Cows

“To conduct a farm of considerable extent, so as to be a profitable concern, requires nearly as much management, (though, to be sure, of a somewhat more straightforward sort) as to be a leading politician in these wayward times.” While this statement could have been written today, it is actually a quote from The New England Farmer, and Horticultural Journal, Oct. 9, 1829.   With that said, June is Dairy Month and we will once again endeavor to pay tribute to those who provide us with these wholesome and nutritious products.

Many youngsters these days spend a chunk of their time immersed in technology. Abby McDougal, 11, of Smithsburg, said Monday that she enjoys spending time with her cows. “They're big for me, so it's kind of hard to show,” said Abby, who was at the Washington County Ag Expo and Fair. “But, I love cows.” Abby, the daughter of Dan and Mary McDougal, said she usually needs an adult with her when she works with bigger animals.  “I like working with smaller animals because of my size,” the pint-sized Abby said, because she can have full control of smaller animals and likes to do everything herself.

Cows escape barn fire WILLOW HILL, Pa. - More than 100 cows escaped a fire that destroyed a Metal Township barn early Wednesday, according to Metal Township Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Dru Allen. "They just ran. They were terrified," said Anna Swailes of 19056 Swailes Road. She and her husband William own the barn, which was on adjoining property they own at 18690 Swailes Road. The fire was reported at 4:52 a.m., Allen said. While the wooden bank barn was destroyed, he said an attached loafing barn was not badly damaged.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Officials from the Humane Society of Washington County recently seized more than 30 cows owned by a man who has been in the news during the last several years for owning two cloned cows and their offspring. Paul Miller, executive director of the Humane Society, would not elaborate about a complaint filed against Greg Wiles, owner of the cows. On Dec. 6, the Humane Society seized 15 Holstein heifers from a pasture on College Road in the Hagerstown area, spokeswoman Katherine Cooker said Thursday in a press release.

  By RICHARD F. BELISLE / Staff Writer, Waynesboro by: RICHARD T. MEAGHER / staff photographer MERCERSBURG, Pa. - The cows at Cove Mountain Farm graze all day in pastures of lush green grass creating a pastoral scene that belies a high-tech dairy management system. --cont. from news page -- At Cove Mountain there are no giant tractors, acres of row crops or cows being milked three times a day in factory barns like most modern, conventional dairy farms.

WASHINGTON COUNTY ? Officials from the Humane Society of Washington County recently seized more than 30 cows owned by a man who has been in the news during the last several years for owning two cloned cows and their offspring. Paul Miller, executive director of the Humane Society, would not elaborate about a complaint filed against Greg Wiles, owner of the cows. On Dec. 6, the Humane Society seized 15 Holstein heifers from a pasture on College Road in the Hagerstown area, spokeswoman Katherine Cooker said Thursday in a press release.

WILLIAMSPORT - A Washington County farmer has kept 52 of the more than 100 cows he cared for on his father's farm near Williamsport until he was evicted. The cows farmer Greg Wiles kept include a clone and offspring from clones. Wiles originally had two cloned cows, but one died a day or two after his Jan. 9 eviction, he said Friday. Genesis, a clone, is among the 52 cows in Wiles' possession, he said. The other clone, Cyagra, died after it fell on concrete shortly after the eviction, he said.

photo: KEVIN G. GILBERT / staff photographer enlarge By JULIE E. GREENE / Staff Writer RINGGOLD, Md. - Driving down Ringgold Pike the fields are spotted with black and white cows. But on a farm on Misty Meadow Road, among 200 black and white Holstein cows are the only three milking shorthorn cows to be exhibited at the Washington County Ag Expo, which begins Saturday. --cont from news -- The three cows - one white, one red and the third a mixture of red and white - are the only milking shorthorns registered with the Washington County 4-H Club, said Jeff Semler, of the Washington County Extension Service.

A Williamsport man charged in January 2008 with aggravated animal cruelty in connection with the deaths of five cows must appear Aug. 10 in Washington County Circuit Court for a violation of probation hearing, court records show. Gregory Charles Wiles, 42, of Williamsport was charged in connection with 31 cows that were seized from his pastures and impounded by the Humane Society of Washington County in December 2007. He pleaded guilty in June 2008 to two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 13 misdemeanor counts of failing to provide for other cows.

Subject 2. One bovine, female, with brain the size of a lemon. Mission: Move Subject 2 about 30 feet to the west, with the encouragement of Subject(s) 1. Long story short: We've been at it for three weeks now, but the aforementioned cow is in the same place she's always been, with little sign that we will ever get her to the desired location. What is so hard about moving a cow from one 10-acre pasture across a farm lane to a second 10-acre pasture, and why would you want to do this in the first place?

Brittany is very sensitive. She is a young Holstein breed and Ryan Snyder , 9, of Hagerstown, takes great care of her and tends to her sensitivity. "She gets spooked by a lot of things," Ryan said. "Especially the fan in the show ring at the Ag Expo. " He adds that she is not the calmest heifer. Snyder said sometimes Brittany is difficult to work with during showmanship. "Sometimes she won't cooperate with me," he said. "It's hard to get Brittany to put her foot back because sometimes she takes an extra step.

Many youngsters these days spend a chunk of their time immersed in technology. Abby McDougal, 11, of Smithsburg, said Monday that she enjoys spending time with her cows. “They're big for me, so it's kind of hard to show,” said Abby, who was at the Washington County Ag Expo and Fair. “But, I love cows.” Abby, the daughter of Dan and Mary McDougal, said she usually needs an adult with her when she works with bigger animals.  “I like working with smaller animals because of my size,” the pint-sized Abby said, because she can have full control of smaller animals and likes to do everything herself.

“To conduct a farm of considerable extent, so as to be a profitable concern, requires nearly as much management, (though, to be sure, of a somewhat more straightforward sort) as to be a leading politician in these wayward times.” While this statement could have been written today, it is actually a quote from The New England Farmer, and Horticultural Journal, Oct. 9, 1829.   With that said, June is Dairy Month and we will once again endeavor to pay tribute to those who provide us with these wholesome and nutritious products.

About five years ago, farmer David Herbst and his family had a big decision to make. With two of his four children - married with kids of their own - wanting to continue the family business of operating Misty Meadow Farm on the outskirts of Smithsburg, they either needed to drastically increase their dairy production or undertake more custom-crop farming to support everyone. “We needed to go to 600 cows if we wanted to support these other families,” Herbst said, saying the idea was met with great resistance by his daughter, who handles most of the milking of their 160 cows.

I tell people that I breed my own cattle - which I do, in the same sense that people who say they “remodeled the kitchen themselves” have really just purchased the materials from a home-improvement center and then watched as an unemployed handyman from down the street does the work ... usually in exchange for soup and a two-week supply of Pabst. It's easy, but not too scientific, to turn a bull loose in the pasture, and then wash your hands of the project for a month or two. I tried this route with moderate success.

A Mercersburg dairy family walked away as big winners last month at the 48th All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pa. During the competition, James and Nina Burdette's Holstein, Pledge, was selected as Grand Champion Holstein. Not only did Pledge emerge as top cow at the show, she also was selected as Senior Champion and first-place cow in the 125,000-pound production class. Pledge - or Pledge-ET as she is formally called - is the product of superior genetics, the family said.

Clear Spring farmer Steven "Steve" Ernst doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. The state of Maryland has recognized him with Excellence in Agricultural Stewardship, as a 2011 Smart Green and Growing Award recipient. "It was a surprise to us," Ernst said of being honored for his years of sustainable, conservation farming. Ernst Grain and Livestock also was recognized in 2010 as one of two Maryland farms, along with Rinehart Orchard in Smithsburg, in the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program launched last year, Ernst said.

A Berkeley County woman Thursday was ordered to pay $11,071 in restitution for the care that was given to more than 50 horses and two cows that were found in September at her equine rescue operation with little to eat or drink. Mary O'Brien, 37, was given two years to pay the restitution in a hearing held by Berkeley County Magistrate Joan V. Bragg. If the money is not paid, O'Brien's driver's license could be suspended, and the county could pursue a civil action against her, Berkeley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Saunders said.

A restitution hearing was postponed again Wednesday for a Berkeley County woman who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in October 2010 for the mistreatment of more than 50 horses and two cows. Mary O'Brien, 37, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and was fined $1,000 in October. She still could be ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution stemming from the care that officials said was provided to keep the animals alive. Found malnourished and with little to eat or drink at Hidden Meadows Equine Rescue Inc., the horses and cows were seized Sept.