Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the  little bit of rain that allowed

the wheat planting to be completed this  past week.

The  last bit of seed left in the drill was just enough to plant into

the Bermuda and mixed grass  hay field next to the house. 

It will be harvested before the grass begins to grow in the spring.

This is commonly called a cover crop. 

Utilizing the manure from our cows to fertilize both crops is

one of  the ongoing sustainable practices down on the 

dairy farm.

 

                                  

                               

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.

                                 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Surprise!

Surprise was our initial reaction when we found 

this cute red and white calf in the 

pasture this morning  while checking for  over 

night deliveries. This is a  a red and white 

Holstein  but when both the mother and father 

are black and white, 

it is a complete surprise to find a different color!

 

                                                  As you can see from the chart below, 

                                       there are 6 recognized breeds of dairy cattle.

                                    Each one is beautiful and has its own characteristics.

                                    The Holstein, which can be black and white or 

                                      red and white, is the largest of the dairy breeds

                                         and gives   the greatest volume of milk. 

                               During our sons' 4-H dairy project years we enjoyed 

                             raising  Guernseys, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire and Holstein.

                             We loved them all but the Holstein and Ayrshire are

                                        the breeds that are in today's milking herd. 

                                I'm thankful for these surprises that happen on just an 

                                              ordinary day down on the dairy farm.

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.

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Fall has arrived!

Just in the last few days, we are wearing jackets 

in the morning and sweating in the late afternoon.

That's how it is in Arkansas!

The grass is mostly brown with a twinge

of green but it will still provide a tasty

treat this winter for our cows to enjoy!

As the hay harvest season is winding down,

the calving season is speeding up!

I'm thankful for these  new healthy 

babies

that are arriving in the perfect 

days of fall

and

for the changes of the season

that remind us to count our

many blessings down on the 

dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

In a year of extreme rain during the spring that delayed planting

and growth that has occurred in a  drought, we are thankful for this corn 

crop that will be enjoyed by our dairy cows in their daily feed ration.

A twelve row corn harvester certainly speeds up the job compared 

to our smaller chopper.

                                Even though we decided to hire the chopping done,  it was still a 

                                                   family affair to get the crop harvested. 

                                  Ryan and Casey  hauled chopped corn  from  the field to the 

                                  new silage pad while Cody was kept busy packing  each

                                                  delivered load from all the silage trucks.

                                                     The women of the family provided

                                                 love, support and food during the long day.

                                 It was dark when we moved the last truck home, shut gates and

                                 moved cattle back to the pastures but there was a joy and feeling

                                      of  accomplishment that only a farmer understands from 

                                                                 down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

       

                                             Aren't these the cutest twins!

 

On a foggy morning in the pasture, the second calf was hidden  until it stood up next to Mama and appeared to be checking out the neighborhood before moving very far from Mom.  In just a short time, each calf was following their Mother around the pasture as expected.  Even though we will have three or four sets of twins born each year, each set is unique  and totally unexpected.

I'm thankful for the joy we find in the unexpected surprise gift of twins and the cooler weather for calving season down on the dairy farm.