14 Feb Sun 2010
Glad my cows are not in a confinement system...
Well, This is my first attempt to blog. I think a lot while I do my barnwork. I think a lot of times about what I'd love people to know. When we first decided we needed to get out of dairying, we were looking for someone who would take our herd until we could get them sold. Our nutritionist recommended a farmer he also worked with, who he knew would keep them well fed and cared for. This man did take good care of our girls until the majority of them were sold, from January until May. He had about 500+ cows in a confinement system. He had a good head for the different cows and I was often impressed with what he would remember about any particular one in spite of all the animals he had there. The 'girls' had good feed in front of them 24/7 and clean dry stalls to lay in. It was a good decision for us to send them there for that period of time. I was eager to get them out of there come May though. I would visit occasionally, help out with the milking, whatever. I'm glad I'm not a cow in that situation. Beyond having feed, water, and beds, there wasn't much positive about the digs from a cows perspective. The milking parlor ran three rows of about 12 cows in each row. After the cows were milked a big bar raised up letting the cows out to return to their pens. The one side of the parlor had windows along the cows return route. The cows would all jam up along those windows, shoving their heads out to enjoy the little bit of sunshine that they could until they were pushed on out. There was another sopt on their return where they could stop in a little light and even during a cold rain, the cows would stop there trying to get a chance to stand there for a moment or two. The rest of their lives were spent in one of four pens of approx. 250 other animals. They changed pens getting different penmates depending on how much they milked at the time. I asked the farmers son if the cows ever got to go out on pasture and he said, "Not unless they are lucky enough to be dry during the summer
Rene
09:40 PM EST
It is very sad the way that animals are treated any more. I grew up on a farm that animals were our bread and butter. I could no longer be on a farm with animals as the way they commercialize everything for the bottom dollar is very sad. I'm glad that its vegetables for me and always make sure we again treat them with respect and don't abusr them or the soil in which they loive.
For you first blog you did a good job. I too have just learned to blog. Good Luck.