The Bovine Bugle

The cows are let loose!

HOORAY!! The cows started their first rotation through the grazing system today. After a busy couple of days of the fencing crew going full tilt, we’re ready to let the cows out on grass. Karen, the boys, and I had replaced fence posts, spliced together broken fence wire, and checked the watering system that brings drinking water to all the grazing paddocks. The cows, as always, ran around with their tails in the air, kicking up their heels, and acting like they had never been outside before, even though some of the girls are 9 and 10 years old. They enjoy the start of grazing season as much as we do.

I suppose we do our own little dance when the cows go to grass. It makes our days easier. With the cows getting their forage from the pastures, we don't have to haul round bales into the barnyard and the barn to feed them. The amount of manure we have to handle on a daily basis is reduced by about 75 percent, which means less hauling and stacking. We also pasture our heifers, separating them into two groups--an older and a younger group. Heifers older than 6 months are required to be out on pasture during the grazing season in order to comply with organic standards. Having the heifers out grazing further reduces the time and labor needed to care for them, too.

The time that we would normally spend taking care of the animals we can now devote to all the other things we do here at Howmars Farm during late spring, summer, and early fall.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont