We just finished with the GrassWorks Conference it was really great seeing all our grazing friends and meeting new ones. The speakers were great and I took alot away from the conference. I am proud to be a GrassWorks member. Saturday Emma got to attend with me and we had a great day together. This was her first conference and She is eagerly awaiting the fencing season this will be her fourth and she asks us every day. Momma are we going post pounding today. It is great to see her that energized about farming and grazing.
I encourage anyone who has a chance to go and see speaker Andy Hager, Holistic Management Educator & Certified Grass Radical -he is a really great speaker and he hits home on all his topics. He will be speaking at the Eau Claire Conference Friday, March 12th if you can go I would really recommend hearing Andy. He is GREAT and funny. For more info. check out Calendar of Events page.-Lynelle
I just wanted to tell you all Temple Grandin will be speaking in Wisconsin!!! Yeah!! Check out our Calendar of Events page for more information about the event. For all you who have cattle I encourage you to go see her or to read her books on animal husbandry it will help you out greatly and her story is just amazing. -Lynelle
On Working pens and catch gate. These should be centrally located as possible to facilitate efficient access from anywhere. You should set up your system so you can run your animals through the corrals as part of normal paddock shifts to eliminate the stigma attached to corrals. Then when you need to lead your animals into the corral they will think that it's just part of the rotation.
Every corral needs at least three pens: one to sort from, one to sort into, and one to hold animals previously sorted or waiting to be sorted. Four pens are better, and five are better still. The catch gate should be located with three principles in mind (borrowed from animal behaviorist Temple Grandin) :animals like to turn to the right; they like to go out where they came in; and they like to go toward light, but not into direct sunlight. Designing the catch gate to utilize these animal desires will greatly reduce stress on both animals and people.
One final word on corrals: build them strong. Don't skimp on materials. Animal husbandry requires being able to check animals, sort them, weigh them, and handle them. If this chore always turns into a nightmare, very little animal husbandry will occur because it will be put off until it turns into a severe crisis. Build decent handling facilities!
Here is a Recipe that my family loves that I would like to share with you. Hope you enjoy. -Lynelle
Three-Step Stroganoff
1 1/2 lb. boneless round steak, 1 env. onion soup mix
sliced thin 1/2 c. sour cream
1T. canola oil Hot cooked noodles
1 can cream of mushroom soup Minced fresh parsley (opt.)
1/2 c. waterIn a large skillet, stir-fry beef in oil. Stir in soup, water and onion soup mix. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in sour cream; heat through (do not boil). Serve over noodles; garnish with parsley if desired. Yield: 6 servingsFor all those foodies out there I am currently reading Shannon Hayes book "The Farmer and the Grill" A GUIDE TO GRILLING, BARBECUING AND SPIT-ROASTING GRASSFED MEAT and for saving the planet one bite at a time. To purchase Shannon's book www.eatingfresh.com it's more than just a cookbook makes you really think about meat. I will be giving a review about the book and a recipe or two that I am going to try out as soon as I can find my Weber in the snow.-Lynelle
Just a note I will be helping Randy in the Cutler Fence Booth Wednesday, March 10th at the
16th Annual Heart of Wisconsin Winter Grazing Conference in Mosinee, WI Check out the Calendar of Events page for more info. I might also attend the North Central Graziers Winter Conference Thursday, March 11th in Stetsonville, WI. Stop by and say hi I would really appreciate it. Thanks!-Lynelle
