During extremely hot weather, such as the triple digit temperatures we experienced this week, we humans are desperate to escape to air conditioning anyway we can (I guiltily write this with my own air conditioner unit blowing directly down my neck!). Unfortunately for the animals here at Erdenheim A/C is not an option.
If you have been driving by our fields this week, you would have to look hard to see our herds as they are gathered along the shaded tree lined ridge and hedgerows. During extreme heat, both the cattle and the sheep’s seek shade and try to move as little as possible so not to generate any additional body heat. Look for them in early morning and later in the evenings when the animals will go into open pasture to graze.
Our Livestock Managers and Farm Hands check in with the animals much more frequently with the heat, looking for signs of distress. This is especially true of the very young and older animals…such as our new Scottish Highland calf that was born this week! If they do notice an animal in heat distress, they will bring them into one of our barns, make sure they are hydrated and turn a fan on them! So far this week all animals have been handling the heat fine on their own.
One of the projects that we have been working on is planting more shade trees in our pastures for the animals (You have might have noticed the empty triangular tree protection fencing in the field along Flourtown Road). We are hoping to get all trees planted by this fall.
In the farm office this week in addition to our cage-free brown and white eggs, we have yellow squash, zucchini and by next week, we hope onions. Stop by on Tuesdays 2:30-4:30 pm and Friday 8-9:30 am!