And about those due dates.....

So, as far as my experience goes, being 4 years owning registered Holsteins and 6 years with the miniature Herefords; if you know when your animals are bred, and keep track of the breeding / due date, more often than not, if the calf comes earlier than the due date, it will be a heifer (don't ask me why...) and if the cow goes to the due date or beyond, chances are good it will be a bull. At least that has been my experience over the years.

Of course I have a breeding / due date calender taped up inside my kitchen cupboard next to the dinner plates, and most of my family calendar is my girls appointments, sport schedules and cow breeding dates (with repeat breeding dates penciled in so I don't forget to be extra vigilant to watch....). That being said, I usually (but not all the time...) know when and whats going to be happening here (for the most part.....)

So thats kind of an interesting observation I've made over the years I thought someone may find interesting...

I'd love to know if anyone else has had the same experience....

Polled Miniature Hereford bulls; Hawkeye prodigy for 2011

Little Misty, born Sunday August 14. Polled heifer. Sire: Hawkeye

Onyx and Goliath...Half - brothers. Sire: Hawkeye . These young polled bulls are being offered for sale. They will make anyone top rate herd sires. Please contact me for additional information. They are halter broke and tie. Hand gentle and calm.

Onyx. Registered Miniature Hereford polled bull; excellent outcross bull @ 4 months / weaned.

Goliath, registered Miniature Hereford polled bull, out of herd matriarch Miss Piggy, also @4 months / weaned.

Meet the Newest and Last Miniature Hereford Calf of 2011

Here is our newest and last calf for the season here on the farm; meet little Misty Storm...born on a Sunday, August14th,between 9 and 11 pm. It was a stormy day, with thundershowers; the next morning dawned foggy (hence then name....) It was dark when I went out after the 11 o'clock news to double check the gate to the barnyard where I had the mom-to-be for the night. As I walked out toward the barn I heard that all too familiar soft mooing from the cow; the flashlight beam found momma and a little white face, already up on its feet. I tried to get close enough to see if it was a heifer or bull, but momma wanted no part of that strange blue light walking toward her new baby...they seemed to be fine, so i left well enough alone until next morning, windows open in case any sounds of distress....

I must confess it was a bit like waiting for Christmas morning; waiting to see what I really got as a gift...dawn finally came and i was delighted to find a lovely little heifer up and about in the barnyard, mother close by her side.

This is another Hawkeye calf, and, as all the others, she is polled.

Blessed :)

Veterinarians

Thank goodness for our great veterinarians we have out here....I don't know how I would function without them. Although I rarely need them for the mini's, when I do need them, I can even request a specific vet (shown here, veterinarian Rob Wilson of the Perry Vet Service, Perry NY, with a final year vet student assisting) to come out to the farm. Rob has been my vet of choice since the first day he showed up at the farm...I was and continue to be so impressed by his gentle and patience manner in handling the cattle, and trust me, there has been a time or two when we had an impromptu mini rodeo here...!

If theres a question about a medicine, dosage, or anything, their very capable staff in the office relays the info to the right source and I get a phone call from the office staff or the vet himself.

I've had to deal with other folks from other locales and cannot believe the hassle and grief some of these folks have to deal with when getting vet work done.

When its time to ship out of state, the vet will call the office staff, ask what tests and blood work / shipping papers are required for that particular state, they do the research, the vet does the work and we are ready to ship within a week to ten days.I have never had to chase down paperwork or test results ...I guess I'm pretty spoiled!

Here the vet is giving the weaned calves their vaccinations... and might as well have 'em do the tattooing as well (I HATE doing that ...figure if they are here anyway.......) .

Another day with the miniature Herefords

Early morning: up for water and hay.

Been enjoying the mornings and afternoons watering and feeding and taking pictures.

I am anticipating our last calf, due to be born here soon. Her due date is Aug. 20th, but looks to me like she may go earlier...and thats a good thing, as, from my experience, early usually means heifer...and I could sure use a heifer this year...(since its been a bull season so far )

Miniature Herefords, miniature everything...

I just had to get a picture to post of our neighbor (the one we buy our hay from, etc) who so graciously offered to come over last night and help us finish cleaning out the barn and barnyard from (yes), last winter.

If you recall, it rained so much this spring we had to postpone the clean out (we started) because it was simply too wet to even drive on the fields...

Now that we've dried out, its time to finish the job.

So my neighbor came over with one of his "smaller" tractors to load what was left of the manure / bedding into our ground driven spreader (that we pull with our 4wheeler).

Needless to say, its obvious EVERYTHING is pretty miniature here....

Miniature Hereford

Summer pasture.

Motherhood

I just love this cow.
Everything about her.... her kind eyes, perfectly turned horns (natural, no weights) broad nose and huge bulk, flawless coat...no nonsense but sweet disposition and excellent mothering...
Miss Piggy (aka Kentucky Ranger) is queen of the barnyard and pastures.
I feel blessed to have this beautiful, gentle giant of a miniature Hereford gracing my property.

More Miniature Herefords...Peaceful days in fresh pasture

Been enjoying a break from the heat and humidity of last week....a refreshing breeze is coming from the north, and its almost as if one can hear the grass, corn, cows, collectively breathe a sigh of relief. Here are some pictures from this morning as the cattle were grazing in the new pasture that was formerly an overgrown field of brush....

(this field had been mowed (brush hogged) about 45 days ago, and has been frost seeded over the years as well).

From top to bottom:

Herd on grass

Miss Piggy and bull calf Goliath @ 4 months

Onyx @ 4 months

Miniature Herefords on New Pasture!

Finally, the fence i began in summer 2009 has been completed! We had alot of rain last summer, so the pastures were in good shape all season; this year its a different story. My girls went to summer camp for a week, and I FINALLY had the uninterrupted time to work on completing the fence....getting the wire up, insulators, gates, etc, and doing it right, which takes time.

Best part by far is calling the cattle as I walked through the gate into the new pasture....they come running when I call them, regardless of where they are...they know something new (or food) is in the offing when I give the "holler". The trotting turned to full out running and bucking, stopping to SEE the fence, sniff, then more running and bucking as they explored a brand-new never before pasture field for the very first time

.I have to say, they didn't settle in to eating for about 15 minutes...

.Here are some pictures from the initial first few minutes.

A very satisfying morning!.

Miniature Herefords and NO SOLICITING..

You know, this has been bugging me for quite a while now, so much so that I feel it must be addressed.It just burns me when certain people use this web_site to hawk their business "wares" .

I don't have the time to scroll through my e-mails sorting out legitimate inquiries and an ever-increasing amount of "spam".

Please folks, if you want to contact me about the cattle, or content of this web-site or blog, by all means feel free.

For those who cruise the Internet looking for web-sites with contacts, please, get a life, and STOP using other peoples hard work and shared interests as a jumping off point for your sales pitches...

Please; NO SOLICITING.

Thanks

Miniature Herefords: The Morning Feed

A quiet morning, it has cooled off a bit. Animals in the barnyard for hay and water. There are cattle across from the barn also, not pictured.

Onyx and Goliath at the right of picture.

It is one of my favorite times of day.

Miniature Herefords, heat and drought

So first , this spring, it simply would NOT STOP RAINING. It rained all through April I recall, and the fields remained super-saturated with standing water for weeks it seemed. Finally the fields began to dry out, and slowly the farmers got their corn and soybeans in, a good 6 weeks late.

Then, it STOPPED. Raining, that is. The last time it rained was June 22. Really. Which for here (Finger Lakes New York State) is a bit unusual......so, now we have drought. Which, for here, is also a bit unusual.

And it got hot -- REALLY hot. Upper 80's and yesterday marked Rochester's first "heatwave" of 2011, meaning 5 consecutive days with temperatures over 90. (rare here...) Yesterday hit 98 (and remember, we get that fabulous humidity with the heat, too) and winds up to 45 mph, so it felt like a blast furnace when one walked outside....which I did as little of as possible. A small town 40 miles south of us hit 101, another, 100....which again, is just darn hot ANYWHERE.

So of course, I'm concerned about my animals...I get up real early, run cool water into the tubs, feed hay, (the pastures are pretty much dormant, not much growing going on....) fly control....by 8 they are down for the day.

I thought I would document exactly what my cattle do on those hot days....they just find a shady spot, and sleep through the heat.....they seem to like the spot out back under some pine trees along my neighbors stockade fence...its breezy, shady and soft dirt. And there they will stay, until about 3 or 4pm, when they'll head back to the barnyard, check for water, get fed again, and begin their evening / night grazing.....

And sometimes the Cowbirds help with the fly control as well....the cows don't seem to mind at all....

First picture is our neighboring farm / farmland in the summer haze....you can see the wheat fields that have just been harvested. This farm (Neenan Farm, Lima NY) is where all our hay and straw comes from for our livestock. We are fortunate to have them as our neighbors; they are award winning area farmers and great stewards of the land; growing corn, wheat, oats, soybeans and hay. They also raise Holstein replacement heifers and Angus for the beef market.

Onxy, polled miniature Hereford bull calf for sale...

Here are some pictures of Onyx.

He is just short of 4 months old here. His color is darker than when he was born (his sire is a very rich deep burgandy...) and he looks to be balanced and thick (so far...).

Onxy's mother is a DLT Red Pride daughter. His sire is Hawkeye, whose bloodlines can be seen on his sale page link.

This bull would make anyone a fantastic outcross bull, and, he is FRIENDLY!!

Onxy will be available after weaning, and, will be halter trained...

Thats his buddy Goliath with him.

Miniature Hereford heifer and her dam

Well it has been a while since last post, and I do apoligize to those who do check in to see what is up here on the farm!

Been moving cattle here and there, over and across the driveway; penning, sorting, vaccinating, etc etc.

Things have been pretty quiet, the two polled bull calves are growing beautifully, filling out, they both look to be superior herd sire prospects (I wouldnt keep them as bulls if they were not up to my standards....). Our vet even commented on how nice they looked...and (again) that the animals are a bit on the fat side....but since they get nothing but pasture all summer, I guess theres not much I can do to keep them from eating....

I have finally figured out my new camera, so hopefully I will have it with me when I go out to tend the animals and stop taking the pictures with my old BlackBerry.....(sorry...)!

I would like to post current pictures Hawkeyes offspring....3 so far, and one due next month.

I am more than pleased with the quality of his babies, and every one has been polled. They are friendly, frisky, well balanced and smaller than their dams! What more could one ask for?

Anyway, here are two pictures; the top picture is a fine heifer, Sprite, out of Hawkeye, at 15 months. The next picture is her dam .

Polled Miniature hereford bull calf for sale

Thought I would get this picture up asap.

Dam: Emerald; Sire: Hawkeye

Onyx was born March 20 2011, is approx. 10 weeks old here. Onyx is polled, and will be available after weaning this late summer / early fall.

More details will be posted on the sale page as soon as it gets updated.

Thanks for looking !

Miniature Hereford bull, Hawkeye. June 2011

Just could not resist a beautiful day, the animals slick and getting fat on grass..

Here is Hawkeye, our current polled herd sire..

He is being offered for sale this fall...

If you look closely at the first picture, you can see his replacement in the background peering over from across the driveway; yearling polled bull SSR Winchester..

Please contact for details.

Newborn Calves, keeping watch, and the Miniature Hereford

A neighbor of mine has a few miniature Herefords he bought recently. He has a nice set up a couple miles down the road where he kept a few head of traditional size beefers as well as the minis. This is the gentleman who bought our original herd sire, Mr. Bull.

As with all livestock owners, talk is usually about the weather, feed, cows, calves, fences, pastures, etc, and I was excited to hear his cows were due to calve soon.

I was very sad when I heard he had lost a young calf earlier this winter, part of a cow / calf pair he purchased to begin his herd with. Apparently the calf climbed into a feed manger and could not get out; after a very cold night, she did not survive despite his attempts at warming her when she was discovered the next morning. This gentleman has daily contact with his herd, (one has to drive right past his barnyard and barn en route to his house) so it must have happened after the feeding was done for the evening.

Today I learned his other heifer had calved, but the calf didn't make it. For some reason the calf did not get up to nurse quick enough; it did not get its first drink of colostrum (mothers first milk) till almost 24 hours...I didn't ask for the details, and felt awful for his loss.

As stated before, this fellow has daily contact with his herd, he sees them morning and evening, and in between if he's not at work. Still, he lost two calves. I mess with my animals at least twice daily, can see them for the most part from my windows with very few places they are hidden from view, and I too lost a calf that was born "out of sight" for a few hours.

It surprises me how often I hear folks talk of getting a few head to put on their "land" somewhere out of town, or somewhere they visit or vacation at once in a while....with not a soul around when they are at their real homes and jobs. Cattle are not mowing machines. One cannot just "drop them off" to fend for themselves (well, I suppose you can, if you don't mind injuries, missing breeding's or calves, loose animals, losses ,etc) just for the sake of "having" them. Any seasoned herdsman will agree; you have to tend to your stock. That does not mean dumping them off for the summer somewhere and "checking on them" on holiday weekends or, keeping one as a "mascot" (yes, really!!)...not unless you really don't care if you end up with less animals than when you started (which would be what point, exactly?)

Raising livestock should be treated as a business, your animals are an asset. You manage your assets for maximum return, and do what it takes to achieve that. And that, generally, means keeping an eye on things on a daily basis (I am speaking of farming out East...I know its a whole different ball game when it comes to ranching out West).

When I hang over a gate and stare at my animals ,(much to the chagrin of my family...) I am not daydreaming (well, most of the time I'm not unless its about a new barn with headlocks and concrete.....). I am taking care of my investment. Watching the way the animals move, eat, relate to one another. Are they up, down, ears normal, eyes clear, noses pink and damp? Are they chewing their cud, agitated? With the herd, or off on their own? Quiet or noisy and why? Its not work, it is insurance.....It is one reason it is hard (for me) to be away...gates closed, water tanks filled? Fencer working? No one here will be watching that closely, and for the most part everything will be fine....but I always wonder, and ask, "are the cows ok?"

There are times I help a newborn calf to its feet, or clean off its little snotty nose; help move it to a cleaner place so it does not skid on manure, or fall into a hot fence.... There are times that the calf, for whatever reason, cannot get to momma for that first critical drink of milk, which, ideally, should be within the hour of birth... On several occasions I have actually milked momma (remember, I had a dairy herd years ago) into a calf baby bottle and fed that calf colostrum, standing or not. It is that critical, I don't care how they get it in them initially!

It is good to be aware, be on watch, look after your livestock as much as you can. Especially here in the east, with the small size of the herds, the folks just starting out trying to build their herds; its very tough to loose even one cow or calf for whatever reason. And sometimes, even with the best care, you may. The best one can hope for is that you don't, but, if you do happen to suffer a loss, its a little easier knowing you were there, and did all you could. Sometimes nature just takes its course. Sometimes that calf will die in your lap while waiting for the vet to arrive....but at least you know you did all you could. Its frustrating; there have been a few times I've sat in the straw crying out of shear and utter frustration and exhaustion....but I knew, deep in my heart, I had done all I could possibly do.

".....Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds."

Proverbs 27:23

So much about cattle, the land, fences and salt blocks

So much about small farms, hay, fencing and sheds. Calves being born, how we feed our stock, care for the pastures. First, let me please be clear on one thing, and perhaps some of you may have already picked up on this, but my husband absolutely hates the cattle being here. Yup, that is correct, and so does my oldest daughter. They make it quite clear on a regular basis (almost daily) how much they dislike the small "farm" I am making them "endure" here. As if their lives were a living hell because I have cattle on 22 acres.

After trying to figure out (for years now) what exactly bothers them so much about it (as I do 99% of all the work, keep my time with the animals minimal when everyone is home, and see that the animals can support themselves), I finally figured it out (I think).

They cannot understand what I (or others) "get" out of a close association with the land, livestock; the seasons, birth and death, the whole "circle of life". They simply do not see it. Therefore, they don't understand it, and if they don't get it, well, why should anyone possibly "want" it? (or "have it" for that matter....)

On more than several occasions I have been pushed so hard on this (the cattle) that I have seriously considered selling them all (then I will really be miserable), or moving them off the property (why....? I just built everything from nothing over the years, myself ).

I am a homebody. I have no problem with travel, like it alot, but arrangements must be made when one has livestock. Some people do not want to understand that, and see it as another reason to "get rid of the cows". I actually prefer to hire someone to come care for the animals when I do leave to visit family out of state, and just this past April learned my lesson on that (again...) as my husband "insisted" he would be happy to look after the animals while we were gone for 4 days. After the first evenings feeding, all hell broke loose, the weather turned windy rainy and raw, and hubby was out of his mind miserable (and let me know it) looking after the animals....of course, I could not wait to get home to survey the "damage" or "rants" as one could imagine. "Get rid of the cows" sounds like the family anthem at times here....its quite exhausting.

But, now I realize, after much thought, and even more research and reading about personality disorders (yes....) humans needing to bond to the land and physical labor; the satisfaction and mental benefits from farming; (fascinating study of depression in our tech age vs. depression in our society 100 years ago) the selfish needs of those who do not share your passions nor care if you get to fulfill yours...

I have come to the conclusion that farming is what I am. I derive great pleasure on a very deep level mentally from raising and caring for my little herd of miniature Herefords; designing and building things that serve a purpose or fill a need; digging in the dirt to set a post, or plant a tree that will provide shade or windbreak. Its not a tremendous amount of work, it doesn't cost alot, (well, they support themselves, and pay the taxes, usually, too). I would rather be out in the barn, or checking the fences, or building a feeder, or moving cattle, or walking through the pastures staring at the ground to see if the frost seeded clover has begun to sprout, than be stuck in the house. And my husband and oldest daughter know this. I think it drives them nuts.....But they don't understand; and I don't think they ever will, and quite honestly, at this point, I don't care.

I look out the front window as I wipe down the kitchen counters, I see the animals sleeping in the grass. They are healthy, content. Because they are, so also, am I.

Ok, so where did the post Miniature Herefords: fence, pasture, and education, go?

Well this is weird....

Yesterday I wrote at length about a bunch of stuff pertaining to the farm, raising livestock, going to actual farm auctions, etc, and I even re-read it last evening ......strangly, the post is gone. Just not there. Where did it go I wonder?

Hmmmm.....

I need to get to the bottom of this before I spend another hour writing; just to be sure that the new post will not vanish again, like the last one, yesterday, did.

Meanwhile, any hints, ideas? anyone else have their blog post just "disappear?"

Miniature Herefords : fencing, pastures, and educating yourself

Well it has finally stopped raining (for a bit at least) . We have had several days of sunshine, warm temperatures and light breezes!

It has done wonders for not only our mud, but dispositions as well! Even the cattle look happier.

This weekend will be spent cleaning out the barnyard, as during the winter we cannot get out onto the fields to spread manure (snow) or load up the small ground driven spreader for later (freezes solid....trust me I found that out the hard way last winter....), SO we have to pile it where we pitch it, essentially. Which makes for a rather large mound of poop and bedding by spring. Unsightly, yes, although the calves like to play "king of the hill" on the pile!

Anyway, we borrow a skid steer and spend the day cleaning the barnyard and bedded stalls.

Its kind of neat, when one thinks about it; we buy the clover seed from the neighbor farmer, and seed our pastures with it. Our cattle eat the pasture, and stay fat and healthy on it all summer long. Then, we buy the hay from the neighbor, and feed it all winter long. The straw we use for bedding is from the neighbor as well. The cattle live off the very high quality hay all winter, and we pile up the resulting "waste / fertilzer" till spring, when we then take it all back to the field to fertilize the pastures and clover seed..... and the cycle begins all over again.

I swear some folks like to make everything too complicated in life;(remember when you could just order a "cup of coffee"?) every now and then I get an email from someone new to small scale farming / ranching and livestock, and they are so full of questions, confused as to what to do about this that and the other thing....especially in more urban-suburban / rural areas, many well-educated and well intended individuals feel the need for countless books and instructors, classes and endless discussion about the finer points of raising livestock....which is all fine I suppose, but like many things in our lives presently, sometimes TOO much imformation can be paralizing.....I know it can be for me! Fact is, folks have been raising livestock since time began; it is a learn as you go occupation mostly.

Best thing to do is become a listener and a keen observer. Take that ride to real rural farming areas (you can write it off as a business expense). Observe how the farmers fence their animals, what they use for feeders, gates, lanes. Check out the barns, run in sheds, waterers, etc. Go on line and look for a real cattle auction and go to one (at the actual farm). Listen to the farmers talking, walk around, see how things are done, how things work (or dont work...!) Ask questions. Even if you have no interest in buying, a real cattle / farm /equipment auction is an education and alot of fun....(and no, most of the "real" farm auctions do not look like they could appear in a magazine....you know what I mean....)

We try and keep things simple here, our fences are mostly electric, nothing fancy but extremely effective (altho I would love split rail along the road out front!) Our barn / run in shed is simple, affordable, but very effective as well. The gates all swing to help move the cattle when and where we need them to go, and most of the time the cattle can be moved easily by just one person; from pasture to pasture, to the barn for the vet, across the driveway to the other pasture....no chasing, hollering, pitchforks, etc. Just a "come on" and I basically just get out of the way, hold open a gate and they know the routine.

Raising livestock should bring joy. It is a great stress reliever most of the time. Sure there will be times when the animals get loose (leave the gate unlatched anyone??) or its miserable outside and muddy cold raining ,windy, etc; There are animals that get ill on occassion, calves that no matter how hard you try will not make it.....but in the end, there should still be that deep sort of satisfaction, regardless, when you walk in the house after its all said and done. That is what keeps you going back out, day after day after day, to tend to your livestock....and to lean on the gate and watch the babies romp around, or the cattle running full out with tails in the air out of the sheer joy of being alive and well...

That is what

that is why

we do what we do

day in

day out

and love it.

Now if only our spouses would, could, understand.....

ALL MHBA MEMBERS......!!

Hello again!

I am a member of the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association. I am also a member of the American Hereford Association.

It has come to my attention that folks out there (breeders like myself) have information relating to our breed, miniatures in particular, that doesnt seem to get passed along to the proper channels for all interested parties to see.

Just a month or so ago, I had the opportunity to speak with a very good breeder who had some information about an upcoming miniature Hereford Show here in the east. I begged for the specific information to be sent to me via my web-site so I could pass it on the the MHBA and post it here as well. After a bit of a conversation, a few names being mentioned and alot of personal opinion, I never heard from the person again.

It is no surprise to hear people complain there is not enough information given for a specific area in the country from the MHBA...gee, if folks who have the information could PASS IT ALONG it would be a great help.....

Folks, an organization is only as good as its elected officals and members....if you have something that may be of interest, dates, shows, info, pictures, show results, etc, please pass it along. Especially if someone asks for that info.

To withhold information that ultimately helps promote the breed and breeders because you may not like a certain person, or care for their breeding plan, or whatever, hurts everyone and causes division and hard feelings.

It is a shame that some people cannot" see the cattle for the breeder..."

I guess that is human nature....

and just one of the reasons I prefer to deal wiuth animals over humans if I can help it. At least animals are somewhat predictable.

All elected officers.....please consider what you do to help promote the breed and inform the members. If you are someone with a leadership role, then lead. If you just like to see your name in print quarterly, write an article at least.

To those who are active and step up, we thank you.

Comments

So for those of you who take the time to not only read my blog, but comment on it, please know I am reading your comments and appreciate them greatly.....I just cannot figure out (yet) how to answer the comments back. lol!

If anyone has any questions regarding raising livestock (smaller scale) or landscaping, please ask. I have a degree in Horticulture and Design, and have been involved with raising cattle (dairy and beef) for over 10 years, first as a small commercial dairy (and I do mean small, but big enough to have the milk truck stop every other day...) and currently with raising registered miniature Herefords here on 22 acres since 2005.

We started this farm literally from the ground up, with nothing but a house in the middle of overgrown fields. It all started with the overwhelming desire to be a good steward of the land I was fortunate to be blessed with, and, a post hole digger.....one hole at a time, then two, then six; 4x4 posts, crosspieces, etc, a small barn.... A digging bar and a pile of 150 plus locust posts brought up from Pa by friends, and a fenceline was begun, ten holes at a time.....wire pulled off a spool held with a piece or re-rod stuck in the ground, fence wire went up. 150' feet underground electric buried by hand from the house to the barn....

Easy, not really....gratifying......absolutely!

Picture: Daughter Jolene with our foundation cattle and new "barn", Deccemeber, 2005

Minature Hereford Bull and Mud

Just could not resist these pictures I got of Hawkeye as I turned into our driveway this evening....as if the barnyard and pastures werent muddy enough, Hawkeye decided a good old fashioned knees-to-the-dirt, rub-your-face-in-the-mud romp was in order to finish off his day!

The light was fading quickly, and I apologise for the poor picture quality (BlackBerry again....) but though they were pretty neat shots.

He is shown in his mostly rubbed off winter coat, with light touches of fine summer hair, complimented with fresh and dried mud with just a touch of manure, topped off with a light garnish of dried straw bedding. A fabulous clay - mud face mask completes the look for that "fresh out of the barnyard" springtime look!. A real head-turner for the ladies!

Hawkeye is our current herd sire and is the daddy to the two beautiful bull calves born recently. So far, all his offspring has been polled ( from our horned cows.)

If the first picture could have a caption it would have to be "Yeah so I'm dirty; is there a problem?"

Little Goliath

Well here he is, bull number two. We named him Goliath because he looked so big when he was first born....but hes really not much bigger than Onyx who is just a week older.

We kept Goliath in the barn with his momma Miss Piggy (pictured on last blog entry) for a few days thinking the weather may straighten out before he went out into the world....as it was, it was still cool and a muddy mess, but sunny; we opened the gate and he promptly climbed to the very top of our very big manure / bedding pile...just like a little mountain goat.

I do expect him to grow into quite a bull. He is polled, a very deep burgandy color (with curls!!) and has pigment on both of his eyes. (his momma is full pigment).

For now him and Onyx are best buddies and will keep eachother company throughout the spring and summer. (when and IF spring and summer ever arrive in these parts.....)

Double blessings!

NEW BABY!

ah yes, another baby for the farm, this time from the formidable queen herself, Miss Piggy, aka Kentucky Ranger (on her "birth certificate").

Miss Piggy was aptly named due to her amazing appetite and, due to her huge bulk, is able to claim most of any feed situation, even if it entails standing sideways across a feeder, blocking access to any and all who dare get near, just in case she cannot have enough to eat....which of course, is never the case. She is also a master at stockpiling hay, pushing as much as possible (for later) at one guarded end of the feeder, and helping herself to whatever else she can eat in the meanwhile.

Why do I go into such detail about a particular cows eating habits you may wonder? Does this woman have a life? you may ask?

Well......this is why........Miss Piggy had a very big miniature Hereford bull calf! I have read where the mothers nutrition level can and does affect the size and health of the calf, and let me tell you, they are right! This boy is big for a baby!

Now he will grow up to be a fine miniature Hereford bull, and as far as I can tell, he is polled as well as all the other Hawkeye offspring, but boy, what a big little dude he is! And Miss Piggy had him all by herself in the barn early this morning. Little Onyx, same sire, was tiny, a fine little calf for a first calf heifer, and no problem at all.

More on this later, along with some pictures as soon as he dries off and looks adorable - normal in a day or so. Until then, more hay for the mom, some TLC, and a really nice little bull - brother for Onyx to keep company with this summer!

Picture of Miss Piggy, summer pasture grass - fat.

More pictures of Onyx, polled miniature Hereford bull

I could not resist posting these pictures of little Onyx taken today. Unfortunately they are off my BlackBerry, but of course, I did not have a camera handy while doing chores....you know how that goes....what is so amazing is how fast these little ones learn about stuff, as this picture shows Onyx already licking the mineral mix in the pan.... at just 8 days old.

A beautiful sunny, but cold, Sunday. Still snow on the ground....oh spring, where art thou??

Blessings.