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Sorry we missed the fall newsletter and the Spring Newsletter is delayed. But, hope does spring eternal and we are still here.

The newest Hog Enterprise is finally on-track with two pregnant Gilts, Tammy and Edie, bred to a purebred Tamworth Boar from Ohio. Artificial insemination with fresh semen is an adventure! Timing is everything. We anticipate piglets in July. These will be 3/4 Tamworths and we’ll try to market some as breeding stock. A few may be kept for market hogs, but won’t be ready to eat until Spring 2009. It takes a good 9 months to grow a pork chop.

The calf crop started early in April. Our first two line-bred Galloways are bright little chunks with good bone. Thanks to neighbor Ben and Karen, Hans was born to Tulpe with quite some effort. Barb first had to push him back to straighten a leg, then Karen found Ben to come and assist with a hard delivery. All are now doing well. Central Minnesota—where the neighbors are strong, the mud is deep, and the calves are good looking.

The first batch of Plymouth Rocks are in the brooder and will be ready in July. The 2007 Plymouth Rocks (May-July) dressed out at 3.5 pounds average weight with a feed conversion of 8# feed/ # weight gain. This was on droughty pasture. No profits there! The July– October batch dressed out at 3.6 pounds average weight with a feed conversion of 5.3 # feed/ # weight gain. This was on pastures that recovered with rotation of cattle out and the fall rains. Good rain is appreciated.

The White Tail RidgeLine

Barb’s replacement hens are also in the brooder. It will take a good 15 weeks before we enjoy pullet eggs. The old Hens destiny lies in the crock pot. Those of you who would like some stewing hens let me know. In the meantime, they’ve been kicked out of the coop and the few eggs we have go to our regular customers and the frying pan. Found a clutch of eggs they’d been hiding this morning which the Hog Sisters greatly enjoyed.

Flossie, our Nanny Goat, keeps us in rich, delicious milk. Her peak was 4 quarts/day for about 3 months and she is still giving 3 quarts at 5 months. Paul is expert at making Queso Blanco goat cheese, Barb has made some goat butter which is light and creamy. Friend and neighbor Jo takes 1 1/2 “nanny goat shares” per week which helps with feed and Grandma Perk gets her daily fresh goat’s milk, too. Unfortunately, I believe Flox jumped the gate before he departed for market and Flossie may be pregnant and due in July. If so, our milk supply ends in May and will pick up again in August. Some uncertainty there.

Poor sister Chuckie helped out when Flossie’s baby Flodemi took a turn for the worse last November. Chuckie nursed her back to good health and Flodemi will join the little goat herd soon. Right now she is still at Chuckie’s —like one of those relatives who come to visit and just never go home.

Update: Flodemi did make it home, thinks Barb is Chuckie, talks constantly (learned from Chuckie?), and is fond of alfalfa leaves.