May 9th 2008

Charolais Cattle Eating Silage

During Autumn and Winter the Charolais cattle are kept in the fold yard and are fed silage twice a day. Here is a video clip of the Charolais cows and bull eating the silage.

It is interesting to note that the bull is at the front end of the trough and this is where he always feeds when the silage is placed in the troughs. This indicates that the bull is the highest ranking Charolais in the fold yard.

I hope you have enjoyed watching my cattle eat their silage.

May 8th 2008

Goad - A Pointed Stick To Drive Cattle

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.

May 7th 2008

Guinea Fowl Hatching Eggs For Sale

Guinea Fowl Hatching Eggs For Sale

6 guinea fowl hatching eggs

6 guinea fowl eggs suitable for hatching in an incubator or under a broody hen. Only £2 plus £4 postage and packaging.



Eggs will be collected and posted within 3 days of receipt of order. (Please note that guinea fowl eggs can be stored for up to 7 days.) The eggs will be fresh and no more than 2-4 days old.

The eggs will be sent first class within the UK in a polystyrene egg container specially made for sending eggs in the post. Please note that this product can only be sent to residents of the UK and not overseas.

Eggs from this flock have been successfully hatched under a broody hen and in an incubator, but there is no guarantee of fertility after postage. These eggs are for hatching and not for human consumption.

February 2008 Caption Competition Photograph.

The eggs come from a flock of 29 mixed gender domesticated guinea fowl of which 27 are lavender or pied lavender coloured, 1 pearl coloured and 1 white. The guinea fowl free range during the day and roost in a poultry hut at night.

It is recommended that you let the eggs stand and settle for 24 hours at room temperature upon receipt before incubation.

6 Guinea Fowl Hatching Eggs £2 plus £4 postage and packaging.





May 7th 2008

Farming Life Video Diary - Suckler Cows And Calves

At this time of year the suckler cows and calves are put out to grass in a field with an electric fence so that the cattle do not escape from the field. The calves were born in the fold yard and are not used to the electric fence so we placed an electric fence in the fold yard for a few days to train the calves not to touch the electric fence when they are placed in the field.

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.

May 6th 2008

Photograph Of The Month Competition - Entry Number 1 For May 2008

PeacockMarian has sent a picture of a Peacock which she has entitled “Sheer Beauty” for the Farming Friends Foto of the Month Competition, so thanks Marian.

Marian said in her email, “It is the males that are famous for their strikingly beautiful tail coverts. The long feathers are usually green and gold. Markings of blue colour resembling eyes, giving them a special beauty all of there own. The problem is, getting them to display when you have the camera ready!  Fortunately, this was very happy to pose for me.”

Wow - what a fantastic photograph - if you think that you have a photograph that can rival Marian’s then send me your photograph entry.

The photographs need to have a farming theme and can include the farming landscape, farm animals, farm machinery, farming life or nature and wildlife on and around a farm. Send your photographs by email (request email address via the contact form if you don’t know email address and I will send it to you) keeping the photograph attachment to a size of about 600 x 400 pixels.

Please supply some details about the photograph - the name of the person who took the photograph, when and where it was taken and what is happening in the photograph. The winning ‘Foto’ will be posted at the beginning of the following month, so you have up to the end of the month to enter.

May 5th 2008

Fresh Flowers From The Garden

Fresh flowers from the gardenFresh flowers from the garden are a lovely addition to your home as they bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. I have been inspired by Fiona from The Cottage Smallholder to have fresh flowers from the garden in my house, so thanks Fiona.

This little vase of fresh flowers has fragrant hyacinths, petite white daffodils and an unknown delicate white flower. I placed this little posy of flowers in the vase on my kitchen table and the hyacinths produced a wonderful fragrance that filled the room.

The pretty vase of flowers, the lovely fragrance and the knowledge that these beautiful flowers were a free gift from our garden has inspired me to continue to look for flowers that I can cut for the house.

I dedicate this post and the pretty posy of flowers to Fiona @ The Cottage Smallholder who gave me the inspiration to cut fresh flowers from my garden.

May 3rd 2008

Seasonal Food For May

Seasonal Food for May includes:

Apples - certain varieties.
Asparagus.
Broad beans.
Broccoli.
Cabbage.
Carrots.
Cauliflower.
Celeriac.
Duck.
Earliest tomatoes.
Eggs.
Gooseberries.
Green Cabbage.
Leeks.
Lemon sole.
Mint.
Onions.
Parsley.
Parsnips.
Potatoes.

Purple sprouting broccoli.
Red Cabbage.
Rhubarb.
Sardines.
Sea bass.
Sea trout.
Sprouts.
Click on the image below to visit Amazon.co.uk to find out more about this book or visit one of the Farming Friends Bookshops.

Cook: Smart, Seasonal Recipes for Hungry People

 

 

 

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