Shop variety packages now! click here!

Friday On The Farm | May's Edition: Planting & Breeding Season

June 30, 2022

Friday On The Farm | May's Edition: Planting & Breeding Season

Welcome to the another ‘Friday On The Farm!’ This is an update from Hannah about things that are happening on our farm and local farms in our area during this time of year.
 
We are highlighting planting season and breeding season in this month's ‘Friday On The Farm.’
 
Planting season can stretch out over a long period of time. Farmers work to plant seeds in the ground to grow mostly corn and soybeans in our area. The weather plays a huge part in this as it is a delicate balance between waiting for the soil to be the right temperature and being thankful for rain and potentially getting too much rain. It's a ‘hurry-up-and-wait’ and 'go-go-go' time of the year! We do not plant any fields, so I don't have much content to share, but YouTube blogger and farmer, Laura Farms, shares great information on topics related to row-crop farming. You can view her videos by clicking here.
 
Breeding season is also happening right now for our cattle! Exciting news… Eric and I just bought our first momma cows that we will breed for the first time this breeding season and they will calve in nine months! I am very excited to have our first cows and even more excited for the baby calves!
 
Breeding season can be at different times of the year, but most producers in Nebraska do it at this time or a little earlier. Breeding season usually includes getting all the cows bred with artificial insemination or a bull.
 
Artificial insemination is when we use frozen semen of bulls with superior genetics to breed the cows. This is done to improve genetics, decrease the chance of animals getting hurt during breeding, and decrease the risk of spreading disease. We picked a bull with great genetics for beef quality and low birth weight to breed with this year. We choose a low birth-weight bull specifically because our newly purchased cattle are first-time calving heifers. If you'd like to see the bull we chose this year, click here.
 
Since artificial insemination has a lower chance of ‘sticking’ we use a live bull to graze with the heifers and breed any that didn't get bred the first time. This is referred to as a ‘clean up’ bull.
 
Cattle have a 9-month gestation time, so we are planning to breed them the beginning of June and we will expect calves the next spring!



Leave a comment


Also in Beef Blog

Charcuterie board with many fixings on it and a red ribbon with white text that says Move Over Salami - There's Room For Beef On That Board Too!
Elevate Your Charcuterie Game: The Art of Incorporating Beef on Your Charcuterie Board

August 18, 2023

Nothing says “elevated party snack” quite like a charcuterie board, but our favorite protein often gets overlooked. We’re here to officially petition to bring beef to the charcuterie board!

Continue Reading

Managing Heat Stress in Cattle | Friday On The Farm
Managing Heat Stress in Cattle | Friday On The Farm

August 04, 2023

Continue Reading

What is Dry Aging | Oak Barn Beef
What is Dry Aging | Oak Barn Beef

July 01, 2023

Dry aged beef is seriously tender and has a notably richer flavor. Some call it an “intensified” beef flavor, but we usually don’t call it anything because we’re too busy trying to get the next bite to our mouths. We dare you to read this article without drooling!

Continue Reading