Jun 8
Contented cows
Posted in Organic Farming Livestock Farming Techniques , The Weather by David Wilson
The cows are outside 24 hours a day now because the grass has starting growing and it's milder at night. They look an absolute picture grazing in the fields. It's always a difficult juggling act to keep the grass at the right height. At this time of year, grass is trying its hardest to produce seed heads. As it reaches this stage it becomes less nutritious so we try to maintain the grass sward a few inches high.
As cows will eat as much as they can fit in they are a little reluctant to come in to the milking parlour. They stand there stuffed and grunting so they need more encouragement than usual to go into the milk parlour. Mark, the herdsman, has to try to gently encourage them in. After about six weeks, when the flush of early summer grass has diminished, they are much keener.
In the morning, Mark brings them in at about 5 am for milking and then in the afternoon at about 3.30 pm. It's important for a herdsman to have a close relationship with his cows and Mark is very in tune with his herd. The man in charge of his cows can make or break a dairy farm.
Eva Fleischman
Wednesday, November 26
Hi I am 9 years old and my mum has just told me about how animals can be ill treated. In fact I wanted to know why we buy so much organic food?From Eva Fleischman.