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The dogs of Thistle Hill…
…deserve a little credit though none are typical herding dogs. But all three are important in the daily life of our farm…have good rapport with the cows…and are wonderful companions on our daily Rina. Nala (left) is a very energetic and athletic Rhodesian razorback. In her native African environment she’s used to hunting lions. Pochahantas (center) but you can call her Pokey is the oldest in the group and right now is away on assignment…accompanying Church to veterinary school at Cornell. She’s an English Shepard. Emma (right) is a Black Labrador Retriever. She made the move from Dallas when Curt took up residence at Thistle Hill. David
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Making history…
…is something of a habit at Thistle Hill. We’re always trying new ideas…ways to improve the quality of our operation and the cows we produce. In that pursuit we were particularly excited when Church was able to negotiate the purchase of a canister of scores of straws of semen from longtime Devon breeders Don and Heather Minto in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Among the straws were collections from almost all the top Rotokawa bulls plus some of the legendary sires in Devon history. Church planned the first major use from the cache to take place during his Christmas break from Cornell Veterinary school. Because our vet’s clinic is close to Thistle…
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What were the odds…
…with four daughters what were the odds they would all marry men who love to cook? I’m a lucky guy and am particularly blessed when Thistle Hill can supply the entree! Son-in-law Curt Humphreys demonstrates what a pork loin should look like: perfectly pink. You won’t find flavor like this at a supermarket. Curt did a simple topping of garlic and rosemary and a few fresh mushrooms. David
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Breeding…part three…
…and now it gets really interesting…starting in the pre-dawn darkness… and a pasture alive with blinking red lights. It’s the heat detectors…right on schedule at 48 hours. When a cow goes into heat, another mounts it, crushing the chemical patch on its rump. One of Carolyn’s jobs is thawing the semen straws. That’s what that pot next to her arm is for. No time to waste! And the deed is done. But it’s a slow process at the end…finding just the right spot…then pushing the plunger to deposit the semen. It’s a process that’s repeated 29 times over three days…matching cow, heat, and the right bull. Hard work…and cold…but satisfying.…
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Breeding step two…
…is very much a family affair. The herd has to be brought in from the pasture and sorted to isolate the target cows. We started in the dark, in a light rain. Grandson Church is really in charge now. He administers a shot of lutalyze which will bring the cow into heat in 48-72 hours. Dad Curt (in background) is the Chief Wrangler, bringing the designated cows into the chute. Mom Carolyn is “manning” the headgate. Gotta grab ‘em just right or it’s back around and try again. How many farms have a gynecological cancer surgeon in their crew? The final step: putting an alarm patch on the rump. When…
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Meeting of the braintrust…
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Warning!…
…do not date a farmer! He will put you to work! Here Mackenzie Mason, who could be basking in the sun in San Diego, is helping with a rush fencing repair job. She’s in the camo jacket with son-in-law Curt Humphreys. Take our word for it: she’s pretty! David