Who's Your Daddy?
Our crossbred herd ranges from the stately Queenie to the gormless but lovely No. 100. Each have their own merits, from producing smashing calves, size and build, to a good nature, or occasionally they're just a cow to which we're very attached. Whatever they may claim, every decent farm has one or two of these.
We do not keep a bull on the farm (Thistle, a substantially built cow, is often mistaken for one from afar), but instead, browse the Genus Beef Directory to choose a sire for our calves. When choosing a bull the most important factors for us are high calving ease, strong growth rates and calf quality. We do this by looking at the Beef Sire Index which compares the individual bull to the breed average. Smaller calves that grow fast are ideal in our system, although recently we've produced some monsters!
Currently, we use two bulls: the mighty Hereford, Solpoll 1 Ferrari, and the lively Aberdeen Angus, Nightingale Ploughman. Ploughman has reached the 'legendary' status of 'Diamond Sire' with over 100,000 calves in his beef sires proof. He's a busy bull.
I favour giant, dopey Herefords; Dad favours Angus' - you have to watch him when he's by the AI flask or else we'd have 100% Angus calves. To celebrate our latest batch, and to see if you think Dad got his way, it's Game Time! Put your observation skills to the test in our "simple" matching challenge:
Answers below. And for those who need a helping hand: the mothers include two heifers, a giant, a "slow to regain her figure" cow, and a brown one who likes to kick. No need to thank me. A pat on the back if you scored 5-out-of 5 - or a kick in the case of Crispin (E).
Answers: Hereford: A (wingnut ears - dead giveaway!), B, E. Angus: C, D
Bale carting with Dad
This is a tractor.
This is a tractor.
But this isn't just any old tractor. This is a tractor that will blow your mind. For not only is this tractor parked outside the barn....this tractor drove itself out of the barn. Hallelujah!
A fully operational tractor with a post-split variety of new bearings, pipes, brakes, working accelerators (both hand and foot of course), and even...wait for it...two doors! The luxury!
Congratulations Dad, you're a pro now - the next one will be a breeze!
Happy Father's Day everyone!
The Calf with the Golden Navel
We only breed the best! Our newborn Hereford calf has its navel sprayed by Farmer Humph
(Note the sunhat - summer is here!)
Inside the hive
Bee(f) farming*
* or apiculture (the culture of apes)
Dad and I took an outing yesterday to collect a swarm of bees. What better way to undertake some father-daughter bonding when you only own one bee suit (which I rocked) meaning that when bees are present, the other person has to stay a sensible distance away from said bee-suited individual. Clearly, we'll have to repurpose one of Farmer Humph's sun hats by glamorously draping a veil over it...
Watching bees settling into the weird, insect-dripping organism that is a resting swarm is fascinating. This swarm was in the two castes pictured above. We knocked the bees from their resting place into a box, swept up some of the remainders, and returned close to sunset to transport the box back to the farm.
The father-daughter bonding ended slightly at this point when my driving was classified as "too bumpy" for the bees...this from a man who swerves around potholes at the last-minute. But, we all survived the journey and the bees are over-nighting in an idyllic spot overlooking the river, pasture and apple blossom. Hopefully the pampered bees will decide to stay and long may the father-daughter bonding continue!
Great British Beef Week
This week, across the country, people have celebrated the quality, versatility and nutritional powerhouse that is British Beef!
And so, to celebrate, we bring you Farmer Humph's #beefie...
Not really! But this is a screen print by the brilliant Paul Bommer (click here for more info), hanging on our kitchen wall...and the resemblance is uncanny!
