Eating for heating!

Having so many farm animals at the farm winter can be tough. Not only hard on Farmer Pat who does all the chores but on the animals too. Calf coats are placed on the calves in the barn. The sheep...well, they are covered in a wool coat that anyone would envy. But I often wondered and was concerned for the goats. What kept them warm? You can see a winter coat of hair that looks thicker than what you see during the summer, but it never looked thick enough to keep them warm during the harsh WI winters....until I read
Meghan Leonard blog.

I found her story so interesting I reposted here for you to learn as I did, that goats eat for heating! Enjoy.

As the nighttime temperatures remain low throughout much of the country, I have to pause and compare my winter wardrobe to my goats’.  I go all-out for morning chores: insulated coat, thermal underclothes, denim jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, long scarf, open-finger gloves and knit hat. My goats meet me at the gate dressed in their fluffiest hair, and…wait… just fluffy hair! And I still have the nerve to complain about the cold!

Goats are able to generate amazing amounts of heat to withstand the cold, due to the amazing design of their digestive system.  They have four stomachs, which is not exactly breaking news. But the process in the rumen, the largest of the stomachs, is fascinating and understanding the process can help us to keep our caprine friends warm all winter.

It is a basic tenet of goat nutrition that they need plenty of roughage – mostly hay in cold weather.  The hay has cell walls made of cellulose, and it’s the fermentation and breakdown of that cellulose that provides the fuel for the goat’s internal furnace.  When hay is put into the manger, the goats eat the hay quickly, but don’t really chew it well enough to turn it into heat.  This is where the amazing adult goat rumen comes into play, since as the goat finishes eating; the real “hot” work begins.

As hay enters the goat’s rumen, it settles in layers.  The bottom layer is the softened hay from yesterday (and the grain from today).  The middle layer is today’s hay, and at the top is gas.  The gas is created by fermentation from tiny microbes that live in the goat’s rumen.  These microbes start anaerobically digesting the cellulose from hay in the bottom and middle layers, which releases gas, plus begins generating heat for the goat to stay warm.

Now, we all know the goat can’t keep the gas, or it will bloat.  Nature handles this with the contractions of the rumen, which causes a bolus of softened hay (cud) to come back up the goat’s esophagus via a burp, and into the mouth for re-chewing.  When the “cud chewing” begins, the gas is also released.  According to a study by Colorado State University, up to 5 liters of gas are released by a goat in an hour of cud chewing!

Once the goat chews the cud and re-swallows it, the microbes continue working on the cellulose again.  These microbes are delicately balanced in the rumen, which is why all feed changes need to be done slowly, so microbe development can keep pace.  Most of the work is actually completed by the microbes, and without them the goat can’t keep warm.  The heat from the rumen’s fermentation can actually be compared to the breakdown in a compost pile and the high heat generated from it!  This is why many goat keepers advocate an endless supply of hay in the winter, since without adequate roughage the goat’s internal furnace will not function correctly.

Once again, this noble creature shows us humans a thing or two about efficiency.  Now if only I could get all the comfort food I eat in the winter to work as an internal furnace!

Meghan Leonard

Meghan Leonard is a veterinary medical technology student, leading to vet school. She lives and learns at her barnyard in southcentral PA, where books and practical goat experience combine.


Visit Meghan's blog at:
https://hoeggerfarmyard.com/eating-for-heating-how-a-goats-rumen-works/

Keep Your Pets Safe in the Cold

Winter on the farm can be beautiful. As well as in your own back yard.  That is, when we are on the inside looking out. Outside it's brrrrr....

So remember your pets when sending them outdoors with the helpful reminders below.

·       Just because your dog has fur, it does not mean they can withstand the cold.

·       LadyBug, Mulberry Lane Farm’s 3 year old Springer Spaniel is bred to be an outdoor dog and can handle the cold weather much better than say a Yorkshire Terrier. A doggie sweater is an excellent idea for small dogs or dogs with little to no hair.

·       Just because your dog has a sweater on doesn’t mean they can be outside for extended periods of time. Dogs lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract.

·       Watch those feet! Your pet can get salt, ice, and chemical ice treatments caught in their footpads. To minimize damage to their paws, wipe them with a warm cloth when they come inside.

·       Cats too need extra care in the winter. Wind chill affects our pets just as it does people. Provide an enclosed area lined with straw or blankets for your outdoor pet.

·       Heated dog beds can be used to keep your outdoor dog warm. For both dogs and cats, heated bowls keep water and food from freezing.

·       Exercising your pet in winter is very important. In the cold, it is best to walk your dog more often for shorter periods of time. OR, consider a day per week at your local doggie day care. There they have an indoor play area and great socialization.

CAUTION!

·       Beware of antifreeze - It is highly toxic! Antifreeze tastes good to pets, but even a small amount can kill your pet.

·       Do not allow your dog to run across frozen bodies of water. Just as it’s not wise for you to walk onto iced over bodies of water. It too is dangerous for your dog.

·       During the winter, cats sometimes sleep under the hood of your car or in the garage where it is warm and comfortable. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or rapping on the hood.

Fun Fact.

·       Did you know that your dog and cat's normal temperature (100.5-102.5) is a few degrees higher than yours? (97.8-99.1) Winter is the perfect time of year to snuggle up – so have fun and stay warm!

·       Be a responsible pet owner. Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered!  

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MeRry ChRisTMas!

Mulberry Lane Farm visits TV26 WGBA

Dixie visited the set of NBC26 Today show to share her wooly secrets to keeping warm during the winter.

Wisconsin winters can be harsh. One farm animal we envy is the sheep.  They have a thick wool coat that is perfect for staying dry & warm in any climate.

·       Female sheep are called ewes. Male sheep are called rams. Lambs are baby sheep. A group of them are referred to as a flock.

·       Shetlands are small and slow-growing. It can take two to three years to reach their adult weight.

·       Rams usually weigh approximately 105 lbs and ewes about 85 lbs. Lambs (baby sheep) are born weighing around 5 lbs.

·       Sheep have horizontal slit-shaped pupils giving them excellent peripheral vision allowing them to see behind themselves without turning their heads.

·       Like cows, they have four-chambered stomachs, burping up their food to re-chew their cud which plays a vital role in digesting their food.

·       Shetlands live 10 to 12 years.

·       This breed is noted for its very fine, soft wool and the high quality of its meat.

·       Wool is one of the best insulating fibers known to man. It is moisture wicking.

·       Their wool repels water, but humidity is absorbed. That’s why sheep do well in both winter and summer.

·       We get wool from our sheep when we shear them each spring. We shear our sheep once a year. In the south you would shear twice a year.

·       One sheep produces anywhere from 2 to 30 lbs. of wool depending on its size and breed.

Xmas Gift That Keeps On Giving

An annual pass to Mulberry Lane Farm is the perfect gift this holiday season! 

Days and days of fun spent with our animal friends! $30 per person for unlimited visits! Passes include one free souvenir cup in spring and one free pick your own pumpkin in fall.

Great gift giving idea for Grandma & Grandpa's. Don't give another toy they'll break within minutes of opening, clothing they'll never wear, or a toy that is played with a few days then ends up in the back of the closet. 

Give a gift that they'll never forget...days and days of fun at the farm!

 

Simple as 1, 2, 3. 

1. Email us the name of the Annual Pass holders.

2. Drop a check in the mail to cover the cost of the passes.

3. Receive the passes in the mail or we can mail them directly to the recipients. 

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2013 Season Comes to an End.

It's time to put the animals into the barn and prepare them for a long winter's nap.

Our 2013 season has come to an end and we want to thank all of our new farm friends who visited us and made 2013 such a blessing. And to our guests that come year after year, and sometimes several times a year...we'll miss you and look forward to seeing you come spring.

Our 2014 season begins on May 1st when spring comes alive with the birth of all the new baby farm animals. Don't forget to visit our blog for updates on the farm animals throughout the winter. 

Until May...stay safe and warm and God Bless.

FREE PuMpKin!

It's official...the calender confirms it! Fall has begun and our Pumpkin Patch is opening.

Mulberry Lane Farm celebrates the PuMpKiN harvest Fri Sept 20th to October 31st. Each guest receives a FREE PuMpKiN that you pick yourself from nearly 10 acres of pumpkins!

Families will have loads of fun winding through the corn field to find the hidden PuMpKin patch. It's like being lost in the candy store.  Each pumpkin looks better than the next.  Allow yourself plenty of time to zigzag through the corn field and to find just the right pumpkin.
 
But first enjoy your guided tour of the farm.

-Ride a Pony
-Milk a Cow
-Catch a Chicken
-Kiss a Pig
-Cuddle a Kitten
-Enjoy a Hayride
-Pick your own FREE Pumpkin and More!

After touring and heading to the PuMpkin Patch stop by the Granary to refuel with yummy caramel apples, chili, sloppy joes and more.

FaLL is in the air!

Even tho the calendar says fall begins Sept 22nd it sure feels like fall!

There's no better season at the farm than fall. You can feel and SEE the signs everywhere. Open this weekend at 10AM. Last admission into the farm and last tour departure at 3PM.

NOTE: Pumpkin Patch opens 9.20.2013

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Summer Fun at Mulberry Lane Farm

Get out of the city and into the country and enjoy a day on the farm with the family.  

Whether you purchase lunch at the farm (hot dogs, corn dogs, cheeseburgers, home-made cookies, chips, soda/juice box etc) or bring a picnic lunch (yes! we allow carry-ins) you'll enjoy the quite serenity of the country.

Milk a cow, enjoy a hayride, ride a pony on your guided tour of the farm...take a break in the old fashion play area...resume visiting your new found farm friends...come early & stay late.

We have learned that no matter the age or the background, there is something about a farm that brings out the joy and self-worth in others.

 Building family memories...priceless.

 Purchase locally made jellies in the farm store.

 You can do it too!

Remember wheelbarrow & gunnysack races, farmer in the dell, and duck-duck-goose? Great time to teach your children some of the old-time favorites.

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Father's Day - Dad is FREE!

NO iphone, NO ipad, NO ipod just....

iDad time!

Put away the gadgets. The things that take your attention away from what is most important, your Dad! Spend quality "I and Dad" time at the farm this Father's Day, June 16th. Dads are FREE.

(Dad Free with a paid admission. No other offers apply.)

 

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