Cattle
We currently have about 56 head of beef cattle. We direct market our steers to the consumer. All of our sale animals have been born here, fed here, and will leave here only to be processed. We do not give our animals hormones or drugs to stimulate growth; just the best grass we can offer. We grow our own food. We do not feed commercial grains to our animals. Are they 100% grass fed? Yes. During the winter months we feed stockpiled grasses and hay if needed. It has tremendous nutrient value and keeps the girls happy and healthy all winter long. Just as soon as we can, we graze our fields in the spring. We are currently in the process of increasing our herd. Our herd is made of Lowline Angus cows, heifers, and calves. We are primarily a cow-calf operation with a focus on increasing the efficiency of our animals. We retain our heifers as they add pounds of meat and continue to add to our herd. Our bulls are sold as seed stock, feeders, or kept as steers to finish on the farm.
We have moved to an all grass-fed system. We would like to extend our grazing season on both ends and have more pasture time. We stockpile grasses in the field, not the silo. This reduces fossil fuel use and labor. It also gives me an excuse to take daily walks among the herd for my sanity. This year we were able to graze until January 27. We have already made the modifications that will allow us to graze much longer next year. Perhaps all year long....that is our goal.
We have moved to an all grass-fed system. We would like to extend our grazing season on both ends and have more pasture time. We stockpile grasses in the field, not the silo. This reduces fossil fuel use and labor. It also gives me an excuse to take daily walks among the herd for my sanity. This year we were able to graze until January 27. We have already made the modifications that will allow us to graze much longer next year. Perhaps all year long....that is our goal.
Want to learn more about what cows are saying or thinking? Check out the Farm Journal, April 2013, under the Archive Column and read the amusing posts titled, "A Not So Peaceful Night" and "Can A Calf Be Too Small?"
Another read for a good chuckle is the June 2013 journal entry titled, "A city-girl's take on the previous post..." to learn about a new job title on the farm.
Another read for a good chuckle is the June 2013 journal entry titled, "A city-girl's take on the previous post..." to learn about a new job title on the farm.
All the momma's taking a break after eating some fresh, new pasture.
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