Happy spring, !
Louise finally calved 12 days after her due date, on March 3rd. Not surprisingly, she had a big bull calf, who we named Uther. While Louise went well past her due date, she didn't quite set a new record—that record still belongs to Blossom and Diana, who both went 14 days past their official due dates.
After calving, we give our cows a calcium bolus to prevent milk fever, starting with their third calf. Louise didn't get a calcium bolus because Uther was her second calf, but she came down with milk fever two days later.
I went to bring the cows in for morning milking, and Louise's legs collapsed under her when she tried to stand. Sure enough, she had all the typical milk fever signs: unable to stand, cold ears, and an 'S' bend in her neck. So Ben and I gave her a calcium IV, and a few minutes later, she stood on her own.
Jerseys have a reputation of being prone to milk fever, but I can count on one hand the number of cows I've treated in the past 19 years. I think that's because I focus on prevention with a low-calcium diet for the last two months of pregnancy, plus calcium boluses for my older cows.
Earlier this month, I taught the first two sessions of my new 'Buying a Family Milk Cow' masterclass. I wasn't going to offer this masterclass again until August, but I've received numerous requests from people who either missed the first two sessions or heard about it after the fact. So I'm teaching one more session on Tuesday, April
26th!
This masterclass is for you if:
• You're finally ready to buy a milk cow but feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start.
• You've already started looking at cows but don't know what questions to ask or how to decide which cow is the right one for you.
• You've purchased a cow before but ended up buying someone else's problem and want to make sure you get your dream cow this time around.
All too often, people make mistakes when buying a family milk cow that cost them time, heartache, and money. I want to help save you from those, so that's why I designed this masterclass.
I'm teaching a Mozzarella cheesemaking class this Saturday, April 2nd. I'm offering several new cheesemaking classes this year, so this is the only live Mozzarella class that I plan to teach in 2022. There are still a few spaces left in the class, so if you want to learn to make Mozzarella with me, this is your chance!
I've been making Mozzarella for 15 years, and it was the very first cheesemaking class that I offered back in May 2012. (I can't believe I've been teaching cheesemaking for almost a decade now!) I've tweaked my recipe a lot since that first class and perfected it for use with both raw and pasteurized milk.
I'm teaching the April 2nd class on Zoom so that I can guide you through the entire cheesemaking process step-by-step. I'll be sharing all my favourite tips and tricks, and covering common problems when making Mozzarella and how to correct them. Best of all, you can show me your cheese if you have any questions or need help with troubleshooting.
One of the new classes I'm teaching for the first time this year is Feta, on Saturday, May 7th. You'll learn how to adjust your recipe for whether you prefer a firm, crumbly Feta or a smooth, creamy cheese or something in between. You'll also learn to preserve your cheese using either brining or marinating. I'm in the process of adding the finishing
touches to my recipe, and I can't wait to share it with you in this class!
Naomi
Buying a Family Milk Cow Masterclass
Tuesday, April 26th @ 1:00 pm
Set yourself up for success when making your first (or next) milk cow purchase by learning what to look for, what questions to ask, and what red flags to avoid to save yourself time, heartache, and money.
Online Mozzarella Cheesemaking Class
Saturday, April 2nd from 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Learn to make Mozzarella using Naomi's tried-and-true recipe while she guides you through the entire cheesemaking process step-by-step and teaches you how to tweak your recipe so you get that perfect stretch every time!
Online Feta Cheesemaking Class
Saturday, May 7th from 10:00 am–1:30 pm
Make a delicious Feta cheese for your summer salads! Learn how to adjust your recipe to make a firm, crumbly Feta or a smooth, creamy cheese, and how to preserve it using brining or marinating.
Online Gouda Cheesemaking Class
Saturday, May 21st from 10:00 am–2:30 pm
After taking this fun, hands-on class, Gouda will be your new favourite cheese! Naomi will cover everything from culturing the milk and cutting the curd, to adding herbs and spices, to pressing your cheese and options for ageing.
Online Halloumi Cheesemaking Class
Saturday, June 18th from 10:00 am–12:30 pm & 4:00–5:00 pm
Get ready for grilling season with this brand new Halloumi class! We'll make the cheese during the first half of this two-part class and then get together after it presses to finish the process, so your cheese is ready for your Father's Day BBQ.
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