Free Fertilizer and the First Calf of the Year

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After a long winter of the cows just hang’n around in the corrals, if it storming.  Or maybe wandering out to eat in the fields, we always have lots of ‘free fertilizer’.

Every spring the manure is removed and hauled out to the fields.

This keeps the cost of farming down, fertilizer is right up there in the very expensive category, right along with fuel.

Even though the manure spreader is old, it still does a really good job.

Because cows digest so little of their food, cow manure won’t burn plants the way nitrogen-rich chicken manure will. Nor does it need to be composted before putting it on the field. Cow manure is the undigested residue of herbivorous matter which has passed through the animal’s gut. The resultant manure matter is rich in minerals. Color ranges from greenish to blackish, often darkening in color soon after exposure to air.

  Once on the field the farmer works it into the soil through plowing or chiseling.  Therefore, rebuilding the soil and feeding the earth worms.

 Our first calf of the year came in the last snow storm.  He is about four days old here. 

See all the manure. Just waiting for the manure spreader.

Linda

15 thoughts on “Free Fertilizer and the First Calf of the Year”

  1. I can remember when my Dad used to haul manure in the spring. He put it on our garden and all the other fields. The smell was so bad everyone knew for miles that he was cleaning out the barn and loafing shed. we could not hang our wash on the line to dry for a few days after he finished. but you are right this is very good for the fields and it is free.

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  3. Hi Linda

    Great “ACTION” photography of good fertiliser being tossed into the air! I still “love” the smell of cattle manure, I guess it gets into
    your blood? You sure will get plenty more from that cow yard, and it is cheap! And it is clearly stamped – “Made in the USA” – ha ha!
    That is a good looking sturdy calf, “micky or heifer”?

    Cheers
    Colin (HB)

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  5. Good post…I always call that stuff valuable ORGANIC fertilizer, because of course it is just that. Calf is a little cutie!
    And thanks so much for your kind and caring words and thoughts. They mean a lot.

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  6. I’m with Colin….those manure flingin’ action shots are the best!! At first, i thought it was crows flying around. Ha! What a maroon, eh? I love your photo in your header….so beautiful!

    Happy Easter to you and your family!
    Fondly,
    Whit

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  7. Love the photos of the field work. I want cow poo! Lovely stuff. I remember when a neighbor used to spread the stuff. Her garden was the best! I’ll have to compost the chicken poo. The baby and Mom make a neat photo.

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  8. You can’t beat free.

    We had chickens so that was our fertilizer source. We would just put it in the compost pile then spread it out and till it in the fall. By spring it was perfect.

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  9. Hmmm brings back memories with an ODOR. I remember the smell of the barnyard thawing was a sure sign of spring. And I knew spring had really arrived when dad got out the old sh– flipper and moved the fertilizer to the fields. the new black baby is a beauty. Wishing many healthy little calves for you.

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  12. Yeah..I love the smell of cow manure also. Although if I ever say that to anybody they think I’m just a few steps from an asylum somewhere. But when you grow up with it, smelling it after being away is a joy.

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  15. Here’s your peak into SMALL farming. Our manure spreader is tiny and pulled by our small ATV. If you aren’t careful, everything goes flying everywhere and ends up in your hair or down your shirt ;-).

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