My October celebration continues with an
off-our-farm visit to another local farm – a dairy farm smack dab in the middle
of chopping corn.
That was the plan.
We are a beef operation. Our cows feed primarily by grazing (100%
grass-fed) so the process of putting corn up for cows, is very different and
interesting.
I wanted to see how this dairy’s huge
storage area (bunk) was filled with feed.
Feed that would be used by their milk cows throughout the next 12
months. (Note: I observed the same
operation at a different local dairy last season. See Blog “Silage Up Close” 9-17-15 - like I mentioned, I find this activity very
interesting.)
The chopper runs almost continuous. When the silage trailer, hauled by a tractor,
is filled, it returns to the farm storage facility for unloading. Another tractor/trailer is already waiting to
move into place to be filled. This
routine repeats over and over and over…
At the storage facility, another crew of
two spread and pack the chopped corn (silage) in order to obtain the maximum
storage capability and to ferment the chopped vegetation.
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| when the bunk is full, the white plastic will cover the silage and be peeled back as the silage is used |
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| freshly chopped corn - see the stalks, leaves and kernels |
The silage cut now has to last for one
year until the entire process of planting, growing, cutting and storing starts
again.
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only a vey few of the over 400 'happy' milk cows on this large dairy farm
|
The result…happy cows. Happy cows provide delicious milk. Milk provides healthy nutrition for your
family.
I thought this getting feed was all for
the cows, but now I realize it is really all for me.
I am a daily milk drinker! I love milk!
Note: Daughter Becky is behind the wheel in the top video.
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