Cute Lamb Content Alert

We have found ourselves at this time of year once again.

It’s that time when we round up all the sheep and carefully give the young ones an ID tag to ensure they are easily recognisable.

It's also the moment in the calendar when you realise if your breeding program has truly been efficient and successful.

The time of year when your hands turn black with lanolin and dirt (though it’s mainly dirt) serves as a testament to the hard work we put into our farm each season.

And, of course, it’s the time when you go gaga over the adorable little lambs—so incredibly cute and full of life.

I thought you might like to be in on the action, so here are a couple of photos capturing the joy of the day.

(I would have liked to take more photos for you but, as you can see, my hands were full)

Steph

Spring Rains are Welcome at Regenerative Farms

We have been hanging out for some spring rain and warmer weather to kick the growing season into gear.

Fortunately for us we had a delightful downpour through the week and with the aid of some warmer days the fields are knee deep in clover. 

We aren't alone. All our fellow farmer friends are rejoicing and skipping through the fields clicking our heels together.


One of the great places to be on earth is in a field full of lush green grass with the sound of munching, content cattle for company.

Sit back and enjoy it with us in this clip.
Listen to the rain on the roof and the sounds of mulching cattle.

Where do you feel the most content?

Steph

Spring is a time to flex.

Most of the year, our bulls sit side by side in the paddock.
They are affectionate towards each other.
They happily share the same space, the same grass, and no doubt the same stories and a few good laughs. That's what I imagine anyway.

Then comes spring.

They start to separate off, they bellow, they push and shove, they strut around and get all macho.

Check out these two showing off. And the young guy learning how it's done, keen to get in on the action.

No need for baby oil here. The sunshine does its job, gleaming off their muscles. - I'm not sure how they get so muscular when most of the time they just sit and only eat grass. If only that worked for us.

Don't underestimate the power these animals have.

Their heads are huge. 

Their shoulders are broad and their core is as solid as a tree trunk.

When we have to move our animals, cows are easy to move. Cows are mostly predictable and happy to follow the leader.

You can move a well behaved cow simply by stepping into her space and she will move away. Add a few hand signals and she will move (generally) in the direction you want.

Not so with the bulls. If they don't want to move, YOU have to wait for them. They stare you in the eye and say, “Who are you? What do you want? This is my space and I ain't going anywhere.” 

As you can imagine, that can lead to some sticky situations.

That's why we select bulls for gentle temperament (not that you can tell from this video)

Yes, like humans, cattle can be predisposed to different temperaments. 

Ours will happily have their head down and eat grass while keeping one eye out as you go about your business. (regardless of their body language you always want to be respectful)

Those gentle genetics are the ones we want to pass on to the next generation.

And it pays off.

We regularly handle and move our animals. While doing so, we want to be safe and we want our animals to not be needlessly stressed.

Animals we don't grow out to maturity for ourselves can be sold to other farmers to raise. 

Recently we had one of these farmers call us to say “they were the best animals they ever had. So docile and would eat out of your hand.” 

That's the reputation we strive for.

Whether breeding animals for us or others, breeding well mannered, gentle creatures (again, not that you can tell from this video) is overall the best way to go. 

There is less stress on the animal, less stress on the farmer, and less stress on the environment.

We strive to have a great quality product from conception onwards.

Enjoy this video and marvel at the awesome power they hold and yet they are so selective in using it. Just one more lesson for us from this beautiful world.

Steph

Spring on the farm means little lambs

Welcome to spring.

Today kicks off the start to our official lambing season. 

We have had some early comers already, but from today they should be arriving thick and fast.

 

The rams go in with the ewes 1st of April for our lambs to start arriving 1st Sept. 

Like me, sheep like to know there is plenty of food ahead of them, particularly when raising their young.
So we choose to start lambing now to work in harmony with nature and give everyone the best chance of success.
Hopefully the frosts have passed and there will be a steady increasing plane of nutrition on the ground for these growing, bouncing bundles of joy to benefit from.
Mums can eat well and fully nourish their littlies. 

Here at Regenerative Farms, we chose to breed the Aussie White Sheep.

Here are a few reasons why we chose that breed.

They have a leather undercarriage so no need for crutching and mulesing.
Crutching and mulesing is where wool and wool bearing skin is removed from around their bottom area that can retain faeces and urine which attract flies.
Yuck. If we can avoid that we will. And we have.

Their wool is more hair-like so fly strike hasn't been a problem

Aussie white sheep also have black hooves which is a bit tougher than a white hoof, and ideally not needing to have as much attention; trimming and foot baths etc.


They self shed. Although that means they can look like a dishevelled teenager and leave wads of hair lying around the place, we prefer that than having to get a shearer in.

They are a hardy, tough sheep. Commonly called mini cows. 

Aussie whites have an excellent body composition yielding a good amount of meat with a fine texture and great taste.

All round, we have found them to be a good compliment to the regenerative farming system and we look forward to welcoming them as the month progresses.


Steph

Calf’s First Mission: Impossible

I know winter can be cold and gloomy so let me brighten your day.

In the next few weeks we will start to hear the pitter patter of little hooves on the ground all over the farm.

For me, seeing new life on the farm always puts a smile on my face.

This video is sure to put a smile on your dial too.

Let me share a video from last year because the first calf drop of this season can't come soon enough.

This will help keep you in expectation of the first little fella to arrive for this year.

We will keep you posted.

For each of the calves, their mischief making days must start with their first steps.

In this short video, this cheeky monkey attempts what he thinks is a mission: impossible. Going from first breath, to his first steps and finally his first drink.

How long do you think it took him to go from arrival to get up and wobble over to mum for his first drink?


Watch the video to find out if you were right.

It's sure to make you smile.