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Solving the problem…
…of the fence board shortage. With fence boards almost impossible to find, Curt has solved the problem by cutting down a dead oak tree. We estimate it’s about 80 years old and the main trunk measures 19 feet by almost 3 feet around. A neighbor has recently put out a sign advertising he now has a portable sawmill. And we have a half-dozen oak, walnut and cherry trees down and waiting. Inexperienced as we are, we’re not sure we can say “problem solved” but there’s every reason to hope we’ll be able to continue board fencing with our 300 acres of aging forest. David
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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 postscript…
…includes selecting the “cover bull”…that’s the bull that checks for open cows…the ones that didn’t take in Artificial Insemination or Embryo Transplant. Selected for the job this year is Prince…the son of the last cow Wooz selected on our final trip to England. Prince is from Ashott Barton’s Tulip line. His sire another favorite Cutcombe Jaunty. We generally wait at least a week before bringing the bull to the herd. Many breeders release the cow right out of the chute to the bull but Church feels traces of heat can remain. Whether AI or transplant, we think it’s best to allow the embryo to firmly settle. It also provides separation in…
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After the storm…
…a mother and son relax on the comparative warmth of an unrolled bale of hay. It provides some insulation against the frozen ground below. David
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Winter feeding…
…takes several forms at Thistle Hill. This is my personal favorite because we’re feeding the soil as well. The cows follow behind the tractor as it unrolls the bale of hay. They’ll eat up to 60%..the rest becomes organic matter enriching the soil…feeding the microbes and, in turn, the plants. Oh and tonight the new calves will sleep on it…staying warm off the cold ground. And yes New England, that’s what we call winter in Virginia! 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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A lucky stroke…
By grandson Church who bred this two-month old heifer. The semen tested poorly but we liked the son Church produced last year so we tried again. She’s the daughter of Defender, the most recent star of the famous Champson herd. Her brother will have the chance to breed for the first time this year. We like Defender very much and are pleased to have him round out our battery of pure traditional English Devon bulls. Up for discussion is whether to risk a live flush which is now scheduled for about a week. The dam of this heifer was our TDA 4…a “smallesh” cow even by English Devon standards. This…
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The one that got away…
…almost. Some years ago we were very pleased with our Sunset bulls from Gavin Hunter ‘s Tilbrook Herd in England. So were others and one day we realized we had sold the last of the blood line. Thanks to AI tanks we have just solved the problem. Church found some Sunset semen in an old Folly Farm tank and Sunset is back on our pastures…in the form of this three-month old bull calf. Making this an all the more exciting mating…we AI-ed Sunset to our new young Tulip cow. She’s from the Ashott Barton herd in England. We’ve barely finished this year’s calving and it’s already time to start planning…
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Yes I have favorites…
…and TDA 7 has been mine for the past 10 years! And this morning she further endeared herself by presenting us with a perfect 64-pound heifer. Somehow 7 has maintained her girlish figure (and udder) all these years. And yes 7 is a Cashtiller daughter…who may well be the best Devon cow in history. Her bull calves topped the British sales three years running…just as she earlier had won three Grand Championships in national shows. And her breeder, Gavin Hunter, is once again serving as the president of the British Society. And to share the credit, the sire of this heifer is Essington…named for the Brian Drake farm where this…
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Grass is always greener—II
Just a quick add…pictures of the turnips we’re getting (with our hound) and the radishes. Add in the roots we left behind and you get an idea of the wonderful impact in the soil! David