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Author: glenda

Published on Leave a comment on Treating Pinkeye in Calves

Treating Pinkeye in Calves

This is 'Patches', Clarisse's calf. He was born a few weeks ago. He has pinkeye. We thought we'd gotten ahead of it with the rest of the herd, but patches eye was teary and we didn't want to take any chances. At the first sign of irritation we start treatment. The protocol we follow consists of a booster shot of vitamins A, D, & E,  cod liver oil (administered orally), cleaning the surrounding area with tea tree oil, and spraying the eye with Vetericyn HydroGel Spray  A patch, glued in place over the eye, will fall off in about three weeks.  By that time the eye will be completely healed. Through trial and error, working with our veterinarian for a couple years, this is the treatment that's been most effective for us. Dry weather and tall grass seem to exacerbate pink eye. We aren't milking Clarisse during Patches' healing time. We don't want him stressed. When his eye has recovered,  Clarisse and Patches will be separated at night. She'll be milked first thing in the morning and reunited with Patches during the day time.  The past two summers' weather has been a challenge in more ways than one, but Patches is doing great, now.

Using Tear Mender and old denim Keith makes a patch which he shapes to fit the calves eye.  We buy livestock tag adhesive to adhere the material to the calf.

 

 

 

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Published on 1 Comment on Successful Farming
Successful Farming Magazine May, 1952
Successful Farming Magazine May, 1952

This is the cover of Successful Farming Magazine for May, 1952. Notice where the sows are?  They're living outside. The tractor's moving the house to new ground.  That's successful farming!

Here's how the caption describes the picture:

"It's pasture time on the Williamson farm in Indiana. The first to go are the sows and pigs. Right behind them are the houses, feeders and waterers. Willimson likes to have the farrowing houses close at hand for winter farrowing, but pasture gets the nod for late-spring and fall pigs. They're farrowed right out on the alfalfa-brome-Ladino pasture.

Pictured on this month's cover is one of  Williamson's individual-type farrowing houses being moved from the winter location to pasture. The pigs seen in this picture were farrowed in early April. After weaning, the pigs are shifted to range houses, making the individual houses available for June-farrowed pigs.

The pastures are rotated each year as a precaution against disease. ...All equipment, including feeders, waterers, and houses, is on skids and can be easily moved."

Here are pictures of sows in the current method used on most hog farms...Is this what successful farming looks like today?

Published on Leave a comment on Grazed Lamb – The Healthiest Meat
Leg of lamb roast
Leg of lamb roast

Omega 3 fatty acid is essential for human and animal health. It plays a vital role in boosting immunity, disease resistance, creating anti-inflammatory responses to infection, and reduces the risk of heart disease and blood clots. Leading British ruminant nutritionist Cliff Lister says, “Grass-based diets encourage lean muscle development rather than fat, meaning that grass-fed beef and lamb is typically leaner than meat produced from silage or grain-fed stock and contains a higher level of omega-3 fatty acids.”

Click here for Roast leg of lamb Recipe

Forest Hill Farm's lamb is 100% grass fed. The sheep graze in our organic pastures.

 

 

Published on Leave a comment on A beautiful place
Looking across the field to Norway Lutheran Church.
Looking across the field to Norway Lutheran Church

Everyday I feel lucky to live in such a beautiful place.  This picture was taken at sunset looking across our field to the Norway Lutheran Church, which is a truly beautiful place, too.

"I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own." -Andy Warhol

 

Published on Leave a comment on The Hay Curse
Making Hay
Making Hay

Rusty Little was cursed. He was blessed in all areas of life except the weather. It never cooperated with him. His neighbors who made hay were blessed by this curse. Watching Rusty's field they knew when, or when not to, mow hay.

There's a little breakfast spot where the farmers meet for coffee after morning chores. Rusty was always there laughing, talking, and making deals. The discussion always turned to each farmer's schedule. When you drive through the countryside you'll notice how many farms have hay laying in the fields at the same time. When Rusty Little made hay his was the only field mowed. When Rusty announced, “I'm making hay today,” every farmer would nod, making a mental note to wait a few more days before mowing their fields. Nothing ruins hay like rain.

I'd never know Rusty to get through an entire season without at least one hay crop getting rained on. Like everyone else, Rusty watched the weather religiously. No matter the forecast, Rusty's weather luck always ran out. A pop-up shower would stall above his field, letting loose. The other farmers were grateful that Rusty carried the curse. Sad, but grateful. They made better hay because of it. A typical conversation between farmers would go something like this:

“Hey, John. I was thinking of going Walleye fishing today if you'd like to join me.”

“Thanks, but I'm making hay this week. It looks like perfect weather.”

“Rusty's mowing hay this week.”

“Oh. When's he starting?”

“This afternoon.”

“Well, I guess I'll go fishing instead. Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it!”

“Poor Rusty.” Both men would say, shaking their heads.

A few years ago Rusty quit making hay. Now the entire group shares the curse. No one farmer carries it alone. Yesterday our friend Ron mowed his field. Last night half an inch of rain fell. Bless his soul, Rusty's finally ahead.

Published on Leave a comment on Bee Trivia

How many different types of honey is there in the United States?

The bees are active again after the morning rain
The bees are active again after the morning rain

The color and flavor of honeys differ depending on the nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the honey bees. In fact, there are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the United States, each originating from a different floral source. Honey color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor varies from delectably mild to distinctively bold, depending on where the honey bees buzzed. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is stronger. Source: The National Honey Board

Published on Leave a comment on Sounds of September
Miley
Miley

Now that September is here the air conditioner is off and the windows are wide open. At night I've been running the fan, not because it's hot but to drown out the insect's singing. When I fall asleep the crickets, locusts, grasshoppers and others joining in the evening symphony seem far off and distant. However, if I wake up during the night their sound is overwhelming. It's loud, it's close, it's intense. So much for quiet country living. A couple hours before dawn the coyotes start their own mournful calls. Lying awake I try to judge their distance from the barn, sheep in the pasture, and turkey pen. One morning, a couple of years ago, while he was walking to the catch the school bus, Garrett saw a coyote take a turkey. The bird was too heavy for the coyote to carry while being chased by a young boy. The coyote dropped the turkey, there weren't any nasty gashes or wounds, at least not visible. The turkey walked around the yard, feathers plumped up for a day or two but he didn't recover. That same week Miley was dumped in town and found wandering. A friend called and asked if we could take her. We tried finding her owner, no luck. She's such a nice dog that we decided to keep her. Since she and Maisey have been at the farm we haven't lost anymore livestock to coyotes.

Turkey and ducks
Turkey and ducks

 

Cookie and I were in the barn having a great visit. He was explaining to me the value of petrocurrency. Anyway, in walked the flock of ducks, the pleasant conversation ended. We couldn't hear anything above the noise from those ducks. Cookie pointed out that of all the animals on the farm the ducks are the only ones who make a singular sound. The cattle have a range of vocals. So do the sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Ducks, however make only one sound. It's loud, it doesn't vary, and it's incessant. When ducks start talking you can hardly hear yourself think. A sign of the times perhaps...we finished our conversation by texting each other.

Published on Leave a comment on Bees and calves

 

I love September. There's still plenty of summer left but the subtle changes are starting to appear. The trees in the timber are a little less green, the pumpkins and butternut squash are ripening while their vines are starting to wither. The apples are turning sweeter with the last blast of hot weather and the bees are busier than ever. Best of all, Clarise had a healthy calf on September 1. Last year she lost her calf to coyotes or, as the vet thought, a large cat because the injuries were consistent with a predator coming down from the trees on top of her. Clarise and Alice, along with their calves, are closer to the barn so they're safe and easy to bring in for milking.