Tag Archives: feeding cattle

Gourmet Breakfast

4 Apr

Every morning my husband wakes up early to make a gourmet breakfast.

Not for me. It’s for the cattle in the feedlot.

A carefully formulated ration of ground corn, silage, distiller’s grains and ground hay get mixed up in the feed trucks for the eating pleasure of our bovine customers.

The cattle give it a 5-star rating.

We custom feed cattle for several customers through the winter. Most will soon go out to summer grass to continue growing. They are usually sold in the fall to feeders who feed them to a good weight for beef production. This is often called feeding “fat cattle” or “finishing”.

Until then, we’ll keep the bunk buffet open and the four-legged customers coming back for more.

Liz

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Frozen Stiff

13 Mar

March came in like a lion and it’s been a real bear. Am I mixing my metaphors?

We are grateful for all God’s blessings and provision no matter the circumstances; and events worldwide put our problems in perspective.

Still, there’s no doubt that the 6” of snow topped with 5” more of snow and subzero temps were troublesome to feeding cattle and calving. We got through subzero temps a couple weeks ago as well, followed by a GORGEOUS week, so we were grateful for that! But, during the frigid weather, diesel engines freeze up, waterers freeze up, and baby calves freeze to death. We do our best to prepare ahead of time and to be there in time to get a newborn calf into shelter if needed, but sometimes we areas not successful.

Ultimately, we just have to rely on God’s strength and provision. We do everything in our power and control; knowing that God is really in control and loves us.

And, like my Mom always says, “It all works out in the end. If it’s not working out, it’s not the end.”

And soon enough, the wind started blowing and the snow and ice started melting. And now there’s mud to contend with. So we will slop through, put out straw in the corrals and be thankful for the moisture because there are dry years we would ache for mud.

Liz

Matthew 6:33

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Holy Cow

25 Feb

It was Sunday and we worked with cows. Holy Cow!

Yes, I’m here all week! Tip your waitress!

Is this thing on?

I’ll be honest. I’m not out at the farm every day. What I’m saying is, I’m unreliable help. But on Sunday afternoon the kids and I ran out to tag along. We fed our mama cows who are due to calve in a few weeks. They eat in the bunk and then mosey back out to the field to frolic and play.

Or maybe just graze and chew their cud. They are really pregnant. I remember being really pregnant. There was no frolicking happening.

We also fed some bred cows in another field and doctored a sick one. Poor thing. I am so grateful we have the resources to help our animals when they are sick.

The temperature was in the 50s and calmer. The wind has been howling so it was nice for a bit of a break. Especially since it snowed and dropped to subzero temps this week. Who let winter back in? I want a name.

So we soaked up the nice weather while it lasted. The kids played on the ground corn pile and I’ll leave you with this sage advice from Ella.

“Don’t get corn in your underwear.”

You’re welcome.

Liz

Isaiah 6:3

3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hauling Corn

7 Feb

Winter is a slower time for us on the farm. I tell people it’s like all our weekends combined, because we don’t get any down time the rest of the year. One of my farmer husband’s colder-weather tasks is to haul stored corn to local feeders. Field corn is raised for livestock feed (this is different than the sweet corn consumed by humans). We sell some of our corn at harvest, but the rest of it goes into storage for marketing at a later date. When we sell corn to local feeders, we haul it to them.

Tyler loads the grain into the truck using the auger unload on the grain bin.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Then he drives to the feedyard. This corn was headed to True Feedlot where they finish 20,000 head of cattle every year! Finishing is the final stage in beef production before going to the processing plant.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

I guess a Farm Wife should clean the windshield every now and then.

Once at the feedyard, the driver pulls on the scale to get a full weight.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Once the truck is on the scale, he runs into the scale house to print the weight on the weight ticket.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Then he pulls around to the feed mill where he unloads.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

The feed mill operator turns on the auger and as the corn unloads into the pit, it is lifted into the storage facility.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

The corn will be milled and mixed with the rest of the feed ration ingredients (this varies, but can include distiller’s grains, liquid minerals and more). Soon these cattle will become delicious, nutritious beef for your table!

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

They look hungry.

Once the load is empty, he pulls back onto the scale and take a “tare” weight of the empty truck. Subtract the tare weight from the gross weight (taken from the full load) and you get the number of pounds of corn delivered. Pretty simple stuff.

Hauling Corn | The Farm Paparazzi

And then my farmer husband does it again (and again, and again).

What’s happening in your world this time of year?

God Bless You & American Agriculture,

Liz

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” – Genesis 1:26

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay

6 Jan

Over Christmas, we got to spend quite a bit of time with both sides of the family. That’s the beauty of all our family living within a 3 hour drive.

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay | The Farm Paparazzi

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay | The Farm Paparazzi

There were lots of special moments. One of my favorite memories didn’t have anything to do with food (although it was delicious) or presents (although I love tearing into wrapping paper) or the snow (although it was a beautiful white Christmas). It was when my (almost) four-year-old niece came running up to me and asked if I’d go with her and Uncle Tyler to the farm.

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay | The Farm Paparazzi

She wanted to see the cows and the combine. So we put on our boots and ventured out. My father-in-law custom feeds cattle and she loves watching them. Uncle Tyler held her close after they climbed into one of the cow pens. Then he called Clay in and we watched as the curious cows came closer.

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay | The Farm Paparazzi

“They like him,” Tyler said and little Skye watched as Clay licked their noses.

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay | The Farm Paparazzi

“Ick, yuck,” she said, mystified at the scene. She made faces, chuckled, asked a couple of questions and noticed all the different colored ear tags.

Christmas, Kids, Cows and Clay | The Farm Paparazzi

What fun to watch a kid on a farm.

God Bless You & American Agriculture,

Liz

Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. – Exodus 18:20 (NLT)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Corn Dog

3 Jan

One wintertime activity for row crop farmers is hauling our stored corn to feedlots.

Corn Dog | The Farm Paparazzi

Notice: This is obviously an older photo because it is not sunny and dry. We have a foot of snow on the ground right now.

This is Tyler’s job. I don’t know how to drive a straight truck and I’m protesting learning how. I’m sort of closed minded, but I’m working on it.

Corn Dog | The Farm Paparazzi

So, when my farmer husband comes home this time of year sometimes his pockets are full of corn. One morning he grabbed his hoodie to throw on and corn went all over the floor. It was like a scene out of a Leslie Nielsen movie. It just keep falling and the more he tried to stop it, the more little kernels trickled all over the floor.

Corn Dog | The Farm Paparazzi

Normally I’m OCD and this would have made me crazy (I’m working on it), but it was so comical that all I could do was watch and giggle. Then the dog scampered in and started crunching away at the mess. He really loved it. He’s weird, but he’s working on it.

Corn Dog | The Farm Paparazzi

So instead of scurrying away to get the dustbuster and broom, I took pictures and chuckled. Farm Paparazzi at your service (even if they are blurry cell phone paparazzi shots).

Corn Dog | The Farm Paparazzi

Hope your day is filled with “corny” fun and laughter!

Corn Dog | The Farm Paparazzi

God Bless You & American Agriculture,

Liz

A cheerful heart is good medicine… – Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,