Cattle Starter

Author: Sara Wood

  • Christmas Gifts for the Cattle Farmer: Clothes, Books, Tools and More!

    In our house, Christmas gifts are usually practical items, items to help with life on the cattle farm. Such gifts, though, are much appreciated and usually, requested by the gift receiver! ha!!

    Gloves, boots, overall bibs, pants, socks, coats….. Clothing items are a popular gift idea for both of us. In fact, just a few days ago, I let Jer know that I want a bunch of women’s Smart Wool socks for Christmas. I have finally worn down the last of my pairs, from YEARS ago. I have not purchased new wool socks since before our oldest son was born. He will be 7 in February. That’s a testament to how well Smart Wool socks hold up to everyday use and wash! He, in return, requested more of his favorite light-weight wool socks but come to find out they were discontinued. Of course. Seems to be the pattern for us, we find something we love and then the product is discontinued.

    Anyways, that conversation with Jer, plus the fact that Christmas is less than a month away (yes, it is getting close!), made me think that it would be fun to put up a post with some recommendations for clothing gifts for yourself or the cattle farmer in your life, as well as non-clothing, more unique gifts that you or the cattle farmer in your life has been pining for! (castration bander, anyone?!). I have provided direct Amazon links to each of the recommended items. Happy Shopping!

    Clothes

    INSULATED BIB OVERALLS

    Insulated Bib Overalls for Men – Carhartt Men’s Yukon Arctic Quilt Lined Zip to Waist Bib Overalls

    Insulated Bib Overalls for Women – Carhartt Women’s Zeeland Sandstone Bib Overall AND CARHARTT WOMEN’S WEATHERED DUCK WILDWOOD BIB OVERALLS .

    (See my post on: Staying Warm in the Winter on a Cattle Farm: Carhartt Women’s Insulated Bib Overalls for a more detailed review)

    GLOVES

    Men’s RefrigiWear Fleece Lined Thinsulate Insulated Ragg Wool Gloves (Jer really likes these gloves. So much, in fact, that I bought him 4 pairs last year for his birthday. I was afraid they would stop making them!)

    TrailHeads Power Stretch Convertible Mittens – Women’s Fingerless Gloves

    I usually put on very thin base layer gloves first and then put these fingerless glove mittens on over. I spend a lot of time in the winter adjusting insulators and rods, working with twine, and using my leatherman. As such, this fingerless glove/mitten combo fits the bill in allowing me to have quick access to my fingers or close them up when I am not actively using them. They are a thinner glove but do a very good job at keeping your hands warm during an average cold winter day in Northern Maine. Now, when the windchill is -30 degrees F and the wind is howling, you may need something more substantial. Hard to keep the hands warm in conditions like that. For the most part, though, I am able to function just fine with these, paired with a thinner base glove. Haven’t lost a finger yet to frostbite!

    HEAD Sensatec Touchscreen Ladies Digital Running Gloves

    I really like the snug fit of these gloves, as well as the touch pads on the thumb and finger. These gloves are great by themselves for brisk/mild cold fall or spring days where we live. In the heart of the winter, though, I pair them with the TrailHeads Power Stretch Convertible Mittens – Women’s Fingerless Gloves (as discussed above). Makes for a great, warm combo, that I can use most days of our 6-month long winters.

    TrailHeads Power Stretch Convertible Mittens – Men’s Fingerless Gloves.

    Winter Boots

    In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of Muck boots. We wear our Muck boots several times a day, every day during the winter. These boots are a critical part of our winter clothing ensemble on the farm and beyond the farm as well. Whether in the snow and/or ice, strapped into shoe shoes or with ice grippers, they get us where we need to go, with WARM and DRY FEET.

    I own both of the below pairs of Muck boots. The one’s specifically made for women, I call my fancier pair, as they are designed with women in mind. I wear those on the farm AND off the farm. They are a slighter lighter boot and more feminine looking, if that makes sense. More rounded in the toe and fitted. The men’s version is heavier and not as fitted. I use those solely for farm work. At the end of the day, both pairs keep my feet warm and dry and that’s all I need. Also, both types of boots have held up to having a 1200 pound cow briefly step on my toes. Great bonus!

    Muck Boot Arctic Sport Rubber High Performance Men’s Winter Boot (WITH SIZE OPTIONS FOR WOMEN AS WELL)

    Muck Boot Arctic Sport Ll Extreme Conditions Tall Rubber Women’s Winter Boot – (MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN)

    As mentioned above, our Muck boots pair up nicely with ice grippers – Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats – for walking on snow and ice. Nothing crazy complicated or super fancy but they get the job done and hold up well. Very reasonable price tag.

    Rain Boots

    Just as a good winter boot is important, so is a good, solid pair or two of rain boots. We get a good amount of rain throughout the spring, summer and fall months. Having good rain gear, that actually keeps you dry, is important.

    Check out the 2 rain boot options below. While technically labeled as “men’s” boots, they have sizes small enough for women. I especially LOVE the 12″ Steel Toe Work Boot. I have a pair in men’s size 6 and I wear a women’s shoe size 8-8.5. The steel toe feature certainly comes in handy when a 1200 pound cow steps on your toes.

    LaCrosse Men’s 12″ Insulated Pac Mid-Calf Boot

    LaCrosse Men’s Insulated Pac 12” Steel Toe Work Boot

    Rain Pants

    Jer surprised me one birthday with new rain pants. Frogg Toggs Pro Action Water-Resistant Rain Pants to be exact. I am not a big fan of rain pants with buttons and zippers around the waist. I prefer an elastic waist with no extra hardware around the mid-section. I prefer all pants to be like that! Keeping that in mind, he researched and found these Frogg Toggs rain pants, which I love!

    They have held up well and I have used them for a couple of years now. But with the reasonable price tag, I wouldn’t mind if I had to replace them each year.

    Women’s Frogg Toggs Pro Action Water-Resistant Rain Pant

    Socks

    A little pricey but well-worth the cost. I just threw away my last pair, purchased over 7 years ago, as the toe region finally met it’s demise.

    Smartwool Hiking Crew Socks –  Women’s Medium Cushioned Wool Performance Sock

    Winter Coats

    I have many winter coats that I rotate through during the winter, depending on the weather conditions. I really do like my old, brown Carhartt jacket. A classic for a reason. I have had it longer than I have known Jer. So, it is at least 13 years old! Last year, I ripped a hole in the front while trying to push a rod into a stubborn hay bale, using my body as a tool. Not the smartest move on my part but I am still wearing the jacket and will have it on rotation again this winter. Unfortunately, Carhartt stopped making that particular jacket but they do have several other options. Here are a few:

    Carhartt Women’s Weathered Duck Wildwood Jacket

    Carhartt Women’s Lined Sandstone Active Jacket WJ130

    Hats and Neck Warmers

    Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat

    Classic knit cap. I wish I had a dozen of them.

    Neck Warmer Thick Thermal Fleece Lined

    These fleece-lined neck warmers are a must have for those bitterly cold, snowy winter days. Great price!

    Castration Tools

    4-Pin Castrator Bander Forceps Pliers for Newborn Calves

    XL Castrating Bander (plier type) (for bulls 250-750lbs)

    Callicrate SMART Bander (for bulls 300 – 3,00lbs)

    Ear Tagging Supplies

    Eag Tag Gun – Ultra Tagger Plus

    Eag Tags

    Books

    Kick the Hay Habit: A Practical Guide to Year-Around Grazing

    Ranching Full-Time on Three Hours a Day: Real-World Validation of Holistic Systems for Stockmen

    No Risk Ranching: Custom Grazing on Leased Land

    The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love

    Grass-Fed Cattle: How to Produce and Market Natural Beef

    Salad Bar Beef

    I hope this post inspires you to find that perfect gift or two for the cattle farmer(s) in your life and some gift ideas for yourself as well!

    Thank you for reading!

  • Staying Warm in the Winter on a Cattle Farm: Carhartt Women’s Insulated Bib Overalls

    Today, I talking about staying warm on the farm during the winter and having a good pair of Carhartt Women’s Insulated Bib Overalls.

    If you have read any of our blog posts from November to May, you know that we live in an area of the country that for half of the year, it is very cold and very snowy.

    Winter 2018/2019. Those “mounds” are large, round hay bales, buried in the snow. It was a whopper of a winter.

    Dealing with the winter conditions here in Northern Maine is difficult enough, let alone when you are running a cattle operation.

    You have got to have the right winter gear. I tried for years to save money and use my spring/fall rain pants over jeans or sweats. Finally, I admitted that it just was not warm enough or efficient enough. I needed what my husband already had: winter bib overalls but for WOMEN.

    Now, for my husband, he spends a tremendous amount of time in the outdoors during the winter, for farm work, non-farm outdoor activities, and HIS FULL-TIME JOB, as a biologist that does lots of field work, year-round, especially in the winter months. Therefore, he has the Carhartt Men’s Yukon Arctic Quilt Lined Zip to Waist Bib Overalls, rated for extreme cold.

    If he isn’t in the house or one of his offices, he is outside in these overalls! He has been very pleased with quality of material, and how warm he stays, while still having the ability to move freely and comfortably.

    As for me, I was looking for anything that would be an upgrade from my NO-POCKETS, rain pains over jeans/sweats get-up. See, I need lots of pockets for all my winter goodies! (e.g., extra post insulators, wire, twine, LEATHERMAN (an absolute must-have tool for any farmer!), electric fence remote and fault finder, extra gloves, PHONE, and extra this and extra that, plus a healthy dollop of dirt, dried manure and hay! haha!) My coat pockets just weren’t getting it done anymore for me. A clothing upgrade was long over-due for this girl!

    So, in the fall of 2018, with winter looming, I went online and searched for “women’s carhartt insulated bib overalls.” I LOVE Carharttt. I have several Carhartt jackets. Carhartt knows how to make a tough and durable piece of clothing. Clothing that is high-quality, keeps you warm and comfortable (but not restricted or confined in movement), AND is made to LAST!

    After reading the reviews on Amazon, I determined that the Carhartt Women’s Zeeland Sandstone Bib Overall checked all the boxes on my checklist plus more! PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE UPDATE ON THIS REVIEW AT THE END OF THE POST.

    To break it down:

    • Bib overalls are 100% Cotton Sandstone Duck and Machine Washable. Insulated Quilted, nylon lining. These overalls are heavy-duty, NOT light-weight. Exactly what I was looking for. Light-weight material does not cut it when you are standing in a field, with -30 degree F windchill. .
    Quilted, nylon lining.
    • Front zipper, also with snap button closure at top and waist. The front zipper is a very smart design feature, especially if you are doing heavy layering under the overalls.
    Long, front zipper with 2 snap button closures.
    • Adjustable front elastic suspenders. Adding elastic to the suspenders is a real game-changer. Great feature for adjusting the suspenders on the-go!
    Elastic in the suspenders.
    • Multi-compartment bib pocket and interior zipper pocket great for holding items. I LOVE pockets.
    • Also, multiple utility pockets (the 2 front hip/leg pockets are DEEP. Lots of room to hold a cell phone, small tools, extra gloves, etc). I count 10 pockets in total on these bib overalls.
    Lots of pockets!
    • Wide legs with reinforced knees and Ankle-to-hip leg opening on both legs with heavy-duty side zippers and snap buttons. Also, the leg openings are adjustable with snap buttons, which is a neat feature. Comes in handy when wearing big winter boots.
    Ankle-to-hip leg openings.
    • Elastic waistband in the back makes for a nice fit in the mid-section and gives a more fitted, shapely feel and appearance that you simply aren’t going to find in pair of men’s overall bibs.
    Elastic waistband in the back.
    • Last but certainly not least, they with a very reasonable price tag, especially for such a high-quality product.

    Now, these bib overalls are not water resistant or waterproof, nor are they advertised as such. That was, and is fine. I needed something heavy-duty, with quality material that was not going to rip or tear at the first sign of trouble! We don’t get a lot of rain during the winter. We get snow and ice, with bitterly cold wind-chill, and with those kinds of weather conditions, having a pair of bib overalls that is 100% waterproof was not a priority for me. My priority was something that would keep me warm, with plenty of pockets, and that would not fall apart after 6 months of daily use. I wanted to be able to use these bib overalls for multiple winters. Despite them not being water-resistant, I did find that they repelled light rain/snow pretty well, all things considered. Even when the material did absorb water (from kneeling in snow adjusting wires, etc), I very rarely, if ever, got cold from it.

    If you are needing a 100% water-resistant/waterproof pair of overall bibs and you are working in conditions with lots of rain/water, then these probably will not work for you. But, if you are like me, and you work primary in snow and ice, with bitter windchill, I believe these will work very well for you. I personally feel that the price is very reasonable, and that this is one piece of winter clothing that you will GET your money’s worth out of.

    Winter 2018/2019 was my first winter with these bib overalls and they far exceeded my expectations. I love these overalls! From adjusting access to hay bales for our winter hay bale grazing systems, to hauling loads of firewood for our woodstove (or pulling the boys on the sled! We do have some fun in the winter!), these bib overalls kept me warm and comfortable. Many days this past winter the temperatures were in the -30’s F with windchill. My legs would have never guessed it, though!

    PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE UPDATE ON THIS REVIEW AT THE END OF THE POST.

    Be sure to check out the reviews and item description for yourself.

    The reviews are very useful in helping to decide which size to order.

    Carhartt Women’s Zeeland Sandstone Bib Overall

    UPDATE: Apparently, I am not the only one that loves these Carhartt Bib Overalls! They are in limited supply, in limited sizes apparently, as it seems it happens with all items that we really like! Sadly, it appears that Carhartt may be phasing this version out which too bad, because they are awesome.

    A good alternative would be the:

    CARHARTT WOMEN’S WEATHERED DUCK WILDWOOD BIB OVERALLS. These bib overalls feature many of the same features, fitted, elastic waistband in the back, quilted, insulated nylon lining, elastic in suspenders, front zipper with snaps, hip-to-ankle zippers with snaps and lots of pockets. The pockets are spread out in a different configuration in this version of the bib overalls. Also, the legs do not appear to be as wide as in the Zeeland Sandstone bib overalls but that is not a big deal. They still feature the very handy hip-to-ankle zipper openings, as well as what appear to be some reinforcement in the knees. Also, this version has added some very handy belt loops on the waist and a loop on the hip for a tool (e.g., hammer, etc). Great additions! Finally, the price is more expensive but also very reasonable. When I need a new pair of bib overalls and if the Zeeland Sandstone bib overalls are no longer available, I will be looking to order the CARHARTT WOMEN’S WEATHERED DUCK WILDWOOD BIB OVERALLS.

  • Observations from THE PASTURE: Week 5 – FINAL WEEK OF THE 2019 Calving Season

    Spider-man and Camouflage-man – Ultimate Protectors of the farm!

    Another calving season is in the books! Over the course of 31 days, our herd added 19 healthy newborn calves!

    Please be sure to check out week 1, week 2,  week 3, and week 4 of Observations from THE PASTURE – 2019 Calving Season

    Monday, May 27 – Sunday, June 2

    Monday, May 27th – Wednesday, May 29th – Nothing much to report these days. Checked the cattle, gave out mineral and supplements, and slopped through the mud and rain. Our lone pregnant cow continued to be very pregnant.

    Thursday, May 30th – Our calving season is finally complete! I discovered an adorable and newly born calf – calf #19 – during my first check of the morning. The 2019 calving season comes to a close, and we look onward to the 2019 BREEDING SEASON!

    Yay! Our final calf – calf #19 – of the 2019 Calving Season!
    Good job, mama!

    Final Thoughts

    This calving season was a good one. We did not have to assist in any births, (we usually have to pull at least one calf) and all 19 of our calves were born strong and healthy, and standing, nursing and walking around well within 1 hour of being born. Calving started on April 30th and ended on May 30th! While there was a week gap from the birth of calf #18 to our last calf – calf #19, we are still pleased with the tight span of births over a 31 day period.

    I have said it before and I will say it again –

    We cannot stress enough how important bull selection is to your operation. Selecting the right bull should be a top priority (and given very careful consideration to) when planning out your breeding season.

    With that being said, be sure to check out our next series on Observations from THE PASTURE: 2019 BREEDING SEASON. This will be the last breeding season for Nebula, our Red Angus bull, and the search will then start for our next herd bull for the 2020 Breeding Season.

    Thanks for reading!

    Best wishes for a safe and productive rest of spring and start to summer!

  • Observations from THE PASTURE: Week 4 – 2019 Calving Season

    Calving activity is winding down here on the farm. We had two baby calves born during week 4. We only have one calf left to be born! There is always such anticipation leading up to the calving season and then in a whirlwind (or so it seems), you have a farm full of baby calves. You wonder where those weeks of waiting went!

    Mama cleaning her baby.

    Although our calving season is almost complete, the farm is busy, busy, busy. Springtime is an incredibly busy time on the farm.  After such a long, cold winter, it is SO nice to be working outside, without the snow and ice.  Our spring has been a cold and rainy one so far, but we have still gotten started on some spring projects.  Right now, we are busy building a second woodshed, cutting down trees and chopping, hauling and stacking firewood.  We heat our home entirely with a wood-stove, so securing our winter’s worth of firewood is our #1 non-cattle related priority in the spring.

    We also plant a large vegetable garden every year.  We preserve our vegetables through canning or freezing methods as well as storing root vegetables, onions and potatoes in our root cellar. We are just starting to till our large garden patch, and we will be planting in the coming weeks.

    Please be sure to check out week 1, week 2 and week 3 of Observations from THE PASTURE – 2019 Calving Season.

    Monday, May 20 – Sunday, May 26

    Monday, May 20th – At this point in time, we are down to only three cows left to calve, with two of those being first-calf heifers.  As has been the case many times, I could see that we probably had a new baby calf upon entering the back pasture gate.  I was doing the first check of the morning and the entire herd was up and grazing with the exception of one cow, whom was laying down. I was pretty certain that the dark spot next to her was a baby.  I wasn’t sure yet which cow it was but I knew it was one of the first-calf heifers.  Sure enough, we had calf #17!  Mama and baby looked good.

    Calf #17

    First-calf heifer mama with baby calf #17

    Tuesday, May 21 – Wednesday, May 22 – No babies born during these days.  Lots of fun had by the calves!

    Mama cows and calves relaxing.

    Thursday, May 22 – The kids and I had early morning dentist appointments, so Jer did the check.  Sure enough, baby #18 from our last first-calf heifer!

    Friday, May 23 – Sunday May, 25 – Our sole pregnant cow is still holding on.  Hoping we get to meet our final calf – calf #19 – next week!

    and then there was one…..

    Be sure to check back next week for Observations from THE PASTURE – Week 5 – FINAL WEEK OF THE 2019 Calving Season.

  • Observations from THE PASTURE: Week 3 – 2019 Calving Season

    Happy Monday!

    The men of the farm, walking back home at day’s end.

    Welcome to the Week 3 post on our 2019 Calving Season.

    Please be sure to check out Week 1 and Week 2 of our 2019 Calving Season.

    Week of Monday, May 13th – Sunday, May 19th

    Monday, May 13th – Thursday, May 16th – Very quiet. No activity on the farm in terms of calves being born. Lots of calves playing in the field!

    Friday, May 17th – While doing an afternoon check with my youngest son, baby calf #14 came into the world. Immediately upon going through the gate to the back pasture, I could see a mama cow in labor. This cow’s tail was lifted and bent in that tell-tell sign of labor.

    Tail lifted high and slightly bent

    I have seen many baby calves born over the the last five calving seasons and the awe and wonder has never wavered with each birth. Each birth and new life is just as exciting as the previous. This particular birth was extra special as my youngest son was able to witness it with me. I quietly explained to him what was happening and why. As we watched the mama cow push out the calf, he was so amazed! My camera died on me during the delivery but here are a few pictures of calf #14 being born.

    Zoomed in on calf #14 entering the world!
    Head out!
    Almost all out!
    Calf #14 a few hours after being born.

    Saturday, May 19th – I was doing a check before supper and as was the case the previous day, I immediately knew we had another calf coming. This mama cow was way across the field but I could see 20 cows, standing and grazing, and one cow laying on her side and I could see a speck of white by her tail. I excitedly walked across the field. I discovered that this cow was one of our first-calf heifers. We have four this year and one had already given birth. This heifer already had her calf’s hooves pushed out but seemed to be a bit stalled.

    First-calf heifer laboring hard to push out her calf.

    First-calf heifers often labor longer and this one was no exception. In the end, though, she was able to deliver a beautiful baby calf – all on her own. She worked HARD. Calf #15! All four of us were able to witness this birth – a first on the farm! Jer and I have only been together for births that required us to pull the calf! It will be a neat memory to look back on, all four of us silently cheering on our first-calf heifer and pumping our arms in the air when calf #15 finally made his/her appearance AND was healthy!

    and we have a calf! Good job, first-time mama!

    Calf #15 standing!
    Calf #15 the day after been born.

    Sunday, May 19th – I had predicted the previous evening that one of our remaining mama cows would have a baby the next day, and I was proved correct during the morning check. Calf #16!

    Calf #16!

    This calf was already walking around like a champ with his/her mama and nursing like a pro.

    Taking a Sunday stroll with mama. Calf #16

    What a great start to our Sunday morning!

    Our calving season is winding down. and we only have a few more calves left to be born. So far, we have not had to assist with any births. We believe that this is mainly due to our calving-ease bull. He had already proven himself to be a sire of primarily smaller calves, that are easy to deliver. Proof of his reputation as a calving-ease bull is currently in our back field, in the form of 16 beautiful baby calves!


    On our farm, we want our baby calves to just slip-out, so to speak. As such, we cannot stress enough how important bull selection is to your operation. Selecting the right bull should be a top priority (and given very careful consideration to) when planning out your breeding season.

    Be sure to check back next week for Observations from THE PASTURE – Week 4 – 2019 Calving Season.