Sleds have many uses

Yikes it April and we still have snow!  We have not had school for two days. But we still have some chores to do.  We got some pigs a week ago and they are pretty little so we need to give them plenty of straw to cuddle up in with their buddies to stay warm.  So much easier to use the sleds to move the bales to the other barn.  We also use the sleds to move buckets of water for the cows that calve.  Plus we will have the chance to slide down the hills Dad just made.

Hannah

Look how furry they are!  They have thick hair to help keep them warm, but they have a rumen that is fermenting the hay and corn stalks - and this helps them stay warm too, from the inside.  Its like having a furnace inside.  The rumen is why they can eat hay and we can't - the ruman is just one part of their stomach.  Humans only have one true stomach.

First Calf!

Yup its here, the first calf of 2013.  A little early but a spunky calf - just like her mother.  We will try to get a photo up soon.

Mom

Cold - but doing good.

OK - it looks cold.  Well it is but the cows still find lots to eat on the stubble field - well not right not here but further out they are finding corn to eat.  They don't seem hungry at all.  We have brought some - the ones closest to calving -  to a pen close to the barn they go in every night.  How do we know they are still finding corn?  Guess! ;)

Hannah

Is she sick?

A few weeks ago my heifer wasn't feeling so good. How did we know that? She didn't rush up to the feed when we carried it in and she hung around the edge of the pen. So we took her temperature just like mom does. Her temperature is supposed to be 102 degrees but hers was 104.9 degrees. So it was high and Dad gave her some medicine. The thermometer that we used is digital just like the one my Mom uses on us. It seems kinda icky to take her temp but it had to be done.  My heifer is well now - I am so glad

Hannah

Ladies in Butter

At the State Fair they have a cooler with these 90 pound bricks of butter and someone carves the dairy princesses heads out of the butter. A must see at the Minnesota State Fair.  The one with the crown is Princess Kay of the Milky Way, thats what they call the state winner.

Maybe they should carve the beef cattle princesses out of bricks of sausage?

Talking to people at the fair

 

 

The State Fair. Each year for two weekends my family goes to the state fair with animals.  One of my favorite things is to talk to other kids and their parents about our animals. Letting them pet or brush our animals is fun. Often we see kids petting animals with out asking which can be ok because most animals at the fair are used to it. But there are some animals that are not as friendly - just like some dogs are not as friendly.  So if you are going to pet an animal always ask. My sister and I want the kids to enjoy their limited time with the animal and for the kids to be safe.

 

 

We answered lots of questions at the fair.  Most couldn't believe that the little calves were just 6 months old.

 

 

It is fun to talk to the people and my dad says its really important to teach those from the city about livestock.

 

 

Hannah