The Bovine Bugle

From Summer, right into Winter

The first snowfall of the season started last night, and by morning we had 4-5 inches of heavy wet snow on the ground. With the leaves still on many of the trees because of the extended warm weather, the tree branches held a lot more snow causing many branches,and young trees, to snap off. With it staying so warm into the fall, it seems like we went right from summer to winter.

I was very glad we had spent the last couple of days moving animals around to where they would be for the winter. We put 8 heifers back inside the young stock barn, and the remaining heifers and steers that were outside we moved across the road so they would have access to the pole barn for shelter. This morning with all the snow, all the animals had a dry place for shelter. Dennis has been bringing loads of round bales, so I had plenty of feed to give to the cows and young stock this morning, too. I especially thought of Kathy, the calf I found in the woods, and how fortunate it was that I found her yesterday before this messy storm.

I guess I have to accept that the grazing season is done, and it is time to change into the winter routine here at Howmars Farm. Bringing feed to the animals, hauling bedding to the freestalls and pole barn, and hauling away the manure will be added to the daily routine of milking the cows and doing the young stock chores. I'll put away my "golf bag" of fencing supplies until nex April, and dream of green grass growing again while I plow snow and feed round bales.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at November 1, 2005 06:38 PM