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CowTales

Tales about the cows at Birdsong Farm...

The Story of Blossom

13/8/2016

3 Comments

 
The Story of Blossom (August 13, 2016) My love of Jerseys and cheese making all began with a cow named Blossom. This is our story...
Today there are 15 Jerseys registered with the 'Birdsong' herd prefix, but it all started with a cow named Blossom...

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Feeding Your Calf: Birth to 3 Months

9/7/2016

11 Comments

 
Tips for feeding your calf from birth to three months.
I'm doing research on the best calf feeding program for raising my Jersey heifers, and since I've received quite a few requests about the best way to raise calves I'm going to share my research with you in this month's CowTales post.

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Should I Buy a Calf or Cow?

9/4/2016

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Trying to choose between buying a baby calf or bred heifer, or a cow that is already milking? In this post I outline a few of the pros of buying a cow versus buying a calf.
I often read questions on discussion forums and Facebook groups from individuals asking if they should buy a calf or a cow as their family's future milker. There is not a black-and-white answer to that question, and what works great for one family might not work at all for you.
​

My first milk cow started out as a 9-month-old heifer; my second cow was a 2-year-old that was already milking. In this post my goal is to give you a few of the pros of buying a cow versus buying a calf.

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I Was Born To Be A Farmer

12/3/2016

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I Was Born To Be A Farmer (March 12, 2016) I've known for many years that I was born to be a farmer. Every day is hard work, and there are countless highs and lows, but it's a lifestyle that I wouldn't trade in for all the money in the world. These are the musings of a Modern Milkmaid™.
I've known for many years that I was born to be a farmer. Every day is hard work, and there are countless highs and lows, but it's a lifestyle that I wouldn't trade in for all the money in the world. 

Last year I came across a cute barn board plaque on Pinterest entitled "I was born to be a Farmer", and it became the inspiration for this post. These are the musings of a Modern Milkmaid™.

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Milking Charts (+ free printable)

13/2/2016

4 Comments

 
Milking Charts + free printable (February 13, 2016) I started keeping milking records when my first cow, Blossom, started milking back in September 2004. I milked her twice a day and would weigh her milk every morning and evening and record the weights. If you are milking a family cow--or a dozen on a small dairy--and want to keep daily milk records I trust that my milking chart will be a handy resource.
I began keeping milking records when my first cow, Blossom, started milking in September 2004. I milked her twice a day and would weigh her milk every morning and evening and record the weight on my paper chart. 

My paper charts worked well, but I needed to add the daily totals at the end of every day and then the monthly totals at the end of every month--all by hand. Shortly after I discovered Microsoft Excel I spent a weekend programming a new milking chart that did all the math for me. 

If you are milking a family cow--or a dozen on a small dairy--and want to keep daily milk records, I trust that my milking chart will be a handy resource for your farm.

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Birdsong Farm
Naomi De Ruiter
PO Box 486
Falkland, BC.  Canada
V0E 1W0

milkmaid@naomisbirdsongfarm.ca
250-938-1606

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© Birdsong Farm, 2011–2022
  • Welcome
    • Meet the Milkmaid
    • Resources
    • Contact
  • Learn to Make Cheese
    • Cheesemaking Classes
    • Cheesemaking Store
    • Prerecorded Classes
    • Gift Cards
  • Jersey Cows
    • About our cows
    • The Blossom Family
    • The Princess Family
    • The Fancier Family
    • Milk Cow Mentoring
    • Jersey Sales
  • Cowtales Blog