News from the Farm
Photos of Henna and Strawberry
11/26/08:Strawberry and Henna, two of our new cows, are in the background of the photo. Strawberry (1.5 yrs old) has the strawberry-colored spots and is part Jersey, part Ayrshir. Henna (6 yrs old) is a Jersey cross whose black patches have red highlights. Our third cow, now named Beatrice (5 yrs old), was lying down during the photo session, but she is a large lady, a Dutch Belted or 'Lakenvelder.'
The three new cows were purchased from a Certified Organic Vermont farm, and Farmer Chantal says she liked their looks. Looks aren't everything, though, so Chantal also reviewed various laboratory tests for any sign of disease, read their calving and milking histories, and checked them for any physical problems such as weak hooves.
New Cows join the Herd and Ruby Retires
11/18/08: Three new cows have joined our herd. Strawberry, Henna, and... one who still awaits her name but has already become the boss of all the other cows. We'll have pictures soon. All three are pregnant and due to have calves this winter. So, with luck, four calves will greet the spring at F&W.
Ruby, our faithful milking cow for so many years, has moved on to other green pastures. She is almost 19 years old, and was starting to have health problems. The busy life of milking cow was no longer for her. Farmer Chantal found a loving home nearby where Ruby will have other elderly cows for company. We will miss her.
Morning Solstice is Pregnant
November 5th 2008: Exciting news today as cow Morning Solstice's pregnancy is 95% confirmed by the veterinarian. Solstice will be checked again in December, and if all goes well she'll have her calf in May. Solstice is part of a long line of F&W Jersey cows, so we are hoping she'll have a heifer (female calf) and continue the F&W lineage. She is 13 years old.
As her pregnancy develops, Solstice will bulge out on the right side of her body. Farmer Chantal says, 'Lunch on the left, reproduction on the right,' meaning, if you see a cow bulging on the left, she just ate a good meal. But if she's bulging on the right, she'll have a calf.
In other cow news: Ruby, our 18 year old Jersey, is getting a break from pregnancy this year. She had twin heifers in April, which is pretty amazing for such an old cow. Her twins, Rachel and Rillabee, are cute as can be and very bonded with Solstice.