This week on the farm was a big one for the livestock team. While the rest of the crew was trellising tomatoes and working hard to weed the fields, livestock crew packed the sheep into a trailer and drove them out to the solar field by campus, where they're working hard to keep the vegetation from obstructing the panels. This is a perfect example of utilizing livestock for sustainable means, as the sheep will keep the grass down and negate the need for weed whackers and lawnmowers, conserving both fuel and time. It's definitely bittersweet for me -- they're off the farm and farther away, but I know they'll love the shade created by the panels (as well as the lush pasture underneath).
The cows are loving the shady pasture they've had access to this week, and we're still waiting on some new calf arrivals to appear! The four calves that we have already are growing fast, and quick to totally ignore the rules of electric fencing; slipping under the fence without getting shocked is a liberty they will cease to have when they're bigger!
This week also saw arrival of Stephanie Levin, the amazing research student who will be conducting research on the dreaded flies that harass the cows through the summer months. We're very excited to see what will result from her efforts! Overall, the animals are thriving and enjoying the mild weather of this week, and definitely looking forward to the coming months of seemingly endless, happy pastures.
Danielle
