Several goat kids have been born on our farm recently, and now we are awaiting the birth of a foal to my Paint mare, Kid Bo Gandi. For the new moms, I spread bedding in their maternity stalls, from some good wheat straw stored in our granary. Every time I make fresh bedding for an animal, I think of my dad and his dad and the horse stalls on my home farm. Dad and Grandpa were insistent that my sister and I spread the bedding just right - no clumps of straw - take the flake of straw and shake it out to make a soft, not lumpy, bed of straw.
Dad called today to go over the preparation list and be sure I'm ready - keep the mare in at night; check her for signs that foaling time is near; then check her every 2 hours; make sure she has a fresh bed of straw; iodine to spray the naval of the foal; once it's born, make sure the foal stands and nurses. My dad is 88 and has been farming and raising and caring for animals throughout his life. His list reminds me of all the nights through calving season when he would go to the barn every 2 hours through the night to check the cows and be there to help them if needed.
Retired from the farm and the cattle business for only 3 years, Dad follows the news about agriculture and the markets every day, keeps me up on relevant issues, and makes sure I'm on top of my farming responsibilities. As I work to carry on our family farming traditions, I'm grateful for my training in the fine art of stall bedding.
From the Lazy T Ranch
From the Lazy T Ranch in the Kansas Flinthills
