a day in the life of a dairy man during kidding season

Derek and I are on the schedule for Friday/Saturday/Sunday during the day and Tuesday/Wednesday during the night (1o pm, 12 am and 2 am) but it does not mean that we get the rest of the time off, as there is always something that needs to be done around the farm. I am going to try to describe in a most accurate way the tasks that we have to accomplish during, let’s say,  a friday.

The day starts at 6 am. Derek and I split the tasks and I usually stay at the main barn while Derek goes to the barn down below. First we both feed the new borns, which we have to do every four hour, and the time we spend doing that depends on how many kids we have in the nursery. Then, Derek takes the goats to the lower barn to feed them grain and start milking them. As of today, we have 23 goats to milk by hand, and we get about 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon per goat. While Derek gets started with the milking, I put a new layer of straw for the goats’ bedding, feed hay to the goats, sheep and bucks, and refill the water for everyone. I give special care to the goats with special needs (some needs a massage of the udder with essential oil, a couple need essential oil and sulfur massage for their skin issues, etc.). Then, I meet Derek and help milking if necessary. We split the cleaning duties (milking room, milking parlor, etc.) and then bottle feed the older kids. When we are done with that, we go check on the chikens (refill water, feed them and collect the eggs). By then, it is around 10 am and before we take a break, we go check on the does and the babies to see if everything is okay. If we are lucky, we then take a break and get something to eat. I’ve been really liking oatmeal, steamed apples, walnuts and honey for breakfast. I can’t get enough of it. If we are not so lucky, a goat is about to have babies, so breakfast will have to wait…. Sometimes we get 1 hour break, sometime 10 minutes. The last 3 days, we just had 29 kids and we were busy from 6 am until 8 pm, with only a short amount of time to grab something to eat. We start the evening chores around 4:30 or 5 pm, and usually a goat waits for that time to have a kid, so it pushes everything back.  Then we do it all over again. Feed the new born. Derek takes the goat for grains and milking. I feed the goats, sheep and bucks. Put a fresh coat of straw for bedding. Refill water. Go down to help with milking and cleaning up. Botttle feed the babies. Go back up to check on the new borns and feed them. Hopefully, no one is about to have a baby so we can call it quit for the day…. After 8 pm we come home, get cleaned up, eat something and by that time, I am pooped ready for bed. And we start all over again the next day. By the third day, I am exhausted and we usually sleep in the morning and take monday off. Doing the chores and delivering babies at the same time is a lot of work!

Our days are busy but it does not even include making cheese! The life of a dairy farmer is a busy one and I think you need to be really passionate about what you do to keep doing it. Unfortuanately, besides long hours, love of the animals, cheese and the lifestyle, financial success is not always present. Sometimes, love and passion are not enough because saddly, it does mot pay the bills : )

Farmers are awesome and they deserve a lot more credit for what they do. They rock!

CC