tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37289464936035472332024-03-12T21:03:52.222-06:00Farming With a Flare. Country girl . Farmer's Daughter . Charolais, Red Angus, Simmental cattle . Faith in God . Bachelor of Science Student . Volunteer . Cattlemen's Young Leader . Five Nation's Beef Alliance Member . Border Collies . German Shepards . Cattle Shows . 4-H . Lacrosse . My Passion . My Life . My Future .Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-27950864377521028772011-07-04T12:58:00.001-06:002011-07-04T12:59:42.952-06:00People Know You By Your First NameGood-bye <a href="http://www.ponokastampede.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Ponoka Stampede</span></a>, you have successfully provided Ponoka residents and many visitors another year of jam packed, rodeo fun!<br />
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Whether you are from Ponoka or a guest camping for the week you will enjoy the sights and sounds of the Ponoka Stampede. For people from Ponoka, the Stampede serves as a high school reunion, a way to catch up with old friends who have, since high school, moved away. For the kids still in high school, Stampede serves as a mark to the start of summer and the end of classes.<br />
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For me, Stampede was a high school reunion. I was able to reconnect with many friends that I haven't seen since last Stampede. The atmosphere of the rodeo offers nothing but excitement and it seems as though people of all ages drop everything when it comes to Stampede time. <br />
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For businesses in Ponoka, the Stampede brings thousands of people, and business skyrockets. All of the hotel rooms fill, holiday trailers fill the campsite, the school fields and the ditches of surrounding businesses. Resturaunts and fast food establishments are completely full at all hours of the day with hungry rodeo goers grabbing a snack before the next performance or after the beer gardens. If you are a resident of Ponoka, this is the one week you should refrain from eating out. <br />
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For parents with small children, Stampede brings stress. With the rodeo comes the midway, and the rides full of screaming children, cotton candy, ice cream and mini donuts, all of the things that keep the children just wired. If you have ever been to the stampede and have walked through the midway during the day, you will know just the craze I am talking about. <br />
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For the police in Ponoka, Stampede brings double time. Driving home the other night I passed five cop cars, three with vehicles pulled over. Check stops are setup all over town, and Police station themselves in the beer gardens hoping to prevent fights and weed out any underage'rs. The drunk tank in Ponoka is the busiest this time of year, and if you are lucky enough to have that one friend who always challenges the cops, you will hear many interesting stories about the drunk tank the next morning. You may even be lucky enough to be the friend who gets the early morning call "can you come pick me up, I am at the cop shop".<br />
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All in all, I think that Stampede brings much joy to many people, and I for one cannot complain. I had the opportunity this year to volunteer as a bartender during the Saturday night cabaret in the arena. Being on the other side of the bar was humorous to say the least. From this angle you get to watch friends progress through the night, and you watch some pretty funny situations unfold.<br />
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Last night I took in the rodeo finals, and watched as my cousin`s boyfriend won the team roping event for the second year in a row! It makes rodeo that much more exciting when you get to cheer for someone you personally know! Congratulations Levi Simpson! The video below is Levi last year at Ponoka Stampede, this year he had a different roping partner. Levi also competed in the Canadian Finals Rodeo last year<br />
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Lately I have heard a song on the radio that reminds me exactly of Ponoka. I decided to dig up the lyrics and add my own little stories to them!<br />
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<h2 style="font-family: Georgia, Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Artist: Brody Dean<br />
Song: People Know You By Your First Name <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="15" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://jmn.jangonetwork.com/s3?cust_params=j_artist=Dean%20Brody&j_title=People%20Know%20You%20By%20Your%20First%20Name" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px;" vspace="0" width="19"></iframe></span><br />
Album: Trail In Life</span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">It's a town just outside of nowhere </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">with a general store and one lamp pole</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">we got wheat fields saw mills and coal mines (Ponoka is surrounded by farms any direction you go) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">down home country folks</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">raised on 4H and dance hall auctions (Ponoka has many various 4-H clubs)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">spaghetti dinners and parkin lot fights,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">ohh we might be a little bit backwoods</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">but `round here thats alright</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">Chorus:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">where people know you by your first name</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">what kinda truck you drive (You can always tell who is anywhere by checking out vehicles parked)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">how your team did back in high school</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">so you can't lie</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">better watch out who you take home</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">`cause `round here its a fact of life</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">that people know you by your first name</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">and what you did last night</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">so c'mon down to our fund raiser dinner it'll be a highschool reunion I swear</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">another family fallin' on hard times</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">so there won't be an empty chair (this recently happened in Ponoka. A farm family lost their young father to a heart attack, and a fundraiser/silent auction was held at the Stampede grounds to raise money for the family. Everyone was there, from farmers to hockey coaches, figure skaters to business people, not a seat was empty)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">listen close and you'll hear a local legend</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">Billy Crocket and that twelve point rack</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">oh and you thought you were alone skinny dippin in the springs last night</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">word here travels fast</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">Chorus:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">where people know you by your first name what kinda truck you drive</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">how your team did back in highschool</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">so can't lie</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: x-small;">bet</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">ter watch out who you take home</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">`cause `round here it's a fact of life<br />
that people know you by your first name<br />
and what you did last night<br />
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here we go<br />
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Chorus:<br />
where people know you by your first name what kinda truck you drive<br />
how your team did back in highschool<br />
so can't lie<br />
better watch out who you take home<br />
`cause `round here it's a fact of life<br />
that people know you by your first name<br />
and what you did last night<br />
<br />
yeah people know you by your first name<br />
and what you did last night<br />
<br />
[Thanks to Jacob Scully for lyrics]</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/brody-dean/people-know-you-by-your-first-name-32844.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/brody-dean/people-know-you-by-your-first-name-32844.html</span></a><br />
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Out to the cows I go!<br />
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Have a good day everyone!<br />
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SamSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-48040695776203308392011-06-30T12:42:00.001-06:002011-06-30T12:43:49.339-06:00It's Showtime!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div>I love to show off... but I'm not talking about showing off myself... I love to show off my cattle!<br />
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If you have ever heard of a cattle show, this is what I am referring to!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What is a cattle show?</span><br />
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A cattle show is just like any other type of show, like a car show or a horse show. It is a way for cattle producers to market their product, hear about what the industry is looking for and compete against one another for the top cow! The video below gives you an idea of just what a cattle show looks like! The video is from a fair in Prince Edward Island, but cattle show are fairly standard around the world!<br />
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At a cattle show, exhibitors compete against other cattle in their breed for a chance to be number one. A judge enters the show ring and judges the cattle based on which cattle he thinks have the best conformation. Conformation: the best body structure, the best structural soundness, the animal that carries itself the smoothest when it walks in the ring.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v321/210/23/615295102/n615295102_4109204_2295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v321/210/23/615295102/n615295102_4109204_2295.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cattle shows not only market the cattle, but at most shows there is a chance for people to market themselves! Junior shows are cattle shows that only allow young ranchers to take part, usually ages 9-21, with some shows starting at age 3 or 4 to age 24. At the Junior shows, there are always a bunch of competitions for the junior showman to compete in, all testing the ability of the showman having nothing to do with how good the cattle themselves are.<br />
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Junior shows contain many different components to the show including:<br />
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<ul><li>Showmanship- the junior showman competes against the other showman to see who presents their cattle the best. They are judged on how well they can handle their cattle, how well they set their cattle up, and how well they present themselves and the cattle. A showman needs to be well groomed also. The biggest job of the showman is to best present the calf to catch the judges attention. If a showman doesn't do a good job of showing the calf, the judge may overlook just how great the animal really is, which could cost the showman and the calf a chance for the championship!</li>
<li>Grooming- There are competitions in which the showman has to groom their calf. The showman are judged on which animal looks the best. No calf should have any bedding on them, dirt, or mud. They should all be washed up and squeaky clean. The calves should be clipped and shaved properly, hiding the bad points and highlighting the strong points of the animal. An animal with a thick hair coat is the best for grooming because you can easily work with the hair to shape it and hide weaknesses.</li>
<li>Marketing - This blog is an example of a senior marketing project for the Summer Synergy Livestock Show. In the past I have had to make business plans, marketing strategic plans, present ideas for new products, create various products and ideas, and work in groups to market random items. This all helps the youth get involved, learn a variety of skills and work on their innovation!</li>
<li>Quizzes- many shows have quizzes about livestock and agriculture that competitors have to take for points toward the aggregate (overall winner). </li>
<li>Judging - At summer shows all the juniors have to judge everything from dairy and beef cattle, to crops, grains and heavy horses. Upon judging a class, the competitor has to orally give his or her reasons to a judge. The judge marks the comments based on quality of the comments, as well as how close the competitor was to judging the class the same as the overall judge. </li>
<li>Art- Sometimes shows have art components such as photography, painting, drawing and various other categories where competitors can show off their other talents in a way that relates to the agriculture industry of course. </li>
</ul><div>The <a href="http://www.summersynergy.ca/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Summer Synergy Show</span></a> is a show which combines Beef, Dairy, Sheep and Heavy horse shows as a way of "synergizing" agriculture and the youth involved. </div><div>Shows are a great way to meet people and work at goals, as well as set up future ties in the agricultural industry. The other showman competing against you at a show are someday going to be the other farmers and ranchers working with you in this great industry. Youth Shows give young ranchers a head start on networking and setting up good markets for themselves!</div><div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What qualities does a judge look for in the champion?</span><br />
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When you step foot in a show ring, you want to be able to pick out which animal will perform the best out of the show ring. The main goal for any farmer is to raise beef cattle that are productive and can bring him high quality beef. As a young rancher, I need to be able to go to the pasture and judge the cattle, so that I can easily pick out the more superior cows. No one wants a sickly, poor producing cow in their herd. Learning how to judge beef cattle helps farmers improve their herds and make them the best they can!<br />
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Before the cattle come into the show ring, the judge sets him or herself up in the middle of the ring, this gives him a good spot to view the animals as they enter. When the cattle enter the ring, their showman lead them around the outside of the ring in a clockwise fashion.<br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having the cattle circle the ring once before they stop allows the judge to see how well each animal carries themself as they walk. As a farmer, we want cattle that are going to be able to move freely over the pasture in order to stay healthy. They need to be able to walk good and have good feet so that they can support themselves and a calf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first thing the judge does is inspect the group as a whole. Usually there are one or two animals that really stand out to the judge as being at the top or the bottom of the class (the best or the not so best).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After one circle of the ring, the animals line up head to tail down one side of the show ring. The showmen now set up their calves feet! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXUCNnkZq0qHQSaPGYKhcM_DlavNULA0yyRV6K5QSGS45u_TRj0ilZYw9ymMK8_z5P6QRA8Jt2H-RK4Y8rHQqtnLpzhGh1HwnN-yfNVp_UfZS-oqMeQRW1q-jw5snXQnjRlzp5YxGd9ct/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXUCNnkZq0qHQSaPGYKhcM_DlavNULA0yyRV6K5QSGS45u_TRj0ilZYw9ymMK8_z5P6QRA8Jt2H-RK4Y8rHQqtnLpzhGh1HwnN-yfNVp_UfZS-oqMeQRW1q-jw5snXQnjRlzp5YxGd9ct/s320/IMG_1772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a showman, it is important to properly set up a calves feet when they have stopped. As a showman it is your job to make the calf look its best in the show ring. You want to highlight the good, and try and hide the bad. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvie Ranching Ms Nylon 102U and Ricochet heifer calf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As you can see in the picture above, Jill and Cole have the cow and calf set up slightly different from one another. This is because not every animal is the same, so as a showman you have to know how your particular animal looks the best and work with them. Jill has the calf's left back foot slightly forward; Cole on the other hand has the cow's left back foot forward, as well as her right back foot slightly farther back.<br />
<div>Colorado State University did a great job explaining everything from halter breaking to showmanship <a href="http://livestock.colostate.edu/youth/documents/Beef/BeefCattleShowmanship.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">here</span></a>, they also have really good pictures, so check it out! </div><div><br />
</div><div>The judge is looking for natural muscling of the animal over the loins, shoulder, rump and round. This is how they judge the beef quality without actually seeing the meat! When judging steers, the judge is looking for cattle that are finished. Cattle that are heavy enough, without having excessive fat. They are also looking for a "good spring of rib", or a voluminous rib cage, deep and wide, in which the animal can have extra intake. </div><div>The cattle should have a straight topline, meaning their back should look nice and straight and from their back to their belly you should be able to imagine two horizontal lines making a rectangle. </div><div>The judge also needs to recognize that not every breed has the same characteristics, so they need to take into account how well that animal does in their breed category! </div><div>The judge also needs to know what to look for when judging a bull, a cow, a steer and a heifer. These animals cannot be judged using the same guidelines. For example, on a bull or a bull calf the judge needs to take into consideration the testicle development, scrotum size and attachment. On a heifer or a cow, they judge needs to look at udder development, teet placement, calf size, and femininity. </div><div></div><div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/agmania/IAS/ASC106/BEEFPART.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/agmania/IAS/ASC106/BEEFPART.GIF" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a great deal more to do with judging a beef animal and I would love to get more detailed in it in a later blog post, so stay tuned! For today however, I must move on! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How do you get a cow ready for the show?</span><br />
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Preparing a show cattle takes days and days of work. Instead of listing it all out for you I found a couple of videos that are awesome and informative and can give you the inside perspective of showing cattle! Enjoy!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Apicreativemedia Channel on Youtube does an awesome job breaking down the entire showing process! From feeding, washing and clipping, right to the show ring, they have covered it in two short videos! Check them out below!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Thanks again for following and reading! Stay tuned, much more to come!<br />
Now it is time for me to head outside and get my own show cattle ready! Off to wash and clip some calves!<br />
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Sam</div></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-23008183303684822862011-06-29T22:00:00.014-06:002011-06-29T23:58:58.595-06:00Five Nations Beef Alliance - Young Rancher's Video<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font: normal normal normal small/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;">Remember when I told you I had the opportunity of a lifetime this past year, having the chance to be part of the FIve Nation's Beef Alliance Young Rancher's Program? Well, our video is finished!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #cccccc;">For those who </span><span style="color: #cccccc; line-height: 115%;">don't know, in January I took part in the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.fivenationsbeefalliance.com/"><span style="color: cyan;">Five Nations Beef Alliance Young Rancher's Program</span></a></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #cccccc; line-height: 115%;"> in Denver, Colorado. I got to meet with people from all over the world, young ranchers just like myself. I also had the opportunity to listen to and chat with highly respected cattlemen in the cattle industry. I listened to speeches and had round table discussions, and through these discussions realized that even though we live in completely different countries, as young ranchers we all face the same trials and tribulations. I feel that this is a huge step forward as a world industry. By realizing that we are all the same, some excelling in different areas, I hope that the future generation can join forces and collaborate to help one another, share ideas and work together to feed our world. I heard a saying over and over again during my time in the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #cccccc; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com/"><span style="color: cyan;">Cattlemen's Young Leaders Program</span></a></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #cccccc; line-height: 115%;"> and I truly feel this sums up the beef industry - We love the animals, we love the land, and we love feeding the world. That is why we choose farming as a way of live. It isn't always rewarding, but it is what we are, it defines us, it is a passion.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #cccccc; line-height: 115%;">So now that you have heard me ramble, check out the video, it tells our story! </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal small/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1neWzn3E3dQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal small/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Learn more - </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.fivenationsbeefalliance.com/"><span style="color: cyan;">FIve Nations Beef Alliance</span></a></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://www.fivenationsbeefalliance.com/images/Group-with-Temple-Grandin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Young Ranchers with Dr. Temple Grandin - Denver, Colorado</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-89315448526883060502011-06-28T23:51:00.005-06:002011-06-29T00:08:43.713-06:00Cattlemen's Young Leaders - Samantha Sperber<a href="http://www.agcanada.com/content/Today-s-News/Article.aspx?ID=37589#.Tgq8_HQxgJ0.blogger"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">AgCanada - AGCanada.com | Today's Farm News</span></a><br />
<br />
As I have stated in previous blogs, I had the opportunity to be involved in the pilot of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com/">Cattlemen's Young Leaders Program</a>.</span> This allowed me to do many awesome things. It also allowed me to broaden my knowledge and love of the agricultural industry. I started out being a commercial cow/calf producer, and since then have purchased my own Purebred heifer. Thanks to my mentor Jordan I was given a personal insight of just what the purebred industry has to offer me. I loved every minute of this mentorship program, and a big thanks goes out to Jill Harvie for organizing and heading such an awesome program, as well, I must thank Tracy Lundago for selecting me to take part in the program from the Calgary Stampede Youth in Agriculture Scholarship winners. I also have Jordan to thank for being a fabulous mentor!<br />
So are you ready to hear my story! Read below for all the details!<br />
<br />
<div id="ArticleTitleArea" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="AT_Region" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(208, 212, 211); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; padding-top: 5px; width: 619px;"><div class="AT_CanadianCattlemen" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%;"><h1 style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Cattlemen’s Young Leaders</span></h1><div class="End" style="clear: both; height: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"></div></div></div><div class="End" style="clear: both; height: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"></div></div><div id="plc_lt_zoneContent_pageplaceholder_pageplaceholder_lt_zoneLeft_AgCanadaFBCArticle_ContentTextArea" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="AO_DIV" style="float: right; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 300px;"><a class="AO_Print" href="http://www.agcanada.com/content/Today-s-News/Print.aspx?ID=37589" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: bold; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 25px; text-decoration: underline; width: 125px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Print This Article</span></a><a class="AO_EmailToFriend" href="http://www.agcanada.com/content/Email-to-a-Friend.aspx?ID=37589" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: bold; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 25px; text-decoration: underline; width: 125px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Email this to a friend</span></a><a class="AO_Comment" href="http://www.agcanada.com/content/Comments.aspx?ID=37589" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: bold; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 25px; text-decoration: underline; width: 125px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Send a Comment</span></a><br />
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<div class="ArticleCaption"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Jordan Buba (l) and Samantha Sperber</span></div></div><div class="End" style="clear: both; height: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">“Leadership is about one’s ability to inspire others,” says Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) graduate, Samantha Sperber. “All young people are more interested in and excel at some things more than</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">others in life. The CYL program helps us focus on our own areas of interest and find ways to inspire others.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Sperber is definite about her interest in agriculture, especially in beef cattle, and has set her course in life on taking full advantage of having grown up on the family’s mixed farm near Rimbey, Alta. “There are lots of opportunities in agriculture in the business sector,” she says, “but it’s very difficult to become a farmer if you haven’t been born into it. That’s why I feel it’s so important to take advantage of the opportunity I have.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Her plan is to complete her bachelor of science degree at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton and work into farming full time. She already owns some commercial cows and says it’s neat to think that it all started when she was three years old when her grandmother gave her a heifer calf that went on to live for 15 years.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Her grandpa and dad mentor her on the commercial cattle and crop side of things, so her initial goal when applying for the CYL program was to learn as much as she could about the purebred industry. However, the program also opened her eyes to the whole wide world of the beef industry beyond the farm. It has motivated her to do more to encourage others to take advantage of opportunities to be in agriculture and share her knowledge with those who don’t have that chance or inclination.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Her mentor, Jordan Buba of Lewis Farms, committed her time to the CYL program for much the same reason. “I love agriculture. I knew right from the time I was nine years old, picking and halter breaking my first heifer that I wanted to farm. I can’t imagine doing anything else and I think it’s important to help young kids have the best chance possible to be in agriculture.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Buba, who is still within the age limit to qualify as a CYL candidate, says it was an honour to be asked to be a mentor considering her age and of all of the other purebred breeders who fit the bill. Many of whom, she adds, are among the network of industry people who influenced her along the way.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">She doesn’t have to look far to find mentors when she considers how her grandfather has managed through the ups and downs without having to take a job off the farm and still remains active in the farm today. Then there’s her uncle who introduced purebred Simmentals to the farm, and another who is a vet.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Lewis Farms, located near Spruce Grove, runs a purebred operation with Simmental, Black Angus and Red Angus cattle, a feedlot and a grain operation specializing in seed potatoes. She and her cousin, Kyle, are the fourth generation to be involved full time with the farm, while her brother will be attending Lakeland College at Vermilion next year and her sister and cousin pitch in whenever they can fit it in with their university studies.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">“Lewis Farms didn’t start out big and today it is so well run and so successful. It was so inspiring to hear their story and see how all of the family is still involved,” Sperber says. The experience has given her confidence to go ahead with her own purebred operation by starting small, focusing on quality, and showing as much as possible to get her name out there.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">She and Buba met face to face at Lewis Farms for five mentoring sessions and between times to cover everything from genetics, breed attributes, expected progeny differences (EPDs), feeding regimes to meet specifitargets for all classes of purebred and feedlot cattle to marketing savvy. She also had a chance to visit the family’s exhibition stalls at Farm Fair and Agribition, where she saw how they set up the show string she had learned about back at the farm, as well as all of the work required to show and market cattle at premier events.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">The shows were a great place to start making the connections that are so important in the purebred industry.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">It didn’t take her long to put her new understanding of genetics and EPDs to work when she attended the SanDan Charolais purebred sale and in a roundabout way managed to purchase her first purebred heifer. Sperber says it was really encouraging to see the breeders go that extra mile and be so excited to have youth involved, which again goes to show that there are leaders and mentors at every turn if you are willing to ask.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">The CYL program also provided opportunities to learn more about the commercial side with student tours of Western Feedlots and the Cargill plant at High River as part of the International Livestock Congress (ILC) in Calgary, and to King Sooper’s case-ready plant in Denver, Colorado, as part of the Five Nations Beef Alliance Young Ranchers Program during the International Livestock Congress and National Western Stock Show.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Those events and sitting in on the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association semi-annual meeting during the ILC, and attending the CYL Fall Forum were great opportunities to hear leading industry people address topics about which she had little prior knowledge.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Sperber recalls Temple Grandin telling the Five Nations group that young people are most influenced by other youths and how important it is to spread positive stories out about the people who dedicate their lives to producing food. Since then, Sperber has been busy posting pictures and links to informative videos and articles on her Facebook page and says it’s surprising how many kids really do read them and comment.</span></div></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-14644142526940280672011-06-27T18:32:00.003-06:002011-06-27T18:34:35.147-06:00Animal Welfare - Australian Export BanThere are many different organizations that are against animal abuse. It may not come as a surprise, but farmers are against animal abuse too! Why would a farmer want to abuse his very source of income, putting his families' life at risk of debt? Think about it, if a carpenter wants to build a good strong house, and make a good profit off of it, he isn't going to throw the boards around, bash them up and make them weak. That won't build him a strong house, that will make the house shaky, and more likely to break. So as a farmer, who wants to sell good, healthy steer, or raise good healthy calves, do you think he is going to abuse the product, make the cattle sick and ratty looking? What auction mart or butcher is going to want to buy that beef?<br />
<br />
So now I come to the story that has started me thinking about animal abuse. <br />
<br />
(warning: the videos are pretty gruesome)<br />
<br />
If any of you have been watching the news the past couple of months, you may have heard of the the Australian beef export ban to Indonesia. BBC does a really good job of summing up the matter <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13697207"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
What the problem is?<br />
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On Wednesday, June 8, 2011, Australia suspended live cattle exports to Indonesia. Indonesia is Australia's largest market, importing 60% of Australia's live beef. Australia is going to ban export for as long as six months because of their concern of the safety and welfare of the animals being shipped there. Videos were shown to the Australian public of cattle being tortured and treated terribly at slaughter houses in Indonesia. The Australian government realized how bad this was, and even thought the ban will hurt the Australian export market for some time, they decided that the welfare of the animals needed to be top priority. I couldn't agree more. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HErByY9OcnY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I feel like the choice that the Australian government made to ban export to Indonesia was the right one. Animal welfare should be top priority, and the animal abuse in Indonesia needs to be dealt with properly. As Temple Grandin stated in the video, "the conditions are terrible, and it violates all the humane standards all around the world" and it needs to be stopped. I think that the government took the right step by banning export and offering them help to fix the situation. This is an example of the cattle industry seeing a problem, and taking action to fix it. Even though the Australian export markets might be harmed because of the ban, the government still went forward with the ban. <br />
<blockquote> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;">Annual live cattle exports to Indonesia, which buys about 60 per cent of Australia’s cattle shipments, contributed $340 million (U.S.) to the country’s economy in 2010, according to Meat & Livestock Australia. -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #343434;"> </span><a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/markets/article/1004727--australia-bans-live-cattle-exports-to-indonesia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Washington Post</span></a></span></blockquote>This puts Indonesia in a tough place too. Without the import of Australia's beef they will have to rely more on their own markets, which will be a good thing for a short while. Keeping the business close to home could help stimulate their economy, but, as the first video said, they may only have enough beef to last them until September. This means that Indonesia had better clean up their act quick, and start imposing animal welfare acts before their country runs out of beef.<br />
<br />
This is a huge issue, and I completely back what the Australian government is doing. This could be Australia in a bad position if Indonesia looks to other markets for export, but I would hope other countries, such as Canada, would refuse to export live cattle there since the animal welfare issue has been heard worldwide. I think that other nations need to support Australia's decision, and need make sure that we are all supporting animal welfare. Thanks to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.grandin.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Dr. Temple Grandin</span></a> </span>and all of her work with humane animal slaughter in Canada and the United States, Canadian cattle are treated properly and humanely in slaughter facilities, and no cases like that in Indonesia have been found. <br />
<br />
I also feel that it should be reassuring for people all over to know that when the cattle industry hears of problems where animals are being treated inhumanely, they deal with them abruptly. Australia did not try to hide this fact, instead, they looked into the problem and are working to fix it. I think it is good to know that we are made aware of the issues, even when they aren't in our own country, that should provide reassurance to consumers in the sense that if there were animal welfare practices like that of Indonesia, in Canada, we would all hopefully hear about it.<br />
<br />
I feel that Australia did the right thing in the animal welfare case even though it will be hard on their economy. I also think that other nations need to step up with Australia and back them, so that we can show that we all support animal welfare, I know I sure do!<br />
<br />
So now I place this issue in your hands, how do you feel? Do you think that Australia did the right thing? And as Canadians, what do you think our country should do?<br />
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I look forward to hearing from you!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-55135453659269906552011-06-26T23:40:00.004-06:002011-06-27T01:17:50.877-06:00They Start Them Young!Today I had the opportunity to be part of a wonderful baby shower for a precious little rancher. Tinley Mary Harvie was showered with love, gifts, and more love at her baby shower. As proud mama Jill opened her many gifts, I noted just how many of these gifts were farm related. And I loved it!<br />
<br />
I don't know why it seems necessary to do this, but I feel like every time a farm family has a baby it only seems right to buy them tiny wranglers, barn toys, and John Deere t-shirts (even though on my farm we use Case IH). It just feels like we should start them young by surrounding them with things that reflect their family and their home. <br />
<br />
Tinley got bibs with cows on them, tiny pink John Deere t-shirts, small jean overall dresses, clothes that all reflected a farm life! As if baby Tinley isn't already adorable enough, she now has the cutest farm girl clothes to dress in. That baby is the best!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://02b7df6.netsolstores.com/images/products/detail/sn694pjz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="316" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't get an actual picture of the clothes, since I was without a camera, but this was one of my favorites!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Growing up, the toys that we had at Grandma and Grandpa's house were red Case IH tractors. Being on the farm, we used to spend hours outside, riding in the real tractors with Grandpa which was all the better. I can remember grandpa pulling me on a sled behind our large loader tractor, can't do that down the city streets! We also had outside toys, dump trucks and trackhoes, which we used to dig holes and work in the garden with. These tractors were purchased as a yellow color, but soon after touching farm soil Grandpa gave them a nice red paint job. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.learningcurve.com/is/image/media/42343_SH_A01?$Thumbnail$" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.learningcurve.com/is/image/media/42343_SH_A01?$Thumbnail$" /></a></div>When we were younger, my parents bought us many farm sets, starting at a really young age. We had fences and barns, silos and tractors, trucks and stock trailers, and all the different types of animals. When we got a bit older our parents treated us to a really fancy farm set, with smaller animals, one that had calf shelters and the works!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BT5ADCi8peKjB0wgfxolVJu7fy_9m-vKWIhULYBIN8rKby_96CRcJBYI_Z8dg_VFuKQTt8XJvZJUj-KCbIb7w4UPzmcIZIjpdBL2C74INOjMzsECvgjzMiOwKZlogUvIJOSjTZ-qzmym/s1600/farmcountry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BT5ADCi8peKjB0wgfxolVJu7fy_9m-vKWIhULYBIN8rKby_96CRcJBYI_Z8dg_VFuKQTt8XJvZJUj-KCbIb7w4UPzmcIZIjpdBL2C74INOjMzsECvgjzMiOwKZlogUvIJOSjTZ-qzmym/s400/farmcountry.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This farm set entertained us for hours. Although it was a dairy farm, we were able to set up our own farms, and do "just what dad does" all on our own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was only two, my parents got me my very own ride on tractor. It had a little trailer that you could hitch up to it, a trailer that my kittens soon stopped appreciating. It had small pedals on it with which I could motor myself around. Now they make little electric ones, children are really getting off easy. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAL9mtglEP2XgPqRwEl_iPmqtvmB0cS6-J0mNOKfU71QM0o52SgjGp_8vkxcXMvPeX7ItlcXI7aTpLQaqk46VxXsj_lYbvYaciNxUe-dHO3CinMAjtph9Uq48pO_7qSrcRCWTvQZV8Ei1g/s1600/IMG01082-20110627-0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAL9mtglEP2XgPqRwEl_iPmqtvmB0cS6-J0mNOKfU71QM0o52SgjGp_8vkxcXMvPeX7ItlcXI7aTpLQaqk46VxXsj_lYbvYaciNxUe-dHO3CinMAjtph9Uq48pO_7qSrcRCWTvQZV8Ei1g/s320/IMG01082-20110627-0058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on my fancy little ride!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was only a few weeks old my mother would wake up in the morning, feed me and then send me in my carseat with my dad or my grandpa. They would set the carseat on the floor of the tractor and I would sleep while they did the chores. This was great for my mom, giving her an hour or so of peaceful sleep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a great way to introduce me to the farming life, to spark a passion in me from a young age. That's how we attract youth in the industry, we start them young! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My aunt has a video of me from when I was a year and a half old. We were at my older cousin's birthday party and he had received some new work gloves as a gift. I somehow managed to slide the over-sized gloves onto my little hands and started leaving the room. My auntie asked me where I was going, everyone laughed as I responded "feed cows". At only a year and a half old I knew what the cows were, I knew that when dad had his gloves on he was feeding the cows. I already had an interest in the farm, and that is because I was introduced at such a young age! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the shower I had the opportunity to check out Tinley's fabulous nursery! Jill's creativity is unreal, I want her to decorate my entire house! <a href="http://crystalcattle.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Crystal Cattle</span></a> did an excellent job photographing Tinley's cute room<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> <a href="http://crystalcattle.blogspot.com/2011/04/turquoise-nursery-decorations.html">here</a> </span>and I am sure after seeing it, you will want to live in it too! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the wall in her room, Jill has individual photographs of all three of the farms dogs, as well, she has individual photographs of a baby calf of each breed that <a href="http://www.harvieranching.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Harvie Ranching</span></a> raises; Charolais, Simmental and Hereford. I loved this idea. Jill said "I thought it would be nice to have Tinley grow up seeing and learning about all the things in her life". That's exactly it. They are starting Tinley out young. Her life is going to be full of love, family, friends, and farming. Cows, cow shows, and more cows. Not to be biased or anything, but is there any better way to grow up?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love little Tinley, and I can`t wait to see her grow and see all the awesome things that she will do in her life. It is so exciting to know that another young rancher is setting foot in the industry, and that her family is starting her out so young! Jill and Cole are great parents, and great ranchers, and little Tinley couldn't have a better spark to light her passion for agriculture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the best!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-9726707758378517452011-06-25T23:49:00.003-06:002011-06-26T00:29:29.952-06:00Farming Funnies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My lacrosse team just got home from a game in Calgary. It was an interesting game, to say the least. It was a really back and forth game, but in the end we took the loss. So I wanted to cheer up the ladies with a few jokes. Conveniently I know a few funny jokes about cows, that should cheer them up!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">When is a farmer like a magician?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">When he turns his cow into pasture.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If anyone knows my younger sister and I, you will know that she is a blonde, I am a brunette, I feel as though this next one could be the story of our life :)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two sisters, one blonde and one brunette, inherit the family ranch. Unfortunately, after just a few years, they are in financial trouble. In order to keep the bank from re-possessing the ranch they need to purchase a bull from a stockyard in a far-away town so that they can breed their own stock. They only have $600 left.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Upon leaving, the brunette tells her sister, "When I get there, if I decide to buy the bull, I'll contact you to drive out after me and haul it home."</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> The brunette arrives at the stockyard, inspects the bull, and decides she wants to buy it. The man tells her that he will sell it for $599, no less. After paying him, she drives to the nearest town to send her sister a telegram to tell her the news.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> She walks into the telegraph office, and says, "I want to send a telegram to my sister telling her that I've bought a bull for our ranch. I need her to hitch the trailer to our pickup truck and drive out here so we can haul it home."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> The telegraph operator explains that he'll be glad to help her, then adds, "It's just 99 cents a word." Well, after paying for the bull, the brunette only has $1 left. She realizes that she'll only be able to send her sister one word. After a few minutes of thinking, she nods and says, "I want you to send her the word "comfortable."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> The operator shakes his head. "How is she ever going to know that you want her to hitch the trailer to your pickup truck and drive out here to haul that bull back to your ranch if you send her just the word "comfortable?"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> The brunette explains, "My sister's blonde. The word's big. She'll read it very slowly...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> com-for-da-bull."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="http://www.cowtowncollectibles.com/images/No%20Cow%20Tipping.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whenever I say I live on a farm, people always ask me if I go cow tipping. My response "Do you really think a cow is just going to let you walk up to it, put both hands on it and try to "tip" it and not move?" or "Have you ever tried to tip a small car that was moving? Pretty much the same idea"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;">What do you call a cow with no front leg?</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;">Lean beef</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What do you call a cow with no legs at all?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Ground beef</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0033;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.usefilm.com/images/2/4/0/5/2405/615811-medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://www.usefilm.com/images/2/4/0/5/2405/615811-medium.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ff0033;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><h3 style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">A farmer was milking his cow.</span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">He was just starting to get a good rhythm going</span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">when a bug flew into the barn and started circling his head.</span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Suddenly, the bug flew into the cow's ear.</span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">The farmer didn't think much about it,</span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">until the bug squirted out into his bucket.</span></h3><h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">It went in one ear and out the udder!</span></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div></span></h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6XXnNhwHVaI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;">The man above ^ has a bunch of different videos all titled "The Laughing Cow - Milton Jones"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">A farmer had been taken so many times by</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">the local car dealer that when the dealer wanted</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">to buy a cow, the farmer priced it to him like this:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">Basic cow, $200; two-tone exterior, $45; extra</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">stomach $75; product storage compartment, $60;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">dispensing device, four spigots at $10 each, $40;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">genuine cowhide upholstery, $125; dual horns, $15;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">automatic fly swatter, $35. Total = $595</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">(if only we could make deals like this in real life!)</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Helvetica14" style="color: cyan; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Helvetica14">Hope you liked!</span></span></span></div></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-51477478217964096252011-06-24T23:38:00.003-06:002011-06-25T00:54:24.647-06:00Bucks For Your Beef, Or Beef For Your Bucks?A blog follower recently asked me about the cost of raising cattle, and as a farmer, where our income comes from. What an awesome question! Of course people who don't live on a farm really only see the prices on the meat that they purchase in the supermarket, and it isn't the money from those packages that are coming to the farmers!<br />
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</div><div>So bare with me while I try to break down some farming finance for you! </div><div><div><br />
</div><div>My family runs a commercial cow/calf operation as well as a grain operation. This means that we have two sources for income, the cattle, and the crops. But this also means we have two sources for cost.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G9ze_UctScQKK_UTqKp5ACWpEPjPL7RGZ4JDKj3nuz3dG4fztdk1wB8TFpy8qNbGD0VCydZKPex5Cl7VZOTnTX5iOf5siPStqVMePcuOlqVNSTAGWab7lcuv0q5YkJwSo8b0GdwfCo4E/s1600/cowcollage12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G9ze_UctScQKK_UTqKp5ACWpEPjPL7RGZ4JDKj3nuz3dG4fztdk1wB8TFpy8qNbGD0VCydZKPex5Cl7VZOTnTX5iOf5siPStqVMePcuOlqVNSTAGWab7lcuv0q5YkJwSo8b0GdwfCo4E/s400/cowcollage12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div>When I tell people that we have crops and cattle, their immediate reaction is, "wow, you must be rich". Rich as in lifestyle rich, yes. Rich as in monetary rich, not quite. They immediately think strictly of the income. But what most people don't take into consideration are all of the costs that come with farming. So I am going to lay it out on the line for you!</div><div><br />
Keep in mind, that the cost will be different for every farmer. Not all farmers swath graze so they will have higher feed costs. Some farmers calve all of their cows indoors so they won`t have to use as much bedding, but they will have higher electricity bills. Not every farmer feeds the same type of feed and the same quantities, so you get my point.<br />
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</div><div>We'll start with the spring.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Spring</span><br />
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</span></div><div>This is a busy time of the year on our farm. Our cows are all calving, and it is time to start seeding the crops. </div><div>Your immediate thought is probably "baby calves = money in the bank". This is true, to an extent. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBz1OJteCpYlySSsp8dwl0APmZBPWCxRvlSAvsTM5xYUCTUXiDP57tZPye7wFhgdLvOPh1RM6v1LBBCJ7-dwv2OI3cfB_dOBBx5FR2laoaaIXvxLsm1YCslbnvzn8vpik36Rvs23ZRKXAB/s1600/218962_10150556877305245_529540244_18451101_7932251_o+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBz1OJteCpYlySSsp8dwl0APmZBPWCxRvlSAvsTM5xYUCTUXiDP57tZPye7wFhgdLvOPh1RM6v1LBBCJ7-dwv2OI3cfB_dOBBx5FR2laoaaIXvxLsm1YCslbnvzn8vpik36Rvs23ZRKXAB/s320/218962_10150556877305245_529540244_18451101_7932251_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Now, what you didn't consider:</div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Calving.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;"> </span>When a new calf is born we give them shots and they have to get their CCIA and RFID tags (read about this in the "All Things Agriculture" tab under the Traceability topic). These all cost money.</li>
<ul><li>A tag applicator can cost anywhere from $15-$50. Now you don't buy these every year, in fact, if you take care of them they can last for many years, but they still depreciate and they are still a cost</li>
<li>RFID Tags and CCIA tags cost roughly $4.00/calf. </li>
<li>Shots- Vitamin ADE and Selenium. A 100 mL bottle of Selenium will treat roughly 50 calves. So we buy 4-5 bottles a calving season. The bottles are usually $30-$40, so if you divide $35/50 calves, it is roughly $0.70 a calf. For the Vitamin A,D&E injection, we can treat all of our calves with one 250mL bottle. </li>
</ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Calving</span>. On our farm we calve our cows from March to May. This means that calves can be born in pretty cold conditions. Since the weather can be so bad, we have to bed our cattle (make them beds out of straw) to make sure they are comfortable and warm. The cattle also need hay and silage for feed during this time. This means that we have to use more diesel in the tractors and more straw bales, as well as more feed than in the summer. This all costs money. </li>
<ul><li>Right now, round hay bales (roughly 1000-2000 pounds) are selling for 45-80$, depending on the quality of the bale. We were feeding our 200 cows, 1-2 round bales of hay a day, as well as silage. So that would be roughly $120 dollars a day on hay. Now you also have to take into consideration the silage. We make our own silage on our farm, but we don`t have the macinery so we have to hire people to do the harvest for us. </li>
<li>The straw bales come from the straw that we bale after we combine our grain land. This means that what we are paying for is the fuel in the machinery. With the rising fuel prices, this is starting to get quite costly.</li>
<li>Not all of the cows have a successful labor and each year we lose a couple calves. Losing three calves if a pretty big financial hit. Sometimes the vet has to get called to preform a c-section or to treat a calf. Vet bills are not cheap. A c-section costs roughly $400, depending on your vet.</li>
</ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Seeding.</span> Seeding crops can get quite costly. On our farm we still use the till method of seeding. So we have to go over our land with the cultivator, the harrows, the drill, and then with spray and fertilizer. That equals a great deal of fuel consumption. And the seed and products aren't free either. We have to buy the seed, the fertilizer, and the sprays to fight off weeds. We then have to pay someone to spray the crops for us. </li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbtEDFAC7JCB-39fnNzgrv16r9m422w5-1crUOFa9YjLMVT5V-HATNU3s3kmQJum6vQ5J5NRUf2eyTNBg_nKChMyZTaSi7d2igCI23DR-VCmiXqaxL23ls7xqKTC_HEwaWOYTgLWOSHBq/s1600/IMG00999-20110613-1523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbtEDFAC7JCB-39fnNzgrv16r9m422w5-1crUOFa9YjLMVT5V-HATNU3s3kmQJum6vQ5J5NRUf2eyTNBg_nKChMyZTaSi7d2igCI23DR-VCmiXqaxL23ls7xqKTC_HEwaWOYTgLWOSHBq/s320/IMG00999-20110613-1523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>To give you an example I will use barley. This year we put in 400 acres of barley. Seeding barley costs about $12/acre. Multiply this by 400 acres, you're paying roughly $4800.00 to seed 400 acres of barley. Fertilizer costs on the barley were roughly $50 an acre; 50X400= $20,000. Since we don't do our own spraying, to spray our barley crops we are paying $30 dollars an acre, this includes the spray and the application; 30X400= $12,000. So add the spray, the seed and the fertilizer, you're looking at $36, 800 to plant 400 acres of barley. This year we have acquired extra costs because of all of the rain. Right after we seeded a few of our crops, it rained so much that the seeds started to rot. So we had to re-seed part of our crops. Then, if re-seeding wasn't enough, the rain washed the sprays from the fields and we had to redo some of the spraying also. This means we had to pay for the spray and the man doing the spraying!</li>
</ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Pasture.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;"> </span>As soon as the snow melts the cows head out to pasture. This is a way easier time of the year for us as far as cattle go. The bulls get put out with the cows, and the temperature is warm so the babies start growing rapidly. This year we were fortunate enough to have rain and fantastic pastures, but a few years ago during the drought, we were forced to feed hay bales to cattle, adding just another extra cost, and putting us in a position where we needed to save all of our extra bales for winter. On our farm we usually have a surplus of round hay bales and are able to sell some for income. This works well when weather cooperates and we have a good hay season, but we can`t always count on this. </li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Processing calves. </span> For our family processing calves involves giving cows and calves shots, branding, and castrating the calves. </li>
<ul><li>Castrating- On our farm we have the vet come out to castrate our calves. This means that she has to cut every set of testicles out. It`s a pretty rough job, and it isn't cheap. Our vet charges us $4/calf, when you're doing 100 calves (differs every year), it can get pricey.</li>
<li>Shots- Before the cows disperse to their summer pastures we treat the calves with 8-Way shots and Live IBR. The calves also get Ivomec. We also treat some of the cows with Live IBR shots.</li>
<ul><li>IBR- 100 mL bottle treats 50 calves for IBR. It costs roughly $2/calf</li>
<li>8-Way - 60 head can be treated with a 250mL bottle, costing roughly $0.50/calf.</li>
<li>Ivomec - 5L jug of Ivomec can treat 70 cows, or 400 - 500 calves. A jug of Ivomec costs $90.</li>
</ul><li>Branding- there aren't many costs associated with branding once you have the branding iron</li>
</ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEZ4_nSdFBJDXyUZMvfEJ7a7P5IKIP67m1TFX7IBhUVdNFybpIVH13Rea092vK7ZrU3Ce4lsNGu13w4n0GiOU_tuFczR-Gq96uigKs_sBSxr0SS4UGJafPy8WdnCRXkBse5-H84fCqg4F/s1600/Blackberry+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEZ4_nSdFBJDXyUZMvfEJ7a7P5IKIP67m1TFX7IBhUVdNFybpIVH13Rea092vK7ZrU3Ce4lsNGu13w4n0GiOU_tuFczR-Gq96uigKs_sBSxr0SS4UGJafPy8WdnCRXkBse5-H84fCqg4F/s320/Blackberry+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Summer</span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div>The summer months for us are the least busy months. Once the seeding is done and the cows are happy in their summer homes, we have time to do the odds and ends. Of course we still have to check cows and crops. The summer is also the season for Junior Cattle Shows! My sister and I are active in Junior shows, and have been for the past nine years. There are entrance fees, travel fees and accommodation fees all associated with cattle shows, but I wouldn't give them up for the world. Through summer shows I have made many friends, had countless opportunities and doors open for me, and have learned to do by doing. Cattle shows helped me to find my passion for agriculture and helped me realize this is where I belong! For the summer synergy show, I entered three yearling heifers; one Simmental, one Charolais, and one Red Angus. My entrance fees were almost $200, not including accommodation, feed for the cattle, or travel expenses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="300" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v321/210/23/615295102/n615295102_4109204_2295.jpg" width="400" /></span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Fall</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div>Out of all of the seasons, fall is our money maker.</div><div>Fall brings our harvest and the steer calves get shipped to market. </div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Calves</span>. My dad hauls our calves to the market at the beginning of October. The calves are roughly 700-850 lbs by this time. This week at the Rimbey Auction Mart, where we sell our cattle, 700-800 pound steers were selling for $1.25/pound! This is a great price! That means that for an 800 lbs steer, we're making $1000! That is a super price, especially if we are selling 70 steers! However, that doesn't mean that we have a net income of $70,000. But we don't sell our cattle in the summer, so likely by fall the prices will be a less. There is also a National Check Off of a non-refundable $1.00 that comes off of the price of every animal, as well as a Provincial Check Off of a refundable $2.00 that can be returned if applied for.</li>
<ul><li>Let me break down the cost of raising a steer to butcher size, say, 1300 lbs. </li>
<li>If we were to fatten a steer for butcher, we would likely start the calf on feed in September when the calf was roughly 700 lbs. The cost before the 700 lbs isn't very high, roughly $100/calf, if you count the calf feed, any medical bills and extras. Once they hit 700 lbs, we send them to the auction mart. If we wanted to fatten the calf starting in September, we would likely butcher it in April. For example, with a 4-H steer, the calf is on feed for 212 days. The estimated feed costs for this calf are $420 in those 212 days. </li>
<li>There are also other costs:</li>
<ul><li>Straw bedding- $50</li>
<li>Health Costs - $15</li>
<li>Sale costs - $50</li>
</ul><li>Roughly $550 in deductions off of the sale price. </li>
<li>So if we sold a 1300 lbs calf today we would make $1625 - $550 in deductions so roughly $1100, not that much of a profit when you consider all of the money that went into making the feed and raising the calf.</li>
</ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Harvest.</span> How much money we make all depends on how the weather treated us, and the yield of our crops that year. Farming is one of those occupations where you never know how much you will make. The prices of everything in the agriculture industry can change in an instant, for the better or the worse. This is what makes the industry somewhat challenging. We cannot predict what the weather will bring, nor what the market prices will be, so we never really know what we will be making as income from the crops. Interested in figuring out the daily grain and canola prices??? I know you are, you can find them <a href="http://canola.ab.ca/dailygrains.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">HERE</span></a></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Swath grazing.</span> Our family swath grazes our cattle which helps us to save on fuel costs and time spent feeding. It also allows us to naturally fertilize our crop land by having our cattle roam on the sections</li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Winter</span></div></div><div><br />
</div><div>The cows need feed and bedding everyday. We have to use heated water'rs to make sure that the cows always have water. Electricity costs are higher, and the depreciation on the loader tractor, and all of the farm vehicles increases. The cost of machinery is not cheap, so my father and grandfather always work hard to take good care of their equipment so that we can make it last as long as possible. </div><div><br />
So hopefully that summed it up a bit for you. It would take way more than one blog post to explain all the costs to farming, and all of the aspects of it all, but I hope I was able to put a bit of it into perspective for you!<br />
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</div><div>I found a really great database all about farming! The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.farmcentre.com/farmbudget/default.aspx">Farm Budget Database</a> </span>breaks information right down to type of farm and everything! It is awesome! </div><div>Another awesome farming website is <a href="http://www.24-7agtv.com/">24-7 Ag TV</a>, there are a bunch of different videos all about agriculture and different aspects of the industry! I love the site, and I can promise you will learn something!<br />
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Thanks for reading! </div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-61809399751756789382011-06-23T23:50:00.001-06:002011-06-24T01:13:53.293-06:00A Bunch of BullFor any of you who have heard of Ponoka, I am sure your first thought is "Ponoka Stampede" or possibly "isn't there a mental hospital there?". Those are the sorts of questions which I am asked when I mention my home town. <br />
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For Ponoka, the town and the residents, the Ponoka Stampede is the biggest function of the year, exponentially increasing the towns population of 6500 to 60,000+. All of the hotels are filled, tents and holiday trailers fill all open grass areas, and people from everywhere crowd the small stampede grounds.<br />
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From the midway to the rodeo, there is something for all ages at the stampede. This year will be Ponoka Stampede's 75th year in the works, our diamond jubilee. We will be hosting two concerts, Gord Bamford and Dwight Yoakam will be performing for the big celebration!<br />
The video below gives you a little overview of Ponoka and the Stampede. If you look closely at roughly 20 seconds in, you will see my roomate and I with my cow Pheebee getting ready for the mile long parade! My cow walked the parade four years in a row, giving all of the spectators a feel for just what 4-Hers in Ponoka get up to!<br />
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I love the rodeo. I don't think there is much better than sitting in the sunshine watching a barrel racer round her last barrel and head home, or to hear the buzzer sound after an 8 second ride. The thrill and the excitment of the rodeo entertain everyone.<br />
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For me, the best part is the bull riding. I don't know if it is the excitment of seeing a 200 pound man grasp onto a bucking 2000 pound bull or if it is the clown, ducking into his barrel as a bull rolls him across the arena, that make me love it so much. <br />
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Luckily for me, right before the Stampede rolls into town, the Jace Harty Memorial Bull Riding takes place. This year was the 9th year for the memorial ride, and it included 30 top PBR bull riders, as well as a performance from the Denver Daines band! One of my favorite parts of the Memorial Bull Riding is the bull soccer. If you have never witnessed bull soccer, you're missing out. Two teams of people meet in the middle of the dirt, and compete in a soccer match. But this isn't your regular soccer match. A couple minutes into the match two bulls are sent into the ring to join in on the game. However, instead of chasing the ball, the bulls chase the players! It is so funny to see the players jump onto the fences for safety. It is dangerous, of course, but that is what makes it so exciting! Check out this video to see the action from the bull soccer last year!<br />
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For me, having the chance to watch 30 bull riders try out their luck on some wild bulls is an opportunity I won't pass up. Better yet, the memorial ride is for a great cause. <br />
Jace Harty was a young bull rider who passed away in 2002 in a car accident at the age of 23. The memorial bull riding has been put on every year since then to carry on his legacy. And what a legacy it is. Last night I watched as friends shared stories, as bull riders took the stage in their head to head battle with the bulls. I witnessed tears and laughter, and I was truly touched by a poem written by Curtis Anderson, as well as the speech that he delivered following the tribute to Jace. Curtis Anderson was a bull rider injured in 2002 while competing in a bull riding event in Ponoka. He was brain injured and had to re-learn everything from speaking to walking. Nine years later Curtis stood up alone and was able to share his story with the audience. I was touched. Curtis now hosts a trail ride with Courage Canada to raise money for brain injury awareness. Just another bull rider touching the lives of thousands. And it is all for the love of the sport.<br />
To read more about Curtis Anderson's inspiring story, check out this link - <a href="http://everything-cowboy.com/tag/curtis-anderson/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">http://everything-cowboy.com/tag/curtis-anderson/</span></a><br />
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If you are unfamiliar with the sport of bull riding, let me fill you in on the basics.<br />
First and foremost, bull riding involves a cowboy (the rider) and a bull (the riden). The bull rider cannot touch themselves or their bull with their free hand or else they will have no score. <br />
There are two judges who watch the ride. Each judge gives the rider a score of 1-25, as well, they give the bull a score from 1-25. A perfect ride would score 100.<br />
The bull rider wraps a braided rope around the bull, and then wraps around their hand, trying their best to secure themselves. The bullrope is the only thing holding that rider onto the large bull<br />
The main priority of the rider is to stay on for 8 seconds. This is a task in itself, and last night only six riders out of 30 made the 8 second ride. <br />
Bull riding doesn't only include the rider and the bull. There are also clowns, and bull fighters in the ring to protect the rider when they leave the back of the bull. The bulls are not impressed with the riding so they try to take out anything in their sight. Bull fighters get the lovely job of trying to distract the bull from the rider once the rider hits the ground. I don't know what would be more scary: being on the bull or being on the ground getting ready to distract the raging bull!<br />
Bull riding isn't only physically challenging, but definitely mentally. If you are not in the right mind set, the ride will likely not go well.<br />
Bull riding is one of the most loved rodeo events, and even has it's own tour, the PBR (Professional Bull Riding) Tour. The PBR was started in 1992 by 20 professional bull riders. PBR now has 1200+ bull riders from United States, Canada, Australia and Brazil (<a href="http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/professional-bull-riders-tour-growth-and-development-niche-sport"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">The Sport Journal</span></a>).<br />
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The Brahma breed (imported from India) became popular in the bull ridding because the bull had horns and large humps on their backs. But the breeds of the bulls don't really matter as much as performance of the bull. Each bull has to be flexible and want to jump around and be crazy. After all, the bulls score makes up half of the riders score, so the riders want good bucking bull!<br />
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This year at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, a bull gave everyone a bit of a surprise! I was there for this! Check out the clip, it will give you an idea of just how the cowboys prepare, ride and how the bull fighters distract the bull. It will also show you just how well bulls can jump! Check it out y'all!<br />
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So there you have it! Want to learn more about bull riding? Check out this awesome video!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> <a href="http://www.history.com/videos/saddle-up-to-bull-riding">Saddle Up To Bull Riding</a></span>. I promise it is well worth your time!<br />
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Have a great day tomorrow everyone!<br />
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As long as there is a sunset there will always be a west.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-14097525276381568392011-06-21T18:07:00.002-06:002011-06-22T12:00:02.414-06:00Carnivorous CravingsWe've all had them at some point in our life, yes, even the vegetarians and vegans in this world, at some point you also have craved the deliciousness that comes with a juicy steak. We've all had those carnivorous cravings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.silvercloudestates.com/products/iStock_000003668109XSmall%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.silvercloudestates.com/products/iStock_000003668109XSmall%5B1%5D.JPG" /></a></div>This past weekend was my birthday weekend. A fabulous weekend shared with friends and family. I wrote my Physiology exam on Friday, and then it was time to enjoy the weekend. Friday night, I celebrated with a few friends from the city. I had to be up early Saturday so I could make it from Edmonton to Calgary for my Lacrosse game. Unfortunately, because of my bad burn, I was still unable to play! <br />
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Saturday after the game my team went out in Calgary to celebrate my birthday. It was then that I had one of those carnivorous cravings!<br />
Before we had even sat down, I knew what I wanted. Steak sandwich, medium rare. <br />
The chef delivered me a steak that was delightful, grilled to perfection. But just not as good as a home raised steak!<br />
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Sunday brought more lacrosse. The team traveled to Sherwood park for a game. It was an early game being Father's Day, and after the game my family headed to my Opa and Oma's house for a quick visit with my dad's side of the family. After this, my mom's side of the family came over to have supper and some birthday cake. <br />
Once again there were some carnivorous cravings and the family enjoyed some homegrown beef. <br />
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This weekend I got a pretty awesome birthday surprise! If you have been keeping up with my blog you will know that all I wanted for my birthday was a kitten!<br />
Well...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93Px9uKazTv1TIe-bVNtWFCYQuWCBJzu9nQg3gEMrSwjdZBTI8B-SgpCi2TZjWRkSeGx2iIVlohGzvoJJuxcGoQY1ty6czwsRWtiYLh2n2brvlE4pi161-KYrZlUd0uo94Fq08ZzYR90q/s1600/olioti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93Px9uKazTv1TIe-bVNtWFCYQuWCBJzu9nQg3gEMrSwjdZBTI8B-SgpCi2TZjWRkSeGx2iIVlohGzvoJJuxcGoQY1ty6czwsRWtiYLh2n2brvlE4pi161-KYrZlUd0uo94Fq08ZzYR90q/s640/olioti.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I got my wish. Good friends of mine, Eryca and Justin and their family got me two little babies!<br />
Super sweet, super crazy, ad super wild. Oliver sleeps with his mouth open, and Otis suckles on his own fur to comfort himself when he goes to sleep. Not your ordinary carnivore kittens!<br />
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But back to the main point!<br />
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Alberta Beef on your plate is probably one of the best ways to solve any carnivorous cravings that you might have. <br />
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<a href="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/Article/header/10001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Canadian Beef Brand Promise" border="0" src="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/Article/header/10001.jpg" /></a>McDonalds, Quiznos, and Jack Astors restaurants would also agree.<br />
All three of these restaurants support the Canadian Beef Brand.<br />
From November 2009 to January 2010, Quiznos ran a feature sandwich called the Triple Cheese and Roast beef. If you had ever tried it, it was awesome. What made it even better was that the Beef Information Center (BIC) made sure that the meat was 100% Canadian Beef. This sandwich was sold in 456 places across Canada, what better a way to ensure that Canadian's are getting the best beef possible. <br />
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McDonalds is one of the largest supporters of Canadian Beef. Throughout Canada, McDonald's serves approximately 2.5 million customers every day. This means that they are using more than 64 ,million pounds of locally raised, Canadian Beef, every year. McDonald's Canada uses 100% Canadian beef for all of the burger offerings (BIC). <br />
For more information on McDonald's supporting Canadian Beef check out these facts:<br />
<a href="http://www.canadianbeef.info/ca/en/fs/mcdonalds/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">http://www.canadianbeef.info/ca/en/fs/mcdonalds/</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.mcdonalds.ca/en/food/index.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">McDonald's</span></a><br />
<br />
And it doesn't stop there. The Canadian Beef brand has 110 industry partners, and 56 brand license agreements with retail, foodservice and processing operations. Some of these partners include: XL Fine Foods; Costco Canada; Canada Safeway; McDonald's; Boston Pizza; Panago Pizza; Sobeys in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes; abc Family Restaurants and T&T Supermarkets. These are all big supporters of Canadian Beef. I know for sure which stores I will be supporting!<br />
Canadian beef is packed with 14 essential nutrients. It is yummy and good for you!<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Protein - used to fight infection, build muscles, growth</li>
<li>Phosphorous - builds and maintains strong bones and teeth</li>
<li>Zinc - helps build the immune system</li>
<li>Iron- brain devbelopment in babies and children. Iron in beef is absorbed more readily than from plant sources</li>
<li>Pantothenate - helps energize the body </li>
<li>Thiamin - helps with appetite and normal growth! Energy!</li>
<li>Vitamin B6 - assists protein building and immune system</li>
<li>Vitamin B12 - helps all the cells in muscle, brain and nervous system. Found naturally only in animal foods!</li>
<li>Niacin - essential for nervous system and energy</li>
<li>Magnesium - contributes to health of bones and teeth</li>
<li>Vitamin D - maximizes calcium and phospohrus absorption. Found in Canadian beef is more potent than in plant sources</li>
<li>Potassium - maintain healthy blood pressure, prevents bones from losing calcium</li>
<li>Riboflavin - helps energize body</li>
<li>Selenium- anti-oxidant</li>
</ol><br />
Many of you have probably heard of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"> <a href="http://www.healthcheck.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Health Check Program</span></a></span>. What you likely didn't know is that there are eight cuts of Canadian Beef that qualify for this program! That's right! Eight different ways that you can surrender to your carnivorous cravings, while still staying in the Health Check Program!<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr bgcolor="#DDDDDD" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Lean Beef Choices<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />(100 grams raw meat)</span></th><th style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Fat<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />(grams)</span></th></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Eye of Round</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">5</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Inside Round</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">5</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Sirloin Tip</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">5</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Top Sirloin</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">6</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Strip Loin</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">8</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Flank</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">8</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Cross Rib</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">9</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Outside Round</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">9</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Extra Lean Ground Sirloin or Round</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">10</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Extra Lean Ground Beef</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">10</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Lean Ground Sirloin, Round or Chuck</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">15</span></td></tr>
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-small;">Lean Ground Beef</span></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">15</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
www.beefinfo.org<br />
<br />
The Canadian Beef Information Center offers a really cool way to see just what the nutritional value of<br />
<a href="http://www.beefinfo.org/site/virtualcounter/index.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Virtual Beef Counter</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKZ1KyMgyGWxAac5NeMBJe0Ij5pMnUbwnLHarnBzy7puJa9WsthIIp9fyVbfVU6dfVQ-YHD3T4oDtfJGJ1J8E010nqF96DxKZIQbVqr8OUrEXSWjnljtfVhTvxuz2dx9BU3b0m42jwSN1/s1600/beefcounter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKZ1KyMgyGWxAac5NeMBJe0Ij5pMnUbwnLHarnBzy7puJa9WsthIIp9fyVbfVU6dfVQ-YHD3T4oDtfJGJ1J8E010nqF96DxKZIQbVqr8OUrEXSWjnljtfVhTvxuz2dx9BU3b0m42jwSN1/s640/beefcounter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This website is awesome! It is so easy to see just what you are getting from your beef! As you can see above, when I scrolled over the "Roasts" tab, a drop down list pops up with a list of different types of roasts. This allows you to choose which kind of roast you will be cooking. In the example above, I had clicked on the "Steaks" tab, and then chose the "Blade Steak". This made a small nutritional report come up, as shown. This allows you to compare different cuts of beef, cooked and raw, to see just how the nutritional values compare. Pretty great. Just shows you how much the Canadian Beef Industry really care about our consumers!<br />
Of course, these values will vary depending on how well the meat is cooked, and how much of the fat is trimmed, as well, it will vary from animal to animal, but this gives you a pretty accurate average!<br />
<img src="http://www.wilkinsonfoods.com/images/CanadianBeef.jpg" /><br />
<a href="http://www.canadianbeef.info/us/en/cattle/Advantage/default.aspx">Canadian Beef Merchandising Guide</a> - This has everything you need to know on cuts of beef!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How does lean beef compare??</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/article/support/nut_data_chart4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lean beef vs. Chicken" border="0" height="267" src="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/article/support/nut_data_chart4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To chicken</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/article/support/nut_data_chart5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lean beef vs. Fish" border="0" height="400" src="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/article/support/nut_data_chart5.jpg" width="374" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To Fish </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact:</span> When you see something say "lean only" it means that the beef has been trimmed of any visible fat and only includes marbling and muscle tissue.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact:</span> The nutritional value of Canadian Beef and American Beef differ due to the differences in production!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact:</span> Ground Beef that is drained and rinsed after it is cooked with hot water, will have reduced fat content!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact:</span> One of the main saturated fats in lean Canadian beef is Stearic acid. An issue with saturated fats is that they often have an affect on cholesterol levels. Not Stearic acid, it has little effect!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact:</span> Grass fed beef and grain fed beef both contain 14 essential nutrients. Studies have shown that grass fed beef has elevated levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, but it is undetermined whether these increased levels are high enough for health benefits! Therefore, all beef is good beef!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fact</span>: </span> Beef is made mainly of water and protein. Of course there are smaller amounts of fat, vitamins and minerals. The proteins are the main nutrient in beef! Proteins help us fight infections, grow, and build muscles. Proteins = muscles, muscles = strength. Muscles and strength attract the babes! Who doesn't want to eat Canadian Beef!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Fact:</span> </span> Beef is graded Prime (best), AAA, AA and A. The higher the grade, the more marbling in the meat. It is the marbling that gives the flavor to the beef, makes it the most tender and juicy! The majority of Canada's beef is AAA.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fact</span>:</span> Beef is aged by processors for 3 to 21 days at a controlled temp and humidity. This allows the fibres to relax, making our meat more tender with stronger flavor!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fact</span>:</span> The color of the meat is not a good way to indicate freshness. A change in color could be due to anything from a stressed calf to a difference in packaging<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sVNklFj3p8M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
So. Now that you know just how fantastic Canadian beef is, I'm sure you're having some carnivorous cravings. So what will you cook for diner??<br />
<br />
Check out these recipes!<br />
<a href="http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/recipes.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Beef It's What's For Dinner</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.beefinfo.org/Default.aspx?ID=6&SecID=4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Beef Info Recipes</span></a><br />
<img alt="Beef Thai Salad" src="http://www.beefinfo.org/image/recipe/header/882.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYZGSO9e0tIKEU5m5e7zkHkr0ZM3HXBpDDkZJ1y_2dpaFxop4XYKYckNf78ZXaeslX7IjbCcmB4s14HPt9CTETAbd2O2_RpOmdcDsCR5CqKXOZ9C3zjlQkuiblQqC3Gni_P57pxbBd4L0/s1600/beef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYZGSO9e0tIKEU5m5e7zkHkr0ZM3HXBpDDkZJ1y_2dpaFxop4XYKYckNf78ZXaeslX7IjbCcmB4s14HPt9CTETAbd2O2_RpOmdcDsCR5CqKXOZ9C3zjlQkuiblQqC3Gni_P57pxbBd4L0/s1600/beef.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.beefinfo.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">http://www.beefinfo.org/</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-20720353726425736502011-06-16T12:17:00.001-06:002011-06-16T12:20:33.704-06:00No SurrenderSo as I was studying for my exam tomorrow (sad face), I came across this youtube video, and I thought it was adorable. The kitten refuses to give up his box!<br />
Just one of the many cute things that animals do!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vdQj2ohqCBk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Had to make it quick today!<br />
<br />
Back to learning about human physiology, the kidneys, the respiratory system, the urinary system, CNS, PNS, and so, so much more.<br />
<br />
Anyone want to write it for me? :)<br />
<br />
One more thing! I was invited to attend the Alberta Emerald Awards last night. Many different corporations and individuals were awarded for their hard work in protecting our environment, cleaning it up and being "green". It was amazing to see all the work that many different people and companies are doing! I was very lucky to be able to join a few members of the MacEwan University staff and take it all in. I heard a lot of great stories, and got to see environmental sustainability plans in action! Needless to say, I was inspired. And now I am tired, and must study my life away.<br />
Welcome to University!<br />
If you would like some more information on the Emerald awards, please click the link and go to their home page - <a href="http://www.emeraldfoundation.ca/emerald-awards/">Emerald Foundation - Emerald Awards</a>, this will allow you to read about all of the things that the recipients are doing for our environment! It is great!<br />
Have an awesome weekend all!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow marks my last day as a teenager, the rainy days are only adding to my depression! :)Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-30385977219721073572011-06-14T23:50:00.003-06:002011-06-15T00:01:38.288-06:00No Place For a CatWith my birthday at the end of the week, I had to think long and hard about what I wanted! This is the question that I always dread. I get nervous and try to ignore the question altogether. <br />
Or else I throw out random, unrealistic things, such as a hotel (Paris Hilton style), a new car, five cows, or a trip around the world. Of course, these things rarely happened. I guess the car really wasn`t that ridiculous as my parents got me my sporty Honda Civic for my 16 birthday. Have fun topping that one up mom and dad. <br />
This year I really don`t know what to say to people when they ask. I want everything and nothing. I am so happy with all the lovely things that my parents give me that I don`t really need anything else. My life is pretty much perfect. I have two jobs which help me pay for school, and my parents and grandparents always have my back when it comes to life. I have an awesome family, fantastic friends, and I live on a great farm. What more could I really ask for?<br />
And then it clicked. For the past two years our cat population seems to be dwindling. Growing up I had a slight obsession with cats.<br />
And by slight, I mean huge.<br />
First of all, "kitty" was my first word. In our old house, our hallway window was at a low enough level that I could stand and look out into the yard. My mom said that I would stand there for hours and watch the kittens play. As I got older I was always surrounded by cats. I spent every waking moment that I wasn't at school or sports outside with my animals. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiugI3fsm2iPJtqYpJqYi5ZPp3s0qmx9o86Zc2tGFn_-MNWW3lhr17riuOQquo9hE1IRuwQTNe-_8MY82ygqsN-_b_eetahBigWbp87ESRU9mEru6G4SXXXlEJMnzoXSN6gkDADi9jN5Xg/s1600/heartkittens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiugI3fsm2iPJtqYpJqYi5ZPp3s0qmx9o86Zc2tGFn_-MNWW3lhr17riuOQquo9hE1IRuwQTNe-_8MY82ygqsN-_b_eetahBigWbp87ESRU9mEru6G4SXXXlEJMnzoXSN6gkDADi9jN5Xg/s320/heartkittens.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br />
In grade 3 one of our barn cats had a small orange kitten. I made it my habit to name all of the cats on our farm, even the year that we had a total of 40 at one point (I guess that's what happens when you have 7 mama cats). Thankfully, that year no one else in our community had kittens and everyone wanted some. <br />
But back to the orange cat. She pretty much had the most original name, Baby Orangie. I know. It's like calling the black cat Blackie. Anyways, this cat was my baby. I could do anything with her. I would go to my grandparents every day after school and play with her. My grandma would let me sneak the cat into her house. I had a small shoe box with blankets in it for her. She would lie in her bed and let me brush her, dress her up, pretty much do anything.<br />
Grandpa didn't like animals in the house, so whenever he would come in one door, Orangie would go out the other. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freestockphotos.biz/pictures/9/9343/kitten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.freestockphotos.biz/pictures/9/9343/kitten.jpg" /></a></div>Orangie even accompanied me to our small, country schools on a few occasions. All you city folk, beat that show and tell surprise! When you go to a small school with 14 kids in your grade you get anything from dogs to frogs in your class for show and tell.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT4d2XjZEOpNOSbt-fFu5EXIaqUG29UZzfcnnPHoo80GKQDpfs8dLYacZ1MJ_ugld9aG7bX5qB80_y6_FC39IHhANYA7dwFPZcM5BFbwoSLQYbnnnif9ZrnLU79p2i3Accyn6quoYYRSN/s1600/Blackberry+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT4d2XjZEOpNOSbt-fFu5EXIaqUG29UZzfcnnPHoo80GKQDpfs8dLYacZ1MJ_ugld9aG7bX5qB80_y6_FC39IHhANYA7dwFPZcM5BFbwoSLQYbnnnif9ZrnLU79p2i3Accyn6quoYYRSN/s320/Blackberry+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I would spend countless hours in our hay loft with the kittens. I did everything from giving kittens eye drops, to teaching the little babies how to drink from a dish. Note - when I say "teach them how to drink from a dish" I didn't literally lean over the dish and start lapping up milk! I would dip their little noses in the warm milk. They would then lick their little faces and realize how yummy the milk was! This would start them on their way to weaning from their mamas!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjmH-4zNCGBNUEJxB3ckuR6yDTyFkGYeRnkk-1XbhVMSDJb_8SDgP_4P-rl_RMRtBVbK5QJWMLuZ1NtlMWW9NFXJh2tlrWZb0T08I9pZ_XbXA6LnyO4e8WUqBmTbDht2_Ws5r53y4UTKq/s1600/IMG_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjmH-4zNCGBNUEJxB3ckuR6yDTyFkGYeRnkk-1XbhVMSDJb_8SDgP_4P-rl_RMRtBVbK5QJWMLuZ1NtlMWW9NFXJh2tlrWZb0T08I9pZ_XbXA6LnyO4e8WUqBmTbDht2_Ws5r53y4UTKq/s400/IMG_0821.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My handsome little man</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All my kittens would have names. And I would remember them. Yes, I was obsessed, I admitted it already. <br />
One morning before school I was in the barn feeding the cats and I could hear meowing, kittens. I climbed into the hay loft, couldn't see them. Back down into the main part, couldn't find them. The noise was coming from the wall. The kittens had climbed into the lean-to part of the hayloft and fallen into the wall!<br />
Our barn is quite old, and the walls were hollow. The kittens were stranded! I didn't even know what to do. I tried thinking of ways to save them, and I realized there was no way I was getting them out. I didn't want them to have to die. I love my animals, and the minute they get a name they become that much more special. <br />
I started crying. What else was there to do? My babies were going to die. Once again, Grandpa came to the rescue and diligently got to work taking the boards off of the wall, saving the babies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQnNHzYc0hExDZGUrA3sXfjeRJhivCGDGcPEG5L1CxpYsEoOi0LKdKmsMeNeFFcB9iKe8hzz1xiqNJArMVSbEojfwmSIEu9ZxbFpMkBqD0vm5qRd5JlUUZNgeY_xJyGOWd9_skY8XcTM/s1600/funny-pictures-orange-kitten-sink-bath-betrayal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="funny kitten pictures. Cats!" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQnNHzYc0hExDZGUrA3sXfjeRJhivCGDGcPEG5L1CxpYsEoOi0LKdKmsMeNeFFcB9iKe8hzz1xiqNJArMVSbEojfwmSIEu9ZxbFpMkBqD0vm5qRd5JlUUZNgeY_xJyGOWd9_skY8XcTM/s640/funny-pictures-orange-kitten-sink-bath-betrayal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I have so many more kitten stories that I could share, but I am afraid my blog would be chapters. <br />
<br />
So I decided I wanted a couple of kittens for my birthday. But they couldn't be just any kittens, I wanted to pick them out. So I started looking around Kijiji and I found exactly what I was looking for. <br />
"Sweet Rescue Kittens For Adoption, Apply Now"<br />
Why not adopt from a shelter! Help them out since they help out all the homeless and neglected kittens. What better a life for a cat than to live on a farm where they get milk and cat food each day, a warm barn and heated shop to sleep in, a huge place to run outside, a family that loves them and mice!<br />
So I clicked the link and my heart melted when I saw Bella.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/110613/085r9/06815gb_19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/kj/110613/085r9/06815gb_19.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella, only a month old, needing a family. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>I wanted her. Who wouldn't! I wanted to be her mommy, and cuddle her and care for her!<br />
So I clicked on her link and it took me to a website called SAFE - Saving Animals From Euthanasia. Perfect, I would love to help these people out. <br />
I can't find a number so I click the link that says "fill out an application". Seriously? I never made people fill out applications when they had our kittens. Now I am worried, did my kittens go to unloving families.<br />
On the application there are questions that say things such as what type of home do you have, will the cat be inside or outside, have you had a pet before, why do you not have you previous pet, have you ever been charged for an animal crime, will the animal be spayed, and the one that surprised me will you allow our team a minimum of three follow up visits to see your pet.<br />
Wow. I feel like I didn't give my kittens a chance for survival! I didn't do follow up visits.<br />
So I filled out the form. I said that I loved animals and that I wanted a kitten to live in our shop, who could have free range of the shop, barn and farm. What a better life for a cat! Grow up with a family that loves you and cares for you, with two other kittens your own age, and a huge farm to play on, as well as a great opportunity for health care and warm meals every day! Is there a better life for a cat? Some people in this province aren't even guaranteed all those things.<br />
So I sent in the form. By this time I was super excited. I couldn't wait to get my new kittens!<br />
My email flashed. A response!<br />
I was so excited. Best birthday ever!<br />
<br />
I opened...<br />
<br />
I read quickly...<br />
<br />
The smile faded from my face.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thank you for taking the time to fill out an adoption application which we have reviewed and declined."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
Declined!!!<br />
<br />
How was the best life for a cat ever declined!<br />
<br />
Apparently, they only want the adopted cats going to places where they will only be indoors and have a lifelong companion! I wanted to be a lifelong companion!<br />
<br />
I had put on the sheet that I didn't want my kitten spayed, I wanted it to have a set of babies so that we would be able to have enough cats once again to control our farm mice. <br />
<br />
Wrong answer.<br />
<br />
Apparently they only give their cats to people who are going to spay them. They said that there are too many homeless cats in the city that need homes so they are trying to control that by spaying all the cats. I do understand why they make that a rule, especially in the city, and it is a good idea, but the farm is a different situation!<br />
<br />
Well, on our farm, and in our farming community, we need cats. It isn't us with the problem! I completely understand where they are going with the whole spaying thing, and I would have got them spayed if that was a requirement!<br />
<br />
But apparently the farm is no place for a cat.<br />
<br />
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</div><br />
They said that Bella has never been outside and would likely end up being owl or coyote bait being out on a farm.<br />
<br />
Seriously. Before cats were domesticated they only lived outside. And our German Shepard barks all night long, it's not like the coyotes sleep in the hayloft with the cats. I wasn't just going to take her down to our bush and put her in an episode of "Cattracker" featuring a coyote.<br />
<br />
I honestly felt somewhat offended. I responded to the e-mail. They say that they are having a problem with the cat population in the city. I suggested to them that if they gave rural families a chance at adoption, they might be able to more easily find their cats good homes. I told them that the animals on our farm are cared for like they're are part of the family, given a proper diet, love and affection, and medical attention.<br />
<br />
A farm is no place for cats. It seems somewhat hypocritical.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These cats look pretty happy to me. (this was a couple years ago when my cats were everywhere)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Fact: Cats love mice.<br />
Fact: Cats are predators, they love hunting, and pouncing on things.<br />
Newsflash: Cats like being outside too!<br />
<br />
I'm heartbroken.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tell me a kitten wouldn't be my companion!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Time to find a new kitty. Any ideas anyone??<br />
<br />
SamSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-8765947768056700372011-06-13T23:26:00.001-06:002011-06-13T23:35:48.417-06:00Moose on the Loose!Yes! The title says it all! There is a moose on the loose in Crestomere County!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/mooselooking_sm_wht.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/mooselooking_sm_wht.gif" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Earlier this morning my grandfather was getting ready to go and inspect our crops. Because of the large amount of rain after we seeded some of our barley, combined with the cold weather, the seeds rotted. When the seeds rot, it means no crop for us, so my dad is hard at work this afternoon trying to re-seed the crops that were ruined by the weather. This is just one of those everyday challenges that farmers face. Re-seeding a patch of land means we have to pay for more seed, more fuel in the tractors, and we have to wait for an even later harvest. Lucky for my dad and grandpa, our little Border Collie, Lady, loves the opportunity to ride in the tractor, so they always have company.<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkDyHki8ccnM-RZCai9qIY8rfMSZkTMM3VJrpOd1104G6VKRgOUtNEfJQAh5TNPQiC3s7dgBz1brJ0Drhq13QbBw4Km7Ci5UrEkIbp9DEq26MI2EytqC2ioY7ihJIcOXx4LH4p-lQKOKF/s1600/IMG00999-20110613-1523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkDyHki8ccnM-RZCai9qIY8rfMSZkTMM3VJrpOd1104G6VKRgOUtNEfJQAh5TNPQiC3s7dgBz1brJ0Drhq13QbBw4Km7Ci5UrEkIbp9DEq26MI2EytqC2ioY7ihJIcOXx4LH4p-lQKOKF/s640/IMG00999-20110613-1523.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a little hard to see, but if you look close you can see the little black and white baby riding in the tractor with one of her two favorite men. She's pretty much the cutest dog on earth. For all those wondering, the piece of machinery hooked up to the tractor is called a drill, and we use it to seed our crops</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Anyways, back to the moose. My grandpa jumped in his truck and as he was driving towards the pasture he spotted what he thought was a large horse in the small pasture separating our houses. Wrong. That was no horse.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com/web_pages_i0000d1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com/web_pages_i0000d1.gif" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mooseville.com/xcart/image.php?type=P&id=22990" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://www.mooseville.com/xcart/image.php?type=P&id=22990" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Fact</span>:</span> moose are the largest members of the deer family and they often stand taller than a large saddle horse (they don't compare to the heavy horses). <br />
So.. When most people think of a moose they compare them to a horse. BUT did you know that moose have cloven feet (a split down the front) just like a COW!! Horses on the other hand have hooves that do not have splits but are one piece.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Fact</span>:</span> A male moose is called a Bull Moose, and a female moose is called a Cow Moose. It seems as though they are getting more and more like the cattle we farm, and less like horses as I once suspected.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="224" src="http://www.moose-pictures.com/bull-moose-nice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bull</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="215" src="http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/1/moose-baby_1608.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow and calf</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My grandpa was shocked to see the moose that close to buildings, just strolling around. My grandma was so excited as she told me this story. She had asked Grandpa if the moose had any antlers. None that he had seen. Grandma stated that it must be a girl then, if it didn't have antlers. That isn't always true!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact</span>: A moose begins growing antlers in spring or midsummer, and it isn't until the late summer and autumn that a mature bull carries its rack of antlers. So, being that it is only mid June, the moose may not have started growing them yet. Bull moose shed their antlers each winter, just to grow a new set in the spring. Antlers and horns are two very different things. Horns stay on an animal their entire life, like on a cow. Antlers regrow each year, like on the moose, elk and deer!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Fact</span>:</span> Since the antlers are shed each year, the size of the antlers has nothing to do wiht the age of the animal, it does however have something to do with the health of the animal. In order have to have great antlers the animal needs to have a large source of calcium to grow these antlers. Where does this calcium come from when they have a strict diet of veggies?? Their own BONES, primarily their rib cage! So, these animals need to be pretty healthy to be able to afford to give so much calcium from their own bones!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/jLnoPkF_6_w/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jLnoPkF_6_w&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jLnoPkF_6_w&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Fact</span>:</span> When it is time for baby making, the bulls with the largest antlers usually get the hottest cows. Of course they have to compete with other bulls. All the competing eventually uses up energy and strength that the bulls have saved for the long winter which can sometimes cause them to be very rundown before winter and possibly mean death during the cold. It is a sad ending for many of the handsome, big racked male moose, but at the time of mating, those bulls are getting the most tail! The moose population is one population where saying "nice rack" is highly accepted!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFEEkxgNPkqHCdK_WPC0Rr98kwH7IqhXJVXHMAp4dOcgTuJqg3PA_e6gt4g9e5qWVNZJuv-YrOSa_NFQi7JeHAREM4-dKC8HtF7Uj8GMfbNQUVXQ6svNvzPRBxTkHv-DuT31Sy9CGMJ9h/s1600/moose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFEEkxgNPkqHCdK_WPC0Rr98kwH7IqhXJVXHMAp4dOcgTuJqg3PA_e6gt4g9e5qWVNZJuv-YrOSa_NFQi7JeHAREM4-dKC8HtF7Uj8GMfbNQUVXQ6svNvzPRBxTkHv-DuT31Sy9CGMJ9h/s400/moose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact</span>: Moose are ruminants just like our cattle! They spend much of their life chewing their cud. For all those who don't know, ruminant means that their stomach is divided into four discrete sections, in other words, four different stomachs. For a moose, their diet can often contain fibrous plants, as well as branches and leaves from trees. Just like cows, moose regurgitate and rechew their food after it has spent sometime fermenting in one of their four stomachs. So if you ever see a cow chewing while lying down with their eyes closed, that is a good sign that they are relaxed and enjoying the meal that they literally "saved for later". With our show cows, we can always tell when they are calm when they start chewing their cud in the show ring, or while their tied up getting brushed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="282" src="http://cf.ydcdn.net/1.0.0.1/images/main/A4abomas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The four parts of the ruminant stomach, a moose has this too!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"> Fact</span>: Moose can pretty well dwell in any terrain. With their long, stilt-like legs, they are powerful swimmers and can easily walk across fallen trees. They have large hoobes which help them to wade through snow, and the spongy muskeg on which they love grabbing a bite. You would think that with their large size and big antlers (spanning anywhere from 120-150 cm) that they would make a great deal of noise walking through trees, crashing into things and such. However, they are well adapted to pretty well any surrounding and are silent as they move through the trees. I have enough problems sneaking up on people with size 3 feet, and a small mass of 120 pounds, I can't imagine weighing over 1000 pounds, with a huge set of antlers, and large feet, and still being able to silently move somewhere.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Alces_alces_NA.svg/515px-Alces_alces_NA.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="File:Alces alces NA.svg" border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Alces_alces_NA.svg/515px-Alces_alces_NA.svg.png" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This caption shows where four different types of moose live in North America. These four breeds have a pretty good span of the continent! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Fact</span>: Moose are great swimmers. Just another one of those qualities that I didn't see coming. And to make it even more crazy, they can hold their breath for up to a minute under water. Imagine canon balling into a river or lake that you assumed was empty, and then ten seconds later when you surface to see a big set of antlers paddling beside you. I think I may have a heart attack. The video below show two baby moose swimming while their mother enjoys a snack from the bottom of the lake! Super cute! <br />
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This isn't the first time that we have had interesting wildlife on our farm! Since I have been alive we have had badgers, a cougar by the barn and a black bear in the pasture, as well as countless deer, coyotes, foxes, and the friendly old beavers and porcupines!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/beaver_flippingwood_sm_wht.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beavers live in North America. Continents features the continents from space, maps of continents, animal locations, geography facts, and endangered species news." border="0" height="200" src="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/beaver_flippingwood_sm_wht.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To finish off this moose extravaganza, I found probably the cutest video of all time! Twin baby moose running through a sprinkler! I wish this is what had happened on our farm today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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References:<br />
<a href="http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com/web_pages_000017.htm">http://www.northcountrynewsnh.com/web_pages_000017.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mountainnature.com/articles/antlers.htm">http://www.mountainnature.com/articles/antlers.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/moose.asp">http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/moose.asp</a><br />
http://www.google.ca/imagesSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-30550579439132100592011-06-12T11:54:00.005-06:002011-06-30T01:01:08.008-06:00Let's Talk Environment - Environmental Sustainability<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As a cow/calf and grain farm operation, our land and our environment are very important to us. We rely heavily on our soil and the weather to produce healthy, lush crops as well as grasslands to feed our cattle and trees to shade them. We make our living off our environment and the animals that thrive off of it. </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What exactly is environmental sustainability?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Simply put: protecting and sustaining our environment so that it lasts for generations to come. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Environment Canada</span></a> defines sustainability as </span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The process of developing land, cities, businesses and communities so that our current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs </span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You may think that environmental activists and environmental rights groups are worried about nothing; maybe you're sick of hearing about environmental problem; or maybe you just try to put it out of your mind. It doesn't affect you right... Wrong. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When talking about environmental sustainability, you will often hear people say "we need to protect this world for the future generations". Of course this is true, we want to keep earth functioning and sustainable for the future. But here is the catch. If we don't get our act in gear and as a whole start cleaning up our environment, it isn't only the future generations that we need to worry about. There are issues affecting us, here and now; issues that put our health and well being in jeopardy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The environmental issues that Canadian's face affect not only the environment, but also us as humans. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/L99QWDWjpyk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Think about it for a minute. If we continue producing smog and unhealthy air in the cities, how high are the health costs of the people living in these cities? (lucky for me, the nearest city is an hour away, and the nearest town 20 minutes). The bad air quality isn't good for respiration by any means. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How about the amount of water people waste watering their lawns and washing their vehicles, ever think that maybe that water isn't a renewable resource? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And what about the garbage. SO MUCH GARBAGE! If you have ever been in 4-H and done highway clean-up you will understand how disgusted I feel when I see someone throw garbage out their window. Animals don't litter in your home, so why litter in theirs? Garbage is probably one of the easiest environmental problems for humans to fix, how simple is it to recycle empty bottles, paper, glass and various other products, or even to clean your truck out into a garbage can at a gas station? Why do you feel that you need to dump it onto the ecosystems of so many other creatures? All you people who litter, didn't your parents ever teach you to respect others, and to appreciate what you have? To litter your garbage wherever, whenever, is so disrespectful, not only to wildlife, but also to everyone else in this world. We have dumps all over the world, ruining our environment, but at least they are designated areas where the waste can be managed, why make the entire world a dump? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And what about global warming. As farmers, my family has had an interesting past few years. First came droughts, and then last year with the amount of moisture during haying season, we struggled to get any hay bailed. Obviously this affects our income and our lifestyle. But it affects yours too, yes, our problems affect you as consumers. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When drought happened, many farmers sold cattle and some even farms. My family was pasturing off everything we could, including the ditches of roads. People everywhere were in a panic to find feed for their animals. No one wanted to buy cattle, because no one could afford to feed them. People struggled to get crops off, and with a shortage of crops, less people were selling them, meaning less to the plants and factories producing consumer food products. This was an issue, not only for the farmers, but also for the consumers. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This year with the extra long, and cold winter, farmers everywhere had to start their seeding later than normal which could throw off harvest this coming fall. Last year when we had an overabundance of rain we had problems getting our crops dry enough to bale and harvest. Crops went to waste. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On our farm, we feed our cattle using our own produce as much as possible. We bale our own hay, harvest our own grain, and use our own pastures to feed our cattle, and all of the extra we sell to the markets, such as our canola and extra barely and oats. So when we don't have good crops, we don't have much extra to sell. And this means the market prices for the cereal crops goes up, and the cost of producing beef goes up, and that means that for all you consumers out there who like eating meat or bread, or butter, or milk, or vegetables, or any of the other millions of things that you consume from farmers in a day, all of your prices for food goes up. And then you complain. You don't want to pay for the expensive food, you don't want price hikes. And I get that. But if you don't want to continue paying extra for your products, don't you think it's time we start paying in a different regard, and look into <i>paying attention</i> to our environment and how we abuse it! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qp3eooTJkY4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. How hard is it? Especially when there are recycling centers and bins everywhere now a days! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I got to thinking a great deal about what my family does to save our environment. </span><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Other ways that we save our environment:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We recycle everything. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When we were younger, our parents used to make our lunches for us for school. All of our food was sent in reusable containers, glass dishes and in reusable bags. My parents believed in buying things in large quantities so that we weren't using as much plastic with individually wrapped items. It was also healthier for us as kids to be heating our food up in glass containers rather than plastic. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My family keeps water in the fridge, and we have a drawer full of water bottles that we fill and take with us places</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We hang all of our clothes to dry in the spring and summer outside, and when it snows or rains my mother has long racks in our laundry room to hang things.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We use rain water from barrels to water all of our plants, and we let mother nature take care of our lawn. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We give our dogs our table scraps, and any fresh produce waste goes to the field for compost. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We have dugouts and creeks with natural springs by which we water are cattle</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We try to minimize the sprays we use on our crops, and pay close attention to our soil needs and the fertilizers that we use</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We reuse as much as we can, and find uses for old things</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Old filters, batteries and old tires from our tractors all get recycled and we make sure all old oil is contained and dealt with properly</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We never, ever litter</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We all take quick showers, and there are never lights, televisions or computers left on in our house</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We use reusable grocery bags and make sure that we try and minimize our garbage production as much as possible</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We have a wood burning stove in our house which helps heat the house in the winter</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My first two years of university I lived in residence so that I never had to drive to school, and this year I am hoping for a condo within walking distance</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This year I won the Grant MacEwan University Environmental Sustainability Scholarship, and will be attending the Alberta Emerald Awards on June 15, in Edmonton! The Emerald Awards showcase and recognizes environmental leaders in Alberta. Check out their website for more information - <a href="http://emeraldfoundation.ca/about/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Alberta Emerald Foundation</span></a></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My family does our part as much as possible to save our land. This country. This world. While at the same time helping to keep ourselves and our animals healthy.</span></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In our national anthem we say "the true North strong and free". Our true North is beginning to melt due to the climate change, and green house gas emissions, and Canada as the "true North strong and free" needs to do our part in being STRONG and start a trend to move away from our bad environmental habits. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So what is everyone else doing about it?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Where does Canada fit?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IGTjGQlkp0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What action needs to be taken?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wAAoqH-8UFg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">"We can avoid danger, and exploit opportunity"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now what will you do to take your part in saving this world? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/A44RB3EvHyA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What you can do! </span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Go outside, instead of watching so much television and playing video games, enjoy nature. Go to the lake, go for a walk, go skiing, go biking, go to a park, take your dog for a walk, do anything to avoid all the electricity we use! Not only does this make our earth healthier, but it also makes you healthier!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">conserve the amount of paper that you use. When you print, use both sides of sheets, reuse scrap paper, watch the amount of toilet paper, paper towel and napkins that you consume. Wipe spills up with reusable cloths instead of napkins. Not only does this save the world, but it also saves you money.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Put rain barrels outside under eaves troughs and use the rain water to water plants and even your lawn</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Be realistic on the amount you wash your car. If it came down to it, you would need that water a lot more than your car</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Conserve water. Fix dripping taps, put water in the fridge so you don't have to let the taps run to get cold water, always fill the dishwasher full, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Less baths, more showers, and shorter!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Carpool, or better yet, use the bus, the LRT, or walk. It is harder for people out of town to do the whole walking thing, but my family carpools a whole lot. My mom works in the same town that my sister goes to school in so they always ride together. Whenever my grandparents are going to the city, they always see if there is something that they can get for us, to save us from making an extra trip. They schedule appointments and meetings on the same days, days whe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">n they know they will need groceries. All in an attempt to manage the amount that we use our vehicles. </span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Plant a tree, or two, or ten! </span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Plant a garden and get fresh vegetables out of it! My family has a very large garden and we love the fresh vegetables and fruits that we grow! Small greenhouses in the back yard are great too!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">DON'T LITTER</span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All of these ideas seem so easy and so obvious, but the problem is that the now generation is so lazy! It isn't that we can't do these simple things, it's just that no one can be bothered to do them. We all need to realize, we aren't only hurting the environment, we're also hurting ourselves, we're making our living conditions unhealthy and unsafe. </span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=3AD65317-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Environment Canada</span></a> does a great job of summing up just what the environmental issues are, how they affect the world, how they affect humans and what we can do to help stop it! I encourage you to click on the link! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8jP8CC2rKj4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It is beautiful, isn't it. So why are we trying to throw it all away?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I challenge you to do something, even if it is only turning your lights off when you leave a room, conserving water, and refraining from littering. Every little bit counts! Together we can save our world, our animals, and ourselves.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For more information, check out Environment Canada's Channel on Youtube - environmentcan! They have fantastic videos and ideas on how to save the environment! Or go to the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/education/default.asp?lang=En&n=3AD65317-1">Environment Canada</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> website! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let's talk environment. Let's talk sustainability. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sam</span></span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-77362285946574933502011-06-10T13:36:00.001-06:002011-06-30T00:58:18.034-06:00Young RanchersThis year I had the privelage to take part in the the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com/">Canadian Cattlemen's Association's Cattlemen's Young Leaders Program</a>.</span><br />
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Through this program I was paired with my mentor, Jordan Buba of <a href="http://www.lewisfarms.ca/Home/tabid/54/Default.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Lewis Farms</span></a>, one of the largest Purebred cattle operations in this area. Through the various trips to Lewis Farms I had the opportunity to learn just how Lewis Farms operates. Jordan was very helpful and always had advice or information about the cattle industry and how they work on their farm. Growing up on a commercial cow/calf operation I never really had the opportunity to learn just what it takes to own purebreds and I really wanted to get involved. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH95B9y_9e137tyXYle1JMdIInToVL28yIa_AQeUEhw5Zy0Kat2ryvF4X-VhoNRojYSkhBZkBMQuXm-Qz3Tj0CF2CNHSX6yvYc7CXh_BtRxQG7glY_F3rds5fYGPg5B41vtRkfFe1gTA_D/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH95B9y_9e137tyXYle1JMdIInToVL28yIa_AQeUEhw5Zy0Kat2ryvF4X-VhoNRojYSkhBZkBMQuXm-Qz3Tj0CF2CNHSX6yvYc7CXh_BtRxQG7glY_F3rds5fYGPg5B41vtRkfFe1gTA_D/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordan and I in the calving barn at Lewis Farms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jordan was helpful in teaching me about EPDs on bulls, how they keep their calving records, what they feed their cattle in their feedlot, how they choose which bulls to keep and she went over some of the good genetics that they have in their herd. This all motivated me and made me want to get involved and find out just what owning purebreds is all about. On December 11, 2010, I headed to the SanDan Charolais Purebred sale with my father and grandfather. I was determined to purchase my first ever purebred heifer. And this is exactly what I did. <br />
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We spent an hour or so walking through the pens where all of the sale animals were kept. I liked a lot of the calves, but none of them were really what I was looking for. We headed into the barn where there were a couple of pairs located and I found just what I wanted.<br />
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Tyra SDC 73X (read my "All Things Agriculture" on traceability if you want to know what the numbers mean!) caught my eye right away. A smaller heifer in the bunch she caught my attention. Her mother was also in the sale, a young Freedom cow, she was doing a great job on her February heifer calf. That's what we want in a cow/calf operation, we need cows that are going to be able to raise good sized calves, without taking too much out of themselves, because it is from these calves that we make our profits. Obviously, I knew that now that I was getting into the purebred side of the cattle industry, I wouldn't only be selling commercial fall calves to the auction mart, I would instead have to market my purebreds and try to sell them to farmers to add to their own herds. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBk1aWLKyvo5UFpjHteKcB15t-84HPZhhA5CaAvoi0wvbWMDHpzWxvS-R8KRDD5K36AUVRK3zzQWUI5BaUn8TvTbOr4U6-GGLbKKYz5G4sSZQI3NQaBtvPBTz37Mm0bggysXWBjDSTzhD/s1600/Blackberry+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBk1aWLKyvo5UFpjHteKcB15t-84HPZhhA5CaAvoi0wvbWMDHpzWxvS-R8KRDD5K36AUVRK3zzQWUI5BaUn8TvTbOr4U6-GGLbKKYz5G4sSZQI3NQaBtvPBTz37Mm0bggysXWBjDSTzhD/s320/Blackberry+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyra - 10 months old!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I had made up my mind, I wanted Tyra. So the three of us headed to the show ring as the sale started. SanDan decided to start the sale off with Tyra and her mother. Great. Now I'll never get her. I am a Bachelor of Science Student at Grant MacEwan University, and with six years left of school, I don't exactly have all the money in the world to spend. I wanted a heifer for under 2000, and I didn't think that the heifer starting out the sale would be the one. I was right, she sold for more than 2000 so I had to let her go. <br />
We watched as the rest of the calves went through the ring. There were a bunch of great animals, but none of them really grabbed my attention like Tyra had. <br />
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The last bid was made, the last animal sold, and I still didn't have a heifer. My dad and I decided to go talk to the owner of SanDan. We had bought bulls off of her before, so they knew eachother fairly well. We asked her if they had anymore heifers that they would be willing to part with out in the pasture. She asked what we wanted a heifer for, and I said I had wanted a good one to show for the Junior shows the upcoming summer. <br />
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With a smile, she said "I have just the heifer for you". She left us waiting impatiently as she made her way through the crowd. She stood speaking to two gentlemen for a couple of minutes before waving us over. <br />
"These gentlemen purchased a heifer calf and are willing to sell it to you so that you can show her". Awesome! I was excstatic, and they hadn't even told me what heifer it was they had purchased.<br />
"We bought the first heifer calf in the ring" one of them said as he flipped the sale catelouge to the picture of Tyra. "I think she is better suited with you though".<br />
I was shocked! Somehow I had managed to get the heifer I originally wanted, without even asking for her! And better yet, the men I was buying her from through in a few straws of semen! We wrote a cheque for $2500, a little over my budget but I wasn't ready to turn down my second chance at the heifer I wanted.<br />
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So I came home that night with my first ever purebred! I have the CYL program and Jordan to thank for it all, for sparking my interest in the purebred industry and helping me to learn all about just what I would be getting myself into!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmSF5vjmUMwQl5xZCap17SbI0tfy6UObhdzwQtc6oROiuiFaooxswrzG4ZZTIalqD9nacvPTgf7fjpvEUQo7E0g1GNvt8ePTNQxs3iQ_oOUIgqANDwUkhsUUUBwQHnqn5LPIQl30PIgf5/s1600/Blackberry+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmSF5vjmUMwQl5xZCap17SbI0tfy6UObhdzwQtc6oROiuiFaooxswrzG4ZZTIalqD9nacvPTgf7fjpvEUQo7E0g1GNvt8ePTNQxs3iQ_oOUIgqANDwUkhsUUUBwQHnqn5LPIQl30PIgf5/s400/Blackberry+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Tyra will be in her first show at the Summer Synergy show in Olds, Alberta mid July! I can't wait! <br />
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Through the CYL program, I also had the chance to take part in the <a href="http://fivenationsbeefalliance.com/young_ranchers_program.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Five Nations Beef Alliance Young Ranchers Program</span></a>, in Denver, Colorado in January. What an amazing experience! I was presented with information and perspectives of agriculture from young ranchers like myself from Mexico, the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australlia. Each one of these Young Ranchers had their own story to tell. We were able to compare issues facing the agricultural industry across nations, talking about biosecurity, traceability, trade, weather issues, consumers and much much more. It was so awesome to be able to hear from other young ranchers, and to be able to work together to discuss what we could do to fix some of the issues each one of us were facing. We had the opportunity to take part on tours and sit in during conferences. I learned more and retained more information in one week than I had my entire second year of University. I guess that tells you a lot about just where my passions lie. <br />
The video below was made while we were at the National Western Stock Show in Denver!<br />
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The video below was made with the 2010 young ranchers. Stay tuned as in a month or so a Young Ranchers video starring me will be released! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rcVpAs2FvMI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-14975234809458405262011-06-09T21:12:00.000-06:002011-06-09T21:12:12.976-06:00Vacation DestinationI am sure all of you know someone, or maybe you are that someone, who has a home away from home. Maybe it is a beach house that your family goes to for the summer, a hunting cabin up North, or a condo in the States where you spend the winter. Regardless of who it is that you know, you get the point. <br />
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I know of a few couples who spend their winter in their RV, travelling the States. Just like the geese, these couples fly South for the winter. Seems pretty reasonable and straight forward, and I am sure all of you knew this. But what some of you may not have known is this: on our farm our cows have a winter home too!<br />
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<a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rha/lowres/rhan1073l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rha/lowres/rhan1073l.jpg" width="320" /></a><img height="320" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/awh/lowres/awhn142l.jpg" width="256" /><br />
Yes, you read right! Every year when the snow comes, my family starts preparing our North pasture just behind our barn for our cattle! This is the one time of the year when all of the cows are together in the same pasture, no bulls allowed!<br />
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In the summer, this winter home is seeded to crops. Since I can remember, the cow's winter home has served as a grain crop, a canola crop, and this year a hay field! Lucky for us, having our cows out there for part of the winter means we have the best, natural soil enhancer!<br />
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So, why do we move our cows??<br />
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On our farm, our cows usually begin calving (having babies) around the beginning of March. This means that by the end of February my dad has to start checking the cows every few hours make sure none of them have problems while trying to calve. As you all know, tempratures in this province can be fairly drastic, so we don't want a cow to have a wet little baby outside in the freezing cold temperatures for too long, we want to make sure we are there shortly after the babies birth to bring it into the cozy barn, or to help the mother calve if need be.<br />
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So at the end of February we move all of our calves to a maternity pasture, nice and close to the barn! This is their vacation home<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwPNSlNV0N3Vw9CMQ5JWKiZdb-2uQxXi_20v2rCIGQm7DfQUR1v_9CWe0bpc0Z-rU5e-E8mBrBGywZ8pB-q8r39GZMlFY5s7vdBwV0YtIeqcMrzBgu6veHs-A3w-MZJR2ahXcM5hZdEOt/s1600/Moms+cam+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwPNSlNV0N3Vw9CMQ5JWKiZdb-2uQxXi_20v2rCIGQm7DfQUR1v_9CWe0bpc0Z-rU5e-E8mBrBGywZ8pB-q8r39GZMlFY5s7vdBwV0YtIeqcMrzBgu6veHs-A3w-MZJR2ahXcM5hZdEOt/s320/Moms+cam+032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the cows out on swath grazing a month or so before they got moved to the maternity pasture!</td></tr>
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One of our biggest concerns during calving season is keeping those babies healthy! <br />
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On really cold nights if a calf isn't brought into the barn and warmed up on time bad things can happen...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL97-Wd8bbaXSvAQMJXiaVBWBzSRdUFVg-rBzYP5spm7NZ0zT0XP6T-_F3ZjP3CfJ3frexvPcphXAQYjEgsdswvdWWaL8HES6DWUMkqat87IQ7Zr0Y5wvVnnM5l5rvhN4h9FsNsKaWq1f/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWL97-Wd8bbaXSvAQMJXiaVBWBzSRdUFVg-rBzYP5spm7NZ0zT0XP6T-_F3ZjP3CfJ3frexvPcphXAQYjEgsdswvdWWaL8HES6DWUMkqat87IQ7Zr0Y5wvVnnM5l5rvhN4h9FsNsKaWq1f/s400/024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mama cow on the left froze her ears off when she was a baby! Notice how they are smaller than the cow on the right.</td></tr>
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The baby could lose it's ears! When the little wet ears are left out in the cold for too long, they can freeze the tips off and leave the baby looking like this one! The calf is still just as good as any other calf, they just tend to look like little goats!<br />
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Or the babies could get sick. For sick babies we usually put them under one of our heat lamps, in a special little room just big enough for the babies.<br />
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And worst case scenario, a baby could die.<br />
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So we make sure that we are always out in the field, checking the cows every couple of hours. My dad and grandpa are really good at being able to tell a couple hours before when a cow is going to calve.<br />
Usually the cow will:<br />
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<ul><li>head off to a secluded area of the pasture by herself. A few years ago my dad got lazy and didn't close the gate when going on hi bihourly check. This is usually not an issue, none of the cows ever think to leave their winter home. As an exception to this rule, my cow decided she wanted to go back to her summer home to give birth. So she snuck out of the pasture and headed across the highway where we keep one of our groups during the summer. Luckily for my dad, he could easily see her tracks in the fresh snow and found her in no time at all. Luckily for me, the highway wasn't busy that night! Needless to say, my dad never leaves a gate open anymore, unless our Border Collie, Lady, is around to watch over it. </li>
<li>the cows udder will have gone through a noticeable change in the week before they are about to calve. The udder begins to "spring" meaning, it tightens up with milk in preparation for the baby. </li>
<li>The cow will have a water bag, a whitish sac filled with fluid that will break when the calf begins to tell. If the bag has broken, there is usually a string of it hanging down, and there will likely be wet parts on the cows legs! </li>
<li>Be hunched up in her back, with her tail up, or pointed straight outwards, looking like she is pushing.</li>
<li>Eventually, in most cases, the cow will lie down on her side and push the baby out. When the baby finally does come out, the cow immediately starts tending to her young, and within a few hours the baby will be standing up, taking it's first drink of colostrum - a special, nutrient rich milk that helps to give the babies antibodies that they need. On our farm we milk some of our better milk producing cows so that we have some extra colostrum to give a baby calf if need be. We store this in our freezer in icecream pails. I can remember a few years ago, a friend going to grab our ice cream for dessert, opening the pail and saying "I think this ice cream may be bad, it looks pretty yellow". Thankfully for her she didn't take a taste test, I don't think colostrum tastes very good!</li>
</ul><div>After the cows have their calves, they get moved from the big calving pen, to a smaller pen where their mama's get put on a higher cut of hay (higher quality) and some grain for a few days while they adjust to their new babies. This also alows us to keep a close watch on the new babies in case anyone isn't eating properly, or gets sick. It is in these small pens that the babies begin to socialize with one another! Watch my little twins as they chase one another around! (sorry for the bad quality, I always snap pictures and videos from my phone when the babies are doing something cute, I don't always have my camera!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy02wcE7G-JELLZI04PF04sJAqYRCsi85Fvj_8nQ2I5bNFo-_rA2EM74p6wYrQF864ZcG5Li_1g_OZ0V_XFOA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div> </div><div><br />
</div><div>After a few days in the new baby pen, the calves are moved out to their summer pasture. Unfortunately by this time, there is still a great deal of snow on the ground so we have to feed them silage each day or spread out a bale of hay for them! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8j8aZ1-6tZX3-EXtn03PlxuuNDm9GNC0_sOsq6JOG7G3HuYqux-qKDRGqiYuBGyQty_WpfEDrRWRQIMNOcY_zXu6jXNyg1cwi1nwQkifkimKtNvTXMLvHdTbSJACisMYqBAbOC5-OLgv/s1600/Blackberry+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8j8aZ1-6tZX3-EXtn03PlxuuNDm9GNC0_sOsq6JOG7G3HuYqux-qKDRGqiYuBGyQty_WpfEDrRWRQIMNOcY_zXu6jXNyg1cwi1nwQkifkimKtNvTXMLvHdTbSJACisMYqBAbOC5-OLgv/s400/Blackberry+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this picture, almost all of the snow is gone, but the grass just isn't good enough yet so my dad still had to feed the cows a little bit! This picture was taken at the end of April!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>Once enough of the cows have calved, we begin dividing them up by breed, and they get taken off to seperate pastures. On our farm, all of the heifers get bred to a Red Angus bull, because they are known for their smaller sized calves, which means hopefully more ease when calving for their first time. Our red cows usually go with a Charolais (white) bull, and the tans and whites go with our Red Angus or Simmental bulls. We breed for tan or lighter colored calves, and with this method of breeding we usually get them! We can't always sort the cattle like this though because you don't want a cow to be bred by her father! </div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlmsBixiynO_e_PlJo9H-YpGJIA0LKSm5nI_QJfXeG2HUuOJZgW70iDarw-0rQiw6eyK6PA75x8whlhblL_g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div>Here are a few of my dad's cows this afternoon, relaxing in the sunshine. The red white faced cow lying down is my cow Sophie!</div><div>Isn't it amazing! The birds chirping in the background, the green grass, and the happy cows!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Today we let some of my grandpa's red cows change pastures. With all of the rain the grass in the pastures is lush and amazing! The cows couldn't wait to cross the creek to get to their summer home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCC14dFvmjSSSZualbp8FFzhjjlIw064UuQQZATRCaQHGy3OSYz61tEklNF5s6oCxQQM_84YGFOSlh0vsmiXEPwKAQewwa43JT3ZiBB_OkGTZTbSDDCzWVvuac2KY5LpQlODhwoZVTFyJ/s1600/IMG00991-20110609-1331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCC14dFvmjSSSZualbp8FFzhjjlIw064UuQQZATRCaQHGy3OSYz61tEklNF5s6oCxQQM_84YGFOSlh0vsmiXEPwKAQewwa43JT3ZiBB_OkGTZTbSDDCzWVvuac2KY5LpQlODhwoZVTFyJ/s320/IMG00991-20110609-1331.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad leading the way to check the creek as the cows follow on their way to their newest destination!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpIvmq-c1G4G_EDwToJu109R2U9yAS9NcjIBAW6GHu3_s4cyLGJh3W3GSdNpsPpEwKMN_g7Zv8ROf-RObUPGkfl9_e7XmvHaBd4VVK8uNH61B9J2GVe2zCPun9G2O9sRzIkC9pjr0jFyC/s1600/IMG00993-20110609-1332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpIvmq-c1G4G_EDwToJu109R2U9yAS9NcjIBAW6GHu3_s4cyLGJh3W3GSdNpsPpEwKMN_g7Zv8ROf-RObUPGkfl9_e7XmvHaBd4VVK8uNH61B9J2GVe2zCPun9G2O9sRzIkC9pjr0jFyC/s400/IMG00993-20110609-1332.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad walking back, the cows knew where they were going, and he didn't want to cross the creek on foot like them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2c1thAMR8gLBFi9b49jYAG_rlX3rQucCrtnH4NKJTrwwxXS_1rtNUm3eQsh0MxkNf2DEfYqJfjwKjx_15a9KWDi4hkLRYcOnEOQswbq79wKLybcLpnFNcTaEmSmgF-OIvyOyPIxduImg/s1600/IMG00994-20110609-1332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2c1thAMR8gLBFi9b49jYAG_rlX3rQucCrtnH4NKJTrwwxXS_1rtNUm3eQsh0MxkNf2DEfYqJfjwKjx_15a9KWDi4hkLRYcOnEOQswbq79wKLybcLpnFNcTaEmSmgF-OIvyOyPIxduImg/s400/IMG00994-20110609-1332.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the babies missed the memo and didn't follow the whole herd to the new pasture! Lucky for them, one of the mama's came back and got them! It was adorable seeing all six of the babies running after her!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqanGZ6-Jtuq3WbFvDyhiYTDCYu5LmSp38aZ7e_1lC3t1fQQGr3tn5hPfIJlrc1GgRSmDa-f_tTHeogZXgQG-ICJtYUITOFUN7eOgSfSy5m9gy45InxciLpfo3sB6n3GCVPD_bdir_Qsm/s1600/IMG00995-20110609-1338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqanGZ6-Jtuq3WbFvDyhiYTDCYu5LmSp38aZ7e_1lC3t1fQQGr3tn5hPfIJlrc1GgRSmDa-f_tTHeogZXgQG-ICJtYUITOFUN7eOgSfSy5m9gy45InxciLpfo3sB6n3GCVPD_bdir_Qsm/s400/IMG00995-20110609-1338.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like many summer homes, our cows summer home also overlooks a lake!</td></tr>
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Who knew our farm was such a vacation destination!<br />
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The weather was beautiful today! I had a great day hanging out at my vacation destination with my grandpa and my dad!<br />
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Until next time!<br />
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SamSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-15047789592059183962011-06-07T21:19:00.001-06:002011-06-11T16:28:29.446-06:00Brown Chicken, Brown Cow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/brown_chicken_brown_cow_round_sticker-p217413506032062523qjcl_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/brown_chicken_brown_cow_round_sticker-p217413506032062523qjcl_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If any of you have grown up spending a great deal of time with your fun and crazy grandfathers, I am sure that you have heard the comment "Chocolate milk comes from brown cows, didn't you know?". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/composition/16908176/view/1/producttypecolor/1/type/png/width/190/height/190/chocolate-milk-comes-from-brown-cow_design.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/composition/16908176/view/1/producttypecolor/1/type/png/width/190/height/190/chocolate-milk-comes-from-brown-cow_design.png" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My grandfather was, and still is, a man of jokes and teasing. When my cousins were small he would tell them that the chicken we were eating was actually rabbit, and that he was allergic to tomatoes so he was the only one that didn't have to eat them (as he drenched his other food in ketchup). </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He is famous for teasing us and I realized that for some people the idea of brown cows making brown milk and brown chickens producing brown eggs could be very valid. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I dug deeper into these two myths to see just what the facts were.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Myth- Brown eggs are healthier than white eggs!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://momsinablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/eggs_brown_white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://momsinablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/eggs_brown_white.jpg" /></a>Just like a human baby, chicken babies share genes with their parents. These genes are what determine the color of the shell. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">shell color is dependent on the breed of the hen</span>. Therefore, the color of the shell has nothing to do with the nutritive quality of the egg itself. </div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a large variety of chicken breeds as well as egg types. Click on the link to see a full list of <a href="http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html">Chicken and Eggs</a>.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When it comes to white and brown eggs, there is no difference in the nutritive value, flavor or the cooking performance between the two types of eggs!!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did you know:</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><a href="http://www.getcracking.ca/images/dozen-facts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.getcracking.ca/images/dozen-facts.jpg" /></a>
<li>eggs can absorb flavors from your fridge because they have many pores, that's why it is good to keep them in their carton to keep them fresh!</li>
<li>eggs are high in protein, so high that a mother's breast milk is the only source of protein higher in quality! Eggs contain 14 essential nutrients and all nine of the essential amino acids - essential meaning the amino acids that our bodies cannot produce!</li>
<li>hens lay approximately 300 eggs per year!</li>
<li>eggs are supposed to increase energy, and improve eyesight and memory! </li>
<li>good for brain development and weight management!</li>
<li>and for the students of the world, eggs are affordable and quick to cook!! That's my selling point!</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Myth - Brown Cows Produce Chocolate Milk</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/dre0190l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/dre0190l.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you don't honestly know the answer to this myth, it is false. </div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">All cows produce white milk</span>, regardless of breed or type, dairy cow or beef cow!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only difference in milk from different cows is quality or quantity, not color. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chocolate milk is made from sugars and coca beans!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Milk is great for our bodies and minds. The high levels of calcium help us to maintain strong bones, while at the same time providing us with energy and 15 essential nutrients!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.quitehealthy.com/nutrition-facts/food-labels/label011021.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nutrition Facts Label for Chocolate Milk" border="0" height="320" src="http://www.quitehealthy.com/nutrition-facts/food-labels/label011021.gif" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Milk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6pMELbQh6bxma0nctSKt0QzXADFJ_I1_bXKcLTB2iSDIwRn41ijHke6q4B1x7d9OMr0R11ANHlWTI2XdfAo_WggsEPZQt7y8MBE1HklXpm8pfGHe3R6TUt58kLwoiAsjyOwePvpM_chF/s1600/milktiems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6pMELbQh6bxma0nctSKt0QzXADFJ_I1_bXKcLTB2iSDIwRn41ijHke6q4B1x7d9OMr0R11ANHlWTI2XdfAo_WggsEPZQt7y8MBE1HklXpm8pfGHe3R6TUt58kLwoiAsjyOwePvpM_chF/s320/milktiems.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1% white milk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Check out this website! <a href="http://www.neverstopmilk.ca/milk#facts">Never Stop Milk</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there you have it folks! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope I got the brown chicken, brown cow, myths all sorted out!!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a great evening everyone!!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sam</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-72881796925609782312011-06-06T22:07:00.000-06:002011-06-06T22:07:05.224-06:00All Things Agriculture - TraceabilityHey everybody!!<br />
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Hope all is well! I had a pretty bad incident at work the other day with burning hot gravy meeting the skin on my chest, and leaving me with some lovely second degree burns. So between getting my burn dressed every morning at the hospital and appointments with plastic surgeons, I managed to get some down time to fill you in on "All Things Agriculture"! <br />
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I had a friend ask how we kept track of our cattle, and she was quite surprised when I told her that there were many ways, one of which included a tattoo for the cows!! Way cool, I know!<br />
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So here is the deal. Right above you will see an "All Things Agriculture" tab, click it. It is in this tab that you will find out just how farmers keep track of our rough and rowdy cattle herds!<br />
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Once on that page, scroll down, like way down, you will see a heading that says "Topic 3 - Traceability", that's where you need to be!!<br />
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Check it out, you'll love it!!<br />
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Let me know if you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer them!<br />
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SamSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-11103003449683515392011-06-01T00:46:00.000-06:002011-06-01T00:46:07.485-06:00Meaty Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I first heard about the show "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" I laughed. I honestly couldn't believe that there were that many kids younger than me that knew more than me about so many different topics. After watching the show a time or two, I was amazed by just how much information and knowledge some of those children have. If you still don't believe the "smartness" of young children, I feel like this video will change your mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/na7VT1fU-tk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>As I was searching around youtube, I came across this video and I cannot begin to express how impressed I am with this young man. He takes the phrase "young rancher" to the next level. This young man shows a passion and an interest for what his family does, and when you hear it coming from a young boy, you know that the family is hard working and honest. I cannot think of any other occupation where a child plays such a big role in their parent's work. Farming is a family ordeal, and I think that this video pretty much sums that up beautifully. <br />
If you are not from a farm, and you watch this video, I am sure that you will finish it, feeling like you have known all about farms your entire life. He covers the life cycle of the cow, he talks about cleaning pens, feeding, he explains traceability! He covers everything! <br />
Because the video is made in Scotland, there are a few things that differ from the Canadian industry, such as the traceability, the part where he is talking about the passports. I will cover everything you need to know about traceability tomorrow in the "All Things Agriculture" page, I promise that once I am done with you, you may even want to wear your own eartag! <br />
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Sorry for the long delay in the posts, working two jobs and playing on a sports team, while living on a farm gets to be a bit of a challenge. It is a busy time out on our farm as we try to quickly finish up our seeding. Rain is a good thing out here on the farm, but only once we have all the crops planted do we really want it. Because of the rain we were put slightly more behind schedule than we already were due to the late snow melt. But we stay positive, and we appreciate all of the moisture we can get. My father and grandpa have been putting in late nights, trying to get everything finished. <br />
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I look forward to coming home from work at night and being able to see all of my critters. There is nothing I love more in the world than coming home to cuddle one of my dogs, or to sit on a fence and watch a couple of baby calves chase each other around and play fight while the sun goes down. <br />
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I love it that the sun sets so late now, it gives me an opportunity to go out and check the cows when I get home from work at nine, and still be able to see them all!<br />
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SO, now that we have taken a look at that young Scottish boy's farm, here is a quick look at what was happening out at the Sperber Farms this evening! I took a small tour of the heifer pen to see how the young ladies were all doing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzR4LMgc7Fiddv5oYWF4nCmyfhSPIUWYpzz_Ol7DtEMxBZBPWwoMEp3e68w-j1lz6RN6K-hBdPNiOjQrhDSzHA4ptewl9AeX6YID9wC6xmGu0I6HeKRUqkzSA0-RuuNts7ptRxYyW8dFN/s1600/IMG00923-20110531-2112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzR4LMgc7Fiddv5oYWF4nCmyfhSPIUWYpzz_Ol7DtEMxBZBPWwoMEp3e68w-j1lz6RN6K-hBdPNiOjQrhDSzHA4ptewl9AeX6YID9wC6xmGu0I6HeKRUqkzSA0-RuuNts7ptRxYyW8dFN/s320/IMG00923-20110531-2112.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely, calm evening</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggydKhES7Mr3G91q_TtahGMZrfSTPvojapPu2QWkASLOUZuvSOYvqkUKq4MVhtVd2NKVZnNSW0VQ_l5FXY6qI4FFCQvCRRj5pUxLRxMvyyYOMJ-uHwtOF0cvSTA-6wIS5dJRztK-uF192v/s1600/IMG00940-20110531-2152+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggydKhES7Mr3G91q_TtahGMZrfSTPvojapPu2QWkASLOUZuvSOYvqkUKq4MVhtVd2NKVZnNSW0VQ_l5FXY6qI4FFCQvCRRj5pUxLRxMvyyYOMJ-uHwtOF0cvSTA-6wIS5dJRztK-uF192v/s320/IMG00940-20110531-2152+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reaching for an evening snack</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzaNp4vF3NzDFLyX6t9lqI7RvsUcsP6pG0ke3pHWEMr-wOh6KBYFzd7s4yDke0s8yxBheZDSitFke0SVor3v9I16tFZpa_v2v_FqrrmEj4U0gFgdOavOsvfmHn3L15lyKrtP8K8B0IGZj/s1600/my+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzaNp4vF3NzDFLyX6t9lqI7RvsUcsP6pG0ke3pHWEMr-wOh6KBYFzd7s4yDke0s8yxBheZDSitFke0SVor3v9I16tFZpa_v2v_FqrrmEj4U0gFgdOavOsvfmHn3L15lyKrtP8K8B0IGZj/s640/my+girls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My three yearling heifers. Lily is a Simmental cross. Her mama (Dam) is a tan Charolais Cross cow, and her daddy (Sire) is a big, red and white traditional Simmental bull. Tyra is a purebred Charolais, both of her parents are Charolais, white, just like her. Lucy is a Red Angus cross. Her mama is a big tan Charolais cross cow, and her father is a purebred Red Angus bull. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>So there you have it. I didn't have a lot of time to snap pictures since the sun was already gone from the sky by the time I got home from work, but I hope that you like seeing what few pictures I do have!<br />
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Check back tomorrow to learn all about why we put eartags in our cows!<br />
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Thanks everyone!<br />
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Night night!<br />
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SamSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-87955338608902869512011-05-26T15:06:00.000-06:002011-05-26T15:09:19.789-06:00Technology - The Exponential World We Live In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past January, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime. I had the chance to take part in the Five Nation's Beef Alliance Young Ranchers Program down in Denver, Colorado. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was both educational and fun! I had the chance to meet with a group of young ranchers from Australlia, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and to discuss many issues affecting the agriculture industry. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We heard many speakers and got to tour various agricultural destinations down in Denver. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the best parts of the trip, as far as I am concerned was having the chance to meet with Dr. Temple Grandin and to hear her speak about agriculture. Dr. Grandin spoke about social media, such as blogging, facebook, twitter, youtube, and the many other social media networking sites out there. She couldn't stress enough how important these sites were for the future generations and the generation that we live in today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All too often the media portrays a negative view of the agricultural industry, and as Dr. Grandin mentioned, the only way for us to change this negative view is for us to give our consumers the "real deal" and to show them just how much we love our land, our animals, and feeding the world, it is up to farmers, industry leaders, and young ranchers, such as myself, to show the world the positive and the real story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She encouraged each of us young ranchers to get active on the internet, to share our stories and to agvocate (promote agriculture), and that is just what this blog is all about!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
I decided to see just how big of an influence the internet really has on the world, so I found a couple of videos that opened my eyes to just how much of an impact the internet really has on people, and just how many users tune in. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
The four videos that I have listed below are all very informative and they make you realize just how much of an influence media has. Some of the information is overlapped, but each video has points of its own that are very important and helpful! I encourage you to check them all out, trust me, it will be more than worth your time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8bXRepor6Sw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ILQrUrEWe8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/NB_P-_NUdLw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NB_P-_NUdLw&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NB_P-_NUdLw&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7XyWTGepCHo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The first one is my favorite, because it talks about cattle and how much beef consumption is expected as well as how much technology is used. I thought that all four of these videos have a great deal of information that you don't really think about until you read it and realize that yes, indeed, our world is being taken over by technology. Businesses are relying on their computers for sales and marketing. Agriculutre isn't just a business, it is a way of life. I think it is important for all of us to reach out and impact the millions of people that tune into youtube and facebook everyday. We want them to know our story, and to support agriculture in our world. After all, by 2030 the first video says that China will eat more beef in a day than the US does in a month, so where will all of this beef come from? </div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">It is so important for youth to be active in agriculture and to get involved and support your local farmers, after all, when they're all gone, who will be here to feed the world?</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Have a nice day everyone!</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sam</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-84090872006518326602011-05-25T18:33:00.000-06:002011-05-25T18:48:33.575-06:00I'm Just A Farmer, Plain and Simple<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the great things about farming with my grandparents is getting to live in the same yard as them, allowing for many visits. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My father and grandfather are spoiled by my grandma, she cooks them delicious home cooked meal every single day for lunch. Luckily for me, whenever I am home for lunch on a weekday I get to go and enjoy Grandma's cooking. Farming with my grandparents gave me the opportunity to spend countless hours with them growing up and still now. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other night I went over to Grandma's house to feed the dogs and stopped in for what I thought would be a quick visit. Three hours later my grandpa came in from the field and<i> </i>I realized it was already 10:30! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The visit was awesome, and my grandma shared a bunch of stories with me. She also shared a clip that she had cut from the newspaper and I thought it was the best way to sum up my father and grandfather, so I wanted to share, I figure it is perfect for an agricultural blog, it sums up a farmer, plain and simple! Enjoy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm Just a Farmer, Plain and Simple</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(excerpts from I'm Just a Farmer, Plain and Simple by Bobby Collier)</span></i></div><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just a farmer, plain and simple.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not of royal birth, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but rather a worker of the earth.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know not of riches, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but rather of patches on my britches.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzSvV3bYF6aX1qslfk2rAbEWCI8etJa8qJrjTnxBS7DqOr6wVGKwa7O4XH8GlgTJydKEUuNkf9BuvdLqMTKj3JglDjptpLtm1rcZ330Pml7oGxsJ3Ny46mxb19iD-U3kw8xY8NPnPX6Dr/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzSvV3bYF6aX1qslfk2rAbEWCI8etJa8qJrjTnxBS7DqOr6wVGKwa7O4XH8GlgTJydKEUuNkf9BuvdLqMTKj3JglDjptpLtm1rcZ330Pml7oGxsJ3Ny46mxb19iD-U3kw8xY8NPnPX6Dr/s320/IMG_3599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know of drought and rain, </span></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of pleasure and pain. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the good, the bad, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the happy and the sad.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeqHarbxEW5FM_vngqIwseNXj7acRe9um-it6suwOL5OkzylEE0CVXwYGhyCL8cYcrHTcQ9pqgbY4gq64-syvvX66ola93Rl7pVDqnm0T3Wu2jJ5xrHVTpj0vdZibAJRvUkM9FTPM9BW_/s1600/IMG00289-20101126-1838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeqHarbxEW5FM_vngqIwseNXj7acRe9um-it6suwOL5OkzylEE0CVXwYGhyCL8cYcrHTcQ9pqgbY4gq64-syvvX66ola93Rl7pVDqnm0T3Wu2jJ5xrHVTpj0vdZibAJRvUkM9FTPM9BW_/s320/IMG00289-20101126-1838.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a man of emotions,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a man who loves this land</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the beauty of it's sand.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXT0krLTjn2lIAgP12gLTduUG58O4B4Mde4U9waBwAdfQTCZqukLcsrkgw_AyeAHyqSYkSlnsFdrrZvcvXOdF-D5fauHlxDjjyVuhB7WTodPEfP6Si9E8vEVc2U9sz6eLyRnJ4sXZ4jq7/s1600/IMG00913-20110521-2158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXT0krLTjn2lIAgP12gLTduUG58O4B4Mde4U9waBwAdfQTCZqukLcsrkgw_AyeAHyqSYkSlnsFdrrZvcvXOdF-D5fauHlxDjjyVuhB7WTodPEfP6Si9E8vEVc2U9sz6eLyRnJ4sXZ4jq7/s320/IMG00913-20110521-2158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>I know the spring's fresh flow</i></span></i></span></i></div><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and autumn's golden glow.</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of a newborn calf's hesitation</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and an eagle's destination. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEELZYiMnust0TcFaNYBFSaTuF3cJl05R7FubVqLvLVZI303SVtqNK1gnCuKqXKPzgiEGpZ7qpGTb_riNWOhTP9wxFUf7BA5qCJxTQGhalRQC1sZSS42XWKR2N0kepGg8yPRBJZGGoqr9_/s1600/Blackberry+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEELZYiMnust0TcFaNYBFSaTuF3cJl05R7FubVqLvLVZI303SVtqNK1gnCuKqXKPzgiEGpZ7qpGTb_riNWOhTP9wxFUf7BA5qCJxTQGhalRQC1sZSS42XWKR2N0kepGg8yPRBJZGGoqr9_/s320/Blackberry+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know of tall pines</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and long waiting lines.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the warmth of campfires</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the agony of flat tires.</span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DR_g2O-vc5O-OkH9bpRoaOUg14qMO8h4cxPKlb39A8fl1gjnT85TVMPuueGe4aYpNU-qp2JzROHovtHi_HZZiEHY1bwd0oc4Drx8qkKdNAdEGgT_xGo2TQK2E9dYSCmZ8gxnvgNcKx92/s1600/Blackberry+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DR_g2O-vc5O-OkH9bpRoaOUg14qMO8h4cxPKlb39A8fl1gjnT85TVMPuueGe4aYpNU-qp2JzROHovtHi_HZZiEHY1bwd0oc4Drx8qkKdNAdEGgT_xGo2TQK2E9dYSCmZ8gxnvgNcKx92/s320/Blackberry+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a man who loves his job</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the life that I live.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know of planting corn and bailing hay</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and animals going astray.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXXVOX_9K8eMeZnLA1gy3PpKacwdtGAHte8hynlXQATKuvPMZVMTxHqtgZPMJ6Aiw7OLsTdH2OGXhzQsX-VB0hIzij7KUNP5B5Rc7PxFDe1ZK3jmqjYa-whekm16kvF0ZmOia6O3i304y/s1600/Blackberry+010sd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXXVOX_9K8eMeZnLA1gy3PpKacwdtGAHte8hynlXQATKuvPMZVMTxHqtgZPMJ6Aiw7OLsTdH2OGXhzQsX-VB0hIzij7KUNP5B5Rc7PxFDe1ZK3jmqjYa-whekm16kvF0ZmOia6O3i304y/s320/Blackberry+010sd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I live in a complex world but my faith guides me,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYvS7UdCaDzFEIalLEIImhRpkzzxYcmjlXc74M529ZCJkjK_JZd8RJqI_rrgxUVKLhX13ZyfFkhwVhjwqdDqFLfSOLKkX9yqIgyBfQj_M6htHGtpmg5TPJHtgaSq4ltqe7OZ3a30WOyjC/s1600/168490_10150355471515103_615295102_16828994_4404607_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYvS7UdCaDzFEIalLEIImhRpkzzxYcmjlXc74M529ZCJkjK_JZd8RJqI_rrgxUVKLhX13ZyfFkhwVhjwqdDqFLfSOLKkX9yqIgyBfQj_M6htHGtpmg5TPJHtgaSq4ltqe7OZ3a30WOyjC/s320/168490_10150355471515103_615295102_16828994_4404607_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a farmer, plain and simple.</span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This poem pretty much completely sums up any farmer that I know, especially my grandfather. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farmer's love their land, their animals, and the people in their lives, plain and simple. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great night, off to lacrosse I go!</span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-11227928931037953222011-05-24T14:07:00.001-06:002011-06-13T21:25:13.307-06:00Beef and Dairy Go Head to HeadWith six years of school left, I am working hard to make some money to save up this summer which has resulted in me getting two jobs, both at local golf courses. Being a waitress gives me a great way to connect with many different people on a daily basis. I often find conversations eventually leading to the fact that I live on a farm. <br />
<div>The other day, a girl asked me if we milked our cows, and I responded "no, we have beef cattle on our farm" assuming that would be enough of a response. However, the girl just looked at me and said "So what is the difference from a milk cow to a beef cow, can't you use them all for everything?"</div><div>It seems so obvious to me why we would use certain types of cattle for milk and certain for beef, but I guess not being raised around farmers, and on a farm, I might not really have a reason to know. </div><div>So I began to explain to her the difference between milking cows and beef cows. </div><div>First of all there are two common divisions of cows, with many subdivisions. In one corner we have the "beef" cows, the cows that we use for meat and human consumption. In the other corner we have "milk" cows, the cows that are raised to make milk, cream and dairy products.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The "Beef" Category</i></span></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/cows_eating_md_wht.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A male cow is a bull. Great Blue Marble on the Farm features farm animal images, farm animal animation, farm animal cartoons, farm animal facts, and farm animal sounds." border="0" src="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/cows_eating_md_wht.gif" /></a></div>In the "Beef" category, you can break the category into many different breeds! With over 800 different breeds of cattle identified in the world, it is no wonder that there is confusion when talking about cattle!<br />
Below are some of the most common breeds in North America!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TiP_HyY3Fk8I9vEJWlzIHHCyZ3hK1FOi0_wRCPMQh4z4gpbP5sKKclYeKHpEeOUoev6z23EdCF59DazC-j6hYuY-R_WSEBf_GzACNA8_-4G7PIuUKI4s8SOuExVOvjMp-7Q66ibpxcsB/s1600/beef1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TiP_HyY3Fk8I9vEJWlzIHHCyZ3hK1FOi0_wRCPMQh4z4gpbP5sKKclYeKHpEeOUoev6z23EdCF59DazC-j6hYuY-R_WSEBf_GzACNA8_-4G7PIuUKI4s8SOuExVOvjMp-7Q66ibpxcsB/s640/beef1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/7/aberdeen-angus">Aberdeen Angus</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/97/beefalo">Beefalo</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/46/beefmaster">Beefmaster</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/9/belted-galloway">Belted-galloway</a></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u-NfhiC7M1Em8wEV__RKjFPh-9QjBxQFM2A5rSrUSjyK3-kEuY7x9k60eGMuhUlWsJ9M_h67e6bILZ7jFD25H-JkhTyRGvM0HwNILnZ4gxBhxJL3lb6XqRThgIRY9ugHoTOdCAq-7L2f/s1600/Beef2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u-NfhiC7M1Em8wEV__RKjFPh-9QjBxQFM2A5rSrUSjyK3-kEuY7x9k60eGMuhUlWsJ9M_h67e6bILZ7jFD25H-JkhTyRGvM0HwNILnZ4gxBhxJL3lb6XqRThgIRY9ugHoTOdCAq-7L2f/s640/Beef2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/10/blonde-daquitaine">Blonde d'aquitaine</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/43/brangus">Brangus</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/11/charolais">Charolais</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/13/dexter">Dexter</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis84jMmIs98fqi7AHg1JYl1YcLZJvNKjAyz19pdpodK4RXIFL1X3vRQM7NyI-idMdLl3K8loISXRS91xiowvrnlzHAU9HBlxMy5Nz7W4KZNjWg88tK2OH4ZnPhl1kyR2gD8Cv4T8sX_j2d/s1600/beef3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis84jMmIs98fqi7AHg1JYl1YcLZJvNKjAyz19pdpodK4RXIFL1X3vRQM7NyI-idMdLl3K8loISXRS91xiowvrnlzHAU9HBlxMy5Nz7W4KZNjWg88tK2OH4ZnPhl1kyR2gD8Cv4T8sX_j2d/s640/beef3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/61/english-longhorn">English longhorn</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/57/galloway">Galloway</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/54/gelbvieh">Gelbvieh</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/14/hereford">Hereford</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBDDXk4lQPDYcDoqFHXH-nP9RoQeMfYR4E0S_OxF6zu_J_x1B0tTrvXwIRLZe_a6mIDwDlYgN4-dsXHWGVBRyTPJ6PkNCzQ99JpGbdC8YKzpVJpjQ7hutYQ_Ln21SFT8ihhuw3oX0I19U/s1600/Beef4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBDDXk4lQPDYcDoqFHXH-nP9RoQeMfYR4E0S_OxF6zu_J_x1B0tTrvXwIRLZe_a6mIDwDlYgN4-dsXHWGVBRyTPJ6PkNCzQ99JpGbdC8YKzpVJpjQ7hutYQ_Ln21SFT8ihhuw3oX0I19U/s640/Beef4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/40/highland">Highland</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/39/limousin">Limousin</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/103/lowline">Lowline</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/59/murray-grey">Murray grey</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIHHLLHT8LE3PgrGNPmf_9PbEo1lldaNyaC18h8MrclTWxvVwjF5syP_O1AcJqlslfMEzhwybvcMvgXLYyAfoN1KNQ2AWSDS8u0vlPfyygWhwgMzlPASrrIsnrt6cbNQ8WhK7pcodLmO_/s1600/beef5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIHHLLHT8LE3PgrGNPmf_9PbEo1lldaNyaC18h8MrclTWxvVwjF5syP_O1AcJqlslfMEzhwybvcMvgXLYyAfoN1KNQ2AWSDS8u0vlPfyygWhwgMzlPASrrIsnrt6cbNQ8WhK7pcodLmO_/s640/beef5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/66/maineanjou-rouge-des-prs">Maine Anjou</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/99/red-angus">Red Angus</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/15/salers">Salers</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/17/simmental">Simmental</a> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwFZxgPpCUQaN9keAvBZ_vrP9FuZ82taDS5Y36D_VD1-98zXFeUgtk_9FfuoQKbMeUY8_IR5cdmGI4iGOFkwtMzSPHbSykA084VYXBYpCgAcwbtBY-57nNmaRscI0Q5wfz6MDPdkRAL9q/s1600/beef6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwFZxgPpCUQaN9keAvBZ_vrP9FuZ82taDS5Y36D_VD1-98zXFeUgtk_9FfuoQKbMeUY8_IR5cdmGI4iGOFkwtMzSPHbSykA084VYXBYpCgAcwbtBY-57nNmaRscI0Q5wfz6MDPdkRAL9q/s640/beef6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/112/speckle-park">Speckle Park</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/18/texas-longhorn">Texas Longhorn</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/30/welsh-black">Welsh Black</a> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef/76/zebu">Zebu</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<u>Other beef breeds</u>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Africander, Aubrac, Barzona, Bazadaise, Belgian Blue, Belmont Red, Bonsmara, Boran, Braford, Brahman, Brahmousin, British White, Buelingo, Canchim, Caracu, Chianina, Composite, Corriente, Devon, Drakensberger, Droughtmaster, Gloucester, Hays Converter, Hybridmaster, Lincoln Red, Luing, Marchigiana, Minature Herefor, Mongolian, Nelore, Nguni, Parthenais, Piemontese, Pinzgauer, Red Poll, Retinta, Romangnola, Sanganer, Santa Cruz, Santa Gertrudis, Senepol, Shetland, Simbrah, South Devon, Square Meaters, Sussex, Tarentaise, Tuli, Wagyu, Watusi, Welsh Black, Whitebred Shorthorn</span><br />
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For links to the list above please go to <i><u> <a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef">http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef</a></u></i><br />
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Beef cows are raised primarily for the purpose of meat for human consumption. Females are kept on farms to produce calves, and often it is the male calves and lower performing female calves that are sent to be made into beef.<br />
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Beef cows are not usually used for milk and once their calves are weaned they dry up, usually only producing milk for 6-8 months out of the year, less than the ten months of the dairy cow. If you wanted to milk a beef cow you could, however, they have generally smaller udders because they are not bred as much for udder structure and milk production as the dairy cows are. <br />
On our farm we have to milk our cows sometimes when a calf is sick and can't eat on its own. When this is the case, we do our milking by hand and then tube feed the baby calf to make sure that it is getting the right amount of nutrients to try and nurse it back to health.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4shEle6rP07Myjz7HDlxGM6667q0NzJfO-kgE_cVOmXYfo-IUtg9wTrhmJl1HAUOQg3PJrbDgbQ9UG5WxoMWBKL7d2ck3PFKErQAwn7tr4bZ71o2i8dimE37e5R8Eea5FiWmm7dsSP8yx/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4shEle6rP07Myjz7HDlxGM6667q0NzJfO-kgE_cVOmXYfo-IUtg9wTrhmJl1HAUOQg3PJrbDgbQ9UG5WxoMWBKL7d2ck3PFKErQAwn7tr4bZ71o2i8dimE37e5R8Eea5FiWmm7dsSP8yx/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out some Beef milk, right from the cow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The "Dairy" Side</i></span></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/milk_cow_looking_md_wht.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Domesticated cows are called bovines or cattle. Great Blue Marble on the Farm features farm animal images, farm animal animation, farm animal cartoons, farm animal facts, and farm animal sounds." border="0" src="http://www.greatbluemarble.com/_borders/milk_cow_looking_md_wht.gif" /></a></div>In the "Dairy" category, there are 11 breeds that are most commonly found in North America, with approximately 40 common breeds across the world. I wanted to know just what the breeds were like, so I did some research! Below I have included pictures of all of the common dairy cattle in North America, as well as a link. This link will take you to a site which has pictures, news, information and history about each specific breed. If you want to learn more about one of the breeds just click the name of the breed below the picture and it will take you to that breeds information!<br />
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> In Canada, the Holestein breed is the most common breed, with over 90% of dairy cattle being Holstein</div></div></div><div>Common to North America</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVfsB-wzGDlkZPZXtSjimVxuPZE2gS8-YheI7yt6QXJC3VyL4GJnxtNZlqo7uIXumXajfWH0gjceNEpyyKrtHjqMg2nauK8pJOcdeAw5lHCqeG1BMEkIKCYo7dlkTw36AIR-RgdwoGct9/s1600/dairy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVfsB-wzGDlkZPZXtSjimVxuPZE2gS8-YheI7yt6QXJC3VyL4GJnxtNZlqo7uIXumXajfWH0gjceNEpyyKrtHjqMg2nauK8pJOcdeAw5lHCqeG1BMEkIKCYo7dlkTw36AIR-RgdwoGct9/s640/dairy1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/22/holstein">Holstein</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/19/ayrshire">Aryshire</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/32/canadienne">Canadienne</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/23/jersey">Jersey</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div> </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVQotpfuY-NsSxKDUhVsRkg9UeHgYaIb6X8SgmRNtqJHgi3SszIjndMv2P22Ed5WXeaXusPI0QUK7PV39hWG6P4BZ7LM9hmMDhup59gJ1O_apgjiwyueRF2bny7s_Q8q4BdFlmrcWKb8O/s1600/Dairy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVQotpfuY-NsSxKDUhVsRkg9UeHgYaIb6X8SgmRNtqJHgi3SszIjndMv2P22Ed5WXeaXusPI0QUK7PV39hWG6P4BZ7LM9hmMDhup59gJ1O_apgjiwyueRF2bny7s_Q8q4BdFlmrcWKb8O/s640/Dairy2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/33/dutch-belted">Dutch Belted</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/34/kerry">Kerry</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/31/brown-swiss">Brown Swiss</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/21/guernsey">Guernsey</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmDLoNlvYnRyh7MH5AdN3cTehqgzAmZ9rcAIWkG3KPzDU3wkc28QWdxTM3D9PJzZcojdRkBGUpR-AV9qQUjTC5lFsBMFrY8f7PpBzYtG6g71IrVaXAsSDHocLqz-6gpsFSMuUJEZRX9xa/s1600/Dairy31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmDLoNlvYnRyh7MH5AdN3cTehqgzAmZ9rcAIWkG3KPzDU3wkc28QWdxTM3D9PJzZcojdRkBGUpR-AV9qQUjTC5lFsBMFrY8f7PpBzYtG6g71IrVaXAsSDHocLqz-6gpsFSMuUJEZRX9xa/s400/Dairy31.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/35/milking-devon">Milking Devon</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/36/dairy-shorthorn">Dairy Shorthorn</a> <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/37/norwegian-red">Norwegian Red</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Other breeds of Dairy cows: <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/113/busa">Busa</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/101/estonian-red">Estonian Red</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/24/friesian">Friesian</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/73/girolando">Girolando</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/110/illawarra">Illawarra</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/107/irish-moiled">Irish Moiled</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/105/lineback">Lineback</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/111/meuse-rhine-issel">Meuse Rhine Issel</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/27/montbliarde">Montbéliarde</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/68/normande">Normande</a>, <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/104/randall">Randall</a>, and <a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy/96/sahiwal">Sahiwal</a><br />
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Typically, when one thinks of a dairy cow, we get the image of a skinny black and white cow, with a large udder and a well defined topline (spine), well this is what image comes to my mind at least! In reality, there are actually a diversity of color and shape of dairy cows, all with the same quality of being able to produce large amounts of good quality milk. <br />
Dairy cows are not usually used for meat because they are generally much skinnier than beef cows, lacking the muscling, fat and finish that you see on most beef cows. A good beef cow is one that is well conditioned (quite fat), and a good dairy cow is usually one that is quite slender, not much fat on their body.<br />
On the average North American Dairy farm, the cows are milked twice daily, with roughly 12 hours of rest time in between. This means that Dairy farmers are getting up anywhere from 4-6 AM to milk the cows, so that they can finish them that night between 4 and 6! That's early! If the cows are not milked within the 12 hours, their udders often get too full and they can start to become uncomfortable for the cow. If you stop milking a cow completely, she will dry up and will not produce milk anymore until she has another calf. After having a calf, the cows are usually milked for 10 months before they are dried up and about to calve again. The cows are always bred at different times so that they calve on different days all year round. <br />
A good friend of mine has a dairy farm and her family always has baby calves running around. They have their operation set up so that they are always milking roughy 200 cows, with about 30-40 dry cows that are about to calve. This way they are always milking the same amount. On their farm they artificially inseminate all of their cattle (meaning they don't use a bull to breed the cows, they inject the sperm on their own). This allows them to choose what day the cows are bred and gives them an idea of the exact day that each cow will calve. Lucky for me, they live close to our farm and were able to AI my little Charolais heifer for me this year, hopefully they used the right straw of semen and I won't be having a tiny Holstein showing up next spring!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>So what about the babies!</i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Wty6rnC9PoJsNjwUWZo9MEzCqmflObFa5VfiWzHWBkoeqAUy6DFiE-0_Rm3FKy4G8hUvNblxmWDislhq_6QIcEx7KrGgd9GpajbFomVFQpA1MHldfHVKyeFHmW26wk0YEYi57QrG-A0/s1600/first_calf_heifer_nursing_bay_snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Wty6rnC9PoJsNjwUWZo9MEzCqmflObFa5VfiWzHWBkoeqAUy6DFiE-0_Rm3FKy4G8hUvNblxmWDislhq_6QIcEx7KrGgd9GpajbFomVFQpA1MHldfHVKyeFHmW26wk0YEYi57QrG-A0/s320/first_calf_heifer_nursing_bay_snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On a beef farm the calves are kept on their mama's until they are weaned at roughly 6-8 months. This means that the babies rely on their mamas for milk for every meal. </div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lW4umT7oMGdiAaxH05xQR8zDyEY344RCZY-UW9UOs4oix2e5vS1zoRt2hbQhpzIvdoIMnjGu07jpEBdon8FMQaOTOnAs1ZRVPoiWbZ64rfAmOpmDXtlXT0CMK-m87jN8C77Zf7DOmvNc/s1600/3_Calf+drinking+milk_Sept.+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lW4umT7oMGdiAaxH05xQR8zDyEY344RCZY-UW9UOs4oix2e5vS1zoRt2hbQhpzIvdoIMnjGu07jpEBdon8FMQaOTOnAs1ZRVPoiWbZ64rfAmOpmDXtlXT0CMK-m87jN8C77Zf7DOmvNc/s320/3_Calf+drinking+milk_Sept.+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a>In comparison, on a dairy farm, the calves do not spend their lives relying on their moms. Dairy calves are taken away from their moms shortly after birth and rely on the farmer to feed them. The farmers use the milk that they milk from the dairy cows, so the calves are still getting mother cow's milk, they are just not getting it directly from the cow herself. Up to two or three months old the babies are kept in individual little houses where they are given special attention, personal milk and food. When they are a bit older they are moved to group pens, where they are still given milk in troughs, just not individually anymore.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/syTUwM8-B8M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wcfarmfriends.com/clients/1579/91682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dairy calves drinking bottles.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.wcfarmfriends.com/clients/1579/91682.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>If you have questions on dairy cattle, check out this link, it has a bunch of questions with answers, from where the milk goes to the age of cows, all things that take place on a dairy farm are covered in these answers so check it out! I learned a great deal even though I knew a fair amount of knowledge about dairy farms! <i><u> <a href="http://www.klausmeyerdairyfarms.com/assets/cow_questions.pdf">Dairy Farm Questions Answered</a></u></i><br />
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References<br />
<a href="http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef"><i>http://www.thebeefsite.com/breeds/beef</i></a><br />
<a href="http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy"><i>http://www.thedairysite.com/breeds/dairy</i></a><br />
<a href="http://139.78.104.1/breeds/cattle/"><i>http://139.78.104.1/breeds/cattle/</i></a><br />
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Have a great week everyone!!</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-89433244565616863412011-05-20T22:11:00.001-06:002011-06-30T00:48:06.677-06:00The Beef On Canadian Cattle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Did you know ...</span><br />
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<div><ul><a href="http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/68000/Canadian-Cow--68132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/68000/Canadian-Cow--68132.jpg" width="320" /></span></a>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as of July 1, 2010 there were <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">12.57 million</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">beef cattle in Canada</span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">53% (26,500)</span> of Alberta producers have beef cattle</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta cattle and calf numbers – <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">5.5 million head (40% of Canadian total)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Canada cattle and calves – <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">14 million head</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta has <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">1.95 million breeding beef cows and heifers</span> (39% of Canadian total)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta feeds over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">2.18 million cattle</span> each year with total annual beef production of over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">773,000 tonnes</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta averages <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">189 beef cattle per farm</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta has<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">21,095,393 hectares</span> of farmland - </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">31%</span> </span>of all Alberta farmland is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">natural land</span> for pasture</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">12%</span> of all Alberta farmland is tame or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">seeded pasture</span> land</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta federal and provincial inspected plants<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">processed 2.4 million head of cattle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"> </span>or roughly 71% of the Canadian total in 2009<img height="189" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SnOVzMmH1gg/TDDh6cwy7KI/AAAAAAAAAB0/xc15JsogIX0/s640/albertabeef.jpg" width="640" /></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta Cattle Industry Statistics - As found by the Alberta Beef Producers</span></div></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In 2009 there were approx. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">49,500 farms in Alberta</span></span></li>
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">53% had cattle</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">of the 53%, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">41.5% were beef cattle farms</span></span></li>
</ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">beef cattle provide <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">34% of Alberta total farm income</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">benefits the economy by over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">$11.6 billion</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Alberta exports of beef and cattle are valued at approx. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">$1.4 billion annually</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in 2009 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">beef was the largest meat export at 70%</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">in 2009 Alberta shipped <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">236,000 tonnes of beef, $708 million to the USA</span></span></li>
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">live cattle exports at $465 million</span></li>
</ul></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more Canadian beef info check out these links - </span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cattle.ca/">Canadian Cattlemen's Association</a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cbef.com/">Canada Beef Export Federation </a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.albertabeef.org/">Alberta Beef Producers</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.westernfeedlots.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Western Feedlots</span></a></li>
</ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Check out this link for a few videos! <a href="http://albertabeef.org/consumers/education-programs-/explore-a-world-of-beef/?t=12735294147176">Explore Beef</a> with the help of the Alberta Beef Producers!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have a safe long weekend everyone! I will be at work, the entire weekend, please think of me! :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sam</span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-47998161690351383952011-05-17T23:27:00.000-06:002011-05-25T18:47:56.052-06:00All Things Agriculture! - Feedlot on the SpotHi everybody!<br />
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So a couple of ladies asked me about feedlots, and just what was up with them! So I did a blog on it! Check out my page "All Things Agriculture" the article is towards the bottom, Topic 2 is the heading! I tried to put as much information as I could about feedlots, with links, pictures, and a story from a vegan who took a trip to a feedlot, all on the page! Unfortunately, quite often the media portrays things in agriculture in a negative way. Feedlots and slaughter plants are probably the hardest hit! This is why it is so important for consumers to hear the truth and to truly know where their beef is coming from and how it is handled. <br />
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I encourage you to check out the page and leave me some feedback. If you want more information I can try to help you out! Also, check out this link, <a href="http://www.westernfeedlots.com/">Western Feedlots</a>, this feedlot is located in Alberta. I had the opportunity to take a tour of the High River portion of the feedlots, and I was so impressed by the care and the condition of the cattle and the facilities. Check it out, it is well worth your time!<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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SamSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3728946493603547233.post-90450177790775824752011-05-16T11:46:00.001-06:002011-06-30T00:24:32.831-06:00All Dogs Go To Heaven<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you have ever lost a pet before, I am sure you have had this hope for the pet. Last week, our farm's sweet old German Shepard passed away. While at Lacrosse practice, one of the girls said to me "don't worry, all dogs go to heaven", and this sparked an idea for me. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ayASFdr3cr5CqceQ8Z57QD5G9i9SiliHXvPm-bmO1O4q1FwhCsxEkRnYrOkyttFgPeT5DdP9GKV20Eb85TCUlmWIu5JUIimzFFDlGRKK7m9vUikOOkZQVWFAJItjthFLLIoslOQGwyAH/s1600/Dutchie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ayASFdr3cr5CqceQ8Z57QD5G9i9SiliHXvPm-bmO1O4q1FwhCsxEkRnYrOkyttFgPeT5DdP9GKV20Eb85TCUlmWIu5JUIimzFFDlGRKK7m9vUikOOkZQVWFAJItjthFLLIoslOQGwyAH/s400/Dutchie.jpg" width="400" /></span></b></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dutch was the pet, a tan German Shepard with the sweetest personality and disposition. My grandparents brought Dutch home 11 years ago, when she was already a year old. That made Dutch 77 years old, in human years, she lived a good life.</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img src="http://www.purina.co.nz/NR/rdonlyres/19C1BACB-7F45-4DC8-9010-0F4203B0DC2B/140113/dogage.gif" /></span></b><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Usually people multiply the dog years by seven to figure out how old the dog is in human years. This can be deceiving however, because the actual age of a dog in human years depends on the breed and the size of the dog. Usually, larger breeds live shorter lives and mature more quickly, usually considered senior by the time they reach five. Medium sized dogs are senior around age 7, and little dogs live the longest, usually around 10 years old before they reach senior.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For a German Shepard, Dutch was a pretty good age when she passed away. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I decided to do a little research on the German Shepard to learn a little bit about Dutch, as well as our other Shepard Dixie.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpLQyBjR-mNiyLZZujNU3veDcCyBD6Dxw-CuKKYm2x4ReasrHbVbNDcYI_rAMyJ-SkBqSRj9Nef5BIOs4LNO1YZOFWrFkLSfcZjWJlCnVftOoJ8yQqYe5kEOPlBWLKSFIqimiJPHB7iRE/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpLQyBjR-mNiyLZZujNU3veDcCyBD6Dxw-CuKKYm2x4ReasrHbVbNDcYI_rAMyJ-SkBqSRj9Nef5BIOs4LNO1YZOFWrFkLSfcZjWJlCnVftOoJ8yQqYe5kEOPlBWLKSFIqimiJPHB7iRE/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Dixie taking a snooze on bale, keeping warm off of the cold ground</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">German Shepards are often used as working dogs, and are usually the choice of dog for the police force. They are courageous, keen, alert and fearless; as well, they are cheerful, obedient and eager to learn. They are dogs who have a confidence, are serious, and clever. To their human pack they are faithful and brave, they will not think twice about giving their lives for their humans. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On our farm Dutch gave us an example of just how faithful the German Shepard are to their humans. A couple of years ago my Grandma fell outside of her house and it took her a little while to get up. While she was lying on the ground, Dutch never left her side, Grandma said she was licking her face, probably trying to comfort her. Dutch was Grandma's dog, and she loved Grandma more than anyone. Dixie also loves Grandma, and just the other day she jumped up, without putting her paws on Grandma, and kissed her on the cheek. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I remember once when I was young, I got stuck in the mud out in the field behind our house and our previous German Shepard stayed with me until help came. Another time when I was younger I had buried myself in a snow bank, and although I wasn't stuck, my German Shepard could see my feet moving in the snow pile and she dug furiously to get me out, ruining my igloo in the making. Well, at least she was looking out for me.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dutch has blessed our family with two batches of puppies. When I say blessed, I mean surprised. My father and grandfather would not have considered the puppies a blessing, they more or less considered them a nuisance. In her first batch she had four puppies, but one of them died. There was a tiny black one with a white stripe down it's belly, called Flash. And two tan ones with black noses and paws called Rollie and Copper. Lucky for me, my parents decided to let me keep Copper, the little tan female, but I had to give the other puppies away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWZhgN3I4RL3sAbVpHDZGmxaes6hOLfdYKqvUaOoCaOObKo6WgqHDIuHaDH6CWDMGlXWp9pDpWZbn9uuQyDj_fHpOR4DrdZIs8wEU-lHt2iqKdhtFn5QGU-vVEBK7xOUs-HPPPp-XZEQ8/s1600/Blackberry+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWZhgN3I4RL3sAbVpHDZGmxaes6hOLfdYKqvUaOoCaOObKo6WgqHDIuHaDH6CWDMGlXWp9pDpWZbn9uuQyDj_fHpOR4DrdZIs8wEU-lHt2iqKdhtFn5QGU-vVEBK7xOUs-HPPPp-XZEQ8/s320/Blackberry+012.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unfortunately, we live by the highway, and one afternoon a semi truck took Copper from us. Thankfully, all dogs go to Heaven.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, we got a Border Collie, Lady, to keep Dutch company. When Lady turned two, Dutch surprised us with another batch of puppies, apparently the neighbor dogs really liked coming to visit our farm. This time there were four puppies, two passed away, and we were left with two porkie little puppies, Diesel and Dixie. Diesel and Dixie had the pure markings of German Shepards, both black bodied, Diesel with a white and gray mix of paws, face, and underbody, and Dixie with tan markings on her face, paws and under body. I worked my magic and convinced my family that we should keep Dixie. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMOzaaSfSJdYQ1Za0rCZFzfhQvI9NKwGQzC7mZU7l6AEVYzuUZ7xOm5yqq2zNLdpGrnwDfc6LLOfRjongiYHZQEc6ol1MhfBMiCQ8LMwfswndq6uyLeWkjYdeBWsYgTJjy8kg5SLoykKb/s1600/Moms+cam+001s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMOzaaSfSJdYQ1Za0rCZFzfhQvI9NKwGQzC7mZU7l6AEVYzuUZ7xOm5yqq2zNLdpGrnwDfc6LLOfRjongiYHZQEc6ol1MhfBMiCQ8LMwfswndq6uyLeWkjYdeBWsYgTJjy8kg5SLoykKb/s320/Moms+cam+001s.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Dutch and Dixie having some family time</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dixie loved being with her mommy, and some mornings if we let Dixie out of her kennel before untying Dutch, Dixie would push her way into the dog house with Dutch. Dutch, Dixie, and Lady spent every day together, exploring the pastures, and partaking in their favorite activity of chasing the squirrel who always mocks them from high in the tree. <b> </b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5n2BmcjJFAFp0QekZZnq6eIYVAt7jqdxciNdU8Fwdx2R7lZmFr27veIeWW5Elb-63F1kyLSmpIFlmg9GR_CqcHqcJ7ovZ4f-llBTjovimDcvzS20Rp8PFr-xQ9-S4fAA5D-9wORWmYSW/s1600/IMG_3606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5n2BmcjJFAFp0QekZZnq6eIYVAt7jqdxciNdU8Fwdx2R7lZmFr27veIeWW5Elb-63F1kyLSmpIFlmg9GR_CqcHqcJ7ovZ4f-llBTjovimDcvzS20Rp8PFr-xQ9-S4fAA5D-9wORWmYSW/s320/IMG_3606.JPG" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Dixie</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">German Shepards love to be close to their families, and they need their people, they don't like to be isolated or left alone. This trait is very evident in my German Shepard Dixie. Dixie is the dog who is always smiling, always loving. Since she was a puppy she has been very eager for attention and affection, from me especially. My grandpa always says that Dixie is my dog, and I really started believing this when I moved away for school. When I would come home on the weekends, Dixie would start to cry the minute she saw my car drive in. When I opened my car door she would be right there and try to jump in onto my lap. She would cry and shake her tail so hard that she would knock herself off balance. Then, when it was time for me to leave again, she would sit outside of my car, and watch as I drove away, only to start the entire process over the next time I was home. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUJS2fLKAD4SQAv8vzTpsPuhODNIexc6KddgjiTqa6A-xVLmAlbfcGBMAl_b7cNvf6k7wlrnlYsB53BvCAgoahe-L8Q62VfpC5TbfqImveGLjxJnpFVEmyO7-1ws-WZ20hH9WV2pVJHDo/s1600/Blackberry+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUJS2fLKAD4SQAv8vzTpsPuhODNIexc6KddgjiTqa6A-xVLmAlbfcGBMAl_b7cNvf6k7wlrnlYsB53BvCAgoahe-L8Q62VfpC5TbfqImveGLjxJnpFVEmyO7-1ws-WZ20hH9WV2pVJHDo/s320/Blackberry+001.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>This is how Dixie sits whenever I leave home</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">German Shepards come with health problems, and these were evident in Dutch as she started to get older. Just this past winter, I could start noticing the stiffness in her hips when she was running with the other dogs. German Shepards can also have blood disorders, digestive problems, bloat, epilepsy, chronic eczema, dwarfism and flea allergies. When I think about all of the things that could have been wrong with Dutch, I am very grateful for the healthy, and fairly long life that she lived! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3oB08MOB2eSn6IfyJDxsdpjbKevBUzqQR7gnoEiyZqHde8o_inWYwp8Pq88mpqcy45h6de5qPRO6yx-9v42yepRIJn3EiC3PiTF_w36gT07N5iZBHbHne7VK83u5vgh3WgWPTgXramsl/s1600/Blackberry+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3oB08MOB2eSn6IfyJDxsdpjbKevBUzqQR7gnoEiyZqHde8o_inWYwp8Pq88mpqcy45h6de5qPRO6yx-9v42yepRIJn3EiC3PiTF_w36gT07N5iZBHbHne7VK83u5vgh3WgWPTgXramsl/s320/Blackberry+001.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Dixie is always smiling</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope that this article has informed you a bit about the German Shepard. If you are interested in learning about your dog to the same depth that I was able to learn about mine, check out this link <a href="http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;">Dog Information</span></a>. All you have to do is go to the site and choose your dogs breed, and you can research all about them!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good luck researching and happy Monday! </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 22px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><3 Sam</span></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09612915958358058760noreply@blogger.com8