Relatives of our neighbour Kate Vos dropped by this week to grab some of our lawn. What is going on? Apparently we have a very unique and rare grass around the house that is highly sought after.
Sweet Smother Grass (Dactyloctenium australe)
A course textured grass that is lime green in colour with very soft leaves.
Excellent shade tolerance (requiring approx 2hrs of filtered sunlight per day).
Poor traffic tolerance.
Unique course texture created due to
Alison noticed one of our Large Black Sows was not coming to her food. Very unlike a pig. I checked her out last night and she was not herself but I could not see anything wrong. No temperature and she was alert. This morning Al called me out to have a look at the pigs foot. Which I did and confirmed it was a sore foot.
We have isolated her and are now investigating what to do next. If anyone has experience in this area please let us know before we call our Vet out.
Here is a bit of information I found on limping pigs.
Limping – Due to their abnormally large weight, domestic pigs will often suffer from stiff and sore joints, or can easily injure their legs, feet or hooves. If your pig is limping, always check to make sure there is nothing caught in his/her hoof, or if the hoof is cracked, hot or swollen. If symptoms continue for more than a few days, consult your veterinarian. Other possible causes of limping include nutritional imbalances; foot, joint or leg infections caused by trauma or bacterial infection; or degeneration of bones and joints. Arthritis in pigs is common, although there are different types, and diagnosis of which type is important for treatment. Infections in feet, bones and joints also have multiple causes and should be diagnosed by a vet before a treatment is chosen.
9 June 2011
Looks like its time to call Richard Gregory from Mullum Vet. Our little sow or rather very big sow cannot stand up now. Glad we isolated her and she is very alert and chatting away. Alison gave her a big bucket of feed with milk this morning which she is devouring.
Just got off the phone with Judy Barnet who we bought our Large Blacks from. She has suggested it sounds like it could be something to do with the pigs feet. To check the feet for rot and if that is the case to clean it out and use an antibiotic to help her heal.
The Howard Slasher I bought for the tractor is working well but is getting slightly bent out of shape. It is now becoming clear to me the difference between heavy duty and extra heavy duty. For those of you who know me it should have been a no brainer to get the toughest steel possible. Oh well live and learn. Hopefully I can bend it back into shape to get this property looking ship shape for Brian and Morag to sell.
One thing this job has confirmed in my mind is that one of my recent shed ideas (inspired by Johnny Cash) could have some legs. Keeping property lines clear. Around the Northern Rivers you can almost watch your property lines get overgrown day by day. Without attention your fences disappear and slowly your 10 acre block turns into a residential block as the lantana, camphor and other noxious weeds spread there way across your once pristine paddocks.
Better stop typing and start tightening some bolts.
We can all fall in love with our farm creatures: chickens, cows and pigs. Farm animals are a source of food that can sustain your family. Every day Alison milks our cow, who we think is in calf (more food). If that calf is a heifer she will likely live a long life grazing and turning grass into lovely fresh milk. If its a bull calf. Well lets stop there for now and talk about birds.
Chickens. We love our birds and have been eating our own eggs for over a decade now. Off and on mind you. Molting and bolting countries can disrupt the supply chain sometimes. Recently we have started to raise a few chickens of our own. We have to give credit to our little Grey Hen who we think is an Orpington for going renegade and giving us some true free range little chooks. Again it sucks to be a guy sometimes. Hens get to lay eggs for years and the roosters. Oh most of the roosters. Nothing like a good stock pot.
When I started to write this blog I wondered if this way of life could be controversial. To keep it real, lets focus on the eggs and milk. Nobody gets hurt. We love our herd of heifers and big pen of free range hens. They are our friends: when you see how we are with them; and they are with us, it’s easy to call them pets.
Chores to do. Real happy to share how our family loves getting food from our pets if anyone has any questions.
Greg
The hills of Goonengerry are taking a few pounds off John Abbinks heifers. Loco our purebred Dexter Bull has been keeping these three low line dexter cross cattle on the move and they are looking great. Another few cycles and it will be time for these three girls to head back to the Vista at the Music Farm.
The 3 Abbink Girls
If you are looking for a Bull to service your maiden heifers or smaller style of cattle Loco and the Four Girl Dexter Stud are at your service.
The hills of Goonengerry are taking a few pounds off John Abbinks heifers. Loco our purebred Dexter Bull has been keeping these three low line dexter cross cattle on the move and they are looking great. Another few cycles and it will be time for these three girls to head back to the Vista at the Music Farm.
The 3 Abbink Girls
If you are looking for a Bull to service your maiden heifers or smaller style of cattle Loco and the Four Girl Dexter Stud are at your service.
This morning Alison was running at a full Gazelle gallop to get organised for her cheese making day with Nicky. There was added stress and excitement because the girls will be mostly using milk from our Jersey Girl Delilah. It’s not easy transporting 50 L of milk in shonky containers and it’s also not too pleasant to be in one of our trucks for the month after as the milk in the seats goes sour. This has got me on a hunt for some stainless steel containers that Alison can store and transport milk in. Open for tips on where to find such a thing–no luck on ebay.
Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this batch knowing it’s made from our farm fresh creamy milk. Bring on the brie, feta and some hard cheese please.
It’s hard to let go of a good farm ute. Then again it’s can be even harder to hang onto a good wife. This is the cross road I find myself and and I have decided to reluctantly set Craigie and Rocky Free. Well not free but for any reasonable offer to a good home/farm.
First on the blocks is the Land Rover Ute. Craigie as we have named her runs great. Starts everytime. Even after months and months of sitting idle. The reason we have not been using it (other then to store firewood on) is that the front right wheel fell off a couple of years ago. Other then that she is a beaut ute. Frame is sound and the engine has been upgraded to a Holden Petrol engine (not sure the model) with a Nissan 5 speed gear box.
Have a listen to and look. This is her humming away yesterday.
Now for Rocky the Hilux Ute. Another hard working truck that has plenty of life in the rebuilt diesel engine and drive train but the body is shot.
Cattle work and working together as a family go hand and hand. This morning we put the cattle through our yards and removed any remaining fly tags (they seem to fall out) and drenched with ivomec Eprinex (pour on for Beef and Dairy Cattle). Not sure if using this stuff is organic, likely not, but I believe our cows are happier living without internal and external parasites.
In less then two hours we put the whole herd through and then sent the majority of them to the back back again where the feed is plentiful. A good mornings work. Now its time to chow down on a big farm breakfast: a rocket and cheese omelet, large black bacon and some fresh squeezed OJ.
Yum.
My recent blog on farmpreneuring-a word and concept I have coined (well some others too) could not be summed up better then this extract from a blog I came across having my morning presso. The title of this blog sounds more like an indie band then agricultural, but I like that.
Don’t ever be fooled by the commonly held image of farmers as laconic, country dolts. Farmers can weld, construct buildings, repair tractors and most other mechanical tools. They are usually competent woodworkers, plumbers and often electricians. These days you will also find farmers at ease with email and the internet and most importantly they are good managers, innovators and inventors.
This quote came at the end of a long string of blogs from GROWING THE GROWERS FILMING TRIP 2010, a Diary with pictures of a trip to the USA and England to meet with people that have successfully encouraged more people to garden and farm.
One could say “where is the beef” in this blog post as I have not put in much unique content. Just a bunch of links and a bit of tongue and cheek is all you get this morning. I have another presso to chug and Alison is waiting for me to do some cattle work before it starts raining. We are putting the herd through the yards this morning to remove fly tags and do another drench. Then its off to the back back for Bully Boy and his big girls.