Our final heifer calf has been born, and calving as a whole is coming to a close. We haven’t lost a single heifer so far, whereas by this time last year we had lost quite a few heifers to an outbreak of pneumonia. The Rispoval Intranasal which we have introduced into our heifer vaccination schedule, administered at 9 days old, seems to have done its job. We’ve weaned over half of the heifers now, which has lightened the daily task of feeding. A line can now be drawn under calving for this year, and so the bar has been set for next time. We have seen improvement, and this current standard is now our guideline for next year.
Meanwhile last year’s batch of heifers has returned home, they are now being housed in the heifer rearing unit once more. This group has reluctantly received all their vaccinations, and are ready for serving. Heat detection has begun and we are using activity meters and estrotect stickers for the heifers. Back on farm we use estrotect stickers on the herd, checking round a few times a day. In addition, using his tech skills, Matt has rigged up a set of cameras on the parlour, which detect the brightly coloured rubbed-off stickers, and take a picture of the cow’s freeze brand. We hope that by combining tech and human observation, we’ll have this area well and truly covered! Any cows not seen bulling will be checked by the vet and synced if necessary, and the AI team have had another refresher course, in preparation. Hopefully this means that all cattle and staff will soon be raring to go!
The field work is going well, maize harvest in ongoing, and it is a little wet, but John is happy with the results so far. Considering how wet it was when the crops went in, the subsoiler seems to have done a good job, as this is one of the best crops we’ve had. The waiting game continues to see how the Kiwi direct drill has done, in reseeding some permanent pasture; we’re hoping to see an improvement in next year’s forage. Now it is just next year’s wheat which is still to be drilled behind some maize.
Another line is being drawn, this time in the area of field work, as with some sadness on John’s part, the team complete the last harvest of some fields which formerly belonged to John’s grandfather. The land, which has belonged to someone else for some time, but still been used by us, is being sold for housing. It seems that all things come and go. We see this in everything, for example in our finances, where we’ve been pleased to receive a good milk price, but we see it quickly dispersed again on our rising bills.
And yet we are thankful for this year, we have a good crop in the clamp, a good group of heifers in the barn, and a good and faithful God alongside us, who gives us cause to say “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”