Sunday, August 3, 2008

Movin' Cows



On our farm, we use a method called Managed Intensive Grazing (MIG). This is also known as rotational grazing.

Basically, this means that we rotate our cows daily and sometimes multiple times daily through small paddocks of pasture. This ensures them the freshest grass, increases the amount of cows we can run on the farm, allows our forage to rest, and creates an optimum environment for healthy cows.

I really didn't intend to get into all of that. That is just a summary of why we do what we do. I'm sure that my brilliant husband has described this more in depth than I ever could on his blog. While we're on the subject of farmer Jason- HE'S BACK! I just wanted to throw that out there in case you have given up on him. His blog is being updated with stories of poo, cotton trailers, and shoots.

But, in the mean time, here is what it looks like when we move our cows. We get asked this a lot since its typically not the norm.

How do we move your cows?

I took my camera along last week while we were moving cows and snapped some for our website.

Speaking of website- Yonder Way Farm's website is almost complete! I'm thrilled to tell you that it will be making its debut sometime this week. I have to do a few finishing touches and it will be up and running. I seriously can't wait for you to see it. It is unlike any other farm website that we've seen. I think this is fitting since we aren't your typical farm.

In the meantime, here are some photos of Jason and his little helper moving the cows.

Here they are lining up as we drive out in the farm buggy.

They follow us as we walk along the fence line.

#1 is our lead cow. You can see him going through the gate first. We are thankful for our lead cow! He assumes the lead every single time and all of the cows follow him.

By this time, they are practically running to get to the 'good stuff'.

You can see in this photo the grass they just got off of on the left verses the new paddock on the right.

7 comments:

Sarah Shalley said...

super cool. can't wait to see the site. so excited for ya'll.

Anonymous said...

Nice pictures:)

Garratts said...

I am so excited to see the website.

We are really excited to see ya'll too. It has been way too long!

Jessica said...

Lynds, please give your friend my name and info. I'd love to help get her connected here in Austin. I love my church, so please let me know if I can do anything to help.

I talked about the kramers this week. I think I've told you before that the ministry I work for has a boys ranch in Brenham. I told my friend that lives there all about ya'll and the farm.

I can't wait to connect you two sometime. She's married to a "cowboy" and has two girls.

Send me an email and I can get you my contact info for your friend.

Talk to you soon.

Jessica

QuiltedSimple said...

cool - i can't wait to see the site!
Kris

Robbyn said...

I've been reading a lot about that system, and it's neat seeing it here on your blog. I always wonder how you keep the cows from just barging right through those little strands of electric fence if they reallllyyyyyy want the grass on the other side, and I wonder how you keep predators like neighbors' dogs or coyotes from getting them at night...do you leave them in the pasture at night? When we get teh chance to raise any animals, we'll have a lot fewer but still would like to consider the intensive grazing concept.

mandi said...

thanks for letting us in on the process. i like the pic of the 'old grass' as compared to the new. can't wait to start buying from you guys!