenges but I'm thankful for the blessings of new life,
for the smiles and laughter of children
and


                                                           the Hope of the Easter season.

                                                             From down on the dairy farm,
                                                               Happy Easter!