N is for Nothing

Hi. Today I am sharing a post that I first wrote in 2015. I'm re-posting for two reasons. 

1. I'm feeling a bit under the weather, and I am having a hard time collecting my thoughts into intelligent sentences, and

2. This topic is still relevant and very true here on Bremer Farms. 

Some days nothing goes as planned. Do you ever have those days? Be honest! Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Days like this are not all bad. They are just not always the way we had them planned out in our heads when we crawl out of bed in the morning. For instance...

 

We take the health of our animals very seriously so when our cow Weezy wasn't doing well, Farmer John called our veterinarian. He discovered that she had an obstruction, similar to when people have a bowel obstruction. Sadly Weezy passed away. Cows, like people have a personality. Some you like, others, not as much. Weezy was one of the good ones... always had to hog the cool air from the barn fans and needed her ears scratched at the end of each milking. We'll miss her.

 

Fieldwork took a lot longer than planned today. Farmer John and Grandpa Roy were chopping hay with hopes of finishing the field before the forecast rain begins to fall. After two trips to the implement dealer for needed parts, and some down time for repairs, the majority of the cut hay was chopped and safely tucked in the bunker. 

I'm writing this post at 9:00 PM, and Farmer John is still outside finishing the chores that are normally done before evening milking. His noon lunch, left uneaten, is still waiting for him, even though it is well past dinner time.

In farming, as in nearly all professions, not everyday is perfect, but we face these roadblocks head on. Some days nothing goes as planned, while other days everything falls into place. But don't we need these "nothing goes as planned" days to identify and appreciate the good days?

N Is For Nothing

I'm taking you on a journey from A to Z throughout June Dairy Month.

So come on in...the barn doors are open!

  N Is For Nothing

 

Some days nothing goes as planned. Do you ever have those days? Be honest! Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Days like this are not all bad. They are just not always the way we had them planned out in our heads when we crawl out of bed in the morning. For instance...

 

We take the health of our animals very seriously so when our cow Weezy wasn't doing well, Farmer John called our veterinarian. He discovered that she had an obstruction, similar to when people have a bowel obstruction. Sadly Weezy passed away. Cows, like people have a personality. Some you like, others, not as much. Weezy was one of the good ones... always had to hog the cool air from the barn fans and needed her ears scratched at the end of each milking. We'll miss her.

 

Fieldwork took a lot longer than planned today. Farmer John and Grandpa Roy were chopping hay with hopes of finishing the field before the forecast rain begins to fall. After two trips to the implement dealer for needed parts, and some down time for repairs, the majority of the cut hay was chopped and safely tucked in the bunker. 

I'm writing this post at 9:00 PM, and Farmer John is still outside finishing the chores that are normally done before evening milking. His noon lunch, left uneaten, is still waiting for him, even though it is well past dinner time.

In farming, as in nearly all professions, not everyday is perfect, but we face these roadblocks head on. Some days nothing goes as planned, while other days everything falls into place. But don't we need these "nothing goes as planned" days to identify and appreciate the good days?

Have you entered to win The Dairy Good Cookbook I am giving away?

Click on the Facebook icon on the upper right corner of this page. Click on the giveaway tab when you get to my Facebook page. Bingo! It's that easy!

You may also want to read my previous years posts for June Dairy Month...

N Is For Newborn Calves 

and

N Is For Nine

 

V Is For Veterinarian

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!

  V Is For Veterinarian

Just like you and your family visit a doctor, our veterinarian visits our farm so our cows can receive regular veterinary care, including periodic check-ups, preventative vaccinations and prompt treatment of illness. 

Photo-Google Image Search

 

Sometimes it’s necessary for us to treat cows with antibiotics when they are ill (just like you and your children sometimes need medication when you are sick). All milk is strictly tested for antibiotics on our farm and again at the processing plant. Any milk that tests positive for antibiotics (which is less than one in every 3,000 tankers) is immediately dumped and never enters the food supply. If antibiotics are found during this testing, the farmer responsible for the milk is required to pay for the full tanker of milk, and runs the risk of losing their license to produce milk. We take the safety of our milk VERY SERIOUSLY! Milk and dairy products are among the most stringently regulated foods in this country, and we as dairy farmers are proud of that.

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...W Is For Websites

 

Late Night Visitor

We had a late night visitor last night, just as we finished milking. One of our cows that had just had her calf earlier that day, was having signs of milk fever. She was having tremors in her muscles which eventually led to her laying down, and not able to get up. We never take the "wait and see" approach when it comes to our animals. The veterinarian was called, and within a short time Vet Dave was at our farm. 

Milk fever is caused by low blood calcium levels after a cow has calved. Milk and colostrum production drains the blood of calcium, and some cows are unable to replace the calcium quickly enough. Vet Dave injected a calcium solution into the cow to replenish the calcium she needs. She will not be milked for the next 24 hours, and then gradually increase her milking for the next 2-3 days.

We work closely with our veterinarians to keep our cows healthy and comfortable. Our commitment to providing high-quality milk begins with taking good care of our cows.

A Lot Of Babies

"Hi again. It's me, Flat Aggie from California. Remember me? You first met me when Jan and John took me to the Midwest Dairy Expo. It's time for me to share another adventure with Miss Sarah's first grade class, and you too. It's colder in Minnesota, than California, so Jan made me a coat and hat to keep me warm while I helped FEED CALVES!"

This is the calf "hotel." Each calf gets it's own room!

"Daughter Sara and Grandma Karen take care of the calves on the family farm. Each calf lives in it's own pen, in a solar building. The word "solar" means the sun provides the heat and the light for the building. The calves are fed every morning and every evening. Each calf has 2 buckets on the front of their pen, one for milk and one for feed. The calves like to drink warm milk. When they are finished, they 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!"

 I helped Sara feed calves, after she got home from teaching school.

"Sara and Grandma also keep the building clean. They sweep the floor everyday, and give the calves clean straw to lay on. This keeps them clean and comfortable so they stay healthy. And just like people, if a calf does get sick, they get medicine. That's one of Grandma's jobs. The farm also has visits from the veterinarian (animal doctor) to make sure the animals stay healthy. In the last 14 days, 15 calves have been born! That's a lot of babies!"

Grandma Karen and I with a 1-day-old calf.

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!