Invention Monday - Quad Ramp

Another Monday, another invention, I think this is probably my favorite invention that my father and mom's cousin came up with! They built two ramps over the fence for the quads to drive over without having to open any gates.

This ramp has saved us a lot of time and it is used primarily during calving season, once over both of them you are in the calving area where the cows are to check during the night. It makes it nice and a lot easier to get up at three in the morning in -30 degree Celsius weather not having to get off and open gates.

It is very convenient and safe to use, we built the rail on the sides so that the we can't drive the quad over the edge. It has been used a countless number of times and has saved a lot of time.

If you have any questions or comments please ask or for more information on how it was built you can go to http://www.lilybrookherefords.com/QuadRamp.htm.

A little joke!

In my agriculture experience I have came across a few rank animals but not very many, and I have learned that if someone says watch that one you listen and keep an eye on the animal! I found this joke where the person didn't listen to him and I got quite a laugh out of it, I hope you do too!

Agriculture Rep
A cocky Department of Agriculture representative stopped at a farm and talked with the old farmer - "I need to inspect your farm."
The old farmer said: "OK, but you better not go in that field."
In a wise-arse tone the Ag. Representative said, "I have the authority of the U. S. Government with me. See this card..?"
He stuck a plastic-coated card in the farmer's face.
"This card says I can go wherever I want to on agricultural land."
The old farmer shrugged and went about his farm chores. Later, he heard loud screams and saw the Department of Agriculture rep running for the fence.
Close behind was the farmer's prize bull, Geronimo.
Geronimo was madder than a nest full of hornets and he was gaining on the Ag Rep with every angry snort.
The farmer shouted, "Show him your card !"

 

Credit http://miteshasher.blogspot.com/2007/08/really-funny-jokes-agricultural-rep.html

Dust Regulation.... Really?

I was searching the Internet for agriculture news and something to blog about, and I came across this which gave me a bit of a laugh at how ridiculous this is and I can't believe they would waste time on this regulation!

In the States the Environmental Protection Agency wants to regulate farm dust. Now, I'm not American but I do have to say that regulation is ridiculous and if it does pass it will affect the agriculture industry. We don't really have a control over the dust that gets produced from driving on gravel roads or combining and working in the fields. The only way we could control dust is go places and work in the fields after it has rained, and that does not happen all that often, ninety five percent of the time when you drive on a gravel road their is dust billowing behind you!

This regulation will cause problems for many farmers and ranchers  if they get fined, it is already hard enough sometimes staying a float in the business with out having to worry about dust regulations.

For the States sake, I hope enough people complain and the regulation does not pull through and if this comes up to Canada, I know I'll be revolting, I'm sure we have other pollution problems to worry about then a little dust on country roads!

This is a funny little video on the dust regulation!

Any thoughts, comments?

Credit http://www.farms.com/FarmsPages/Commentary/DetailedCommentary/tabid/192/Default.aspx?NewsId=41548



"Life's a Dance"

 I am a very big fan of country music, I find they usually tell a story and can be relevant to life! So, as I was mowing the lawn today, I was thinking about some of these songs. One of the songs that I absolutely love and I think it has a lot of truth to it is "Life's a Dance," by John Michael Montgomery.

Life's a Dance

I think every one's life is a dance in different ways, sometimes we lead, sometimes we follow. And were always learning. The agriculture world is also a dance, it's ever changing but we continue to learn as life goes on. This song reminds me of my life and all I've learned and what I'm going to continue learning in my life dance!

Keep dancing!



Harrowing

As it has finally stopped raining and dried up quite well over the last few days we have been busy getting the rest of our seed in for this summer's silage and hay! I spent most of the day sitting in a tractor harrowing the fields after they were seeded.

We don't normally harrow the soil after seeding but we did the one field today to break up the clumps and smooth out the field a bit. The teeth of the machine gently drag through the soil, evening it out and breaking up big clumps.

So, now the fields are mostly seeded, I think there is one left, and looking good, now a little sun and moisture, the crops will be shooting up!

Harrow

Harrow folded up, on the way home

The future - My wonderful brother!



Daniel with his first heifer "Miss Diamond" when he was four.



When I was ten years old my little brother, Daniel was born. Life changed that day, I remember it being a very exciting time and in no time I was feeding, changing diapers and rocking my baby brother to sleep! He taught me a lot, mainly a whole lot of patience but I cannot imagine my life without him and he is a large part of Lilybrook Herefords and probably the future of this place.

It became quite apparent from a very early age that the world of agriculture is in Daniel's blood. He was chasing cows almost before he could walk. Daniel would cover the living room floor with pens made of blocks and the cows he put in these pens were anywhere from a real toy cow to marbles, even to old tags that he spent hours washing. And if one of my family members even dared to knock over a cow or a block we were in trouble! I am told that my dad did the same thing back in Switzerland when he was a boy, setting up his farm and getting mad if people wrecked it.

Daniel and Miss Ribstone

So, over the past few years Daniel has become a big part in the operation, always eager to work with cattle. Not to mention he is very good at it, he stole my spot as the "gate man" probably when he was about six or seven, I remember being a little bit mad but I've gotten used to it and he does just as good if not better than I ever did. Daniel is a fabulous cattleman and may someday be better than my dad, when we're not sorting, Daniel can usually be found behind running the animals into the alleyway of the chute. It is wonderful to watch him work the cows, and sometimes even a bit scary but it gets better, the cows have learned to respect the young man!

We didn't hesitate to get Daniel started early, so he entered the show ring and had his first heifer when he was four, now he is almost ten and had five calves this calving season. So, he's being showing since he was four and now he is nine in his first year of 4-H.

I asked Daniel what his favorite thing to do and on the ranch is and he simply said, "sorting cows." His favorite time of the year for working with cows is the time that we preg test (check if the cows are pregnant) all our cows.

In Daniel's words, "washing my steer for the first time by myself."

Daniel is the most amazing little brother anyone could ask for and he has a passion for agriculture that hopefully will continue to grow over the years as he becomes more involved in the industry and continues through the 4-H program, he is part of the future! 

Having a little rest



Chinook Junior Stock Show 2011



Invention Monday - Cattle Handling System

I am going to try starting a new feature on Monday's, my dad and my mom's cousin who works here part time each have a very creative mind and over the years have come up with many inventions to make the ranch life run a little smoother. My dad figured I should do a blog on our cattle handling system that they invented and built so I thought about it and decided that I would bring you one of our inventions weekly until I run out of them.

The cattle handling system we built we use quite regularly in processing cattle such as during preg testing, tattooing, ultra-sounding, weaning, etc.

Our cattle go up into the chute extremely well, they cannot see the end of the system so they therefore keep moving forward. It doesn't take much to get the cows into the alley, it makes it easier for the cows, as they just flow forward and the person that is running the cows in don't have to make their voice hoarse getting them in!

Adjustable wall

A very useful feature that they added to the system, is the ability to adjust the width of the alleyway. We can make it smaller for the calves to go in and not be able to turn around up to making it wide enough for the cows. If a cow or calf goes down in the alleyway and gets stuck we can easily unlatch the back and move it fully out of the way so that the cow can be freed and able to get back up.

Cows in the crowding top and alleyway



Calves in the alleyway made smaller



It is a wonderful system that has made our ranch life easier since we built it along with making it easier on the cattle, I uploaded a video of the handling system being used, it is hard to explain all the details of it but hopefully the video will make it easier to understand just how simple it is.



Credit http://www.lilybrookherefords.com/