Happy HumP Day-Names

This little heifer is yet to be officially named, but I’ve been calling her “Zee Zee” after the great band from Texas- ZZ Top’s song “She’s got Legs”.  Not sure it will stick when I fill out her registration but it works for now.  She is here with her favorite babysitter, “Sookie” (yes, after the True Blood character) but the vampireaphobic Chickenman calls her “Spook”.

Not every animal on the place gets a name.  We kinda have a steadfast rule that we never name something we might have to eat.  But that now makes me wonder why the Betta fish in the kitchen window is nameless-I better get on that.

Over the years we have a wide variety of names for different cattle.  “Brutus” was a rather spectacular steer I still think of fondly.  Annabelle, Noel, Ruby, Demi, Dodge, Elton…have all come and gone.  Monte Walsh and Comeback Shane have their own herds now.

It seemed easier naming pigs.  We had Hurley, Sawyer, Locke, Jin and even Sayid.  We got some looks at the stockshow with our pen sign with that Sayid pig.  But we were huge fans of the TV show LOST at the time and these are all names of the male characters from the show.

We are also fans of vampire novels and thus have a Sookie and a Bella although The Chickenman put his foot down when we wanted to name a bull Lestat.  That’s when he named him Monte Walsh!

I sure hope Mandy-Jo will help me naming this years calf-crop it seems to get harder and harder to come up with something fitting every year.

Many cattle on big ranches just have a eartag # for a name and we have had a few of those too-old cow #207 was a rather flighty animal but a great mama.  We always told volunteer help, “look out for #207 she’ll check your oil if you give her the chance.”  #207 seems like a much kinder name than the one we would have actually given her had we named her! 🙂

But the best name we ever had was a bull named, HumPy Bogart and it fit him perfectly!

Enjoy your HumPy LeaP Day and if you have any great names for humPy calves, I’m open for suggestions!

Happy HumP Day

 

I am an equipment buyin’ fool as of late. Earlier in the week I was looking for a way to creep feed some calves.  That’s a set up that allows calves to come in to eat a special ration of feed just for them and it keeps cows and heifers out.  Here’s a link to more information about Creep Feeding if you are interested:  Click Here  Usually creep feeding set ups are adjustable so as the calves grow you can adjust the opening for their increased size.  The can come and go and eat as they please.  I found this Calf Pass Panel kit by Priefert while searching on Craig’s List:

It is really meant to attach to a creep feeder like this:I really didn’t need the feeder part since I wanted to feed the claves by hand to have more control of how much and how often they eat.  I just needed a place for them to go when I feed the cows to get their own feed without the cows nudging them out of the way-so the calf pass kit was perfect for my needs and as more calves are born I can move it to be the pass into bigger pens and lots.

I emailed the seller.  She had one on Craig’s List listed as four years old for $300 and stated that she paid $600.  So I assumed it was the kit and the feeder at that price and I if figured I could resell the feeder or maybe save it for when I might could use it.  I emailed her and asked if she would take $200-she said yes.  Then I did some research (should have done that first).  I found the kit online several places brand new for …$139.  Then we went and looked hers and discovered it didn’t have the feeder, just the kit!  But she still wouldn’t come off her $200 price.  So the next day I went over to Mount Pleasant to the Priefert Plant which is about 20 miles from my house and bought a brand new kit-not a second for…$50!!  Score!  I LOVE a bargain!!!  I LOVE Craig’s List for farm stuff, but you have to do your homework and remember that something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Then yesterday I found another bargain:  4 heavy feeders, 3 heavy cattle panels and a 4 ft walk gate all for $200.  The mass exodus from the Cattle Business in my area due to the excessive drought has created a surplus of good used equipment being sold at bargain prices.

Today is supposed to be really warm-74; tomorrow in the 80’s!  So the Chickenman and I will be taking advantage of the nice weather to get our new equipment set up.  I’m going to try to stay off Craig’s List today so I don’t find something else I “need”!

Happy HumP Day!

Happy Mardi Gras!

MJ Brahmans is honored to have pictures of some of our calves featured on the “Moosday” post of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Young Producer’s Council’s Cattle Call Blog.

Meaty Monday-Crock Pot Pork Chops!

Crock Pot Pork Chops sounds a little like a chant/cheer/battle cry from the University of Kansas:  Rock Chalk Jayhawk!-which I have to admit I have no idea what that means.  However, I do know Pork Chops!  This recipe is one I sorta made up this weekend when I was avoiding a trip to the store which is 25+ miles away one-way.  I love using the www.allrecipes.com recipe finder where you can enter ingredients you have and want to use and ingredients you don’t want to use.  I did this with Pork Chops and Apples and found some recipes that I combined to make this dish.  The Chickenman said it was a keeper and to be sure and write it down so we could have it again.  So…here’s what I did:

Ingredients:

Pork chops I used two thick-cut bone-in chops like these, but just use what you need for your family: 

Apples-I used 2 that looked like this.  I peeled, quartered and cored them. New potatoes.  I used 5 or 6 three-bit sized potatoes and left them whole with the peel on.1 tablespoon of Kitchen bouquet

Fiesta Chicken Rub for seasoning Pork Chops1 can of cream of mushroom soup.  I use low sodium.1 packet of Dry Onion Soup Mix2 tablespoons of brown sugar.  Rinse the Pork Chops and season them with several generous shakes of the Chicken Rub on both sides.  Set aside.  In your crock pot mix dry onion soup mix with the can of cream of mushroom soup, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of Kitchen bouquet and 1 1/2 cups of hot tap water.  I use a wire whisk to get it all blended good.  Go ahead and turn it on low and add the potatoes and the apples and give it a light stir to mix.  The liquid should just about cover the apples and potatoes, if it doesn’t add more water.

Heat a heavy skillet on the stove top to medium high.  I use one like this to get the pretty grill marks:  But one without grill ridges will work fine too.  I gave mine a quick spray of cooking oil when it got pretty hot and quickly seared the pork chops on both sides.  About  2 minutes each side.  Then place the pork chops on top of the crock pot mixture.  Don’t press them in, just gently lay them on top. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.

Remove Pork Chops and place on serving plate.  Remove and separate apples and potatoes.  Use a potato masher or a fork to mash apples.  Cut the  potatoes in halves or quarters and place in separate serving dishes.  Pour gravy from the crock pot into a gravy boat or other serving dish.

We topped our Pork Chops with the mashed apples and ladled gravy on our  potatoes and served it with a fresh green tossed salad.  YUM!

The pork chops are so juicy and tender you won’t need a knife!

Happy Meaty Monday!

Happy HumP Day!

Humpy Valentine’s Day-Celebrate with Beef!

The Chickenman and I will be celebrating tonight with a candlelit Prime Rib Dinner out in Mount Pleasant at Uptown Bliss with our friend Faustine.

Did you know that more than half (51%) of Americans surveyed believe serving beef to someone best says “I love you,” more than all other proteins combined. It’s love at first bite.

The Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) study, conducted by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University, found consuming lean beef daily as part of a heart-healthy diet lowered LDL “bad” cholesterol by 10 percent, which was just as effective as the DASH diet.  This research provides convincing support that nutrient-rich lean beef can be an everyday part of a heart-healthy diet.

Big news for beef lovers!

Humpy Valentine’s Day and we hope you get to enjoy a juicy, heart-healthy beef dinner with those you love!

Brahmans on RFD-TV Tonight

The RFD-TV series, “The American Rancher,” hosted by Pam Minick, will highlight the Brahman breed TONIGHT, TOMORROW night and on the 19th.  The program that will run on RFD-TV is part of a promotional video produced by the American Brahman Breeders Association.

The Brahman episode will not only feature testimonials from breeders underlining their experiences in the Brahman business, but also from beef industry experts explaining positive aspects of Brahman cattle in the industry.

“The American Rancher” series is used to connect viewers with the people and places that make ranching a way of life in the U.S. It provides ranchers the opportunity to showcase their operations, while allowing viewers to identify with real-life people who create a foundation for agriculture.

Look for “The American Rancher” featuring Brahmans this week on Monday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. CST, Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. CST, and Sunday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. CST.

If you can’t watch it at any of these times you can watch the full-length version on You Tube by clicking here.

“South of the Border” Grocery Agventure

One of my favorite things to do when we are in Fort Worth for the Stock Show is to visit a Hispanic Grocery.  I love the variety, the colors and all that stuff that you wonder, “what do you make with that?”.  The Chickenman is always fascinated with the meat case.  I love the produce.  I just wish they offered a tour guide that speaks english so I could ask them about all the colorful products on the shelves.  Here’s a slide show of our Agventure…

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Happy HumP Day!

This week’s HumP Day photo was taken at the State Junior Brahman show a few years ago.  Brahmans resting their heads on their neighbors is a common occurence both at a show or in the pasture.  I often see them grooming and lovin’ on each other too.  I’ve never witnessed our other cattle displaying this behavior, but maybe I just wasn’t watching as close (I tend to be a Brahman gazer).   They truly are amazing animals to watch!

Who needs a pillow when you can have a HumP?