Good morning everyone,
Well, Spring is definitely here now, after a cold start. The grass is “springing” away, and it’s hard to remember the really hard winter we have had with all the feeding out. It was the hardest winter in over over 20 years at Lake Farm, but that is behind us now.
Super El Nino
Well we still have this to look forward to, but today it seems very far away. Our planning for it requires buying in silage, and reducing our herd numbers. We are working on both, and I now feel more confident we will get there.
Keryn home today
Keryn has been in Wellington looking after our son’s cats and dogs whilst their family had a holiday in Australia. It’s been lonely up here, so I am looking forward to going to the airport to pick her up today. Lol but now is the time to make the bed and tidy up and pretend it was always like it when she was away.
32 out of 42 calvings now achieved
We now in the final leg, but it might not be until end of November before this years calving is complete. The later cows were scanned really late, and although we know they are pregnant, we don’t know their calving dates. Almost every day when we check the herd we find another calf born. As we want to start this years breeding on 1st December, they should have at least 60 days between calving and being in calf again – so the last 10 will be late. I just hope not by much! We do only want to breed 32 cows this coming season, and our special Mt Vernon is very eager to do his job. He does make me laugh. He is always calling out – as if to tell the world how good he is.
On the farm
Apart from checking the herd a few times each day, I am now concentrating on removing and spraying weeds. Spring always brings lots of weeds, so the farm can sometimes look a bit unkept. We do only spray weeds that the cattle don’t eat. I got quite manic last year to ensure I resprayed every last regrowth of Californian Thistles, which is incredibly hard to get rid of. Its paid off – there is not one “Cali” growing on the farm this year. We do have one plentiful weed, similar to a turnip weed. Last year I worked really hard to hand pull them out, and there are a heck of a lot less of them this year. I will hand pull most again, but where they are intense, I will spray them.
Once we get to mid November, I will be 100% focused on ensuring our breeding works like clockwork. We will do some AI – but mostly the girls will run with Mt Vernon.
All Blacks
Can’t forget to congratulate the ABs on a terrific win on Saturday and kept the “Garden of Eden” winning streak going.
A really special calf
Last week I wrote about a special calf that was born, and who was one of two spotlights.
This is Bonny – and I am just in awe of her. She is so friendly, that I almost get emotional as I give her a rub. She always comes up to see me, and now, after a rub, she likes licking me. For a hand reared calf, this is normal, but not a calf born and being raised by a cow. Bonny – you are gorgeous!
This weeks Spotlight
I was delighted yesterday to find one of my most special cows, Sasha, had calved a really big bull calf yesterday.
We have called this guy Sergio, and he must be close to 40kgs. Whilst we didn’t see Sasha calve, I am sure she had no difficulty. He is as healthy as, and I am so thrilled for Sasha. She really is a special cow, with the most amazing docility. Sasha is the daughter of one of our foundation cows – Keryn.
Sergio – you our Spotlight for this weeks blog post – well done!!
That’s all for this week. If you would like to comments (and we genuinely hope you want to), please email us.
Thanks so much!
Colin and Keryn