There are some chores and activities that are more effective in the winter months. Like, for instance, the soil’s freezing and thawing causing seeds to be drawn in, and seeding to be more productive. Some farm tasks are just more enjoyable in the chilly winter air (who wants to split wood in the summer heat?). Dormant invasive plants can be cut back and pulled out (hopefully before the soil freezes). The article below does a great job of providing some farm tasks to keep you warm and working in the winter months. What farm chores are exclusively done on your farm in the winter?
Here is a great video from Greg Judy about the benefits of grazing cattle through snow. He includes tips on keeping water from freezing, looking out for parasite issues, and keeping your operation profitable.
This podcast sent me into a few fits of laughter with the speaker’s dry humor. Obviously this experienced vet has been around, and has seen a few things. And while Dexter cattle (including the bulls) tend to be smaller and easier to handle, I highly recommend implementing the recommendations in this podcast. Not only will it make handling your animals easier, it will set you up for a more successful relationship with your vet and your neighbors.
The temptation is there, to graze fall pastures too short in hopes of prolonging feeding hay. But, grazing fall pasture too short before the dormant season can actually affect plant health and growth next spring.
Preparing cattle to travel to their new home can be overwhelming. Reliable transportation, health papers, disease testing – here’s what you need to know before shipping livestock across state lines.
It is that time of year when we are weaning and castrating our bull calves. This article from University of Tennessee talks about the various methods and ages at which to castrate.
Ross at 4 monthsRoss at 3 yearsLerwick at a yearLerwick at 5 years
Someone recently asked about selecting a bull calf with traditional Dexter characteristics. Many breeders more experienced than me have covered this topic, but having bred Dexters for quite a few years now (and made plenty of mistakes) I am adding my two cents to the topic.
Selecting a bull calf starts before they are even born – by deciding your breeding goals, doing your research, and by collecting as much information as you can about the parents and as far back in their pedigree as you are able.
Decide on breeding goals: We selected Dexters for specific reasons, and those influence our breeding goals. We want cattle with good temperaments, easy to work with. We want low maintenance cattle; great foragers, good mothers, easy calvers, fertile, producing great beef and milk on low inputs. We also want cattle that people can look at and say, that is a Dexter!
Research and information gathering: I read numerous breed standards for the Dexter, I looked at lots of historical photos of Dexters, I studied conformation photos, and I have visited many Dexter farms.
Collecting information on parents: I keep records on our cattle; calving dates (the first cows to calve in your herd are generally the healthiest and most fertile), birth weights, weaning or butcher weights, general health, hoof trimming/care, calving issues, mastitis/udder issues etc. Then, I wait for my best cows to have bull calves. If I’m buying a bull, I am looking for this information from the seller.
Once I have a bull calf on the ground, I am going to be evaluating him from day 1, until his last day on earth. I am looking for him to meet my breeding goals, and the Dexter breed standard. These are the questions I am asking: Is he short and beefy? Is he proportionate? Does he have a nice wide Dexter face with placid eyes? Does he have a shiny coat? Is he curious about humans and his surroundings? I continue asking these questions throughout his life, and then at 10-12 months I’m starting to look for signs of sexual maturity. Is he very bullish looking? Is he getting a thick neck and thick curly hair on his neck and head? Does he have a deep bellow? Are his testicles football shaped, and do they hang evenly? Are his teats evenly spaced and sized? And again when he reaches 3 years of age (this is generally when they have reached their full height), is he in the average range for height and weight? What are his calves like, do I like their birth weight? Were there any calving issues, dystocia, etc? Are the calves vigorous and up nursing quickly? Are the calves growing well? And again when his heifer calves have their first calf, do I like their udder and teat conformation? Are they easy to milk? Do they have good mothering instincts?
If at any time during his life he (or his offspring) stops meeting my goals, I am going to look to replace him with either another bull from my herd who I feel is an improvement (maybe even one of his sons), or an outside bull.
If there is one thing that has helped me most in selecting future herd sires, I think it would be looking at photos of bulls that embody the purebred Dexter (Hint: Try to go as far back in time as you can to get a complete picture).
In an ideal world we would be able to find or breed a great herd sire. But open cows are a financial drain, especially if it is a family milk cow! So, sometimes we have to make do with what is available. In that case, pick the best bull with the info available to you, with a plan to beef the offspring. If you get something extra special out of your bull (hey, we can all win the genetic lottery sometimes), use that calf to replace your bull.
I’ve included photos of two bulls at various ages that we have raised from birth to herd sires in our Dexter breeding program. Feel free to share feedback, I have not reached perfection yet 😄 I hope my experience and photos are helpful.
Save money by using your cattle to graze remaining forage on hay fields. There are numerous benefits, including cost savings, fertilization, and soil/plant nutrient storage.
“Slow is fast”, this is the phrase my dad says at least once or twice every time we work cattle. There are some things you just can’t rush, and cattle are one of them. While we have found our Dexters are easy to move and work with, here are some tips to become more proficient in handling cattle.
It’s hay season, which is always a hectic time of year in our area. You may not be ready to think about hay or winter, but you can usually get the best deals buying it right out of the field – and now is the time to do that!
Here is an article on tips for hay buying and making, with details on each animal’s nutritional needs.
How systems-based research can help inform our farming practices, from creating more regenerative systems to helping with water retention in drought affected areas:
As livestock farmers a large percent of our work goes into pasture and forage management. Invasive, non-local weeds can be a big pain, and some are even damaging to our animals (poisonous) and local forage. This article addresses simple, natural solutions to weed control on the farm. We have always had the most success by balancing the nutrients in the soil, and adding grazing animals at the right time.
Are cows that eat willow better for the planet? A Queens University research project aims to find out if Willow can make farming more carbon neutral.
One aspect of Agroforestry uses trees as forage for livestock, and is gaining in popularity. Willow contain anti-parasitic compounds, they can be a great buffer around water sources, and have other great benefit to livestock and pasture. Do you graze Willow trees, or would you give it a try?
A great podcast by Working Cows, interviewing Bart Carmichael and Pat Guptill of “Principled Land Managers.” Bart and Pat talk about the importance of vision and principles in farming. Practices are flexible can change based on the land, animals and resources available, but having solid principles can set you up for success no matter where you go and/or what you do.
Keeping records is an important aspect of running a successful livestock business. It is even more imperative if you are raising pedigreed and registered animals. But, how do you know what details will be helpful and what details will just add more work to your already full plate? This article is a practical guide to the who, what, why and how of record keeping. And remember, “it’s practically impossible to manage what you do not measure.”
