November 27, 28 Processing

The November 27, 28 round of processing was headed by the side bought by the Jeff Dahlseng family. They made a morning of it watching the processing and then visiting the cows before getting back to the first performance of the Nutcracker where Jeff plays trombone.

End of the Season

This Friday and Saturday we will process the last of the meat for this year. There are a few orders at the bottom of the list that it looks like will not be filled. Those will go to the top of the list for next year.

The other ray of hope is that we will be preg testing the heifers next week and if any are open we will have one more round of butchering that will be processed around the middle of December.

In the chicken division I thought you might want to see how 150 eggs a day are laid in a mere 20 nests. As you can see, it is with a lot of sharing. Also seen is how water delivery looks when the temperatures are below zero.

These eggs are available under the Tranquility Heights Farm label at the Matanuska Creamery in the Valley and at the Natural Pantry in Anchorage.

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Meat Customers Meet Cows!

The Bob Ormberg family and their friends went out to visit the cows after they picked up their side of beef. The cows were more interested in the carrots we took for snacks!

Meat Processing

The first round of processing is in the works. At the job is sister-in-law Darlene, Jeff, Nathan, Robert, Billy and myself.

Sides for 10/13/09

Herd Sire Arctic Lad is shown as the sire of some of this year and next year's meat.

Processing will be the last week of October for these sides.

2009 Meat Season Begins

The first 16 sides of beef are on the hook. Weights run from 236.5 to 308 pounds. We will begin calling customers on the top of the list. Plans are to begin processing this meat on Oct. 30. We should be processing for at least three three weeks after that.

Yesterday we had a visit from a potential renter so we took his dog down to meet the cows. I think they were confused by his colors thinking he was a small calf. They were very curious but at the same time very firm that he was not welcome to join the herd!

Barn Raising

Yesterday saw the feed lot turn into a structure in a single day. These 45 ft. cottonwood trees were anchored to provide shelter for the winter's hay supply.

The temporary roof is a 1965 cargo parachute!