Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                             

                                      

    After carefully walking around on ice last week,  we were  extremely happy for the    snow that made it easier and safer for us and the cows to  gain a little bit of traction.   We prepared as best would could for what we consider normal  cold weather but nothing on the farm works when temperatures drop below zero and hover in the teens through out the day.

From the equipment in the milk barn to the water tanks, well houses,

 and ponds, everything has been frozen.  Every minute of each day 

has been busy with hauling water, breaking ice on the ponds,

  feeding the cows and repairing damaged equipment to get 

the milking done. 

If you want to see a farmer's determination to care for his animals,

come on  down to the dairy farm and I will show you  my family of farmers.

 

I'm thankful that my family and our employees have

been kept safe this week  as we worked together

down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It was a snow day down on the dairy farm!

Well, you might call it more of a snow event since

most melted by noon.

The  older calves weren't a bit impressed by the little 

bit of snow that covered the ground. Nothing could stop 

them from drinking warm  milk and eating grain.

It's always fun to watch the youngest calves experience 

their first snow. Most were hesitant to come out of their 

warm hutches but once I coaxed them out with 

a warm bottle of milk, the snow was not an issue.

                                           Regardless of the weather, the calves are fed milk
                                        and grain twice daily  and monitored closely for any
                                                              signs of stress and illness.

                                             I'm thankful for the beauty of the snow day and for
                                            the joy we find in caring for our calves and cows
                                                       every day  down on the dairy farm.
                                         
                                       

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It was understandable that the calves would be a little hesitant to come 

out for their morning milk after a night of thunderstorms,

 a change to frigid temperatures followed with a skiff of snow. 

I didn't really want to come out of the house either!

It's these extreme weather changes that make it tough on our calves and

increase the importance of consistent care and close monitoring

 of each calf to assure health and wellness.

                           
                                   I'm thankful for the sunshine that warms us and our calves
                               and lifts our spirits during chilly days down on the dairy farm.

January Shows Off

January is showing off  with single digit temperatures for 

 multiple days and so far has just teased us with a skiff of snow.

It may be all that she can do!

There's not another layer I can add to keep warm and still fit 

into my coveralls so why shouldn't I taunt her?

Although the cows don't seem to be taking it as hard as the farmers,

we have unrolled large hay bales in the pastures for them to lay on, increased

 the amount of feed needed and made sure their water supply is not frozen.

This new baby and mother spent their first night inside

 the maternity barn for added protection from extreme cold.

                               
                                        Evaluating our cows comfort and providing what they
                                         need is an everyday  activity down on the dairy farm.

                                      Our commitment to providing high-quality milk begins
                                      with taking good care of our cows in spite of the weather!
                                           

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Clouds,wind and dropping temperatures made

 the morning seem a little bleak and dreary 

but

                             I'm thankful for the bright spots, black and white spots in this case,
                                                          found down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Our three day weekend together turned into a six day adventure when the friendly skies of American Airline became less friendly with flight cancellations due to winter ice and snow storms. On the second day of being cancelled and more snow and ice, ground transportation seemed our best option.

I'm thankful that 

we  are still smiling after driving 1000 miles together  to get home to the dairy farm, for our two sons who managed the farm while we were away and to be home with the cows!

Dairy Q&A

                                                                     Question:
                       How does a calf stay warm in the winter?

     Answer: 

 For the first three months, our calves live in a clean, dry individual pen called a calf hutch. Our hutches are made from fiberglass that  provides protection from wind and bad weather, allows ample space for the calf to move freely and protects them from other calves in the herd.

When the weather gets really cold , like this past week when temperatures dipped into the teens, we add sawdust shavings or straw inside the hutch for extra warmth and comfort.

Twice a day  each calf receives a measured amount

 of warm milk and grain and is  monitored closely for any signs or symptoms of illness. 

January Delivers Spring Down on the Dairy

How often do we get a 60 degree January day on the dairy farm? Not very often this year!

Although Mother Nature was just teasing us today with a spring-like day, it   was  a perfect day

    for welcoming a new calf into the world. 

 

 

We're always keeping a close eye on our cows to ensure a healthy delivery, but it was nice to know that this baby would be born on a much warmer January  day.

 

 Our calves are usually born in the pasture but with the extremely cold January days that we have experienced,  we have been moving  the mamas to the maternity barn close to calving time  so the baby would be born  in a more protective environment.

 

With tomorrow's forecast for twenty degrees, it looks like we'll be back to the maternity barn for delivery!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dairy Cow Approved Weather

It was a Dairy Cow Approved Weather Day  and I'm going to recommend a bonus for the  weatherman's perfect prediction of today's cold weather in Northwest Arkansas.  As I waddled out the back door this morning  all bundled in my warm coveralls, hoodie, coat and gloves--I wasn't too stylish looking but I was    prepared for that cold north wind!

 

Our dairy cows actually seem to thrive on colder  temperatures.  They embrace and enjoy  the cold weather  by eating more hay.

 

 

 
 From now till spring, one of our daily tasks will be  making sure hay is in the manger to provide good nutrition during cold weather   for these pregnant cows.

 

As I watched the cows enjoying their bale of hay, I couldn't help but think

 we're a lot like cows--eating is the natural thing to do when the weather gets chilly!

 

 

Nutritious dairy products--- always in style and perfect for any weather!

                                                           

                                                       ---Dairymom Approved Statement