While we were fencing over Memorial Day weekend, we got a baby heifer calf on Sunday, May 29th!  She was standing up within a half hour of birth!  We didn’t realize how fast they get their strength.  It was pretty amazing!  We got the last pasture finished but are waiting a week before moving them to finish off the pasture they are currently in.

On June 2nd we had a traumatic experience losing a baby bull calf.  The cow was a first time mother and had trouble birthing.  We called the vet who saved the mom, but it was too late for the calf.  So sad, and it was hard not to feel guilty, or feel that we should have been able to help somehow.  Part of farming is letting go of these experiences, but it is very hard.  Good news is that the cow is doing well so we are thankful for that.  We have had mostly good experiences with our cows so far- so we need to concentrate on all the good things we have done, and how well the cattle are doing.  We started out with 8 head, and now we have 13!  The herd is growing every year, and we are looking forward to getting 7 or 8 bred for calves next summer.  Our friend and mentor, Mary C Anderson, who is a grazing specialist, has helped us out by leasing us a bull again this summer.  We plan to get him in July.  And, life on the farm goes on…

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