Back in 2013, I was regularly milking a couple of Dexter milk cows, including one named Maggie. That cow was the inspiration behind the name of this blog. The kids always asked for a glass of "Maggie's Milk," and I felt like it sort of nicely summed up our life on the farm. … [Read more...]
My Milking Routine for 2017 & the Farm’s New Addition
I've been anxiously awaiting the birth of our calves for about a month. I expected them in March, and the first one just arrived today. While I was beginning to doubt that my cows would ever have a baby, the wait time did give me time to think through my milking routine for this … [Read more...]
Six Reasons I Love On Farm Slaughtering
Yesterday was butcher day! Our two steers have lived a wonderful life of eating hay and munching pastures. But alas, our grass is dead and hay is expensive. The steers kept getting out. These cows were meant to be food, not pets, so butchering had to happen. As I … [Read more...]
When Cows Escape: 5 Tips for Bringing Them Home
"The cows are in the yard Mommy!" Ugh. The cows escape too often this time of year, as they adjust to eating hay and not wonderfully fresh green grass. They are supposed to be in our large holding pen, awaiting butchering later this month. They've escaped so often … [Read more...]
When the Pasture Dries Up
The pasture is turning brown early this year. Almost a full month before normal, the green grasses now look like this: The pasture still has length--just not color! There is one section of grass left for the cows. This remaining section is close to the creek … [Read more...]