At last winter seems to be coming to an end and although we’ve taken another dip into mini temperatures here at Teasses, you can’t disagree that spring is just around the corner. Nothing says that more loudly than the arrival of our new calves at the farm. First five down and another 135 expectant mothers to go.
On the farm it is an important job to get underway after the cattle have overwintered in the sheds. Clipping the cattle to prepare them for market tidies their coats and emphasises their condition to the auctioneer and potential buyers. These organic cows are the latest batch to be sent to market and command a good price on the day, despite the mucky work to get them there.
Also picture in the relative splendour of the Bull shed, are two of our larger specimens. Both have been bred in the Teasses herd and along with their four other male companions make up the paternal lineage of our high quality, closed breeding stock.
The last few bright days of Autumn signal that it is time to gradually move the cattle indoors where they can be fed-up and cared for undercover for the next few months. This year’s beef cattle are already indoors being fed-up before heading to market. The summer dryness added an additional challenge to this year’s herd as the limited number of rainy days and the high temperatures restricted the growth of grass in the pastures. So to ensure our cattle are at there best for the market, we have moved them in to the sheds and are giving them top quality feed and silage cut from our own fields.
Top quality organic beef has to be given that extra touch of care to ensure the animals are in maximum condition. This applies to our heifers too. We need to care for them just as carefully as their offspring so that they go on to have healthy calves in the spring.
