So I tried to take some pictures yesterday while I had the grand kids out in the snow. The farm is gorgeous with the snow but it also makes a lot more work!!! Here are some of the calves with their coats on and a couple heifers eating hay. The first calf is a brown swiss, the other two are a jersey and a holstein. We raise heifers and only keep a few steers to raise for meat for our families.
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Coats for the babies is a great idea! I never heard of doing this for calves before.
I take my dogs sheep herding and last week and there was a newborn lamb. We didn't think it would make it, but the fellow who owns the sheep got out a lamb sweater to put on it!!! It is now doing well. I saw this on tv once where the women in some country (maybe Wales? ireland?) would knit these lamb sweaters and they work very well. Without the sweaters, many lambs would not survive. Must be the same for calves. People are endlessly clever!
33641Thanks for the memories. We raised Black Angus when we were kids!
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14637Thank you - thank you for sharing! I don't think I have ever seen a calf wearing a coat - but, as cold as it is here in Michigan, I'd say it makes perfect sense!!! Love seeing the animals!
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by stork
04 Feb 2021
Yes, those coats are a blessing. Help to keep the calf a bit warmer during this season
96261Thank you for sharing your animals with us and the snow! I love the color of the Brown Swiss. We used to have Jerseys and Black Angus, some Holstien too. Grandpa had one with a star on her forehead, called Old Star, but I don't remember the breed. I want to say Jersey, but not sure. My older sister Sheila would do the milking before we went to school, when Dad worked off. She also learned to drive the tractor about 9 years old.
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by stork
04 Feb 2021
Lol! I love your memories Toogie. I am an Air Force brat who married a farmboy and we moved onto one of his family farms when we married, his older brother has the home farm. I remember when our son was in kindergarten and we were picking up stones in the fields, we put the very large tractor into "crawl" and let him steer. His foot didn't even reach the pedal! Can't believe we did that. We have some cool markings on the heifers here too! I have one who has a 7 on her face and the one grand daughter has a holstein with a heart on her nose.
That brown swiss is our lightest one we have ever had, most are more cinnamon color and we have 2 with a very pronounced silver streak down their backs.
by toogie
04 Feb 2021
So how big is you herd? I love to sit on the porch and watch the young calves romp. I asked Alvin one time how many he has because it's quite a few to count each day or however he keeps up with them all. I'm sure he does a head count to make sure none have got out or got attacked by other animals. He leases my neighbors fields to keep these in. He has more in other fields close to my grandsons house, so he has plenty to feed and care for.
by stork
05 Feb 2021
We only have 20 heifers and 5 calves on the farm right now. Our milk cows are on a larger family farm in Gettysburg, hubby decided he didn't want to milk cows anymore (and he's the farm kid!) We always do head counts at feeding and always have. I too like to sit and watch them. They all have personalities just like people. Most of ours are friendly because we show them at fairs and cows show thru the year, with the exception of this past and probably this one!
109779I love cows! The babies are so cute with their big eyes. Are cows raised for meat or just milk. It has been a long time since I have been on a farm. I should of listened to my grandmother and married a farmer. Lol!
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by stork
04 Feb 2021
Their eyes are so calming but watch out for their tongue when they lick! ugh, sandpaper! Milk cows are females that have had a calf which enables their bodies to produce milk, much like we human females do. Bull calves are generally kept and made into steers to raise for meat. (At least that is what we do with our dairy bull calves or they go to market)
by toogie
04 Feb 2021
lol-I am laughing because I hadn't thought about how gitty the tongue is for a long time. I guess though, it's not a feeling you forget easily. Kind of like if you ever bit into a green persimmon. ugh you don't forget the feeling on your tongue and mouth....guess who tried to taste a green one...ugh ugh
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