Coffee anyone ?

[Weldman]

@RR Homestead Sorry you lost the wanted heifer
@fuzzi how do you make your yogurt?

Middle of night wake up again. Finally just got on up at 3. Having some hot tea, turned on TV -- unusual -- and find we're apparently at war with Iran. Bombings all all that. More turmoil. TV off! Not ready for that.

I'm going to have breakfast. Back at a more normal time.

When we have boots on the ground is when we have a war, right now it's just a tag you're it. We bombed their nuclear facilities awhile back, nothing came of that either and that was more of a major blow.

High of 36°F today coldest day of the week and we are back up to mid 50's. Raging wildfire north of Billings, MT of over 5k acres on fire cause someone didn't put their slash burning pile out all the way. I read that and think of my pyromaniac neighbor who likes to burn trash down at the bottom of the ridge. She has started two so far with no repercussions. Before I put a fence in I might put a firebreak in between her and me.

 

[farmerjan]

Well I'd post a picture of granny but she's likely burger cow now. She went into labor today but didn't push and the calf died. The calving camera was down so I went off of her behavior and I let the calf die. I feel so guilty. It was a beautiful heifer. Exactly what I bred for. I'm trying to graft a calf on her but she's already aware of what's going on and I'm just not sure it's worth it. The only reason I'm attempting is because DH doesn't want to see her go to auction and we have no room for her in the freezer. We'll see how it goes I guess but she's showing zero interest other than wanting to smash the calf to death. She's an older cow and knows what's normal so we'll see. Without access to sedatives I don't see much hope. Plus this will mean I can't take this load home for another month. By the time I got them squared away I won't be able to leave until after the last dairy heifer is squared away which will be weeks post calving I'm sure.

I despise blackberry bushes. We fight them on our fences every year. That's why we planted thorn less in supplement tubs ONLY so they can't root into the ground and I don't have to fight the thorns.

I am going to look into this! I have a instant pot still here but my yogurt maker is at home. I figured it would be too much trouble to do it any other way so I've gone without. Great idea!

I'm going to sound cold and heartless... but I am not one to mince words...
Granny cow needs to go to auction and get the $1000 or more that she will bring as a cull cow to off set travel expenses for the next trip to the new farm. IF, she is not going to take a calf, she is not of any use... AND.... this was going to be her last calf... She did not have a live calf... she has to go. The calf could have already been dead and that is why she was not "pushing" to try to have it... Feeling guilty does nothing to change the situation...
Sorry, but you have other priorities like getting moved, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES, to keep fooling with a cow that neither wants or is willing to take a graft calf... and you were considering her worth as it was for the move... Sell her, and move on with getting yourself moved. That is the priority... not a cow that refuses to even want to salvage her place on the farm.
It's not cruel, it is a fact of life.
You have the soon to be fresh heifer that is much more important to get back for... with one more load already moved and waiting for you guys at the NEW farm/home....

 

[farmerjan]

Understand, this is from someone that cried when we had to ship an old bull that had been very faithful and a real good breeder.... and I cried when I had to put down my original first beef cross cow that I raised on a nurse cow and gave me something like 13 calves over her lifetime... and when she got down, I was the one to say goodbye to her... BUT.... you also have to be practical... and this cow is NOT worth you messing up your whole schedule to get moved when she is not going to be a contributing member of it going forward.

 

[Mini Horses]

When we have boots on the ground is when we have a war, right now it's just a tag you're it. We bombed their nuclear facilities awhile back, nothing came of that either and that was more of a major blow.

Hope nothing comes here -- no matter the "name". No nuclear is needed, no terrorists either. I'm too close to largest naval facility in the world for bombings to start.

 

[drstratton]

Oops. It was @drstratton ... So, how do you make your yogurt?

My Instant Pot has a yogurt setting. I wish I had access to raw milk, but sadly I do not. So I have to use Fairlife filtered milk, whatever % you want, I use whole or 2%. I use Fage yogurt as my starter, but you can use any yogurt with active cultures.

Once you've made a batch of yogurt you can save & freeze however much you want for future batches. I use a silicone ice cube container for that. I also freeze the extra Fage and use that up first. I've been told that your first batch makes the strongest starter.

1/2 gal Fairlife or any unpasteurized milk
2 Tbls. Fage yogurt
Combine in your IP.
Push the yogurt button.
Choose how many hours you want it to incubate. 7-10. I do 7 hours, because I like mild yogurt.
Cover
I have a glass lid for my IP. Yogurt does not use pressure.
Once the time is up, place it in the fridge covered, overnight.
If you want Greek yogurt you will need to strain it for 1.5-2 hours. I usually remove about 1.25 - 1.5 cups of whey. You can adjust that to your liking.
You can use cheese cloth or a yogurt strainer. I use a yogurt strainer.

This is the one I have and it does an amazing job. There are two choices of this brand. I have the stainless steel.

Stainless steel mesh

Amazon.com

Plastic mesh

Amazon.com

 

[drstratton]

Hope nothing comes here -- no matter the "name". No nuclear is needed, no terrorists either. I'm too close to largest naval facility in the world for bombings to start.

I'm less than an hour from the Hanford Nuclear site. I think that would also be a target. If I'm not looking out the window, I won't know what hit me.

 

[drstratton]

Morning all. I'm going to move away from the thought of being blown up and wish everyone a beautiful day!

 

[SageHill]

@RR Homestead sorry about the calf. I'd be sending the cow away, she's had good years with you, any thing more at this point is a feed bill that you don't need. $ from auction is a plus vs feed. Practical. If we all had unlimited $ we'd have way way more critters.
@Weldman -- yeah - fire break between you and the known firestarter - only makes sense. Especially if you don't and then there's - would'a should'a could'a won't take care of it.

Still suffering summer weather here in February - 90+ yesterday.

And ... ravens yeah ravens. There are two that have been hanging around for awhile. Yesterday I had a ewe (yeah another unplanned) lamb 2 ewe lambs - not that long before it was time to put the sheep away for the evening. Not a first timer ewe. Those rotten ravens were all over the afterbirth - pretty fresh - and all the ewes were as far away as they could get. Poor mama ewe and her twins were maybe 15-20 feet from the ravens. Mama ewe very unsettled.
Wasn't sure about the lambs - would check and get away go back and check. Rinse repeat.