calving season has officially started!

Well it's official, calving season has started at Stevenson Farms.  Yesterday afternoon one of Chasen's heifers calved.  Here is a picture of the little guy :)  Chasen said they were not supposed to start calving until the end of February but this little guy must like surprises!



Or maybe he likes the weather...it was 60 degrees out!!  I sure hope calving weather stays this way through the end of March.  It would be a first for me to move/feed cattle without tromping through 2 feet of mud--imagine what Roxie, my corgi, looks like after a day of being on the farm in this mess, ugh!!!!  Not to mention the mud's effect on feed efficiency and calf health.


Anyway, it is a good sign the calf was born in the afternoon.  It means that the Konefal feeding method Chasen has initiated is working!  The Konefal method was developed, or more so recognized, by Gus Konefal.  Gus, a Hereford breeder from Manitoba, began feeding his cows twice daily, once at 11 am and again at 9 pm.  The cows through the early hours of the morning focus on feeding and gaining energy instead of going into labor.  I mean these ladies y got some things figured out!  The Konefal method should be started 1 month prior to calving to allow the mamas to adjust to the new feeding schedule.  Research at Iowa State University indicated that 80% of females calved between the hours of 7am and 7pm; which for a producer means a few more minutes of shut eye through the night.  Don't get me wrong, cows need to be checked every 2 - 3 hours, but this method allows producers to get back to bed sooner.    


Although Chasen may get consistently crabbier over the next few months due to lack of sleep, I know that he truly enjoys this time of year.  And I do too!  I am simply ecstatic to head back in two weeks to see all of the little boogers running through the pasture.  If there is one thing that makes producers smile, it is witnessing a newborn calf stand for the first time, take it's first drink or first step outside, or seeing a pasture full of newborn calves playing together, or ......  Ok I realize I listed more than ONE reason, but all of these things truly bring joy to a producers life.  I guess what I am trying to say is calving season, although the long nights, and hard pulls, and cold weather can make it quite miserable at times, it is the true way farmers are able to interact and thus appreciate new life on the farm.  It makes our job feel worthwhile!


We sure do have our work cut out for us this spring, with over 100 head of mamas to calve, 30 being heifers there may be a lot of late nights.  But that next morning I can guarantee there will be lots of smiles!!!