“ Raising oxen is an everyday job , ” says Valerie Wallis , who execute the namesakeWallis Farmalongside her husband , Shane Wallis , in Indiana .
Specializing in Shorthorn cattle , Wallis adds that ensuring the welfare of their animals has always been paramount . “ We look at their bodies daily to make indisputable they are feeling o.k. and do n’t have issue with their hooves walk or sore from something random , ” she explains .
Part of this process involve taking everyday walk around the pasture to check on the cow — and it ’s a routine that ’s become one of Wallis ’s favorite parts of the day .
Taking a moment out from kine duties , we speak to Wallis about discover to love cows and tips for circularise bedding . We also got the privileged story on the farm ’s star cow , Esther .
The Roots of Wallis Farm
A post share by Wallis Farm ( @wallisfarm )
Wallis Farm furthers a family husbandry legacy . “ Shane grew up watching his granddaddy farm , ” say Wallis . “ His gramps had 40 head of oxen , and he harvested corn and beans in Indiana . ”
After buying the farm off Shane ’s grandparent , the Wallis ’s have built up to 30 capitulum of their own Shorthorn cattle . “ We also glean corn , bean and hay for the cows , ” explains Wallis .
Read more : think oxen ? Here are 9 thing you take to know .
All About Cow Love
The Shorthorn focus of Wallis Farm do from Shane ’s days taking part in the 4 - heat content youth organization internet . “ He feel out that his heart belonged to the kine , ” say Wallis . “ He has raise cows since he was in high school . ”
After they started date , Wallis ’s own beloved for cows begin to grow as she watched Shane raise them . “ We have had our plowshare of risky venture , from them getting out to showing them at beef congress to bottle feeding ones that needed help , ” she says .
Tips for Spreading Bedding
A late post to the Wallis Farm Instagram account toil into different elbow room to spread lie with for kine . Using either straw or bale Indian corn stalks , Wallis excuse how “ the easy direction to propagate a round bale is with the skid loader or even the manure spreader — but with husk instead of ninny . ”
When tackling square Basle , Wallis says her top hack is to “ whop a few handfuls of the shuck together like you are clap and let it sprinkle across the playpen . ” For added amusement , Wallis recommends playing medicine and sound off the straw around in time to the song .
Read more : When cold approach , you demand to get things ready to keep cattle safe .
Spotlight on Esther
Esther the moo-cow is one of the main draws at Wallis Farm . Her back account involves being born as a twin but get her mother turn down her in favor of her brother .
“ I had to bottle course her from mean solar day one , and we got close because of that , ” says Wallis .
It turns out that Esther was also behave a free - Dino Paul Crocetti . “ So long write up short — and skim a bunch of medical price — Esther can not have infant , ” state Wallis . “ I can not have kids either , so it attach us even more . ”
Furthering the Legacy
When it comes to running a household farm , Wallis says that she scram the most amount of joy out of “ watch everything grow and being able to say I did that . ” She add that her husband is proud to be carrying on his granddad ’s bequest — and that they both treasure the filmy strong work that run low into making sure the farm stay fresh ticking along .
“ We absolutely love it and would have it no other path . ”
