A month on the Farm - December

by Libby and Lisa Buchanan

This elongated season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is extremely strange (and worrying), but helpful for us. We still have some younger cattle outside because the ground is dry enough to tolerate their hooves. We do have to feed them silage in the fields because the grass is poor, but it is lovely to see them still free, and so unusual at this time of year. The cows and calves are in now - they have to be weaned in plenty of time before the calving starts so the cows can have a rest. So we – and our tolerant neighbours – had some noisy nights! But it doesn’t take long for them to quieten down, especially as we make sure they can always see each other.

November is the time for pregnancy testing and blood testing. We test every animal for the four big cattle diseases. If they are all clear – and they have been for the last three years – we can retain our high herd health status, which is important for selling breeding stock. It is also important as a good neighbour to other farmers. Few things cost more to farmers than disease. As we write, we are awaiting the results. The pregnancy testing was going very well – each cow the vet checked was well in calf – and then suddenly she found four empty. It is so disappointing as they are beautiful young cows. The bull had been running with them for a long time so they had plenty of time to get in calf, so the only thing we can do is cull them, which is heart-breaking.

We have had a good season for selling breeding cattle – two terrific bulls have gone and two lovely heifers. We have just one more bull to go and then we shall have to buy a new one from a wholly different blood line. Looking for a new bull is always exciting. The old adage is “your bull is half your herd” so picking the right one is crucially important. He will have to have terrific conformation, but temperament matters too. Dangerous bulls cannot be tolerated.

We continue to think hard about how we can make the farm as sustainable as possible. The fact our cattle are only ever fed on grass or silage is a real bonus. But we have to think hard what else we can do. Planting hedges is top of the list and we will be adding another 200 metres in January. Once upon a time, our countryside was a patchwork quilt of smallish fields divided by hedges which are wonderful Nature corridors. It was desperate when so many were rooted up in the 1970s and 80s, but it is enormously encouraging that so many are being replaced now.

Speed is of the essence as we all strive towards farming - and living - in a net zero world.

G L O R I O U S S U N S E T S A T T H E F A R M