Dora's Eggs

Dora is a chicken. Since I grew up on a farm with cows and chickens, I like to read about chickens too!

Dora loved her eggs. She thought they were beautiful and wanted everyone to come and see them, but what changed her mind?

Just like Dora, we love when there are new babies on our farm.

 Every new calf  (or kitten) born seems as exciting as the first one! 

And every new calf is just as cute (or cuter) than the last.

Giggle, Giggle, Quack

Today we have a story, a craft, and a BIG (actually rather little) surprise for you! 

Today's book is Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin.

Here is the link for today's project.

https://docs.google.com/…/2PACX-1vRxZDzR9SUTA3NOr4R7fgg…/pub

Look for new story times each week Monday-Friday. Today's book is Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. You can learn more about today's book by going to https://doreencronin.com/books/click-... To learn more about Bremer Farms check out the links below: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mybarnyardview/ Blog https://mybarnyardview.blogspot.com/ Instagram @mybarnyardview

Cows Can't Fly

Maybe cows can't fly, but they can do other amazing things. After I read the book, Sara will take you on a tour of our calf barn!

Today's book is Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim. 

You can learn more about today's book by going to https://davidmilgrim.com/books-1 To learn more about Bremer Farms check out the links below: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mybarnyardview/ Blog https://mybarnyardview.blogspot.com/ Instagram @mybarnyardview

Our Herd Increases

There is a baby boom at Bremer Farms!

We have had 28 calves born in 26 days.

 Each calf weighs about 90 pounds and can stand and walk, all within minutes of being born. Our newborn calves are fed colostrum, which is the first milk from the mama cow. Calves receive colostrum within hours of birth to receive antibodies from their mom, which protect them against disease in their early life. During the cold winter months each calf is outfitted with a coat to help them stay warm and comfortable.

 Like snowflakes, no two calves have exactly the same pattern of spots. This little cutie, although red and white is still a Holstein. Typically Holstein cows and calves are black and white, however the red and white Holsteins are a product of recessive genes. Do you see the black spot to the right of this calf? That's her calf coat...the coat that is supposed to keep her warm. Yep, this little stinker shimmied out of it, but not for long. After this picture was taken, she was bundled up again. We want our babies to be comfy!

Speaking of increasing the herd-

Here is the newest additions to my "indoor" herd. Since we live on a dairy farm, cows just keep appearing! Family and friends see them, and before you can say "Moo" they are in my hands. You see, if you know me, you know I love cows, and sometimes it's nice to enjoy the kind you don't have to feed or clean-up after! Thanks to church friends Turney and Ruth, co-worker Barb, and cousin Alex for the new bovines!

N Is For Newborn Calves

It's June Dairy Month! The barn doors are open, 

so join me on my daily A to Z journey 

to learn more about dairy. 

 

  N Is For Newborn Calves

 

Hi, I'm Paddy.

I'm only 4 days old! I weigh about 90 pounds and can stand and walk, all within minutes of being born. A newborn calf is fed colostrum, which is the first milk from a cow. I received colostrum within hours of birth to receive antibodies from my mom, which protect me against disease in my early life.

 

You can call me Ursala!

Each of us lives in our own pen, in a solar building. The word "solar" means the sun provides the heat and the light for the building. After birth, we calves are separated from our mothers to ensure the best individual care and monitoring for me and my mom! I will live in my own pen for 2-3 months.

 

Howdy, I'm Hilde! 

We are fed every morning and every evening. Each calf has 2 buckets on the front of our pen, one for milk and one for feed. We like to drink warm milk. When finished, we get lots of fresh water to drink too. The youngest calves get special feed made from corn, oats and molasses. It smells really good! The older calves get feed without molasses, but they must really like it, because they moo a lot until they get fed!"

 

Bremer Farms Calf Hotel

 

 

Visit Dairy Makes Sense

Pass The Popcorn, Please!

If you read my previous post, Cold Enough For You? you know that we are in the middle of a deep freeze. Local schools are cancelled for a second day due to the freezing temperatures and the bone-chilling winds. Here on the farm we are still diligently working hard to keep our animals (and ourselves) comfortable in this crazy weather.

Last night as we were finishing our nightly milking, Snookie decided minus 24 degrees was the perfect temperature for delivering her calf. Actually, I don't think she had much of a choice in the ETA (estimated time of arrival)! Delivery went smoothly, and her beautiful red Holstein heifer (girl) calf is doing great! 

Steam rises from Snookie's baby girl with the below 0 temperatures. She is only 5 minutes old in this photo, and after a rub down with warm towels, she was eager to stand up.

 

When we are finished with our chores, and have checked on our animals one last time to make sure they are safe and comfortable in these frigid temperatures, I think tonight is a perfect time to sit back, relax, put my feet up, (yep, new cow slippers, thanks to Sara)...and watch a movie. Pass the popcorn please!

Three- Cheese Popcorn

Toss 16 cups hot popcorn with 2 cups shredded cheddar, 1 cup grated parmesan and 1/2 cup grated pecorino; spread on baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheddar melts, 3 minutes. Season with salt, if desired. 

Thanks to Food Network Magazine for this recipe.

This And That Thursday - 5

A little bit of this and a little bit of that- here's what we've been up to. 

 

Meet Hilde, one of the three new heifer (girl) calves born this week. She gets plenty of attention to keep her happy and healthy so that when she gets older she will join the herd to produce milk. 

 

Alex taking a chocolate milk break. Even Power Rangers need to refuel. Alex's mommy sent me this photo. Do you have a favorite photo showing a dairy food or farm moment? If so, click on the Contact Me tab and send it my way. It may be featured on my blog!

This week we celebrated Michael's birthday by Cheering on the Minnesota Vikings. Perhaps our cheering wasn't loud enough, since the Vikes were not victorious, but it was still a great time!

Tomorrow is the last day to cast your vote for our Minnesota Vikings/farm photo in the Show Your Pride contest. Thanks for your votes!

This And That Thursday- 1

A new baby is born! Yes, my blog is hatching a new feature. "This And That Thursday" will become a weekly feature where I will update you on what's happening on the farm, in our lives, with our dairy promotion, you know, life in general. This gives me an opportunity to share what we have been doing, but sometimes our tidbits don't require an entire blog post to fill you in. Thus, "This And That Thursday" is born!

Remember back in August when I launched My Very First Giveaway? I later announced Randy K. W. as the winner. Randy was nice enough to snap this photo at the Dairy Goodness Bar, at the Minnesota State Fair, where he presented his coupons for the 4 free malts he won. I bet he didn't mind receiving the 4 admission tickets to the Fair either. 

It is obvious how far the irrigation water reached at the corner of this field.

This week I was again contacted by WCCO Radio, our local CBS affiliate, about the effect the drought is having on farm crops, as we near harvest. I explained that we are in the moderate drought (some crop damage) area, but farmers just 50 miles north of us are seeing severe drought (crop loss likely) conditions. We at Bremer Farms are blessed to have mostly irrigated land, but Mother Nature's FREE water is even more of a blessing. I also shared how soybean farmers are affected by the drought since dry weather restricts the soybean pod from filling to the fullest. Our dry fall may also affect how much fall tillage (preparing the soil for spring planting) we are able to do.

We are baling our third crop hay. Farmer John has been baling round bales to feed our dairy cows and steers. You can read more about baling at Hey Hay, Looky Here!

And two baby girls joined the herd! Meet Annabelle. She stole my heart. Shhh...don't tell the others.

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

G Is For Growing

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z through the land of dairy! 

There's no need to pack your bags, just come along!

  G is for Growing.

A newborn calf weighs about 90 pounds and can stand and walk, all within minutes of being born. The newborn calf is fed colostrum, which is the first milk from a cow. It receives colostrum within hours of birth to receive antibodies from its mom, which protect the calf against disease in its early life. Our calves are housed in individual pens and fed milk twice daily until they are about 2 months old.

At this time the calves are moved to group pens and no longer drink milk, just lots of water, grain and hay. Size and age are used to determine when heifers should be bred. Typically this is when they are 12-15 months old. She will be
pregnant for 9 months. A cow gives birth to her first calf at about 2 years.

Cows usually have 1 calf per year and usually one calf at a time, but they can have twins or even triplets. When a dairy cow gives birth, it is called calving or freshening. A cow must give birth to produce milk. If this is not the first time a cow is giving birth, she will already be a milk cow. If so, two months before a cow gives birth, she takes a rest from milking to grow her calf. At this time, she is called a dry cow. 

No matter what stage of life our "girls" are in, their care and comfort is our number one priority; after all they are the future of our herd!

Source- University of Minnesota, Google image search

  

Learn more about dairy at Dairy Makes Sense

 
I am making a commitment to share as much as I can with you each day this month, about the life of our dairy farm family including what we do, how we share our passion for dairy, and dairy foods we enjoy.

 See you here tomorrow...H is for Holstein.

Kiss Me I'm Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day from our Barnyard!

Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

Isn't everyone a wee bit Irish today? 

Our First Arrival of 2013

Meet our newest member of the herd!
Born on January 4, 2013
Weight- 89 pounds
Height- 30 inches
Proud Parents and Grandparents welcome their little girl!

We are pleased to welcome our newest arrival to our herd. She will be treated like royalty so she can grow up big and strong. After all, she is the future of our herd, and will someday deliver high-quality milk for you. We are strongly committed to providing a nutritious diet, good medical care and healthy living conditions to all our animals, from the first day they arrive!

Congratulations! It's a Girl!

Hannah Holstein at the Minnesota State Fair
Day 5

 
There is one place I enjoy visiting even though it is something I see often on our farm. I love going to the Miracle of Birth Center. During the 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair we can see many calves, piglets, sheep, and goats welcomed into the world. No matter what age the fair-goer, the expression on their faces is the same...WOW! The birthing process is truly a miracle. 

 Just like the "miracle workers" at the Fair, Dairy Farmers provide comfortable, safe  and clean conditions for both the cow and the calf during the birthing process and afterward. Prior to giving birth, the pregnant cow is housed in a birthing pen filled with soft straw where she is given individual care and attention.

During the birth of a calf, a close eye is kept on both cow and calf to ensure the health of both animals. Dairy Farmers and their veterinarians are available to provide assistance if needed. After birth, calves are separated from their mothers to ensure the best individual care and monitoring. We bottle-feed our calves individually to make sure they receive good nutrition.

 As of the ninth day of the Fair, fair visitors have welcomed 10 calves, 103 piglets, 17 lambs and 6 goats into the world. 

Let's go celebrate! Raise a glass of cold, refreshing milk at the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Booth. We are welcoming 136 new miracles to the Fair. Cheers!