Barn Chores on our Small Organic Dairy Farm

Come along as we go do our evening barn chores including milking, cleaning, and feeding. We also give an update on some items in the barn like the hay feeder, loose hay, and the barn walls. The cows are doing great, we are well, and Christmas spirit is in the air! Thank you so much for your support!
Music: Apple iMovie Riverwalk

[@sueupham2519]

Awesome..love it all

[@vnthomas16]

Thanks!

[@chrisbennett8538]

Um glad your dream came true I always wanted to run a mediocre Jersey dairy but my dream will never happen because of money got no big money so I'll keep in doing what I do .

[@robertpepper2767]

I don’t understand that you are a closed herd dairy I have not heard that expression before. Thank You! Love your videos

[@vnthomas16]

Hello! A closed herd just means we won’t bring in any outside animals. To grow our herd, we do it through breeding. It takes longer, but helps prevent bringing in any diseases. Glad you enjoy the videos! Thanks for watching!

[@blackbirdBea]

I just found your channel and I really enjoy it... ad one who wants to get into dairy... you're so real. thank you. lol

[@vnthomas16]

Glad you found us! Welcome aboard!

[@christianluts810]

Chaps, I'm a born and bred "Townie" but like to watch farming videos. The only two channels to which I subscribe are yours and Saskdutchkid [he and his family do much the same thing but on something of a larger scale]. The similarity between your and his vids and the difference from everybody else's is that you work where everybody else faffs around with machinery. I am so, so envious of you both and more power to your elbows!

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you for your kind comments! We watch SaskDutchKid too! We’ll keep the videos coming for you!

[@BBFSGaming]

i've only just found your channel and im loving your story i would try putting the cows in the other stall aswell otherwise they will only ever go in the oneand when you get more cows this could be a pain as i assume eventually your gonna get another bucket and unit or several

[@vnthomas16]

Welcome aboard! We do use both stalls. As long as there is food they’ll go into either one! Haha! We plan to eventually install a pipeline. Thanks for watching!

[@mennoreuten1563]

Living the dreaming i quess, so how much time does it takes to do the evening chores ,btw it looks so clean everything good job, greetings from a Dutch dairyfarmer

[@vnthomas16]

We are living the dream! We have been very blessed! If we’re both working on things, just over an hour for evening chores. Thanks for your support!

[@bonnielounsbury7288]

Please tell the girls I say MOOOOOOOOO! I LOVE COWS, especially JERSEY'S!! Bonnie Lounsbury

[@vnthomas16]

How can you not love Jerseys?!? Thanks for watching... and we’ll tell them “moo” for you!

[@ildairyfarmer2436]

This game is addictive, you’ll work yourself up to 60 cows and find yourself spending 4 hours morning and evening in the parlor and then the next generation will talk you into building a bigger parlor. Then you’ll need more cows to pay for the new parlor, before you know it you’ll watch your grandkids break ground for the 500 stall freestall barn. There will be a row of trailers to house all the Hispanic workers and you’ll be direct loading tankers... call me crazy but my grandpa saw it!!!

[@vnthomas16]

Nah, this is my retirement! We want to get up to milking 8-10, but that’s it. We have a self imposed quota based on our land’s carrying capacity and the design of our facilities. If we want to expand the farm beyond that, we’ll probably add other enterprises to diversify our farm. I’ve seen the growth you speak of though... Growing up on my Dad’s milk truck, I remember when it would take half a dozen or more stops to fill up a 55,000# truck and trailer. When my Dad retired, he had one shipper filling two 74,000# sets of doubles every day. We process ourselves because that’s the only way we can remain small and still make a living only milking a few cows. Thanks for watching!

[@pierrotgretillat9365]

Salut vous super vidéo magnifique tank you vidéo magnifique super

[@vnthomas16]

Merci!

[@karengates8508]

Never seen a HAY KNIFE before, thank you for that demonstration 😉👍

[@vnthomas16]

It’s a handy tool! This particular one was my great-grandfathers! Nothing honors an old tool more than using it!

[@guernseygoodness]

You move across the farmyard to the barn a lot faster than I do in the morning! 😉

[@vnthomas16]

Haha! This was evening milking! I’m slower in the morning too!

[@georgerydberg4393]

Nice wall. Boy things are clean.

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you! Just finished up the last wall section last night! Looks great! Still ticking things off the barn worklist! Next up, a good light out the back to illuminate the barnyard!

[@french-canadianfarmer5049]

My cousin has the same type of parlor as you do. The track on his door to let the cows in is at a incline so you can pull the rope to let a cow in and when you let go the door rolls down the track to close. The out door is a double spring loaded door that the cows push through to get out. It only opens one way.

[@vnthomas16]

Hello! Yes, some ropes and pulleys are in the plans! Just so many hours in the day you know... We’re a seasonal dairy, so it’s on our dry period work list. Things were so chaotic this Spring with trying to get everything going that minor things like that were left undone. It’s not a big deal to open and close doors with just three cows milking right now, but we plan to milk more. Our “out door” is on an inclined track already, but the “in door” track is level, mainly because it’s outside and I wanted the aesthetics of a level track! Haha! But I’ll rig a counterweight for that one.

[@joansmith3492]

Must be the cleanest barn in the country!

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you!

[@markr5273]

I just love your videos and so look forward to them at the end of my day.

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you! We’re glad you enjoy them!

[@joebarbjb6668]

Happy thanksgiving and enjoy the coming holidays.

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you! Happy Holidays to you and yours as well!

[@justforfun4623]

I dairy farm and we don't have to hand wash anything. Miking over 170 cows per day requires more equipment lol

[@parkerbrothers75]

You two run a tight ship!!!

[@vnthomas16]

We try! Thanks for watching!

[@stephaniegeddings8438]

OMG that was one of my favorite videos! I loved it when you called Rose and she moooed back, saying whaaaat. Hah! The cow kisses at the end were the best!

[@vnthomas16]

Daisy definitely loves the camera. She is always so curious. Is it barn chores or farm therapy???

[@adanakathleenadcock3445]

Yes.

[@heavenly-dreamsdairygoats]

New subscriber here. Nice video we also are a small dairy goat farm and more. Maybe if you have time maybe check mine out also. Thank you for sharing. God Bless

[@vnthomas16]

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you here!

[@mickoostingh5777]

Did you have a 2nd cut of hay and do you have a video of that because i love haying videos

[@vnthomas16]

Sorry, we were so busy this summer we didn’t get around to making a hay video other than the hay trolley video. We hope to make more next year, so stay tuned! As far as cuttings, we get at least two cuttings of alfalfa. This year we got three. For grass, we take one cutting, but will graze the regrowth later.

[@davidzuelke8599]

i had the same surge stalls 2 on each side i milked 60 cows at 1 time by myself

[@vnthomas16]

The first Surge parlor I milked in was a Double-2... I really enjoyed that parlor, and it helped me decide to put in a Surge parlor of my own, Thanks for sharing!

[@michaelhuppe5151]

My folks had a new cement block milk barn built in 1967. 3 side opening Surge stalls, 3 milkers with pipeline, 400 gallon bulk tank and overhead grain storage. Dad said the total cost for barn, milking equipment, concrete for the holding pen and 100' x 10' feed manger was around $6000. We milked around 55 cows

[@kenlynch6332]

Thanks for sharing an interesting & enjoyable vlog 🐄 🐄 🐄 🐄 🐄

[@vnthomas16]

You’re welcome!

[@adanakathleenadcock3445]

It. Icwasbraised on a dairy farm. First in upper NY state. Evans Mills. Then in Florida. Bonifat. My brother lives. In the house. My Father sold the farm because the boys did not want to take it over. My brother went back ondairy business in I think the early 80s. He was very prolific. As were his cows. He is a perfectionist. Won many awards from the company. Cannot remember who he gave to now. Raiseed his children there Son now. Has dairy, hydroogonics, Mos eggs Had hurricane. Killed many of his cows. Did not restart that parr of his enterprise. Walter Mosier had four girls. One could do the milking by herself. I subscribed to your. Site. So will be cling back. Good luck with health inspector. AKA

[@vnthomas16]

Thanks for sharing! Glad to have you along for our journey!

[@jeannel1065]

Congratulations, the dairy barn is very clean and tidy, which instills confidence in your products. It’s really neat to see how the ladies and the calves know their routines.

[@vnthomas16]

We believe it’s very important to keep a neat and tidy workspace because it makes us feel good, encourages us to keep it clean, and it shows customers we value producing a safe product. Cows like routine, and we do our best to work together as a team!

[@masmeadowsfarmhouse]

Very good and informative video Please share milking areas designeand measurement for developing this type for my farm

[@vnthomas16]

If you email me through our website I can send you some information!

[@LazyLarryinFlorida]

Do you ever give the milking cows tails a haircut?

[@vnthomas16]

Occasionally a little trim on Rose and Carnation, as they’re half-sisters and their tail hair will drag on the ground if I let it. The other stay well above the deck on their own. Thanks for watching!

[@randybutler4772]

Thank you for the explanation. 🐂🐂🐂🐂

[@vnthomas16]

You’re welcome!

[@markr5273]

I just love all the special things you do & how clean you keep everything. I certainly would not have a problem buying milk from your farm.

[@vnthomas16]

Your comments means a lot to us! Remember, we drink our milk too! Thanks for watching!

[@Commonmomhomeschooler]

Your set up is goals!

[@pjmtts]

Opening barn shot only needs a little more snow to be postcard perfect. I could see it in a souvenir shop.

[@vnthomas16]

Ohhh, I don’t know... We’ve already had plenty of snow this year! And it’s just now December!

[@stephaniegeddings8438]

And now you know you need to make some postcards! 😄 Ooh! Put Daisy's picture giving cow kisses on a coffee mug! 😍

[@zaneymay]

Barn is looking great.

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you!

[@bonnielounsbury7288]

Virginia you look fabulous!!! God Bless you both!

[@vnthomas16]

Thanks, Bonnie! It is joyous to work with such a wonderful man on a beautiful farm.

[@bonnielounsbury7288]

@@vnthomas16 Love is GRAND!!!

[@chrisbennett8538]

Love it god blessed you folks remember Jesus said you can do nothing without him!

[@michaelking5764]

I just became a subscriber. You have some nice content

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you! Welcome aboard!

[@davidhosmer1424]

Meow Meow barn Kitty Thanks and take care

[@vnthomas16]

You’re welcome! Yes, Spud is a good farm cat!

[@bobbystooksbury8901]

I really in joy whaching you video

[@vnthomas16]

Thanks!

[@johngoodwin8889]

Walls look great fantastic job

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you! Got one of the two remaining sections done today!

[@Classifiedreality]

Thanks for the show, sweet

[@vnthomas16]

You’re welcome!

[@joeyheatherjosephprice1520]

Glad to see you both are still enjoying yourselves! I've commented on this before but you'll think you've almost went to heaven when you get a pipeline in and run both stalls . Wash up time will also be so much quicker and easier. Wishing you the very best from an old dairyman to a new one !!

[@vnthomas16]

We do have plans for a pipeline. Right now with just three cows it’s not worth it. We have the jetter washer for our milking equipment right now, so I really can’t complain about cleanup time or effort. Next year we’ll have four milking, so I’ll probably use both stalls then, but still bucket milk. Thank you for your support and comments! We’re glad you’re with us on this journey!

[@bradjenkins932]

Why do you only milk one at a time?

[@vnthomas16]

We’re only milking three cows right now, so it’s not worth dirtying up the other half of the parlor. We’ll use both stalls once we put on another cow or two. Thanks for watching!

[@french-canadianfarmer5049]

Nice video! I always enjoy watching chores. Do you not feed grain because it's hard to find organic in your area or because you simply want to sell grass fed dairy milk?

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed our video! While it is hard to find organic grain around here, we don’t feed grain mainly because we do sell grass-fed milk. The Jerseys we chose to start our herd were specifically chosen with the New Zealand genetics because they excel on grass. We have continued that theme by using NZ bulls for the future generations. Thanks for watching!

[@texasproud3332]

These cows seem like pets Lol

[@vnthomas16]

Yeah, but they make us money too! We love our cows though. They work hard for us, so we work hard for them.

[@fionajane56]

Your parlor is awesome. Thank you for the chores. I love your wheel barrow. Your right about cows pooping a LOT. In one night Katie produces more manure than all our sheep do in days. :)

[@vnthomas16]

We really love our parlor! And our wheelbarrow! Haha! Having the double wheels on the front is nice. It’s real stable, especially when full of heavy manure! ‘Cause, you know, cows poop a lot! Haha! Thanks for watching! We always appreciate your comments!

[@ajlewis9454]

Awesome video as always, thats why your the best channel on KZbin! Hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving god bless. :)

[@vnthomas16]

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well! We appreciate your support!

[@richwhitaker1506]

Got the routine established. Everyone seems to know their part in the ballet. How many days does it take to create a full load for the manure spreader? This video really shows the major ins and outs of daily life on the farm. Stay well.

[@vnthomas16]

Right now, since the fields are softer, I don’t fill it all the way up. So, I can put about 5 days in there. If I’m heaping it up, I can go 7-8 days. I actually really enjoy spreading manure, as it is wonderful to spread that fertility, completing the circle. Thank you for your support!

[@Wainfleetkx450f]

You wouldn’t want cold liquid on your teats but you wouldn’t mind a big heifer with teeth aggressively sucking?

[@vnthomas16]

Definitely think the cows like the warmed dip and love having their calves nurse. Cows only have bottom teeth in front and when they nurse their tongue sticks out over them so they are suckling the teat with their tongue and roof of mouth. The mommas normally stand and chew cud or groom their babies. Thanks!

[@Wainfleetkx450f]

@@vnthomas16 is another way to damage teats and teat ends allowing bacteria into the udder increasing SCC and decreasing shelf life

[@vnthomas16]

We have had great milk tests, low SCC, and wonderful teat health. Did you experience those problems when you had calves nursing? Thanks for your concerns and watching our video!

[@Wainfleetkx450f]

@@vnthomas16 well that’s good to hear. We aren’t allowed to do that where I’m from

[@vnthomas16]

It definitely isn’t standard practice, but if managed correctly it can work out spectacularly. Thanks!

[@dustycreekfarm6093]

keep on farming

[@vnthomas16]

Thanks!

[@joanneaschenbach3590]

Love your videos

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you!

[@jesseburleson2670]

you need to go to a sawmill and just get your truck bed filled it would be a lot cheaper.

[@vnthomas16]

We’ve got bulk shaving as well. We prefer the bags as we can haul more in a load, as they are compressed. And, on a pure-weight basis, they’re actually cheaper. As I mentioned, we get them at a discount as they can’t be sold to the general public. Thanks for watching!

[@markdodson4267]

Cows and calves look good. Hay looks good, filter clean...Perfect.

[@vnthomas16]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@chrisbennett8538]

Love a cold glass of Jersey milk mmm

[@vnthomas16]

It’s the best! Thanks for watching!

[@chrisbennett8538]

@@vnthomas16 just out of curiosity how many do u plan to have in your herd cows that is?

[@vnthomas16]

Probably never milking more than 8-10...

[@waynemiracle8928]

Do you still have your dog? I haven’t noticed him in a long while in your videos?

[@vnthomas16]

Oh yes, she’s good. Maybe a bit camera shy! (Not like Daisy! Haha). You can just get a glimpse of her following me to the barn at the beginning of the video.

[@waynemiracle8928]

@@vnthomas16 That’s GREAT! I was afraid something not so good happened to her! Thanks so much for the wonderful videos!

[@bucsr.6106]

Really enjoyed that visit from Spud he has gotten Roly poly. I also love the Cow kisses via camera. 💋

[@vnthomas16]

That was Daisy sending her love! ❤️

[@garyzehr4445]

You folks have really grown keep up the good work

[@zippypony1]

where is the dog , camera shy ????

[@vnthomas16]

It’s cold, and she has short hair, so she doesn’t like to spend too long out in the cold! Haha! You can catch a quick glimpse of her at the very beginning when I’m heading out to the barn. Thanks again for watching!

[@dougsmith9589]

Are you to go but a pipeline in some time

[@vnthomas16]

Yes, we do plan on a pipeline, but right now it’s just not worth it. Once we have a few more cows on, we’ll be installing one. Thanks for watching!

[@jamiegreen7537]

How much hay are you going though

[@vnthomas16]

Good morning! We go by the 2.5% of body weight in dry matter rule, so it ends up being about 25# per cow per day. We aim to have three tons per cow per season on hand. The cows always have access to the outside, and there is a little but to nibble on out there, but not enough to be considered a part of their diet. Thanks for watching!

[@jamiegreen7537]

@@vnthomas16 now is the 3 tons is that for 6 or 12 months

[@vnthomas16]

About 7 months. We graze the rest of the year.

[@buildingwithtrees2258]

It's coming along nicely!

[@vnthomas16]

Yes! Thank you!

[@flvince]

How many milk cows do you plan to have??

[@vnthomas16]

Probably no more than 8 to 10. We’re a closed herd, so it’ll take a bit to get there.

[@flvince]

@@vnthomas16 Yes, but you are doing a great job.

[@somethingabouttractors241]

Those cows sure look happy

[@vnthomas16]

We like to think so! I’m sure they miss the green grass. That’s when they’re the happiest I think. But we give them access to a paddock year round. Today was cold, but we had glorious sun, and the cows were all out looking for what nubbins of grass they could find. Thanks for watching!

[@flvince]

Yep, remember those chores.

[@vnthomas16]

I’m just glad I get to do the chores for myself now rather than somebody else! That said, I’m grateful for all the dairy farmers I worked for, as they are all great mentors who have helped us immensely get where we are.

[@pocketchange1951]

👍👌🇨🇦❤

[@vnthomas16]

👍🐮🇺🇸❤️🇨🇦❤️