I’m Cold, But My Cattle Aren’t

When the weather stays bitterly cold, like it did recently, I might be frozen, but I don’t worry about my cattle because their winter coats are better than mine. Cattle have a fluffy layer of hair next to their bodies, topped with longer, water-resistant hair. This natural barrier traps warmth, acting as nature’s own L.L. Bean insulated jacket. Their winter coats are doing a good job of containing their body heat when the snow on their backs doesn’t melt.

Extra food also helps them stay warm, which requires the farmer to ignore the cold to deliver the hay. Not only did my fingers freeze in last week’s prolonged arctic blast, but the plastic wrap on one of the huge hay bales was frozen and wouldn’t let go. After I struggled unsuccessfully to release the hay from its wrapping, husband Bruce used a crowbar to pry the plastic wrap off. The outer layer was still frozen, but our hungry cattle attacked it with their horns, breaking it apart to reach the sweet hay inside.

Besides food, livestock need water, so when we aren’t grappling with hay bales, we’re filling watering stations. With all that hay to digest, each bovine needs at least 10 gallons of water each day. Two of our fields have automatic waterers with heaters, but the other two have to be filled twice daily with a hose. The hose is stored in the house to keep it from freezing. So we drag it out and often get wet while wrestling with it.

Cattle are hierarchical creatures, and the older, bigger bovines are bullies. They’ll push the calves away from food and often kick them out of the shelter they are supposed to share. That’s why my four weanling calves have their own private run-in shed that protects them from wind, rain, and snow. This shed faces south, so when the sun shines, it’s toasty warm for these youngsters.

My elderly Highland steers, Finn and Curious Bleu, have their own pasture and choose to stay out in the weather, sleeping on uneaten hay that protects them from the freezing ground. They are my official “farm greeters.” We store bakery scraps donated by Crust and Crumb that visitors can feed to them. When guests drive up, Finn and Curious Bleu run to the fence and beg like dogs. When the baked goods run out, they get carrots.

Meanwhile, I bundle up and face the cold to tend my herd of 18 amazing beasts. These cattle are all people-friendly, and Curious Bleu, a 2,000-pound hunk of shaggy delight, even gives people rides on his back. If you want to spend some quality time with my gentle steers and calves, check out the Miles Smith Farm website and sign up.

Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, where she offers the ultimate Cow Experience, including cow riding. She can be reached at carole@soulecoacing.com