Farming Friends

I was recently sent an email asking, “Do you know what a “pointed stick for driving cattle”is called?” Derek.

Hi Derek,

I have found out that a pointed stick for driving cattle is called a goad.

I found this definition from the dictionary reference site which is interesting:

“1. a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc.; prod.
2. anything that pricks or wounds like such a stick.
3. something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus.
–verb (used with object)
4. to prick or drive with, or as if with, a goad; prod; incite.”
Dictionary.com

I find this interesting because this is where the term to goad someone into doing something must come from.

If there is a farming term that you want to know then contact me and I will try to find out the answer for you.

We also bought two cows and their calves last week. They were placed in the field and not in the fold yard so that the cattle did not fight with the new cows. When the cattle are placed in the field they usually don’t fight as there is enough space for them to mix well together.

Watch the video clip of the suckler cows and calves.

I hope that you enjoyed watching the farming life video diary of our suckler cows and calves.

Some people can’t tell the friesian and holstein cattle breeds apart but the holsteins have more white and the friesians more black traditionally and the holsteins are smaller I believe than the friesians.

Friesians are a bonnier animal than an Holstein, which is bred for as much milk as possible and is a thinner leggier animal than the friesian.
What is ironical is that we spent years breeding to improve the butterfat of our friesian herd from 3.2% to 4.0% and now Skimmed milk (that we used to feed to the pigs!) is in as much demand as is full cream milk and is also just as expensive
Kind Regards
John

Please let us know if you have noted any other differences between friesian and Holstein cattle.

Charolais cattle have been bred and reared on our farm for nearly 50 years as they are a large fast growing breed of beef cattle. TBird asked about the temperament of Charolais cattle.

What kind of temperament do your cattle have. My husband thinks Charolais are famous for a not-so-great temperament.

We raise Hereford/Angus cross. We have 3 calves (2 bull and 1 heifer) on the ground already and are awaiting 5 more. We don’t usually have any more than 20 or 21 head at a time. Tbird.

My husband says that the Charolais has a fairly docile temperament towards humans, but they do sometimes fight with each other. They are a large, late maturing breed who have a tendancy for badly overgrown hooves.

My father in law who has been breeding Charolais cattle for nearly 50 years says this breed are reasonably good to deal with and are certainly not as flighty as the Limousin breed. He says that at calving time the Charolais cow will get very protective and can be bad to deal with. He feels that the advantage of raising Charolais cattle is that they are a large fast growing breed with good confirmation.

There are lots of wooden objects and buildings on the farm but one of the most important wooden objects for a livestock farm are the feed troughs.

These feed troughs are in the fold yard and are used by the beef cattle.

The cattle get barley, fodder beet, potatoes or silage in these troughs depending on the time of year or the age or type of cattle.

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I received this comment from Eric about his Dexter herd in South Africa. I thought the comment was very interesting.

I have been breeding Dexters on the harsh South African Highveld for over 33 years. I run a small herd, split into reds, blacks and commercial of about 250 females.

They are remarkable animals. I also run a herd of Brahmans and mixed breeds. The Dexters outperform some of their bigger cousins with regard to milk and meat. This one sees when looking at the profitability and feed conversion per herd.

Dexters eat practically anything, but excell when fed well. Some of my surrogate Dexter mothers raise up to eight calves a year, every year. One cow has regularly weaned a calf that weighs more than she does.

My oldest cow is 21 years old and has produced 19 calves.

In short, no pun intended, a little beast with big potential!

Regards
Eric
Potchefstroom
South Africa

Thank you Eric for taking the time to tell me all this interesting information about your herd and the dexter breed. I can’t believe your oldest cow is 21 and has produced 19 calves. I am surprised that your surrogate cows can raise up to 8 calves a year. Very interesting information. Thanks again for this interesting comment - I have learnt a little about the Dexter breed of cattle.

Our bull is a relatively new one and when he was introduced to the cows not all of the cows got in calf straight away and this has resulted in calves being born throughout the year.

The bull has a very  gentle nature and doesn’t seem to mind being separated from his herd of cows.

I will post a photo of our bull when I can get the main computer to work as it seems to have stopped working at the moment and all the photos are on the main computer! so watch this space for a photo of the bull.

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