Oh, Dove!

I grew up on a farm.

 I have helped birth many a baby animal, lambs, and goat kids, calves and smaller furry and feathered creatures. 

I know how to deal with minor things and I know how to tell if the animals healthy, knowing these baby basics does not help me worry any less. 

Especially when Miss Daisy went a few days late, I started to worry about worst-case scenarios. 

Knowing what could happen can sometimes make you worry more, in my case anyway.

We were a week into getting up every 3 hours to check on her, and I was really getting stressed out. 

Super Farmer suggested we take Sunday afternoon and go to the movies. I hemmed and hawed for a while but after checking on Daisy and seeing her not having signs of true labor, I agreed.

Our friend and good neighbor happened to stop by and I asked her opinion of Daisy's condition. She agreed with me and commented, 

"If I were you I'd go to the movies because they never have their babies during the daywhen it's convenient anyway and maybe she just needs to be let be for a while."

 With Daisy's history, this is true. The  first two were birthed at about 6 in the morning.

So I went to the movie.

Leave it to Miss Daisy to decide to one-up us all and tell us that we really do not know what we're talking about!  While I was at the theater snuggled down in a comfy seat and giggling at a humorous movie, my grandmother, uncle and friend were group texting back and forth because Daisy was in labor!

My uncle had gone out to check on her and was alarmed to see Hooves protruding from her. He sent a group text to my grandmother and me that I did not receive.

 When I thought I had set my phone to vibrate I had accidentally set it to do not disturb. I sat and giggled oblivious to what was going on back home on the farm. 

My grandmother texted our friend who came rushing over as soon as she could, by then the baby was on the ground. 

My uncle, who is a slight stranger to birthing animals did a very good job. In the past, he would be on the periphery while my mom and grandpa and I did the actual birthing. This time he was center stage. Gram knew that the presentation was normal, so asking our friend to come over just made an extra pair of hands if needed. ( actually 2 pair of hands, her son came with her.) My uncle had a lot of confidence through all this because he has been watching a YouTube show from an acquaintance of ours. It helped him, especially the calving prep videos. 

(I will put a link at the end of this blog.)

One of the texts from our dear friend said, 

"Never take my advice again! lol" 

My husband and I raced through the exiting theater traffic to get home as soon as we could. We arrived at the barn to find everybody standing outside the stall and the most beautiful calf I possibly have ever seen.(Please don't tell Daisy).
 

She was large, healthy and spunky. Daisy is such a good mom!

She was attentive and cleaned the baby up really well. My relief was palpable!

 She started passing afterbirth not long after this and we decided it was her only calf. 

Our friend and my grandmother were trying to describe the color of the calf because it is something unusual and can only be seen well in person. As they were discussing whether she was a dun or grey &what to call it. Our friend said, " We have got to give her a good name". I suggested calling her Doe as in a female deer, because her color was so soft and sweet and she had big bright eyes. A few moments later my grandmother asked me, "What was it you wanted to name her, Dove?"My friend and I looked at each other and a with light bulbs over our heads. I looked at my grandmother and said," Well that wasn't it, but I think that should be her name! " Our friend nodded, definitely! This is how sweet Dove was named. Mama and baby were doing well so we let them rest for a while and then I checked on them later and fed Daisy her supper. She was definitely tired, but she is a trooper and she did wonderfully! I'm so very proud of her and very proud of the baby that is of course 50% her. I can't wait to see what this little personality grows into.

 We've decided that she will stay on our farm and be another breeder as her mama is. Some things you just know, and I just know this is the right cow to stay on our farm. This of course means we will be another two years before we have a beef to send to Market  but I think it will be well worth it. Once we have these two lovely girls both being bred we will have twice the beef to share. The moral of the story here? Never think you can know what Nature is going to do, it will always surprise you, always Amaze you. 

I keep going back to what my grandmother said when I was hemming and hawing about going to the movies, she said it might be the best thing to bring on labor. She said that her grandmother always used to say, "A watched pot never boils."

As an added tidbit, though I was concerned about Daisy, our inseminator told me that the breed of bovine Daisy was bred to this time has a week longer gestation period than the angus. So one more piece of information learned the hard way, but those are the things that stay with us and add to our knowledge base. Of course he gave me that information when he visited Dove the morning after her birth! Lol

What the Duck?

It all started innocently enough, my Grandmother said, "you know, our duck eggs aren't fertile."

That's odd I thought, we have two pair. Oh well, maybe they haven't gotten into the swing of things yet. 

One pair of khaki Campbell ducks I have had for 5 years. They have had one successful hatching of a clutch.

The other pair is the adult daughter of the first pair.

I recently got her a boyfriend from friends of ours. 

He's an Indian Runner and I named him Emerald.

The daughter duck is young so, my thought was she hadn't gotten 

into mating yet and that was all that was going on.

A few days later I pulled up in the driveway and parked. I stopped still, sitting in the car not sure what I was seeing.

Momma duck was trying to mate with daughter duck, daddy duck was chasing away the boyfriend duck (Emerald) who was trying to stop this odd act. 

"Huh!"

I said aloud to myself in the car.

Now, I have seen sexually frustrated male ducks try to mate with anything, 

(My aunts handbag once)

I have seen girl ducks do a dominance thing and hold down other girls to remind them who was in charge.

But I had never seen a hen trying to breed another hen. 

Obviously, I have some sexually confused ducks.

I could see the look in Emerald's eyes, "What kind of family did you put me with?" he seemed to say to me.

Now, I don't have any interest in anyone's sexual orientation. Keep it to your self and I'm good. 

It's your business.

However when we are talking about ducks that I'm planning on breeding to raise the extra ducks to sell, and have more eggs to sell, 

well then,  we've got a problem!

This isn't going to fly with me.

(no pun intended)

So, what to do?

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some new ducks.

Some friends of ours raise Appleyard ducks. That is a  dual purpose breed for eggs and meat.

I'm planning on getting a few more Khaki Campbells as egg layers.

But you can bet on one thing, I am not letting my confused crew raise the next batch of babies. 

Nope, I'm going to raise them myself, and maybe they will have better sense.

As for what to do with my messed up duck family? I'm not sure. Should I let them live out their lives on the farm,

or will they end up in the stew pot?

stay tuned to find out.

One thing for sure, I'm going to find Emerald a new girlfriend. I at least owe him that.

More cows! part 2

The Divine Bovines part 2!

Cows kick.

Ever heard of a cow kick?

Yup, they kick out to the side, opposed to horses who kick to the rear. 

( Though, some horses can "cow kick" too.)

So, convenient for when your farmer is trying to milk you. 

Milking takes place at the cow's side.

A dairy cow can produce 6 to 7 gallons of milk a day.

That takes a lot of energy, to make so they eat about 100 lbs of food a day as well.
About 40,000 calories.

There are about 350 " pulls" of a teat in a gallon of milk.

Cattle need vitamins and minerals.

They love salt and sweets, just like us. 

This is not all they need to be healthy though.

They are given mineral blocks, these look like multi-colored bricks. 

They lick them (more licking) to adsorb nutrients they need.

I am sure to give my cattle bricks with selenium, because this is very good for them, especially when they're pregnant.

Cattle Products.
you probably see "Cattle products" and think, "dairy, beef, and leather."
well, yes but there are many more uses of products from bovines than that.
In fact, you probably have some part of a bovine in your house, on your skin, and in your bathroom. Cattle parts are used for:
skin lotions.

 makeup.

Insulation.

Air filters.

Gelatin.

Adhesives.

Medication.

Fuel.

Fertilizer.

Chewing gum.

Instrument strings.

Plastic.

Just to name a few.

check out the full list here.

Everything-But-the-Moo-Cow

Some cattle, have horns, some don't.

This can be because of the breed. 

Also by removing the horns.

A breed of bovine that is hornless is called, polled.

As in Polled Hereford.

Naturally hornless.

Cattle can be dangerous.

Cattle cause more injuries every year than sharks.

This does not mean you should be afraid of them, it just means you should leave them be and not try to tip them over.

They are naturally cautious of strangers.

So, unless you know them, leave them to their ruminating.

Cattle talk.

Well, not the way you think.

They do a lot more than just moo.

They bellow, and grunt, and groan.

They cry and snort, and sneeze

A farmer can tell what's going on with the noises the herd is making.

They are pretty good watchdogs too.

Cattle can see as well at night as a cat can.

When grazing they can 360 degrees around them. 

The only blind spot they have is directly in front and behind them.

(This is true for horses too)

Bovines are great!

Our world would not be the same without them. 

In my opinion on they do not get the respect they deserve.

Daisy knows how awesome she is.
I tell her every day.

Cows, cows! part 1

Our cow Daisy is 9 months pregnant, she is due any day now, wail we are waiting for the new arrival I thought we could take a moment and learn some amazing things about cattle.

I love cattle!

Not my favorite animal, (don't tell Daisy!) but high on the list.

Most people seem to think that cattle are slow and dumb.

SO not the case!

Here are some fascinating facts about bovines part 1, for you to chew on, or ruminate if you prefer!

The name 'cow' is used incorrectly most of the time.

'Cow' is a female bovine who's had a calf.

That's it, so cow pretty much means mom.

The proper term for them as a group name is Cattle, plural.

A bovine singularly, and bovines, plural.

Here are the other correct names for cattle.

Heifer, a young female who hasn't had offspring yet.

A spring Heifer means she's expecting a calf.

A freemartin, a sterile female twin born with a male twin. 

(This happens 97% of the time with a male, female twins)

Bull, Intact male used for breeding.

Steer, a castrated male used for meat or companionship.

A calf, is a baby, Heifer calf, girl, and bull calf or Bulock is a boy.

There are over 800 breeds of cattle.

some are used for milk, others beef.

Each breed has certain traits just like dog breeds.

Also just like dogs, personality trumps breed traits.

Cattle are very social animals, there will be a lead cow.

 (a steer can be used as one as well) 

The rest of the herd will follow the lead cow.

Cows make friends. There will be two or three cows who like to hang out with each other.

It has been proven that separation from the cow's "friends" causes physical and emotional stress.

Happy cows provide better milk and more of it.

Research has proven that if you name and care for your cow as an individual they produce more milk and have a lower stress level.

Duh!

Dairy cows must be milked twice a day, usually every 12 hours.

without exception! 

Much to the chagrin of dairy farmers everywhere.

An unmilked cow can suffer extreme pain and even result in illness, sometimes death.

(This is also true for all milking animals, goats sheep etc.)

Cattle are ruminants.

 (as are sheep, giraffe, antelope, and deer, among others)

Ruminants do not have 4 stomachs!

They have one stomach with 4 compartments.

these are called, the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasum.

The rumen is where the food first goes. 

From here it's brought back up to be chewed later, this is called chewing cud. When swallowed the 2nd time it goes to the next compartment.

If you would like to understand how this all works check this out.

ruminant-anatomy-and-physiology.

Cow tipping is a myth.

Cattle do not sleep standing up, horses do. (sometimes)

Cows only sleep for 3 to 5 hours a day.

Also, they have 4 legs and are anywhere from 1000 to 1800 lbs full grown.

It's not so easy to push a cow over. The thing about cattle, if you push on them long enough, they shift their body weight back on you.

Eventually, they will lean on you and you'll be the one on the ground.

haha!

Red does not tick off Bulls.

In fact, cattle are color blind in some shades of red and green.

The reason the bull gets mad is that of the flapping fabric.

 I have seen young calves go after sheets on a clothesline.

They are not sure what that movement is and assume its a threat.

Cattle are extremely curious.

They are one of the most inquisitive creatures that I have ever met.

Perhaps it should be, " Curiosity killed the cow."

Cattle like to lick.

As a greeting, a get-to-know-you kind of thing.

They lick their calves, their friends, and their farmers.

They also have very slimy saliva, they make about 40 gallons of it a day.

Ick!

On that note, stay tuned for cows part 2, coming out tomorrow.

You and your dirty all-stars.

As I have stated before, I like fashion, and being a girl, as well as just being a farm girl. Sometimes these two things work against each other.

I love Converse All Stars. 

I wanted a pair my whole childhood.

  

I never had a pair. 

Aside from the fact that they are upward of $50 and my grandparents were on a fixed income, my grandmother didn't think they offered much support or comfort on the farm.

I am %100 sure she was right, but I still wanted some, pink, preferably. 

I didn't put up a fight or whine until she gave in. (she would never have anyway) I just figured someday I would have them.

Well as I grew up, fell in love and got married, the importance of All-Stars was put on the back burner.

Until one day, the day my husband stopped at a tag sale. 

There they were, in blue and black and 'pink' low top and high tops and white!  

I was in love. 

I bought every pair they had that fit for $5 each. 

I was so excited. My husband couldn't understand my happiness.

I had to explain it.

I saved two pairs for good. ( that means they never, ever go in the barn.) and the other 3 for summer work.

It was about two weeks later, I had a bruised instep a cut heel and blisters all over my toes.

Turned out my Gram was right. 

( there's a shock.) 

All-Stars were not meant for farm work. 

So with sadness in my heart I 86'd the 3 pair that were meant for work. 

They hadn't fared well. 

The fabric was separating from the rubber and the soles had holes.

I kept my two pairs for good and bought myself some steel toed calfskin boots with stain resistant soles. 

So, fashion must be tossed out for farm function. 

I try to find cute and stylish things, but the bottom line is safety and comfort.

I suppose when you're working with a 1700 lb cow something between her and your feet is just plain smart.

Oh, as a side note, yeah, the boots I bought, they didn't last the summer.

Moral of the story, listen to Gram.