Our calves are born in the spring - after their mommas have enjoyed the lush spring grass for a few weeks. This insures that the milk they receive is packed with nutrients - and the calve's growth demonstrates this. The calves will nurse their mommas for approximately 10 months during which time they grow and mature - taking on an increasing percentage of their diet from directly foraging.
This 10 month nursing process is an important part of developing healthy cattle. The calves are able to fully develop their digestive system and in many cases weigh 55 - 60% of their momma's mature weight when they are finally weaned.
Great flavor in your beef takes time - and it starts early!!
This 10 month nursing process is an important part of developing healthy cattle. The calves are able to fully develop their digestive system and in many cases weigh 55 - 60% of their momma's mature weight when they are finally weaned.
Great flavor in your beef takes time - and it starts early!!
Devon cattle at Valley of the Mist
Fourche River Sir Charles was the first of many Devon cattle at Valley of the Mist Farm.
Sir Charles sire is Lakota Guardsman F142 from Charlie and Martha Trantham's long standing herd of Devon in Canton, NC. His dam is Lenoir Lilly's Victory.
Arriving in June of 2012 Sir Charles adapted well to the farm and to his duties and began the move from simply Hereford cattle to some Hereford / Devon cross and a now number of purebred Devon.
After Sir Charles we welcomed Ribeye (you have to love that name for a bull) who served us well for two years as herd sire and most recently we purchases Hillside Franklin from Daniel Marquardt's herd at Hillside Pastures LLC in Spring Green, WI to be our herd sire.
The Devon temperament makes the cattle a pleasure to work and their meat is amazing!!!
Sir Charles sire is Lakota Guardsman F142 from Charlie and Martha Trantham's long standing herd of Devon in Canton, NC. His dam is Lenoir Lilly's Victory.
Arriving in June of 2012 Sir Charles adapted well to the farm and to his duties and began the move from simply Hereford cattle to some Hereford / Devon cross and a now number of purebred Devon.
After Sir Charles we welcomed Ribeye (you have to love that name for a bull) who served us well for two years as herd sire and most recently we purchases Hillside Franklin from Daniel Marquardt's herd at Hillside Pastures LLC in Spring Green, WI to be our herd sire.
The Devon temperament makes the cattle a pleasure to work and their meat is amazing!!!
Shortly after moving to the farm, my dad, Len Nyberg, and myself, Dan, made a trip to Allen Barry's livestock sales on Highway 72 west of Byron IL. Dad made an excellent choice and elected two hereford heifers which were polled. I took the approach that was more common in the western's of the day - cattle had to have horns. To my dad's credit he allowed me to make my own selection, and we brought our 4 heifer 'starter herd' back to the farm.
This photo - from March 1969 - shows my heifers along with my dad's and some of our early calves. By the time I had fed hay at our open bunk for a winter I saw the value of polled cattle - and I began to purchase heifer calves from dad and sold my horned herefords.
This photo - from March 1969 - shows my heifers along with my dad's and some of our early calves. By the time I had fed hay at our open bunk for a winter I saw the value of polled cattle - and I began to purchase heifer calves from dad and sold my horned herefords.
Over the years we have grown the herd with an 'every other bull' purchased from off the farm. The red white face cattle were always a favorite of my dad, and as we culled for disposition as well as body type and performance, we developed a very nice herd.
Following back surgery in the early 1980's my dad was forced to sell the herd. Having grown them all here at the Valley of the Mist - that was a very hard day for him. When Connie and I moved back to the farm in 1987, one of the priorities was to start another herd of Herefords.
Following back surgery in the early 1980's my dad was forced to sell the herd. Having grown them all here at the Valley of the Mist - that was a very hard day for him. When Connie and I moved back to the farm in 1987, one of the priorities was to start another herd of Herefords.
Crossing the Ruby Red Devon over a red white face works out very well. The Devon impact can be seen in the color of the hoof, the size of the canon, and a reduced white on the animal. The calf shown at the right, Rachel, is one of Sir Charles daughters and you can see that compared to the white on the legs and brisket of her mother - she has significantly less white.
The white face is just that - a white face only. The red comes up on each side of the head in in Rachel's case even cover's her right eye.
The white face is just that - a white face only. The red comes up on each side of the head in in Rachel's case even cover's her right eye.
We will continue to do our Hereford / Devon cross with increasing percentage of Devon, but we also have a number of registered Devon cows / heifers.
In the coming years we will continue our focus of developing cattle which do well on grass, have the proper body type, maintain a 'friendly' disposition.
If you are considering starting up - or expanding your herd - contact us at Valley of the Mist Farm. We occasionally have quality grass fed stock available. You can't go wrong with the Devon influenced stock.
In the coming years we will continue our focus of developing cattle which do well on grass, have the proper body type, maintain a 'friendly' disposition.
If you are considering starting up - or expanding your herd - contact us at Valley of the Mist Farm. We occasionally have quality grass fed stock available. You can't go wrong with the Devon influenced stock.
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The herd just loves apples!!! Bring them an apple and you have just made a friend!!!!