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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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 Posted - Jul 11 2018 : 07:47:18 AM
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Good morning! Another sultry, hot, summer day here.  I have an "off" day as the plumbers have shut off my water so they can install another BarBarA in the west pasture. So, no cheesemaking today, no bread baking, no laundry. Hopefully they will be finished by milking time later this afternoon. So, I may sew or read or enjoy the birds from my porch swing. May you all enjoy your summer day! |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Boots&Flipflops
499 Posts
Darla
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Posted - Jul 11 2018 : 09:29:12 AM
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Hot is right Janet,
Nothing under 95 for the next 7-10 days here. Ready for Autumn already!!
We have been so busy, I don't know if I am right side up or up side down.
Lot's of readying for house make overs and you name it.
Tom and I did another marathon drive last month. Clear into Kansas and back in 6 1/2 days. But this is why and what we brought home. 
Three Aubrac females. The cow is Undine, the 10 month old is Ethyl and 2 month old is Flower. Beefy beef cows and I love them.
Lacy and Spud are doing excellent. He was cut last month, so a steer he is.
Hope everyone is have a wonderful summer. I know how busy we can all get this time of year. Need longer and cooler days
Enjoy you sewing or books or maybe just relax for a while |
To Succeed In This Life You Need Three Things: A Backbone, A Wish Bone and a Funny Bone. As quoted by Reba McEntire |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jul 11 2018 : 09:38:33 AM
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All finished putting in the new BarBarA waterer. That didn't take them long. Good morning Darla! How exciting. Congratulations on your new additions to your farm. I'm not familiar with the Aubrac breed but they sound amazing. Beef and dairy. I thought I would share this information in case others want to know more. News 15 Things You Should Know About Aubrac Cattle
15 Things You Should Know About Aubrac Cattle
breed, cattle, livestock 26.08.2015 10686
ADDED
3 years ago
Thatsfarming
The Aubrac breed is far from being the most common cattle type in Ireland, but they are on quite a few Irish farms! Aubrac cattle come from France originally, with first records of the breed mentioned about 150 years ago.
They're mainly used in beef production, but can be popular dairy choices. Historically they were milked in France to make Laguiole cheese, a product that is still well-known today.
The cattle are of medium build, with bulls weighing 850-1,100kg, and cows reaching about 750kg. Compared to other continental cattle types, they are average in size; robust with short, strong legs.
They're usually a fawn, golden colour, with black pigment on hooves, horn tips, rims of the ears, cleats and the tip of the tail. Bulls also have black hair around the shoulder area.
The breed is naturally horned. The horns have a slight curvature towards the cattle's back. Some farmers may need to consider this carefully before breeding Aubrac cattle, as they might not want to go through the effort of dehorning their herd. However, leaving non-polled cattle in close proximity to other livestock can be risky for some farms!
Aubrac cattle are hardy, and can adapt to quite tough conditions. Their original environment in Auvergne, France, would have been in harsh mountainous areas, at altitudes of nearly 3,000 feet! They've been bred to thrive even when fed from poor-quality pastures, and the breed can store energy in times of plentiful food which they can then reserve for tougher times. This means that the Irish climate of damp weather with no extreme temperature changes is no problem for Aubrac cattle.
The breed is relatively disease-resistant, with a high immune system. This is great for farmers who want to maintain a healthy, strong herd. The usual bovine illnesses are rarely found in Aubrac cattle.
The calving process for Aubrac cattle is without complications, according to most owners! An average of 97% of births need no assistance whatsoever, making them ideal for one-person farms where help is limited! These cows have good pelvic shapes for birthing, and the weight of calves is quite low at about 35-40kg. Even when crossed with other breeds, the Aubrac dam or sire should pass on these good birthing traits.
They're known for their high fertility, and cows often produce many calves throughout their lives. The gestation period is quite short compared to other breeds, at about 281 days. One calf a year is almost always guaranteed. 98% of cows go back in calf, and some reports note that 382 days is the average interval length for Aubrac cows, with 394 days after second births, and 375 days after more than two births.
Aubrac cattle have great longevity, cutting costs for herd replacements. Their long lifespan means that cows have more time for lactations and calving.
They are docile and popular for their gentle temperament. This also makes for easy milking! This aspect of low-maintenance makes them ideal for farmers who may be only starting off, with little experience. However, it should always be noted that bulls of any breed must be carefully dealt with. Take a look at our article on Bull Safety for reminder on how to keep risks to a minimum.
Aubrac dams have excellent mothering instincts, and will protect their offspring with vigour. This is great for farmers who are anxious about the safety of their young calves, but this trait should also be considered with caution. Aggressive cows can be dangerous to farmers and visitors.
The dairy quality of Aubrac is celebrated, as they produce high-quality milk at about 2250kg per lactation. Their udders are tidy, healthy and resistant to problems. Milk has about 4.2% butter fat.
The Aubrac breed is a good beef producer, with high kill-out weights. Male Aubracs finish quite early, making them suitable for farmers running a shorter production process. The progeny of these cattle are in high demand for feedlots, and they are efficient feed-to-weight converters.
Their meat is well marbled, adding to its tenderness. Quite a lot of dense meat can be gained from Aubrac carcasses, since their ratio of beef against waste products like bone and fat is excellent.
If you’d like to learn more, take a look at the Irish Aubrac Cattle Breed Society website.
For a more general overview of how to choose a breed that suits your farm, you can also read our article on Beef Cattle: Choosing the Right Breed for You.
Photo Credit: Michel Foucher, Wikimedia Commons
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To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
Edited by - NellieBelle on Jul 12 2018 04:15:13 AM |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jul 14 2018 : 5:06:20 PM
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hi darla, glad to see you around here again - i have been trying to pop in a few times a week and was missing you. give me an update on how your milking is going since it is your first time, as i missed out on all the info earlier this spring/summer.
things are good here, just busy. we have the oldest daughter's birthday this week, a big 12, so family is in tomorrow/monday to celebrate. making a "smore" cake right now as she requested it, its my first time so we'll see if the recipe is a keeper. essentially chocolate cake, marshmallow filling sprinkled with roasted graham cracker crumbs, and ganache all on top. |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jul 14 2018 : 5:08:02 PM
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| and darla, forgot to mention that the cowers are gorgeous. a real stately look to them. another breed for me to look into as we really do want to get some beef cows going - patrick wants another breed to dedicate about 4-5 in a herd for just beef. these look like they would be purdy mixed in with the jerseys ;> |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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Wednesday, summer is here!
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