Life on the farm through the eyes of a first-generation farm wife
Bulls are the backbone of any cow herd and bad genetics or a faulty bull can mean open (non-pregnant) cows. Bulls are on the farm to breed cows and cows are on the farm to have calves. If one of those two things don't happen, you don't have a productive or profitable herd. Bulls are one of the biggest investments for any working ranch so getting the right guy is very important.
For everyone who believes cows should only exist on pastures of green grass and far away from feedlots and barns, let me introduce you to our calving barn. On a Saturday night - after enjoying dinner with fellow farming friends - the hubs and I stopped in to check on our heifers. These ladies are … Continue reading Why yes, we put our cows in barns
I didn't grow up with pets. For a few years we had a goldfish that I'm pretty sure was actually a dozen different fish my parents rotated through after one died off or we starved it to death. We finally adopted a dog when I was in middle school and I remember being frustrated by … Continue reading The Value of Animals
For our first date, Derek and I met at a sandwich shop in downtown McPherson. I had walked over from work and Derek had just pulled into town after being on the road all morning. When I asked him what he had been doing he responded that he had been delivering bulls to the cows … Continue reading Making Babies (Calves, of course)
During the winter months we have a lot of mouths to feed on the farm. More than 500 to be exact. That makes dinner a big deal and important part of the farmer hub's day. We put a lot of time and attention into the feed for our cattle because, just as in humans, proper … Continue reading The Dish on Dinner Time
Calving season at Sawyer Land & Cattle is often a lesson in genetics. While most of our new babies are black or black with white on its face, we occasionally get a surprise, or a calf that makes you question who the dad is. Like humans, cattle have dominate and recessive traits that determine hide … Continue reading Who’s Your Daddy? (Farm Style)
We love our male (bull) calves but too many males can be a problem. Therefore, we limit the number of bulls through castration and create males without the ability to reproduce, aka steers.
We keep our animals healthy and trust the companies producing the end products will likewise keep the beef fresh and safe for consumption. How do we know? Because federal inspectors are in processing facilities daily and put their seal of approval on nearly everything that goes out the door to the public.
An inside look at mother cows and their calves - and another reminder that mothers rock!
As a farm wife I so often hear people talk about their love and support for farm families and local farms. The moms and dads, brothers and sisters growing wheat and hogs is exactly who they want to purchase their food from. But mention Tyson, Cargill or any company name and that love dissipates quickly. … Continue reading Behind the Company
