We can all learn something from cows…

With calving season in full swing I thought I would take a moment to look at what we all can learn from cows. 

“The everyday is nice, but sometimes you just need a walk down a different road.”

A few days ago we had a heifer calf that decided to take a little adventure of her own.  She was in the winter pasture with her mama and the other cow and calf pairs.  She has always been an adventurous type, quick to go frolicking off.  On this day she decided to climb into the concrete Jbunk feeder and jumped over the outside wall.  (No worries it is only about a 4 foot wall, so she was not injuredJ)  These little Angus calves are adventurous like that, always running around, jumping and playing fake out like they will run your over.  They are just like children, they love to play!

And that’s where were found her, just leisurely walking around and taking a stroll down the road.  Thankfully this is a one lane dirt road that might see 3 cars a day, 2 of which are probably my husband and I.  And as I watched her I couldn’t help but think that we all can learn a lot from cows.  She saw an opportunity to explore and she took it.  Yeah there were risks but she just jumped right in.  How do we as people know what opportunities are right around the corner if we don’t take that leap of faith?  Sometimes in life it’s not always safest to stay behind the fence…

“Those first steps aren’t always the easiest, but they are always worth the reward”

We are in the middle of spring calving.  We calve twice a year; we have a small group of cows that calve in the fall and the majority of our herd calves between January and April.  So we are about half way through and each week we are having more and more calves born.  And even though we have been doing this for 10+ years now, I still am amazed with every new calf. 

 

They take a shock that’s for sure.  When they are born they have to leave the nice warm space they had in the womb for the outside world.  Yes, each cow has their own maternity pen and it is lined with fresh dry bedding for the cow and her calf.  But it’s still a shocker.  These calves are wet and the air even in the barn can be crisp.  Then their mothers lick them off and want them to get moving.  These calves are alert and do what their mothers ask.  With wiggly unsteady legs they will take their first steps after just being born not too long ago.  And with each passing hour they become surer of themselves and in no time at all they are running around the maternity pens.  And then after a few says they are allowed outside in the barnyards and small spring pasture.  You would never know that a few days or weeks prior they were these unsteady calves unsure of themselves. 

It’s like that with us as well.  You never know what you can achieve if you don’t take those first unsteady steps.  I can attest that I would not have a college degree, be married or even own my own business if it weren’t for unsure steps and a great support system saying nope you can get up and do this just like those mama cows.

“Love your babies, protect and care for them”

A lot of farmers joke about Angus mama cows being…well let’s say “very maternal”.  I have heard more wise tales over the years about Angus cows and their calves and how these mamas protect their calves.  To be honest I have owned, Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn and countless mixed breed cows.  I don’t really think it is a breed thing.  I think it is more a mother thing! 

Cows nurture their calves, they protect them and they know where they are at all times.  I can’t tell you how many times, I have had a cow calve in the pasture on a beautiful warm spring day and Derrick and I have gotten to play “calf hunt”.  It’s not that fun of a game, trust me.   “Calf hunt” if you are not familiar is when these mamas have their calves and then decide to hide them in the most dense and hardest to get to areas and then they go off to eat or drink while their babies nap.  This game can last for a few minutes while you try to find the calf or several hours.  And I will admit there have been times where the mama has stumped you all together and you just wait till she goes and gets it. 

 

That being said these cows are not much different from us humans.  They let you know by their moo when they aren’t happy that you just vaccinated their calf so it stays healthy, just like I have cried when every one of my babies got their shots.  When their calves decide to feel their oats and go off with a group of calves across the pasture running around like racers and the mama cant see her calf anymore.  They go calling their calf and running after them.   Much like me, when my first, second, third and fourth went to school for the first time.  I didn’t follow the school bus or wait in the preschool parking lot…but that’s probably because my husband stopped me by taking my car keys.  

So if you ever get a chance to just stop and observe cattle or really any other animals for that matter.  You will see how close they are to us in our own behaviors…its scary sometimes really haha. 

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Calving…joy, excitement, wonder

Every morning for the last several weeks Derrick and I wake up and one of us says “think we have any babies this morning?”  It’s become a tradition every year in the spring (and fall since we calve then also).  Every day we both go back and forth to our calving lot and maternity barn looking over the cows that are close to being due.  At night we decide who should be moved into a calving pen in the barn where they can have their babies in nice warm dry bedding.  And we check on them again before bed time and depending on the cow and the situation even during the night...yes when this happens I am definitely wearing my pjs and muck boots;-) 

 

"Mamas and babies out in the winter maternity pasture"

There is a certain joy that comes along with calving season.  Seeing those new babies with their mamas doing so well and exploring their new world and the knowing that you helped them come into this world.  There is excitement (though my husband seems to think it is more an impatience) that comes with the anticipation of a new calf.  Will it be today?  Will it be tomorrow?  Yes, every cow has their due date but we tend to go more by the physical signs of the cow because we all know a date on the calendar doesn’t mean a baby will be there that day.  Heck, I myself had two babies a month early!  Derrick comments daily that though calving season is his favorite time of year, he will be happy when it is over.  That’s because my manly husband who tries very hard to be tough, worries about each and every one of those mamas and he cares for and worries about each one of those calves…and that is what makes him wonderful. 

And then there is the wonder of that new baby coming into this world.  It doesn’t matter that I myself am a mom of four wonderful kids and that I have delivered three times myself.  Seeing a baby, any baby for that matter come into this world is amazing!  You really get perspective on your own life when you see a new life come into this world!

 

"A mama and her baby last summer on summer pasture"

We have been very lucky this year, all our calves have been healthy and energetic.  And our mamas have done an amazing job as well.  We have watched and waited and have been lucky that we have not had to step in and assist with any births by pulling a calf.  (This is when the calf is too big, stuck or not in the correct position and we have to step in and help the mother for both her health and the calf’s) 

All in all it has been a great year so far, though we have a few more weeks left and more calves to come.  I know Derrick will be glad for a few months of rest when spring calving is over and he can focus on crop season (though he will have a few more gray hairs I am sure).  Before we start back up in again in September with more babies to come and I for one can’t wait! 

Spring is here, but when to put cattle out to pasture?

We have had an easier winter than some in the past, but I feel like I am with the majority of people when I say.  When is Spring going to come? 

Here in New York State we have had an eventful spring for sure.  Freezing cold temps one day, t-shirt weather the next and then the day after that a foot or more of snow.  I for one am done!   I am ready to have tractors in fields, and cattle on pasture.  But when do we know if it’s the right time to put cattle out to spring and summer pastures?  Here are some ways that we here at our farm decide when it is the right time.

 

Many years we have extra forage and trust me there have been years we are more than happy we put in those extra bales or tons of silage.  We are a small farm acre wise and we do everything we can to preserve our soils and grasses.  Without good land, we don’t have a good crop or harvest and without these then we don’t have good quality cattle.  It’s all about stewardship.

This being said we are strong believers in cover crops, fall planting, crop rotation and rotational grazing.  All these techniques help us to produce as much as possible but also maintains the integrity and quality of our soils and crops. 

So that’s where it starts.  Just because the grass has turned green does not mean that it might be the best time to turn out your cattle.  Having those extra feed reserves will allow the cattle to stay in their winter lots a little bit longer in the spring and allow those newly green grasses to mature properly.  That being said, obviously the cost of forage and feed play a part into this decision.  Every producer needs to weigh when the time to turn out cattle is best for them based on their own operation.  Some producers have to purchase their forages and others like us are able to grow it ourselves and others have an abundance of pasture land but not a lot of feed reserves.  There are many different situations to consider. 

 

Now which pasture to graze first?  The rule of thumb that we follow is never to graze the same pasture two years in a row.  Now once again this depends on each individual operation.  Some producers may have a certain pasture located near their calving lot or barn and it might work best for them to graze that lot first if they calve later in the spring.  With our operation we calve mostly between January and April so by the time our spring pastures are ready in May our calves are all on the ground and we have the ability to choose which pasture will work best to graze first that year.  Grazing pastures with grasses like broom for example first will provide producers with the flexibility needed with spring grazing and will allow native grasses the time to grow and mature after the broom grass and other tame grasses are grazed down.  Having a pasture rotation schedule for the grazing season is very important and will play a major role in this.  Typically we rotate pastures every week to two weeks depending on the acreage and when the grasses are grazed down to about 4 inches high.  This allows for grasses to grow back and eliminates over grazing which is important especially on small acre farms like ours to ensure forage quality, pasture management and cattle production and growth. 

At the end of the day every operation is different and we all have what works best for us, our pastures and our cattle.  I hope some of my thoughts help you as we go into spring and grazing season!

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