Sharing The Land I

This is a start of a list which can never be complete of the beings we share these acres of land with. It is intended to be a foundation for meditation on:

Exchanging of self with others (each of these beings has an experience of living here with suffering and joy concurrent with our own)
Impermanence (the list changes continually with birth and death on the farm)
Non Possession (all of the beings have a desire for life here)
Attachment (we care deeply for some and not for others in an arbitrary way)
Our current ignorance (the exercise of enumerating and counting reveals how little we know - even the full extent of the kinds of beings is unknown let alone the number)
Responsibility (the health of the farm is entrusted to us as caretakers)
Beauty (all of the beings reflect in a different way the beauty of creation)

How many are there? How are they known? Which do we love and which to we revile? Who is named and who goes unnamed? Who is counted and who is uncounted?

1 Dog: Rosie
2 House Cats: Scout and Maude
A Feral cat in the back 40

35 Bovines:
Hippie
Bodo
Lisa
Heaven
Athena
Gracie
Beatrice
Loki
Heidi
Mr. Man
Liam
Angel
Fion
Nakey Man
Blodeuwedd
Rachel
Arwen
Nora
Samantha
Ellie
Llew LLaw
Wheezer
Alf
Newla
Sam
Enya
Hans
Hals
Basil
Brigita
Gretl
Elisa
Leo
Pebbles
Noisy

2 Pigs
7 Guineas
Aged Oaks
Aged White Pines
Aged Apple Trees
A Plum Tree
Ash Trees
Prickly Ash
Mutli Flora Rose
Wildflowers
Pigweed
Nightshade
Thistles
Burdocks
Grass!
10 Pigeons
A flock of Turkeys
A Pileated Woodpecker
7 Red Headed Woodpeckers
Visiting Hawks and Bald Eagles
A Barred Owl
A Whippoorwill
A Virgina Rail
3 Pair Brown Thrashers
No Hermit Thrush this year
Quail - where are they?
Dozens of swallows
A dozen pheasants
Deer
An itinerant Bear
Rabbits
Possums
Raccoons
Skunks
Squirrels
Flying squirrels
Brown Bats
Big Brown Bats
Scores of Bobolinks
Dozens of Meadowlarks
Crows
Jays
Several Bluebirds
A flock of Cedar Waxwings
Chickadees
Nuthatches
Swallows
Hundreds of finches and sparrows
Moles
Tree Frogs
Toads
Black Snakes
Garter Snakes
Thousands of mice and voles
Earthworms
Tapeworms
Box Elder Bugs
Crickets
Earwigs
Sowbugs
Wolf Spiders
Wooly Worms
Monarchs
Moths
Flies!
Wood ticks
Deer ticks
Asian Beetles

Halloween Sunset

Still waiting on Arwen. Alf is back in the herd. Chilly and breezy today. Made one bale on the little piece over by Bruce this afternoon - it hadn't all blown away after all.

Preliminary Fence Map

Well, this map needs a quite a bit of work, but it's a start. It's overlaid on a 1960's aerial photo that shows the contours well.

1. Blue is the new barbless wire fence we put in this summer and fall. It was a big project with many helpers.
   
2. Yellow is barbed wire in place now that I would like to replace with smooth wire.
3. Green is new smooth wire fence yet to be done, usually where there is an old fence or around trees
   
4. Red is barbed wire to be taken out - often where Lawrence did not have a fence. Red and and another color together show a fence to be moved back where it was years ago.
5. Purple is semi permanent fence using twine or light wire like temporary fence so it can be taken up or moved, but with more t posts or screw in insulators than temporary fence. It's currenly used around the orchard, the white pines down by the old foundation, buildings, etc. Dashed purple is interior barbed wire fence I would like to replace with semi permanent fence.
   
6. Thin dashed purple is temporary fence (at the top of the bowl).
   

Here are the practices I try to follow:

1. I've found that the most significant attribute of a fence is how tight it is. A tight barbless fence is respected by the cows more that a loose barbed wire fence. Same goes for a tight cold fence versus a loose hot one - they'll jump over or slip under a loose fence even when it's hot.
   
2. Use smooth wire over barbed.
3. Run two or more strands where crops are on the other side.
   
4. When possible, use the same fence lines that Lawrence did. Otherwise, follow contours of the land. Avoid traffic where land is vulnerable to erosion.
   
5. Leave existing fence in place unless it is a hazard. Remove down wire and posts.
6. When the existing fence is good, run the electric wire across the tops of the posts with toppers, for example on the east side of the sheep pasture.
7. Manage trees: protect trees from cattle, especially from foraging and traffic. Fence off vulnerable trees, especially fruit trees and conifers. Leave trees accessible for shade at edges of fields. Let cows clear out prickly ash and multiflora rose in gullies so grass can grow reducing erosion.
   
8. Use high quality material & lots of Gripples so fence can be kept really tight.
   
9. Use screw in insulators on dead, damaged, or overtopped trees only, in that order.
   
10. Make gates double handled.
11. Use semi permanent and temporary fence where possible. Set up temporary fence in a regular pattern with secure ends so it is tight.

Smooth wire pros:

1. Less hazardous to the animals. Highland cattle especially like to rub on barbed wire in the winter and can get entangled. Less likely to cause severe electric shock.
   
2. Easier to keep tight - stretches easily with a fencing tool without catching on insulators.
   
3. Easier to install.
4. Lighter so posts can be set up to 70 feet apart where ground is flat.
   

Cons:

1. A loose smooth wire fence may be less effective than a loose barbed wire fence. Of course a loose barbed wire fence is especially hazardous.
2. Barbed wire is more visible. Fence flags can help make smooth wire more visible. More a hazard to humans than cows as the cows know where the fences are.

Semi permanent and temporary fence pros:

1. Traffic can be managed to eliminate cow paths, either by preventing them or rerouting traffic to allow paths to grow back.
2. Keeps the landscape open.
3. Can fine tune rotational grazing by moving fence more or less often.
4. Time spent moving fence is a good opportunity to observe herd.
5. Fence can be moved so that refused or over mature forage can be mowed easily in late summer.

Cons:

1. It takes more time to set up temporary fence. This can be minimized by planing ahead and having secure endpoints so temporary fences are tight, reducing the number of step ins required.
   

Tonight's Sunset

Beautiful warm, windy day today. The main part of the herd came back in the bowl today to eat hay over there. Hippie, Athena, and Lisa are in the potato field south of the orchard. Hippie seemed less distraught today.

Still waiting on Arwen - should be a nice week for her to have her calf. They came over to the North side of the valley this morning but I didn't have a chance to move Alf and Newla. Didn't have time to move the hay in the oak planting either so I put temporary fence around it. They really tore up one bale, but they can eat that one out there. So far, so good with the trees. That grass is so nice in there for them I'll set up lanes with temporary fence if I have to, but I hope I don't.

Arwen Is Due Anytime

As you can see from this picture, Arwen is really bulging out on the right side where her calf is. Her due date was Saturday, so the calf should be born anytime.

I let Nora, Arwen, and Blodeuwedd in the oak planting on Saturday. There is lots of nice bluegrass in there for them. The oak leaves are all brown and so far they are being good and leaving the trees alone. I am keeping a close eye on the trees and on their behaviour. Can't say the same for the hay bales in there, I'll have to move them out.

Newla and Alf are in there too, but now that the calves are being born I'll try to take those two out. I had Alf out on Saturday but he sneaked back in to be near his mom Arwen.

We weaned the two bulls on Saturday. Hippie has been calling for them mournfully. the bulls don't seem to mind at all. We wanted to dry her off before winter.

Made the last hay on Sunday, 4 big bales over on the southernmost strips of the 30 acres. That brings us to 187 bales. I cut the little piece over by Bruce also but it might have all blown away.

Hay Feeding Begins In Earnest

Looks like the sheep pasture is about eaten up so I fed two brome/alfalfa round bales out in the sheep pasture today. The countdown of bales begins, we plan on one bale a day through May. I'm thinking of ways to make sure the smaller animals get enough hay without overfeeding the larger ones. I could divide the herd, but that complicates feeding and watering and disrupts the social structure. If can make a creep feeder I would rather do that. Last year I used some of the portable corral panels, but it was difficult to set the gap between them. Something that would attach to a round bale feeder would be appealing

Before that I took the blade to neaten up the compost piles so they won't freeze before we're ready to spread them. We will spread compost after the ground has frozen. There are compost piles east and west of the barn.

Noisy's Third Day

Noisy and Nora went back to the south side of the valley this morning. She lead me right to where he was sleeping. There is a chill wind blowing but he's snug in his his fur coat. Even his little ears are warm. Back in the distance you can see where I left the pickup on Friday night. I waited till after the ground froze last night after yesterday's rain so I wouldn't tear up the field.



Even a little guy appreciates a scratch


This is what happens when you leave the truck door open on a chilly day

Nora and Noisy's Second Day

Well this morning Nora and Noisy came back to the north side of the valley on their own. Nora was eating and Noisy was hidden at the edge of the woods, but you can always find the calf by watching the mother as she can't help looking his way.

Noisy made a colostrum poop when I got him up which was a little loose - he probably overate last night after being hungry so long. Nora was much calmer and only made the charging sound once. It was cold and rainy today but Noisy's thick Highland fur kept him warm and dry and I didn't see him shiver at all. In the afternoon I offered him a bottle of calf supplement just in case he needed it. By then Nora would let me come right up to him. After a few sucks it was clear he wasn't hungry.

They are in the valley with Arwen who is also due soon and with Newla and Alf, last year's calves from Nora and Arwen who are there just for company. They stayed on the north side all day eating the orchard grass southwest of the old chicken coop.

Toward evening he was running all around and making the little exploratory jumps that calves make. He even ran up to his sister Newla and danced around in front of her. That's good to see as you know he's feeling good and he's getting warmed up before night. All the while Nora is running after him trying to keep up which is poignant and comical at the same time. Everyone runs to stay out of the way of this tiny calf because right behind him is 3/4 ton of very protective cow. Then he went to mom and starting nursing without any problems. Now the main risk is too much milk, but his last poop of the day looked normal.

Nora and Her Newborn Calf Noisy

Today Nora had a bull calf over on the other side of the valley. When I found them he was all cleaned up and sleeping, but feeling his stomach I could tell that he hadn't nursed yet. I got him up and he made hunger calls but no attempt to nurse. I got him into position and was able to get his mouth around the teat, but he wouldn't suck, even with a few squirts of colostrum to get him started.

This is not unexpected with a Brown Swiss bull calf, but I was surprised that a Highland Angus cross would have this problem. Since he was otherwise active and healthy, I let them be for a few hours, but I could hear his bleating across the valley so I knew he hadn't been successful.

I walked back over to try again, but Nora became aggressive and I couldn't get near him. She constantly turned her head towards me and made the peculiar sound cows make when they are about to charge, and she did charge a couple of times but broke off with a firm shout from me. The other side of the valley is a clean, quiet place for calving but it's a long way from the head gate.

Fortunately we have these portable corral panels which have proved so useful on many occasions. I put five in the pickup and drove around on the valley road, back through the oak planting and down the other side of the valley. Then while holding them in with a temporary tape fence I erected the corral around them. I hoped that being confined might do the trick and he made a few tries at nursing, but he gave up and laid down again. By now it was getting dark and there was no way I could go in the corral with Nora by myself.

I went back to the house and and made up a bottle of the rehydration solution that we use for sick calves, which was all I had on hand. At least he would have some warm fluids and a little energy. I went back over to the corral and turned the pickup headlights on so I could see as it was thoroughly dark by then. He and Nora were lying down and I opened the corral and got him out before Nora could get up and let me have it. He drank the glucose right off and became super energetic. I put him back in with Nora and he went right to the teat and nursed. There was a lot of sucking, tail wagging, and that special moo cows make just for their calf.

Like a piece of music that contains all you need to know about life - Bach's D Major concerto comes to mind - it was all there in those few hours - ignorance, hunger, fear, violence, death, struggle, knowledge, and - thankfully - relief and life.

These pictures were taken in the afternoon. You can see Nora's don't mess with me stare. Later she came up and knocked the camera out of my hand. Normally she's a friendly cow, but she got anxious for her calf as her udder became increasingly full and he still hadn't nursed. She knew time was running out.

Hippie's Twin Bulls Hans and Hals

Back in August 2005, Hippie had twin bulls at the age of 14. The vet had to untangle the two before they could be pulled out. Hippie lost her place as boss cow to Bodo when she rejoined the herd a few weeks later.

The two were nearly identical at birth, but Hans was a little larger. Also, Hans a thin light edge on his lower eyelids while Hals has completely dark eyelids. Hans stopped nursing two days after he was born but he bounced back after a tube feeding.

Now the two are easily distinguishable. Hals is the dark one of the pair:

Hans and Hippie. Hans is the dominant bull. Of course they are both beneath most of the other animals as they are still young. Llew Llaw and Wheezer have pushing contests with the bulls, and the Highland steers usually win - so far.

The bulls are very calm and are not aggressive yet even though they are breeding. I interact with them as little as possible, and when I do it is always from the rear where they appreciate a scratch. As a result, they will even turn their hindquarters towards me when I approach, which is the end of a bull I'd rather deal with. I can see some territorial behavior with people they don't know. Look at the head and neck on Hans:

Hans and Hals last winter. They had long, silky hair.

Hans and halls in the fall of 2005 when they were still creamy white.

Cows Back in the Sheep Pasture

The cows came back to the sheep pasture today after 6 weeks. Since late August, the cows have been on a counter clockwise trip around the farm grazing on hay fields, starting at the back ridge and working over to the bowl. Then after eating hay in the bowl until the first good freeze, they went back around in a clockwise direction until they came back to the sheep pasture today. The did surprisingly well on the trip back, especially on the back ridge where they grazed for 4 days compared to 8 days back in September. Some rainy days helped make the grass more palatable.



There is some beautiful bluegrass in the wild apple orchard west of the driveway now as you can see in the following photo taken looking northeast towards the driveway. We hope the grass will stop the erosion from the draw that runs through there. Also, the cows should keep back the prickly ash and sumac under the power line. The electric co-op wants the brush kept clear if we don't want them spraying herbicides.

There is some good orchard grass in the sheep pasture. Hopefully the cold weather is suppressing the parasites.

Tonight's sunset

First snowfall

The snow was blowing on with the temperature at 30 degrees on Thursday. It stuck for a few hours on the grass and round bales.

Panoramic clouds

A first attempt at stitching a panorama

The effect of feeding round bales in the pasture

Much of the valley pasture looks like this, with very little growth.

This is what the pasture looks like where a round bale has been fed to the cows in the previous fall. The hay provides clover and orchard grass seed and the cows provide manure for fertilizer. Timing is important - if it is too wet the cows will make a mud hole. Also, spacing the bales far enough apart is important or the concentration of urine will kill the grass.
The valley pasture was given a good rest this year. Today the cows came back in as the weather is turning cold.

LlewLlaw says this patch is mine while Rosie goes after a vole.
That's about the most succulent clover I've ever seen.
Here you can see the transition zone from where a round bale was placed.

More garden photos...

Hope the birds enjoy these crab apples.

These calendula plants might stay green after the freeze.
But today was the last hurrah for the cosmos.
The gourds enjoyed climbing the sunflower stalks. Tomorrow the leaves will all be dead and the gourds can dry.