December on The Farm
More Turnips! As the weather changes moving into December the days become shorter and the nights colder. What we have found at Archers is a cows happiness is decided less by the weather and more by how full she is, the 4 chambered stomach produces a lot of heat so as long as there is food to eat cows are very happy even in the cold, with what is essential an internal hot water bottle. Hungry cows are cold cows. The younger cows (young stock) are eating turnips and bales of hay, a fresh area is provided every day to keep them happy and full. Some of our milking herd has started to get dried off, this is their yearly holiday where they spend between 60-100 days not being milked just eating and sleeping. This year we have modified their shed to let even more light in. We have also improved their sleeping cubicles by giving them a bed of sand which cows love as it is nice and soft and gives them support.