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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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Just a quick tour…
…this past weekend. (Warning: no pigs; they’re off at freezer camp) First stop the shipping pen where this four-year old bull is waiting for his ride to a commercial operation in southwest Virginia. Clark Family farms have been good friends and customers for a number of years. The Clarks also selected one of our young English bulls with Tilbrook Cashtiller genetics. For three years running Cash’s sons topped the English national sales. At one of our auxiliary farms we checked the progress of some of our other yearlings…three pure English calves and their dams. In recent years we’ve found it best to separate the bull and heifers calves at about…
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The Devon sale….
….we’ve had two inquiries about the prices at this past weekend’s Devon show and sale. Eventually, we hope a complete report will be posted at the Red Devon USA website….but here are a few unofficial numbers. The top selling cow was Circle K Devons Mary, a six-year old daughter of Rotokawa 688. She brought $11,500 for breeder Kendall Schrock. The number two cow was Charlie and Martha Trantham’s Lenoir N311 with a calf at side and confirmed pregnant. She netted $9250. The 17 cows in the sale averaged $5,700. The range was from $3750 to $11,500.
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The annual Devon meeting….
….was held at Jacob and Jenny Owens’ beautiful “Brookview Farm” in Kentucky thoroughbred company. And the Owen’s more than hold their own in that high-powered company. The 600-acre farm is home to about 50 mama cows so, as one of the visitors put it, stocking density is not a problem. Calving season had just begun, adding both fun and an extra educational opportunity. The 100-plus attendees included quite a few new faces. If any scene typifies a Devon meeting, it is Gearld Fry (in yellow shirt) lecturing from a wagon bed about the proper cow. Among the listeners was Jacob’s herd, which crowded close and were rewarded to hear that their thymuses…
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The Rotokawa 243 family….
….is beginning to make an impact on Devon herds in this country. After a slow start due to the feud inside the Rotokawa partnership, things have settled down and now we expect a whole new shipment of 243 semen will be heading to Henry Hauptmann’s Rotokawa America. Regina and Tom Tesnow are justifiably proud of their 243 son….a product of Thistle Hill farm they have nick-named Casino. Regina reports he’s been doing a wonderful job with her Tomina Farm herd in Tennessee and you’ll be able to see him at the RedDevon USA meeting later this year. Casino’s half brother Jackpot, another 243 son, is here at Thistle Hill and shares herd…
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Coming out of the chute….
….a young lady at the recent joint meeting of the two Devon associations in North Carolina. She’s sitting on top of a Lenoir Creek Devon which was used in a demonstration. (Yes, they really are gentle!) The two associations did finally decide to bury the hatchet and merge as one under the new name “Red Devon USA”.