From the Barns: The age-old question

The fat market has moved lower now that the holiday buy is completed, but I don’t see the justification. There are no more cattle out there and demand seems to be just as good. I would think it could be because of competing meats like pork, but that spread has been in place all year. It certainly has me pondering the age-old question of how the market gets manipulated, and by whom? Still, $1.75 for fats with $4.50 corn works pretty well.

The more winter-like weather has slowed down our manure application somewhat. We are sharpening our tools and waiting patiently for the next window of opportunity to pump down our barn for the winter. We need a little extra space in the winter as we have run through waterers that trickle water into the below floor pit to keep the watering bowls flowing in freezing conditions. It can be a balancing act if our storage is tight, but we must add water to the manure to be able to pump it anyway. The cattle manure is premium quality fertilizer, but it can be a lot of work getting it applied. The tremendous amount of organic matter in the manure is really great for our soil, but it’s so thick and heavy that it’s hard to keep it flowing through our pumps and hoses.

Our good friend and veterinarian Dr. Alan is coming out this week to ultrasound the not-so-virgin heifers. The open ones we can get on feed and on down the road and the bred ones get permanent tags and sorted to another pasture for the winter. We’ve gotten started revaccinating this year’s calf crop as time and help allows. We’re feeding several cow groups and letting them continue to graze and gain age on their calves since the grass has made a comeback with recent moisture. There is no wheat to graze, but it will be available next spring when winter subsides.

Deer hunting and basketball is consuming all the spare time these days. Everybody has a freezer full of venison, but all our meals are at any of a growing list of restaurants somewhere between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers on our way to a local gymnasium. Is “bleacher butt” a terminal illness? Have a very merry and blessed Christmas.