Post by Erik Akia on Mar 22, 2010 11:12:21 GMT -5
Hello all,
I have a neighbor who is concerned about the condition of my cows and their corral.
Before I explain the condition let me start by saying that I already know it is not ideal. My house and shop burned to the ground almost one year ago and so the plans that I had to improve things were delayed. In addition we live in the Rocky Mountains and so most improvement projects stop during the winter due to the cold conditions.
Right now the 3 milk cows are in a 40' x 40' pen in an area that is difficult to access with the skidsteer because of the trees, not to mention that cow-pies are almost frozen when they hit the ground. I will be moving the pen soon as the weather is improving and the ground is thawing out. I have some more panels and so it will be bigger as well. I think what my neighbor is objecting to the most is that the cows are walking around on the frozen cow-pies and that when they lie down they get crap on their flanks. I do not like that crap on their flanks either but worry more about trying to wash it off in the freezing weather without having a real shelter for them to stay out of the wind until they dry. The cows are healthy , nobody has gotten sick, they have beautiful coats, and their feet are fine. Nobody has mastitis.
I have the foundation for the barn formed and will be building it this summer as well as fencing off about 1/2 acre for them. There is going to be a 10x22 lean to off the barn that will shelter the cows on 3 sides as well as other areas for calving. The water cistern will probably be next year so I will still be dealing with a above ground water tank and so washing will still be an issue during the winter. The solar system will be installed on the barn so I will have better power (right now we use a generator since we are off grid here.)
One of the thing my neighbor mentioned was "what if someone from PITA saw the cows and what would they think?" Now my opinion of PITA is very low and the language I would use for them not appropriate here. I do not think animals are people and they do not have the same outlook on life as people. But I do think animals should be treated with respect and given a life they are comfortable in, at least until they are comfortable in my freezer.
Man this is a rambling post. I guess what I want is your opinion of what cow condition should look like and when are things bad enough you would worry.
Thanks
Erik
I have a neighbor who is concerned about the condition of my cows and their corral.
Before I explain the condition let me start by saying that I already know it is not ideal. My house and shop burned to the ground almost one year ago and so the plans that I had to improve things were delayed. In addition we live in the Rocky Mountains and so most improvement projects stop during the winter due to the cold conditions.
Right now the 3 milk cows are in a 40' x 40' pen in an area that is difficult to access with the skidsteer because of the trees, not to mention that cow-pies are almost frozen when they hit the ground. I will be moving the pen soon as the weather is improving and the ground is thawing out. I have some more panels and so it will be bigger as well. I think what my neighbor is objecting to the most is that the cows are walking around on the frozen cow-pies and that when they lie down they get crap on their flanks. I do not like that crap on their flanks either but worry more about trying to wash it off in the freezing weather without having a real shelter for them to stay out of the wind until they dry. The cows are healthy , nobody has gotten sick, they have beautiful coats, and their feet are fine. Nobody has mastitis.
I have the foundation for the barn formed and will be building it this summer as well as fencing off about 1/2 acre for them. There is going to be a 10x22 lean to off the barn that will shelter the cows on 3 sides as well as other areas for calving. The water cistern will probably be next year so I will still be dealing with a above ground water tank and so washing will still be an issue during the winter. The solar system will be installed on the barn so I will have better power (right now we use a generator since we are off grid here.)
One of the thing my neighbor mentioned was "what if someone from PITA saw the cows and what would they think?" Now my opinion of PITA is very low and the language I would use for them not appropriate here. I do not think animals are people and they do not have the same outlook on life as people. But I do think animals should be treated with respect and given a life they are comfortable in, at least until they are comfortable in my freezer.
Man this is a rambling post. I guess what I want is your opinion of what cow condition should look like and when are things bad enough you would worry.
Thanks
Erik