Grass Farming and Calving Season

And just like that, calving season has come and gone. Since the minute we brought the three pregnant cows onto the farm, we began waiting with anticipation and a little apprehension for the time they would have their calves. That’s the thing about this time on the farm - we’re doing so many things for the first time ever. We read and study and watch YouTube videos, but at the end of the day, the best teacher is the experience itself.

So what did we learn? Let nature do what it was created to do. That’s what we love about this style of agriculture and farming - it’s meant to let the animals, plants and the earth do what they were created to do.

As difficult as it was at times, we stepped back and simply watched these mama cows do their thing. They at least had done this before. All three of them have had several calves prior to this year.

We missed most of the labor for the first two cows. The first one we saw just as she delivered the calf and the second we showed up after the whole thing was over. But the last cow we were there as soon as labor started until she let out a loud “moo” and out came her baby calf.

I found myself in complete awe of the entire process. While Joe and I just experienced the birth of our own child not that long ago, it’s remarkable watching birth of any kind (as long as you have a stomach to see some of the side attractions that come along with it). These mama cows are giving birth one second and the next cleaning their babies off, nudging them to get nursing, and starting to wolf down that grass again.

While we’ve never calved before at all, there is something special about calving in the spring. Spring is such a representation of new growth and life. Everything takes off - greening up and growing like mad! And that certainly includes our grass.

When we set out to move to this pastureland and more sustainable style of farming, we accepted the fact that we were in essence becoming grass farmers. We let the animals do their thing; we manage the grass. It’s our job to make sure it’s producing a great and high-quality selection. It helps the steers grow and put on the fat, or marbling, that people have come to expect of their meat. It helps the cows get the energy and nutrients they need while pregnant and nursing.

Grass in the spring is like candy. It’s sweet and tender and the cattle go crazy for it! When we get ready to move them to a new section of the pasture, you can see their anticipation. Once they’re in, you can’t see heads anymore. They’re in there, heads down and chomping. Even in just a few short weeks, the baby calves are already starting to sample the grass in addition to mama’s milk.

I’ve heard others compare pasture to a salad bar - you don’t have to choose, you can get all your favorites. A little of this, a little of that. Who doesn’t love salad bar?! Well these cattle certainly do. So our job heading into the summer is to continue researching and see what other grasses and clovers we can add to the pasture to make it even better. What do they like? What do they need?

Just call us grass farmers.