Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Last week when we ran out of room in the calf nursery area,

the new babies were brought to temporary pens in the 

feed barn.  It wasn't ideal but it provided a protected, 

individualized space for each calf. 

                                  I'm thankful that we were able to wean older calves to pasture

this week and for the hard work of all the family and employees

that moved all the calves to their individual hutches in the nursery.

My world is back to normal with all the babies

in one place!

On the flip side, I enjoyed being in the feed barn when the cows 

were  eating and enjoying their feed.  

Wouldn't you love to have someone plan and prepare every meal for you?

                           

                               

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Even though it was almost dusk when the custom silage chopper

 pulled into the first corn field this week, it was decided to open the

 field and get the process started. 

As I waited for the chopping to begin, it suddenly seemed like fall.

As darkness covered the field, the air became chilly. 

I was wishing for jeans and a long sleeved shirt instead of my shorts.

Even a big pot of chili sounded good.

Can it really be fall in August?

We didn't haul too many loads to the silo  that first evening but 

 I am so thankful for the corn crop that will be used to 

feed our dairy cows through this fall and winter.

Ready or not---I think fall is sneaking up on us!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As the weathermen or weather-women were consoling us  about a rainy

 4th of July holiday weekend, the dairy farmers were smiling. 

It's not that we wanted to ruin any one's plans but a rain any 

day in July is a gift down on the dairy farm! 

I'm thankful for the 3 inch rain that watered the garden

and

 the corn crop that our dairy cows will enjoy this winter.

Cow Taters

Fried potatoes,baked potatoes,scalloped potatoes,potato soup, potato casserole--

let me count the ways we love to  eat potatoes with cheese and sour cream.

My family loves potatoes but this semi-truck pile takes it to a whole new 

level for my  tater-lovin' farmers!

Now this is a lot of potatoes.

It was unfortunate that freezing weather created havoc for the truck driver trying to get

 these Russet potatoes delivered to the potato processing plant in Oklahoma. 

When the load was refused due to freeze damage , he was looking

 for a place to deliver this nutritious

 product  rather than take it to a landfill.

It's not unusual to feed byproducts of corn or cottonseed to our  dairy cows

 but potatoes are not commonly available to us in Arkansas. 

Potatoes are high in energy, very palatable, and can be used to replace corn in the diet.

Fortunately for us, our cows will be enjoying potatoes in their feed ration 

as soon as our dairy nutritionist gets the feed ration designed for

 just the right amount  to include in the daily feed ration.