March 2011

Hello again! As we move into March the weather has improved. February was much wetter however the nights are still cold meaning the grass isn't growing much! Mum said the cows have been longingly looking out to the fields, waiting to go out to the grass. Mum and Dad have lost count as to how many cows have now calved but over half have and they said they had nine one day last week and ten the next! They have turned one cow and one calf out so far. This is because the calf was very premature and therefore very small (they called it Hercules). They put it out in a small field so that the calf wouldn't be squashed by the bull or any cows as it's so tiny. Mum said that once it gets to it's due date, it should start to get bigger.

Steve has been putting fungicide on the oilseed rape. Fertiliser has gone on as well, and on the barley too. Next job is the grass! All the maize ground is ploughed and has had one cultivation – just waiting for the temperature to improve before drilling in April.

Our article has now been published in the March-April Morrisons in-store magazine. You can also check it out online by clicking on the picture at the bottom of this post. There is also some 'behind the scenes' footage and a video of Harry and Peter (the chef) cooking up a meal. There's also lots of pictures of us and some cows!

February 2011

We've had lots more cows calve since last month. A total of 25. Dad got stuck in traffic last week and had to tell the road workers that he needed to get past as a cow was calving. They let him through but all the cars behind him followed too so apparently he caused a bit of a stir!

Mum, Dad and Steve are currently getting the fields that are going into maize ploughed and ready for April. It's not long now until the fertiliser goes onto the grass!

Ready for when the cattle are turned out, Mum has been checking all the fences. She hopes to start getting them out in the fields in March if the weather improves enough. Also, ditches have been having a clear out. Some were blocked as the were things like trollies, wheely bins and rubbish in there. Now the drains will be able to run freely and won't be blocked by odd things.

Dad is busy keeping the pigeons off the oilseed rape. I think he secretly enjoys this job as he gets to make loud noises to scare them away, something he's always trying to demonstrate to me if he gets the chance. We have eaten far more pigeon this year than any before, it's very yummy so I hope it continues.

Out in the yard, outside mine and Harry's window, we currently have some cows. They act as a good alarm for the morning. However, I don't think they really understand their roll as they seem to be quite noisy, for the most of the time. I'm still working out a training plan to get them to 'moo' at approximately 7am for when I need to wake up in time for work. Any ideas?

 

January 2011

We're still in the first month of 2011 and there is plenty to report. Dad is very excited as we have started calving. So far, three calves have been born but there is still a long way to go with roughly another 200 to give birth. We have a new Pedigree Angus bull to thank for all the hard work ahead. Dad brought him from Gylmpton in Oxfordshire and has already produced his first calf. We've had several bulls in the past, all of which Dad was quick to name (Homer, Barrington) but this one is yet to have a name, Dad is obviously thinking hard about this one!

In the autumn we built a new shed for the cows. Mum finds it a lot easier to feed them this way and they certainly seem happy! To screen the building from the road we have planted 600 trees, mainly oak, ash and cherry trees with the odd christmas tree! However, as the maize pile gets smaller and smaller, Mum and Dad hope for an early spring so they can turn them out into the fields and get them on the grass!

Mum, Dad, Harry and I have all had a day of glamour and fame (well.. nearly!). Mum and Dad supply some of their beef to Morrisons, and they gave us a quick visit over the past couple of days. On the first day, Mum and Dad gave them a tour of the farm, they were armed with camera/microphones/questions. They took some great pictures of the farm, even of the cat! However, I think the fame has gone to the cat's head as it has been prancing in and out of the house in a posing manner recently. On the second day, we all went to a house in Towcester where the Morrisons chef (Peter) cooked for us, I think he cooked about 4 different joints, all on the go at the same time! Harry was filmed cutting vegetables and asking questions ('How much pepper and salt do you put on that?'). I was given the very glamorous job of pouring cream into saucepan and stirring at the same time and then we all had to sit around a table and to eat whilst they took pictures. It was very odd being watched tuck into your roast potato. Also Harry had makeup on! It was a fun and interesting day and I will let you know when the video and pictures/article is available to see. We will be in the March/April edition of the Morrisons in store magazine. I think it's going to be HELLO and OK next?