I guess today is Earth Day, right? Yawn.
Most Earth Day celebrations are empty bits of nonsense. However Don and I did something fairly extraordinary today, something I suppose could be attributed to our desire for clean food and self sufficiency. We bought a heifer.
Dear readers, meet Maggie.
With all the crazy stuff going on in the world, it's been on our minds to get cows sooner rather than later. Then yesterday morning just before church, Don got an email from an acquaintance who told us this family had a little Jersey heifer for sale, and were we interested? You bet!
We called the seller and made arrangements to see the animal. She's about 13 months old and comes from the west coat of Oregon, near Tillamook. She's been blood-tested as A2. As you can see, she's horned (we're talking to the local vets about correcting that), has a sweet disposition, good udder attachment, and – except for the mud-caked fur – is bright-eyed and healthy.
We've hesitated getting livestock up to this point, since we're still getting cattle infrastructure set up. This is only the first of what we hope will be at least two or three animals, since it's not good for cows to be alone.
The enclosure where this heifer (and some other heifers) were being kept was quite muddy, but the seller was waiting until the ground dried out a bit to turn the animals out on pasture.
Comically, the ear tags of Maggie give her the name of Nosey (due to her white nose). That was the name of my childhood dog, LOL. So yes, Maggie it is.
The sellers are holding onto Maggie for another four to five weeks while we hastily fence a pasture and set some horse panels up around a feed lot. During this time, Maggie will be bred to a bull who's about half Jersey, half Holstein.
So I won't be milking Maggie anytime soon, but it's a start.
Meanwhile, we'll be looking for (probably) another Jersey heifer or young cow, and also a feeder calf we can raise for beef.
It's a start, dear readers! The start of our new homestead.
Congrats on getting Maggie and getting another start on having cows.
ReplyDeleteShe does look like a calm sweet heart! A face only a farmer could love!
ReplyDeleteShe is in your area now, or Tillamook?
She's in our area now. Apparently the seller's daughter brought a number of heifers in from Tillamook. Unfortunately this was the only one that was for sale, otherwise we might have bought two.
Delete- Patrice
I suppose since you mentioned it that you know about a2 milk? That is good to know for those who do best with a2 milk. I was worried she would be lonely, but then you mentioned getting another cow. Good. She does look sweet.
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with A2 milk, how is it different?
DeleteCongrats on your newest addition to the family! I also wanted to point out that the spark for Earth Day was the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring about the devastating effects of pesticide use. It was not a partisan issue as it was created by Richard Nixon who also proposed the Environmental Protection Agency. ED also played a role in the creation of the Clean Air and Water Acts.
ReplyDeleteJersey's are the best! We had mostly Jerseys on the dairy. I showed both beef and dairy at the Coos County Fair and won with reserve grand champion with my Jersey. I left the horns on and polished them with fine grit sandpaper, put wax balls on the tips and a little chain and lock around the base. A lot of people kept referring to her as "that sweet little bull" - because everyone knows only bulls have horns, right?
ReplyDeleteAhhh she looks so sweet. What a wonderful addition!
ReplyDeleteMay you enjoy her as much as you did Matilda!
ReplyDeleteAt last!! It's good to see cows on the homestead again, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeletePerfect, Patrice!
ReplyDelete