Yesterday, Julie and I brought home three female donkeys (called Jennies) that we plan to use as guard animals for our sheep. All three are pregnant, and as we were loading them, one of the helpers joked that I should hurry home before one of them gave birth in the trailer. When I checked them at 6:30 this morning, it was obvious that one was about to foal.
Around 9:00 am, the foal was born and greeted by our dark brown donkey’s excited braying, as if she was announcing the news across the farm. Within minutes, the newborn stood up and began to nurse. As expected, the mother is very protective, so we still don’t know if the foal is a Jenny or a Jack.
Over the next few days, we’ll put halters on the donkeys and move them into a paddock with an electric fence. Our goal is to have them out with the sheep before the flock grazes the field at the back of the farm.
-Leo
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Last night my piglets enjoyed a little watermelon treat. This litter has been attempted to graze since birth. Now they are very much enjoying exploring their paddock and all the yummy things to munch on.
-Andi
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For most people, the term “pasture-raised” brings to mind animals roaming freely outdoors, grazing and behaving as nature intended. However, the USDA does not regulate how “pasture-raised” is used on meat labels, meaning animals can receive this label regardless of their actual living conditions. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) defines “pasture” as land intentionally managed for livestock grazing, featuring introduced or improved forage species, but the definition is not enforced on labels. That’s why we chose to be a certified Animal Welfare Approved Hog operation by A Greener World. Their demanding yet practical standards mandate that animals have continuous access to true pasture.
On our farm, we plant a diverse mix of warm-season and cool-season species that together meet our livestock's nutritional needs while promoting healthy soil. The lush, 4- to 5-foot-tall forage our pigs currently graze helps insulate the ground, keeping its temperature considerably lower than the surrounding air. During the hottest part of the day, the pigs can be found napping beneath the thick canopy. It continues to impress me how soil covered with dense forage stays warmer in winter and cooler in summer compared to bare ground.
This evening, I took some photos of the piglets born on Mother’s Day. One moment, they’re dashing through the lush paddock; the next, they’re investigating plants to find their favorites. In the second photo, a pumpkin vine’s enormous leaves are on display. This field is living proof that companion planting and biodiversity can enrich the soil, deter pests, and boost crop yields.
-Leo
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