Family Planning on the Farm
We put Ferdinand, our bull, in with the cows in August so that the resulting calves will be born in March or April. So what could go wrong?
Author: Carole Soule
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I'm Tired of Ice; Bring on the Mud
I check the cattle every day, mostly the young stock, for shivering. If a calf is shivering, it needs help. Adult cattle with plenty of food and water can handle the cold, but I still check them for shivering or odd behavior. Cows that don't show interest in food or separate themselves from the herd can be in trouble even if they are not shivering. So far this year, I haven't seen any shivering cows or calves, but I sure have felt the cold!
A Friend is Missed
Each year Charlie would sell me hay, and occasionally we'd buy cattle from each other. In 2021 he purchased a weanling black, Hereford bull from me, whom he named Buddy. When I delivered Buddy to Charlie's farm, I saw his tractor – a huge, 1950s International Super C, that he used to cut and bale hay. "Yep, that tractor won't quit. It's just like me, a relic that keeps on trucking. Besides, I know how to fix it," Charlie said with a twinkle in his eye.
Coming Home From the Tropics
One mission I had on this trip was to adopt two puppies to bring to the farm. The St. Croix Animal Shelter's vigorous spay/neuter program has cut the stray population that thrives in this tropical climate, but puppies still happen. I adopted two abandoned puppies, Joy and Jingle, as companions for Flora, a St. Croix stray I adopted last year.
Highlander Cows Make Superb Pets!
Weeks before our departure to visit family in the USVI, I got a call from Michelle Miller, an energetic and successful California businesswoman in search of a Scottish Highlander cow or two.
Did 2021 Have a Bright Side?
The Learning Barn rose from my dream to share the lessons I've learned from animals like a little gray donkey named Eleanor, a pig named Tazzy, and an ox named Curious Bleu. They taught me how to be a better person, and I want to share that experience with youth of all ages. It took two years, but the Learning Barn will be ready for classes to start in the spring.