Merry Christmas to all, it is such a nice time to spend with family and friends. On the farm we are perpetually busy with with plowing, bedding, and feeding this time of year, but it is always with an uplifted mood, as everyone can feel the holiday spirit. At Christmas time we send in a custom hog for each employee that is processed by the local meat market, and have our annual Christmas party.
The Christmas party is probably one of the most popular events we have throughout the year, and the 2013 party was our largest ever. We had about 150 people attend, employees and there families,contract barn owners, and other local business people we work with throughout the year. Each guest takes home a piece of farm swag, be it a fleece blanket, a soft cooler, or a coffee mug; a full belly, and a happy heart. We also have some type of entertainment, this year it was a stilt walker with a juggling act. It might be a little bit cheesy, but the entertainment is always something that gets a laugh out of the crowd, while mesmerizing the kids. It's a fun way to celebrate with our farm family, plus it puts the farm in the soft spot of the hearts of people in the community.
Community outreach is important at any time of year, but the holiday season is a good time to get out and remind your neighbors that you appreciate them. They put up with the manure hauling, semis driving by at 5 AM, and on occasion, a pig in their swimming pool (yes, that actually happened). Plowing an elderly neighbor's driveway, or donating gifts to the toys-for-tots program are small acts of kindness that go a long way. They do not take much time or money, but they leave a meaningful impact on a neighbor's day.
One of my grandfather's favorite Christmas traditions is the Christmas ham. Just before Christmas we head out door-knocking to the neighboring houses to give them a ham for Christmas dinner. It is so nice to express our thanks, although it hardly feel like we are doing the giving, usually walking away with some homemade confection, syrup, or preserve. As a community we are sharing what we have, what makes us proud, and strengthening the camaraderie that exists between the folks of a small town.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Moving- It's a Big Job
Just a few weeks ago we had a livestock moving expert from DNL Farms Ltd. come out to the farm to take some video, critique our movements, and give a class to all of us on the farm. We were lucky to get this opportunity through the Michigan State Extension Office, as we were selected as one site in the state for a visit and taping.
On every farm there are things that are done well, and things that need some work. On my farm we pride ourselves on being really good at market hog movement. We have an assigned loading crew that handles are market hogs. We use pens close to the truck for holding space, and as an area to put any animals that seem to be suffering from stress and need a break.
We struggle more with moving hogs out of farrowing crates, they just never seem to want to budge. Even trying to get the pigs to stand everyday can be a challenge. Even moving the weaned pigs can be difficult. It was really nice to have someone out to make suggestions and correct some of our long held but inaccurate assumptions about hog movement.
During the class, we were able to discuss how trying to rush makes everything harder. This is obvious in most areas on the farm, but sometimes we forget when moving the animals. Taking a few steps back and letting animals go at their own pace will actually save us time. Using a prod to cause animals to move isn't usually the most effective way, since it makes the animal want to know where the prod is at all times, instead of focusing on following the pigs in front of it and being part of the group. Anytime we cause the animals to pile or turn around, we are wasting time and creating confusion.
Even the most routine parts of our jobs on the farm need to be evaluated for improvement. Anyone who is working with the pigs is probably going to have to move them. We need to remember that training on hog moving is vital for all employees, and it will make us more efficient and more humane. Having a good animal handling protocol is not only good for the bottom line, but also for the animals. It is something both producers and consumers be happy about.
On every farm there are things that are done well, and things that need some work. On my farm we pride ourselves on being really good at market hog movement. We have an assigned loading crew that handles are market hogs. We use pens close to the truck for holding space, and as an area to put any animals that seem to be suffering from stress and need a break.
We struggle more with moving hogs out of farrowing crates, they just never seem to want to budge. Even trying to get the pigs to stand everyday can be a challenge. Even moving the weaned pigs can be difficult. It was really nice to have someone out to make suggestions and correct some of our long held but inaccurate assumptions about hog movement.
During the class, we were able to discuss how trying to rush makes everything harder. This is obvious in most areas on the farm, but sometimes we forget when moving the animals. Taking a few steps back and letting animals go at their own pace will actually save us time. Using a prod to cause animals to move isn't usually the most effective way, since it makes the animal want to know where the prod is at all times, instead of focusing on following the pigs in front of it and being part of the group. Anytime we cause the animals to pile or turn around, we are wasting time and creating confusion.
Even the most routine parts of our jobs on the farm need to be evaluated for improvement. Anyone who is working with the pigs is probably going to have to move them. We need to remember that training on hog moving is vital for all employees, and it will make us more efficient and more humane. Having a good animal handling protocol is not only good for the bottom line, but also for the animals. It is something both producers and consumers be happy about.
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