Posts Tagged ‘cows’

Stonehenge Wedding

Sunday, March 20th, 2016

I was delighted to be asked to accommodate a young lady and her fiance who were planning to tie the knot amongst the famous Wiltshire stones of Stonehenge.

The difference was that this couple were not local people but travelling from America. The wedding was planned over the phone and via the internet.

Two chalets, Melbury and Duncliffe, at Stour Cross Farm were required for the couple and their guests in July last year.

A photographer was booked pre-ceremony and my thanks to Joe Weil for providing me with some beautiful photo’s.

Hair do’s and make up’s.

The groom and best man are relaxing playing table tennis

Groom and friends relaxing in the games room

Bride and friends chilling out

The beautiful bride to be Amanda with an onlooker

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo

The happy couple, best man and bridemaids

The final photo before they tie the knot at Stonehenge

Some final adjustments

Thank You – Hardy Chalet

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Picture drawn by Luke Read
Dear Chris & Martin

Thank you very much for making our stay at your farm so welcoming. We all had a lovely time.

Best Wishes and Happy Easter

Rachael, Paul & Luke (5yrs )

Cow Calving at Stour Cross Farm

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to video one of our mature cows calving her second twin calf. The first one was born only minutes before but unfortunately I missed the delivery. The calf was up on its feet shortly afterwards and I was mistaken to think that the calf belonged to the white cow you see in the video as the calf is of similar markings but it was later made obvious that it was the first of the twins. These are our fourth set of twins this year and all of them are doing fine.

Click on the video link below and watch the wonders of nature. The video is about 8 mins long.

The second twin calf being born

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLgeMcDoKNU

Twins Born

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Martin decided to bring a cow, who was close to calving, into an empty barn as he thought she was having problems. We left her for an hour and then intervened with the help of a calving aid. Two male calves were born, our third set of twins this year.

Calf # 1 Aug 8th 2010

Calf # 2 The mother immediately licks one calf at a time

The mother immediately licks one calf at a time

Introducing the calves to the bottle

An empty wine bottle always comes in handy!

The mother has been taken away to be milked and her milk is saved in a separate vessel. It is vital all calves drink their mothers first milk called colostrum which contains all its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. This is where I come in!!!

It doesn’t take long before the calves are up on their feet and gurzling the milk. I find a empty wine bottle with a rubber calf teat on the end does the trick. Tomorrow they will be moved in another barn where some other calves are being hand reared.

The smallest of the twins born taking her afternoon milk.

August 26th and the twins are growing. The photo above shows the smallest of the two taking her afternoon milk along with her brother and three other calves. She is still quite small but stands her ground when it comes to feeding time.