and our weather has been more like last year. Not very many days of sub zero days some wind and snow but not alot. I have grazed on range most of the time I would feed when real cold then next two days warmed up and they left the hay and went back to the pasture. so I only fed in blowouts and places that needed the cover. I cake every 3 days.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

I know that you use the team every day to feed, Wes. That means you are exposed to the low temperatures and the wind. Hats off to you!
My son took a road trip through Wyoming into western Montana during Xmas and he said not only was it brutally cold but the winds were howling all the time.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

Our hay in central Illinois all got put up late so feed value is low.Feeding a liquid protien called mix 30. It has %30 protein and minerals. Dealer said would cut hay fed by a third. I told him that was hard to believe but I would try it. Hay consumption went way down now and price aint too bad $10 cwt. We are thankful for our mild winter.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

How are you feeding the 3 by 3's?
We've been looking at dirt all winter except a couple inches of snow in December. I decided to buy more hay than needed and feed heavy on the worst ground, and give lambs a little cover to rug into.
Going to try pasture lambing in March this year....


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

Thank you Klaus.
I believe he describes it pretty well.

In the brutal cold the teams always start, it was touch and go with tractors.
I feel (as I'm sure you do) that if you dedicate yourself to working with horses and mules the rewards far outweigh the drawbacks.
I hooked at least one team over 320 days last year. It just soothes the soul and I don't feel right doing a job with a tractor that my horses and mules are capable of.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

We've been feeding some with a tractor and wagon and some with teams and sleighs Kevin.
Now all are being fed with teams and sleighs.
When I was haying I hauled a couple hundred ton down where we could plug in my old Farmhand to load sleighs.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum

I think it is funny when the day is cold, wind blowing and snowing, then I think I will take the pickup to cake or tractor to feed hay. then I get stuck and have to work to get unstuck and back home. when I get back and look at the clock I would have been done as soon with the team and I still have to feed the team. It is going to take as long with a pickup or tractor most of the time to do the work. The other day took the pickup got stuck 3/4 of a mile from the house, had to walk back and get the tractor pull the pickup out cake the cows park the pickup at the house then walk back to the tractor to drive it home. the only thing I Gained that day was I walked over 1 1/2 miles in the cold wind and snow. Had to leave the tractor running because it would not start if it got cold.


8 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum