Bestyet Blog
Learn about cattle husbandry, genetics, and more!
Alvin H. Sanders on “The Dignity of the Breeder’s Calling”
Sometimes it helps revive our sense of purpose to review the broader picture, looking back at the masters of breeding who came before us. This eloquent excerpt from the writing of Alvin H. Sanders, author and editor of The Breeder’s Gazette in the early 20th century, strikes us as still quite relevant today, allowing for the perhaps extreme opinion of Sanders.
Choosing sires for next year
Winifred: My daughter Martha and I have been going through our cow list and planning matings for the coming breeding season. Now that this spring’s calves are off to a good start so we can evaluate last year’s matings, we’re looking at our overall plan for the next...
When I First Came to the Farm
I had so much to learn about cows and farming–but how I loved it and still do to this day! Looking for a summer job It was a super windy early spring day just like this one, 39 years ago in 1981 when I first came to this prairie farm, driving down from Wisconsin...
Training Heifers to Milk
Photo above by Mary Lou Shaw. Milking a family cow in a stanchion. A reader has asked for a blog post about training heifers and cows to milk. We will cover the spectrum from training large groups of heifers with the cow herd to training a single heifer or cow...
Truly Dual-Purpose Milking Shorthorns
“The Breed That Fills Every Need”—Winifred gives a quick overview of the uses and history of dual-purpose Milking Shorthorns
Cattle Stockmanship for Easier Handling
Each of these points of stockmanship work together to develop a relationship of trust between our animals and us that make life on the farm that much more pleasant. As these skills are shared with us from experienced stockmen, we can pass them onto others and continue the fulfilling tradition of carefully tending livestock.
Reflections of a Second-Generation Breeder
The cows chose me, you could say. I was born into the family legacy of heritage grazing cattle, and I’ve never known life without them. I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. I’m here to carry on the legacy from the past and bring it forward into the future.
Grazing in this Challenging Year—and It’s Not Over Yet!
2019 was a challenging grazing year, but here’s what we did and what we learned about how to best manage pastures.
Feeding Calves on our Farm
Whether feeding on bottle, bucket, or nurse cow, there are plenty of options for raising calves. Here’s what we’ve learned over the decades.
Bestyet James—First Bestyet Dutch Belted A.I. Sire
Bestyet James was our first homebred Bestyet A.I. sire 35 years ago who started us on the path of providing a wide range of quality genetics from this rare breed that has been otherwise bypassed by the commercial dairy industry.
The Saga of Meriville Peerless: Long Journey from Northumberland to the Midwest and Back Again
This history of one of our most influential bulls is told in the words of the late Kenneth Hoffman, our original master breeder at Meriville Farm.
“Whatever You Do, Don’t Get Rid of the Dutch Belts”: Dorothy O’Neill Hornback’s Impact on the Breed
For six decades, the O’Neill herd preserved irreplaceable Dutch Belted genetics as other breeders sold out. This dedication is one of the major reasons that the breed is still alive and thriving today.
Spring Grazing Management
Here are the cows in April a couple years ago, gleaning some new green growth in an large paddock that had winter stack manure applied. Spring at last We’ve been thankful for signs of spring at last, but it sure comes in fits and starts this year, doesn’t it? As I...
Introducing Polled, Native, A2/A2 Milking Shorthorn Bull: Finocchio-N-P
We are excited to start using this impressive young bull from the Cantagree grazing dairy in Utah. Not only is he polled (heterozygous) and A2/A2, but he is a rare combination of the best native bloodlines for components, reproductive efficiency, sound type and milk...
The Bulls We Like for Heifer Calving Ease
Calving ease is a feature of our Milking Shorthorn and Dutch Belted bloodlines in general. Their moderate size, medium-to-small bone, and favorable rump structure result in most of our females calving unassisted. We do monitor them in case of malpresentation or...
Thankful for Cows that Adapt to Reality
We are thankful that our cows adapt well to whatever the weather throws them, thanks to their dual purpose genetics. Nevertheless, like all of you, no doubt, we will find the warm and rich days of sun-drenched pastures very welcome.
It’s About Hearing Your Stories
The other day a Wisconsin farmer called to place a semen order, and I couldn’t help remembering the first time he called, about 24 years ago, when one of my boys was just learning to write and tried to take the phone message since I was out. Too shy to explain to the...
Fall Grazing—Saving the Best for Last
As I write this, our cows are happily grazing a stand of frosted turnips, oats, and peas planted in August. They have no interest in the wheat/red clover clippings we offer in the hay bunk at home—in fact they hardly need to come home to drink. They have made...