When we started raising cattle, keeping track of individuals in our 50-head herd was essential. Calves, though adorable, looked alike. Unlike their mothers, I couldn't tell them apart, so we gave each one an ear tag. The numbered tags didn’t bother the animals and made identification easy. Problem solved—almost.

Several years ago, I lost a calf, and I’ve always suspected she swallowed metal. Without an autopsy, I’ll never know for sure. But the signs of hardware disease are hard to miss.

After a long, snowy winter, it’s time to do a happy dance and welcome warmer days. If you don’t know how to dance, the cattle can show you the bovine style.

All winter, my Scottish Highland and Belted Galloway cattle have grown magnificent, lanolin-rich coats — nature’s waterproofing so good it puts L.L. Bean to shame. Lanolin repels water and snow better than any slicker on the market. But these coats can’t be unzipped when the sunshine returns. That’s where the electric clippers come in.