Sweat and Soil: A Fall Workout for Cattle Care

 As the days grow shorter and nights cooler, we embark on our seasonal workout plan. We heat our home with a wood boiler, which not only benefits us but also provides warmth for our livestock. By burning wood, we help maintain the health of our woods while opening up new areas for cattle to enjoy shade in the summer and access lush grass for grazing.

Each fall, we assess the wooded areas of our pastures, selecting trees that pose potential hazards to our animals—those that could fall in storms or have been overrun by vines and are no longer fit to remain. This proactive approach gives us peace of mind, knowing we’re creating a safer environment for our livestock.

But cutting down trees is just one aspect of our efforts; April affectionately refers to this as her "winter workout program." Alongside tree removal, we transport the wood to our stove and tidy up branches to promote grass growth in the newly opened spaces. We carefully pile branches into manageable sizes for later burning, ensuring we do so safely, away from wildfire risks. The manual labor involved is significant, and once the snow arrives, moving around becomes even more challenging.

Burning the branches benefits the land in multiple ways. It clears space for new grass to grow and allows vital nutrients and minerals, previously consumed by the trees, to return to the soil, promoting ongoing growth and supporting the health of our fields.

Despite the initial difficulty of motivation as the season starts, each day we push through. The reward of seeing happy cows and a cleaner, healthier woodlot makes it all worthwhile. We love this land and our animals, and we’re dedicated to ensuring they thrive—even if it means a little extra work.

As always, 

Savor, Flourish, Enjoy the ride—and remember to close the gate!

Trevor Moller, April Johnson 

And the team at Stock and Steeds.