It’s been a busy week at Thistle Hill…and so blogging has had to take a back seat.  But to explain: Inevitably, as you walk through your herd during the year, you make judgments: which one to keep and which one you can part with.  It’s never easy and generally comes down to which one has enough “backups” in the herd of the same bloodline.  It’s particularly difficult for Wooz who would keep all her babies….in the bedroom!  But finally, through negotiation, the decisions are made and waiting buyers are notified and shipment is arranged. But before any animals are shipped, pedigrees must be put in order, tail hairs pulled for…

….is one of the unsung jobs in the herd but, in fact, it’s an important job and apparently something of an honor. Currently that position is being filled by that young steer , not even a year old, with four of his charges.  Several more  are just out of camera range. Normally, it’s an older cow that stays with the very young calves while the herd is off grazing.  Clearly that cow has power of attorney to control and even discipline those assigned to her.  When a calf is first born, her mother keeps her close by and doesn’t return to the herd for several days.  That’s the important bonding process…

….from satisfied customers, whether it’s for our meat or our seed stock.  It’s particularly gratifying when that praise comes from experienced Devon breeders such as Linda and Rich Maurer of Madison, Virginia.  They bought a pregnant six-year old cow and a young heifer from Thistle Hill recently and the other day we received this email from Linda: “Thought you’d like to see the new calf, Frosty!  He is a BIG boy – 87 pounds, according to Rich.  He is eating and sleeping mostly.  Our Milking Devon almost literally hit the ground running.  All the beef Devon just eat and sleep for about 4 days before really testing their legs. “Anyway,…

We thought Wooz’ post on our “finishing school grads” was worth a picture.  She is certainly right (she taught me well, too) that visitors are quick to pick up on two things about our herd:  the obvious good health and vitality of the cows and how approachable they are. Veteran cattlemen can’t believe they can walk right up to our animals without them bolting, or at least shying away.  In fact, if you don’t approach our cows, they will approach you with a sniff or even a lick. Keeping the herd in a “mob”…that is grazing close together…has improved their sociability.  So has moving them every day to fresh grass. …