One Fine Acre - 2023 4H Steer Project Update

OneFineAcre

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Moonpie, Molasses, Dee and Cookie start milk test tomorrow
We have decided we aren't going to do owner sampling going forward
We are going to use an independent tester

Also from our last test the only does who are technical finished are Zamia and Opal in that they were reported as dry on the last test
Opal is officially a *M
And Zamia is officially a *M and now has the designation of GCH
She was previously a CH
 

OneFineAcre

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I get that many people have had bad experiences with cattle. But, I want my cattle to come to me when I call or shake a bucket. That said, I also make sure that they realize that they will get their noses or whatever hurt if they get too enthusiastic. And due to the ankle/knee issues, it is hard to get out of their way when they want feed.

I usually get the feed into the bunks, troughs, or whatever in the pens with the gates closed and then open them for the animals to come in. In another field, there is one trough that I can pretty much get the feed into while walking quickly along it, then go to the other one, while they are pushing at the first. I think nothing of taking an empty bucket and walloping them with it, or a cattle sorting stick or whatever. But we DO NOT KEEP MEAN ANIMALS. If they want to fight me for any reason other than a new baby on the ground, they have written their ticket out.
The steers are showing their pleasure at you coming to feed them, and running and kicking up their heels is their only way to do it. Just watch them, and when they get close, make sure you do smack them so they know they are invading your space. Yes, you have to watch their heels as they don't realize that they can hurt you. They will probably calm down a bit once they realize that this is a regular thing. And as they gain a little weight, the running, kicking does usually slow down or stop. I have found that when I have cows or anything crowding me, that a loud, NO and a smack with a stick will get them to back off and realize that they are not going to get something everytime they see me. A regular time to feed will help as they will realize that if you are out there at a different than usual time, that they aren't going to get anything. Routine does help.

Oh me and the steers are OK
I'm not afraid of them and they are gradually becoming not afraid of me
Which is good
I'll definitely show them some
Respect and expect the same in return

The pigs have become pretty friendly
They love a back scratch
 
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Hens and Roos

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Moonpie, Molasses, Dee and Cookie start milk test tomorrow
We have decided we aren't going to do owner sampling going forward
We are going to use an independent tester

Also from our last test the only does who are technical finished are Zamia and Opal in that they were reported as dry on the last test
Opal is officially a *M
And Zamia is officially a *M and now has the designation of GCH
She was previously a CH


What is the difference or benefit from going with an independent tester?
 

OneFineAcre

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What is the difference or benefit from going with an independent tester?

I'm not really sure :)

I think that you can't get certain recognitions if you owner sample.

ETA:
I probably should not have said that "we" decided to not do owner sampling.
Maurine decided :)
 
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goatgurl

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OFA the steers made me laugh and brought back fond? memories. the last steer I had was an angus/jersey cross and he use to come flying across the field at me bucking and kicking but he never ran over me. one time he flew past me and dang near kicked me in the head. like @farmerjan said I started carrying my walking stick and if he got into my space he got that infamous, at my house anyway, aaannnnttt and a whack on the nose. he soon learned the aanntt meant stay back. he lived to the ripe old age of 20 months, freezer camp, and i'm still kickin'.
glad to hear milk testing has started again. good luck with it again this year.
 

farmerjan

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I am not sure about the requirements for goats, but I do know that a farmer cannot get the records on the cows as official if they are on owner sampler nor are they official under certain other designations. Most of that is due to the requirements of the breed associations that the animals are registered with. There are about 20 different designations for cattle, from 1x to 2x to whether the milk recorder is used....
Due to wanting the official records to be unbiased and all that, that is why they require a test to be administered by an unaffiliated party. In fact here, when I became a tester, and still in the manual, it is stated that you cannot be an immediate family member that has an "interest" in the animals being tested. Meaning financial; so that you don't skew the results to make them more favorable for the animal.
Like one of my reg holstein farmers told me a long time ago, to cheat on the test is only hurting themselves. But there have been cases where farmers did not completely milk out the cows the milking prior to the test, or didn't milk them at all before a 1x test, so that it looked like the animal was making alot more milk.
Since I am not knowledgeable in the goat world of milk testing, I can't say exactly what the difference is but I think it is probably along those lines. All the milk test records are automatically transferred to the breed assoc of the cows, and become part of their permanent records for lifetime production and all.
I would be interested in knowing what some of the "letters" mean in the goats, like GCH and *M and all.
 

OneFineAcre

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I am not sure about the requirements for goats, but I do know that a farmer cannot get the records on the cows as official if they are on owner sampler nor are they official under certain other designations. Most of that is due to the requirements of the breed associations that the animals are registered with. There are about 20 different designations for cattle, from 1x to 2x to whether the milk recorder is used....
Due to wanting the official records to be unbiased and all that, that is why they require a test to be administered by an unaffiliated party. In fact here, when I became a tester, and still in the manual, it is stated that you cannot be an immediate family member that has an "interest" in the animals being tested. Meaning financial; so that you don't skew the results to make them more favorable for the animal.
Like one of my reg holstein farmers told me a long time ago, to cheat on the test is only hurting themselves. But there have been cases where farmers did not completely milk out the cows the milking prior to the test, or didn't milk them at all before a 1x test, so that it looked like the animal was making alot more milk.
Since I am not knowledgeable in the goat world of milk testing, I can't say exactly what the difference is but I think it is probably along those lines. All the milk test records are automatically transferred to the breed assoc of the cows, and become part of their permanent records for lifetime production and all.
I would be interested in knowing what some of the "letters" mean in the goats, like GCH and *M and all.

Zamia is a "finished" champion. You become a finished by winning 3 GC under certain conditions.

So, on her registration papers she was CH Little Tots Estate Zamia.

Now, due to earning the milk star she is GCH Little Tots Estate 1*M.

Her daughter Clarabelle is also a finished champion and earned a milk star.

She will be GCH One Fine Acre Clarabelle 2*M.
The 2 meaning she is a second generation milk star.

Their is also a designation of SG like SGCH . SG being superior genetics. This is based on milk testing and linear appraisal and also how the traits are passed on to other generations. Not quite sure how this is earned.

I do know you can't be an Elite Doe being in the top 10 percent if you owner sample.

With owner sampling you have to have one independent validation test within a certain point of lactation.
 

Goat Whisperer

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I knew you would!

I have to agree with Maurine on using an independent tester. I think it could really benefit your herd.
I think that means your girls will be eligible for their SG.
 

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