kgr's virtual farm field trip

Bo Jangles is the athlete in the herd.  Bojangles is very gentle and allows you to pet him so long as breeding is not taking place.

The herd occasionally takes a dip in the ponds during hot weather days here on the farm. 

Weaning calves can be a traumatic event for calves, but if done correctly, can be a lucrative management tool.    Calves left within hearing of their dams developed new bonds with fewer signs of distress by 3 days after weaning, while calves removed from hearing of their dam took an average of 6 days to show reduced signs of distress.  We have chosen the option of leaving calves within hearing distance of their mother(dam) for less stress.

Beyond watching the clock, there are some signs to look for that a cow and calf need some assistance,  “If the legs present normally and the calf's nose is there, and the calf's tongue or nose starts to swell, that's an indication of delayed progress.” #21 Buttercup's steer calf showed signs of the tongue swelling and caused the need for pulling her calf #21 Peanut...(the weaning calves are the ones making calls to their mothers in the background)

  Colostrum is the first milk produced after a normal dry period and mammary involution, or the first milk secreted by a heifer, and it is an essential part of a newborn calf's survival. As the newborn's first food source, colostrum provides essential nutrients to increase metabolism and stimulate digestive activity.