DS Family Farm
Worried about what you are "really" eating? Have peace of mind with pasture grazed meats.
Weaning calves
Weaning time can be stressful for cow, calf and cowboy. Traditionally, weaning calves meant to separate the cows and calves by distance. For example the herd was brought into a corral where calves would be separated from the cows. The cows would then be sent out to pasture and leave the calves in a lot or ship the calves off to a pasture elsewhere. The traditional process was stressful due to the handling and separation of calves from momma.
During our first year of weaning calves we tried a technique called fence line weaning. Where we physically separated the cow and calves but placed them along a fence to remain near each other. The cow and calf could still see and touch each other but the fence made nursing impossible.
We were happy with the low stress results of fence line weaning our 2013 born calves last spring. The drawback to this system, you end up with two herds to move. In the photo above we simply moved both herds along the fence line toward the camera position. We kept the cows and calves in the two herds for about 40 days before combining them back into a single herd. When calves returned to their mothers, a couple of calves tried to nurse but were quickly kicked away by the cow. When the cows had their 2014 calves and the new calves started nursing, we had one cow that allowed her 2013 fence line weaned yearling to start nursing her again. This was unacceptable as the new calf would not be getting enough milk and nutrition. At that point we installed a weaning ring into the nose of the yearling to prevent it from stealing milk from its younger sibling.
As an alternative, this year we are trying weaning rings in all 2014 calves. This did force us to bring the calves into our coral and run them through the catch gate to insert the rings. It is a fairly easy process and the calves did not seem to annoyed. Here is a 20 second video of Jacob inserting a weaning ring:
The result is a single herd with some temporarily frustrated calves that can no longer figure out how to nurse. The rings in their nose prevent normal sucking. Both the fence line and nose ring methods are fairly low stress on cows, calves and cowboy. The weaning ring requires a little more labor up front but will save us time and hassle by allowing us to keep moving just one herd rather than two. Plus we can leave the rings in long enough to make sure no new calves are having their milk stolen by their older sibling.
Weaning Weight
We will be weaning calves later this week. Our grassfed cows work year round, but we do give the cows about two months off from providing milk to a calf. The last calf crop was born mid-May 2014 and the calves have had momma’s milk for the past 10 months. This allows adequate time for the calf rumen (special stomach for grass digesting) to become fully developed. The calf is now ready to turn grass into nutrition and ultimately beef for the rest of its life. Actually the amount of milk the cow has provided daily has probably dropped significantly over the past few months. Yet the calf has been getting a nice dose of that all important drink to keep the calf growing through this important time of life.
This photo is our smallest cow letting her calf suck just the other day. We are not trying to wean heavy calves so we can brag about weaning weight. I wish we did have a scale to weigh our animals but we just are not a big operation at this point. From the looks of it, this cow, which probably weighs 950 lbs. will be weaning a calf that I estimate at 575 lbs. or greater. She has accomplished raising this calf on an all grass diet of stockpiled forage with supplemental hay. Lets take a look at the percentage of weight that the cow was able to wean. Weaning a 575 lbs. calf / 950 lbs. cow = 60% of the cows weight weaned in the calf. Not all of our cows are this small, but I think it is safe to say that most of our cows will wean a calf around 50% of her own weight. Of course they will do it on an all forage diet.
Please contact us if you would like to visit the herd.
Eat The Rainbow
In past posts we have promoted a “traditional diet” that includes animal fats and protein as part of a healthy diet. There is a significant population that is vegetarian and avoids animal based food products. So who’s right? If you are searching for a healthy diet we urge you to do your research.
Other diet thoughts would be to stress our digestive system as we stress our muscles when doing a work out to promote strength. Restrict intake of different food groups, there probably are some health benefits to giving up a food item for 40 days (Lent). Consider a fast; let your body burn off some of those lower quality proteins in your system. Just as with weight training muscles, give your digestive system proper time to recover from stress.
Some famous statements probably hold true to diets as well:
- Everything in moderation
- Variety is the spice of life
Moderation is a pretty straight forward concept but what about variety? When I think of variety I think of the late Jerry Brunetti (eco ag specialist and founder of Agri-dynamics) power point presentation “Food As Medicine”. Take a few minutes to flip through this 77 slide PDF document, loaded with photos, and appreciate what it means to “Eat The Rainbow”.
Paleo Protein
I am always interested in learning about any touted healthy eating options. Most have probably heard of the “Paleo Diet” (Paleo). Recently a co-worker filled me in on his personal research and experience with this diet. There appears to be different versions of the Paleo depending on the website/book and author.
Paleo says “where’s the protein?”
WAPF says “where’s the fat?
Two main points my friend makes about the Paleo:
- Lean meat for protein (sourced from pasture raised animals)
- Cod Liver Oil provides many health benefits.
Of course I agree with the health benefits of consuming protein from healthy animals raised on a grass & forage only diet. In past posts I have discussed the Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) that also promotes meat from pasture raised animals. Where WAPF prizes the “fat” from grassed based animals, Paleo appears to prize the “lean meat”.
Where WAPF and Paleo come together is with the use of cod liver oil. WAPF considers cod liver oil a superfood. A recognized source of high quality cod liver oil is right here in Nebraska. Greenpasture.org actually blends butter from their pastured cows with fermented cod liver oil to create what they call a “nutrient rich sacred food”.
If you follow either the WAPF or Paleo crowd, we here at DS Family Farm are on your side, raising animals that will give the meat (protein or fat) that you are looking for.
If I have misrepresented the Paleo Diet, please comment below.
Photo credit: http://www.morguefile.com/creative/MaxStraeten
2015 Grassfed Beef Progress Report 1
Last July we posted a few photos of the first steers we will have available later this year as grassfed – grassfinished beef. The steers have lost some of that summer time sickness and put on their winter coats. Finishing these animals are a work in progress. We are not feeding these steers any different from what is available to our cow/calf herd.
Will these steers finish and provide a quality eating experience later this year? Time will tell. For now we continue on our journey to producing an all pastured beef (no corn or corn stalk grazing allowed).
This 2015 grassfed beef progress report 1 will be followed up with additional updates until these steers are harvested. Feel free to post a comment or email any questions you may have.
Low fat High carbohydrate diet
The Holiday Season has made the clothing a little tight entering the New Year. It’s those holiday treats (empty carbohydrates) that get me! Today my weight swings (up and down) are not what they use to be when my diet was largely based on processed foods.
Trying to “diet” while still consuming highly processed foods (empty carbs) and avoiding animal fat was a weight loss & gain rollercoaster. A change in eating habits to less processed foods and no fear of animal fats resulted in lower overall carbohydrate intake. Simply replacing carbohydrate calories with fat and protein from pasture raised animals has stabilized my weight. A full breakfast with eggs, bacon/sausage will keep the body satisfied, without those empty carb cravings, right up to lunch time.
I tend to agree with the diet information from the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF):
- The information is well researched and cited.
- Research continues.
- Based on real world experience and tradition.
- It makes sense.
- Applying a few principals from the recommendations has worked for myself and others I know.
If you are considering a New Year “diet”, do your research and consider pasture raised (grass-fed) animal products. Look for locally raised eggs, milk, cheese and meats. WAPF recommendations also include plant based fats such as coconut oil and the use of fermentation and sprouting of other vegetable products. The key is to enjoy all kinds of foods that taste good and are good for you. Join some of us that have departed from the low fat high carbohydrate diet to a diet that is more balanced. Please share your thoughts.
As a side note, yes I am a member of WAPF. You may also want to consider the Price-Pottenger Foundation which also promotes and further researches the teachings of Dr. Price. Photo by: http://www.morguefile.com/creative/rosevita.
Celebrate His Birth
Luke 2:1-20English Standard Version (ESV) (BibleGateway.com)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[c]
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Listen to Luke 2 (6 minutes 41 seconds) by Max McLean via BibleGateway.com.
Fat Is Back – Beef Producer
Earlier this year we had a number of posts about health topics and the importance of animal fats as part of a healthy diet. Feel free to browse back to our January – February – March – April & May blog posts. Fat Is Back in the news (good animal fats as part of your diet) in many places. We came across a blog post from the Farm Progress – Beef Producer site from December 4, 2014, that sums up much of what we see in the news and what we wrote about earlier this year. Here is the link to a great blog post by R. P. Cooke on the Farm Progress – Beef Producer site titled “Lean May Be Queen But Fat Is Where It’s At“:
Here at D S Family Farm we specialize in growing the type of beef animal Cooke describes towards the end of his blog post:
“The answer to the dilemma is fairly simple if you are interested in being sharp, having energy, being healthy and losing your spare-tire waist line. On a daily basis eat at least six to 10 ounces of fatty beef from an animal that spent months and months on well mineralized fresh grass that was mostly tall and green. This animal needs to have received only a trace of seeds (grain).
The highest quality will normally come from a somewhat early maturing, easy fattening 24- to 40-month-old steer or heifer that has never failed to gain weight daily and had only a little wrinkle of hide over its brisket when it is harvested in the late summer or early fall.
Use this beef fat in most everything you cook.”
In this July 2014 blog post we announced the one year count down to having our first animals ready, to ship our first beef. Maybe we were a little on the anxious side, 24 months might be a little early. None the less we should be close to having some grass fed fat beef late summer 2015!
Feel free to share your thoughts about “DOC”s post or contact us to stop by and see how the steers are progressing.
Grazing Stockpiled Grass
In earlier posts we have mentioned cattle grazing stockpiled grass. To explain, “stockpiled” grass is portions of pasture lands that were left un-grazed during the growing season for the specific purpose of grazing those areas during the non-growing season. We are now well into the non-growing season, no new grass growing around here this time of the year. During the growing season, we have more grass growing than what the herd can consume. This is a good thing, because we need that extra grass this time of the year when nothing is growing. It is a balancing act. If we had enough cattle to graze all the grass grown during the growing season, we would not have any stockpiled grass to graze during the non-growing season. The proper way to decide the number of cattle to run on a pasture in our part of the world is to determine how many cows you can graze during the non-growing season. That is, if you don’t want to feed hay.
In another earlier post we explained that we do make hay and we do feed some hay. The hay continues to act as insurance for when a natural event prevents our cattle from being able to graze (very deep snow & ice, fire, hail etc.). The main purpose of hay in our operation is to feed a small amount of quality hay as a diet supplement. Just a little quality hay (2 pounds per day) can keep a cows digestive system functioning properly while she consumes large amounts of low quality stockpiled grass (20+ pounds per day). It is a lot less work to let the cows harvest the stockpiled grass than to cut it for hay and feed it back to cows. In addition, cows rather graze than eat hay.
The tall brown grass that is taller than the back of our cows in the photos above is native grasses such as big bluestem and indian grass. Some of our pasture will have this tallgrass through next spring. It provides excellent cover for wildlife and will catch any blowing snow we get this winter. If the tall grass is still standing next growing season it will shade out new grass trying to grow. Our goal over the non-growing season is to graze and stomp the tall stuff down. Cattle are not able to digest the hardest tall stems and we don’t want to force them to eat it. By keeping their paddocks small, they are able to graze the good to medium quality stockpiled grass and stomp the bad stuff to the ground. Once the tough stuff is on the ground, our soil livestock (microbes, worms etc) will grind up the carbon into new soil organic matter. New soil organic matter will help grow more and hopefully better grass next year. It is a wonderful cycle to watch but hard to see at a glance.
With this type of year around grazing the overall quality of our pasture grass is improving. The next step is to build a herd of cattle that is adapted to our climate and pasture. At some point in the future we may be able to eliminate feeding hay as a diet supplement (our long-term goal).
Calves going into winter
Last April and May we posted some photos of our spring born calves. Here we share some recent photos of some cow calf pairs. The calves are looking healthy after a summer of grass and cow milk.
As always, you are welcome to contact us for a farm visit any time of the year. We always have the herd on the move trying to mimic the natural effect of short term intense grazing followed by long term rest. The system that was in place when buffalo (bison) roamed this area and created some of the deepest most productive soils in the world.
