beef going, going... get it before it's gone

Beef: $3.50 per pound plus processing (varies by cut and processor) One steer sold, another still available, sold by 1/2 or quarter (or join others to get 2 x 1/8, etc.), taking to processor 7/25 and aging at least 2 weeks. The available steer is now 18 months and probably close to 1000 lbs for the whole animal (see Alan carrying it when it was younger). Won't know the exact current weight until the butcher weighs it...

We are trying a new Processor: Mattieson's - call for cut options and costs after confirmation of availability (563)659-8409. example: October 20, 2011 - Como Processing 531 lb. steer (132.75 lbs. per ¼ @ $3.50/lb) bill emailed 11/17/11 ¼ $465 to farmer + processing ranged $110-$160 depending on cuts requested

Spring Goats

The last of the Spring kids have been born. Sad to say we lost a few. In the picture you can see last spring's group first with the green grass. (The plants are just starting to grow, but I needed to see green so I found an old picture to add.) The top two are the kids born last year. Gertrude is the tan one with the white belt. Splosh has the white face & body with black ears and Shirley has the white wiggle on her face. There are a few others that were born before the herd joined our farm last year, but I'm featuring the ones born here. Hansel & Gretel are the next two going clockwise. Then Christian. The bottom 2 photos show the birth of Sun. His littermates were Uniqua and Anders. Frostie is on the bottom left. Mrs. Black is the nanny in the middle who is raising Frostie and Christian. You can see Saddle nibbling on her ear, sad to say Saddle didn't make it. So it seems we have added 9 goats (5 girls, 4 boys) since we started... and the first year has hardly begun.

We tried milking Mrs Black and the other two goats that had delivered at the same time. She had the most milk of the three and took to nursing the little ones on her own. We will let the other females run with the buck to see if late summer brings more kidding.

This year's boys have all been fixed... we don't want any unexpected early kids next winter. Last year's boys will have to be sold or go to the butcher. Any orders?