The Cube

This morning we were greeted by Grace and her new calf, a bull.  Is it a coincidence that Grace calved on a Sunday morning? Maybe. Probably not.

Our new calf pens are 90% finished!  Here is "the cube"

In front of the new barn, we made three new pens.  Each pen has a super-hutch, a 10-bar Braden milk bar feeder, and 10 calves.

Under each feeder are two cement slabs out of an old hog barn.  They are slated so water drain through, yet they protect the feeding area from becoming a mud hole.  This also helps the calves be at the correct height for the feeder.  This pen is being weaned this week. They get milk in the morning only, for one week.  They have grain and water available all the time.

This pen was weaned last week. In the morning they get water in their feeder, to satisfy the suckling need that calves have.  Eventually they will tire of the feeder and stop going to it.  They will get water in the morning for no more than one week.  They also have grain and fresh pasture available.

This pen was weaned a couple of weeks ago.  While the feeder is still on their gate, they do not get milk or water in it.  They get a pail of grain each morning and pasture.  The feeder will be left on their gate until we see that they no longer show interest in it.  By leaving it in there, they will suckle the feeder and not the other calves, which may cause udder health issues when the calves are older.

This year I took all the milk I needed to the new pens using a wagon.  It was nice to only make one trip.  Water is available from the new barn, and the calf pens are on their own electric fence system, so we can unplug it right there at the pens, keeping the rest of the farm's fence hot.  I've also noticed that the calves have not been spooked so much since they are not by the road.

We also got to bring home these guys recently!  We start them in a hutch until they're eating well and have adjusted, then we move them to a larger pen on pasture.  The pigs are always fun.  Taste great, too!

We're trying to finish up planting.  Its taking a bit longer since the drill broke down, but that is nothing more than a mere bump in the road.  The alfalfa is not quite to bud stage, so we should still be on time for first cutting.  Its hard not to feel rushed as you see the other farmers getting their hay done.  It reminds me that we cannot get caught up in comparing ourselves to others.  We need to do what is right for us, which is getting the planting done first, then the hay.

We had two sermons this weekend on discipleship.  It was interesting how they differed so much in delivery, tone, and presentation of the gospel-yet at the end they were both the same. We are to go, follow Christ, and make disciples.  This looks different for everyone.  Some may be called to actually go to far off places and converse with people.  Some may be called to go to the neighbors...or their own dining table.  The key is to listen to what God is trying to tell you, have faith-then GO.

-Terri