New Bed for Cabbages, Roquefort, Straying calves

Just the usual morning run through the herds. Another patch of luscious green grass for the cows and calves next door. The seven on the river are fine, no more births. Across the river the weaners went into a new paddock and were topped up with silage while their mothers received more silage but had produced no more babies.

Up on the hill one of the newest babies was on the wrong side of the fence right on the crest of the hill while it's mother was down the bottom of the hill. We both went up in the farm's 4WD, tackled the little heifer, tied its back legs and nursed it in the passenger seat for a trip down the hill. Mum was pleased to see it and it was pleased to see mum and thirsty. A bit disappointing that mum showed no signs of distress despite being separated for almost 24 hours. Will need to keep on eye on this pair.


Today's main job was to chop up a patch of green manure and dig it in to make a rich bed for some Cabbage seedlings that had been growing out. Since there had a freshly matured compost available, two barrow loads of it went into the bed as well. This bed has no netting over it and up went a temporary barrier against any rogue poultry.

Green Manure Crop

 

Green Manure all Chopped

The Roquefort in progress, now dry salted needed its holes punched. Some were done top to bottom and some rounds were done from side to side. The recommendation is that cheeses need to be stored on their sides. This is so the holes can have air circulating through them to promote blue mould growth. The experiment here is to punch holes from side to side enabling the cheeses to be stored flat side down which is easier on these small rounds. he guidelines also have the cheeses wrapped at this stage to finish maturing. Once stacked the tray is stored in a plastic bag for maturation in the cheese fridge. The stainless steel trays were very cheap and obviously of poor quality as rust patches have formed.

Roquefort Pierced and Wrapped

Over the river the paddock that had just been emptied of calves was harrowed and being late afternoon a final check of the herd showed a freshly born calf. So that's 3 out of 25 after 2 weeks into the 9 week birthing period. A slow start.

Being Friday its Fish and Chips. Finally some of our potatoes are ready and we have enjoy fresh potato chips - delicious.