Becket Farms Miniature Herefords

(Pike, NH)

Becket Farms, part of the Becket Family of Services, has the largest herd of Miniature Herefords in the northeast. The cattle make up a teaching herd for the boys who participate in the Stewardship Program at Hall Farm. The students are involved in all aspects of the care of the animals – from daily feeding, cleaning, and TLC to special projects such as building the barn, building and repairing fences, calving, and marketing the Miniature Hereford genetics.

One group of students is working on The Bull Project where they have been learning about marketing genetics through bull semen. They started by learning about the history of the Hereford and Miniature Hereford, the characteristics of the Mini, and the reasons that Minis appeal to people. They critiqued our bulls and their offspring to see if our bulls were good enough to market. They learned about DNA and how genetic testing is used in the cattle business, they took DNA samples from the bulls, and studied the DNA results report and the sire permit for artificial insemination. They observed the process of drawing and freezing the semen. And they are currently looking at advertising and contributing to this web page.

We are working toward a polled herd through our herd sires:

LPF Slick Willy, sired by Micro (Ozark MTN King H218)

Willy's 2008 Calves

SLCC Tug-O-War, sired by LS Rock On and out of Miss Goldie Girl

MMF George 061, sired by Vindicator (LS Ozark MT 2K36)

All three bulls are a Frame Size 0. Semen is available from Willy and George. If you’re looking for thickness, width and style, give us a call. We’d love to tell you more about them and the rest of our herd.

Patricia Underhill Herd Manager
603-989-3454 ext. 6506
603-989-5130, evenings and weekends
pat.underhill@becket.org

Latest News at Becket Farms

Sparky's Big Day at the Fair

August 2009, Hall Farm Stewardship

Becket Family of Services donated “Sparky,” a miniature Hereford calf, to the Cohase Lion's Club for their fund raising raffle that was held at North Haverhill Fair.   Becket students worked with Sparky for several weeks ahead of the Fair to teach Sparky how to lead and to get him used to being around people and being up close and personal with so many folks.  During the Fair, some of the boys went up each morning to do the "Sparky chores" that included cleaning his pen, feeding hay, giving him fresh water, and taking him to the wash rack for a bath so Sparky could look his very best.  After he was washed and rinsed, they combed his hair up to give him a thick, wide look. 

To promote our Miniature Herefords, we put signs on Sparky's pen telling the public about the characteristics and qualities of Minis.  Sparky drew a lot of attention and the Lion's Club raised a good deal of money for their work in the community.  It's a great experience for our students because they get a sense of all that is involved in taking cattle to a fair and helping the Lion's Club with their efforts.

Spring Time Means Calving Time at Hall Farm!

April, 2009, Hall Farm Stewardship

While many spring enthusiasts eagerly await daffodils opening up, or fiddle heads popping from the ground, here at Hall Farm we eagerly await our baby calves arriving every spring. The calves are doing great this year– they are so playful and adorable it’s hard to leave them alone! We are expecting 15 more Miniature Herefords and about the same number of full size calves and half Minis. All of our calves are named with the first letter of the same as their mother’s. That way we can keep track of our cow families. For instance, in the Lucy family we now have five generations living in the same barn. Lucy had Lindy. Lindy had Lucky. Lucky had Lola, and Lola had Lexy. Our Moms and their new babies so far are Megan and Margie, Quartz and Queen, Duchess and Duke, and Crown Princess and Pink.

The Hall Farm students were fortunate enough to witness the birth of baby Queen. Quartz delivered Queen all by herself, but the boys observed in quiet amazement. We made sure the membranes were cleared from Queen’s mouth and nose and that she was breathing normally. We dipped Queen’s navel in iodine and left Mom and baby alone so that Quartz could clean her off and the two would be sure to bond.

The calves will stay with their Moms through the summer until November and will spend the time out on pasture – growing and playing. The students spend a lot of time getting acquainted with the calves which is important because the calves become friendly and easier to manage. Many a time, when a student is having a rough day, he’ll just sit with the calves for a while and pretty soon things don’t seem so bad.

The Bull Project, Practical Learning Down on the Farm

February, 2008, Hall Farm Stewardship

Becket Farms is proud to be called “home” by the largest herd of Miniature Hereford in the northeast area.  Under the guidance of Pat Underhill, farm manager, Becket students sample life in the cattle industry through the Bull Project.  The Bull Project employs many aspects of marketing Miniature Hereford genetics through the sale of bull semen.  The project started in January by examining the qualities and traits that make Miniature Herefords appealing.  The class evaluates the bulls’ pedigree value, type traits, and overall appeal that would make them marketable.  Students learn the importance of maintaining animal identity and how DNA is used to prove parentage.  Students also learn how semen is drawn from a bull, how it is processed and frozen, as well as the best way to handle and ship.

The Bull Project explores, plans, and implements a marketing strategy that is both cost effective and within budget.  The group learns how to greet and speak with potential customers, develop appropriate phone skills, and practice those skills in real life scenarios.  Throughout the project, students photograph the various steps and activities they take part in and write an account to be included in the project portfolio.  Student Cody, pictured right, demonstrates the process for obtaining bull DNA by plucking a tail hair, right down to the follicle.  While this may sound like a dangerous endeavor, Cody ensures that, "As long as you talk calm to George, (one of Becket's prized polled Miniature Hereford bulls) and rub his back, he trusts you and will let you take a DNA sample without a fight."

At the end of the project, students will prepare a presentation for school officials where they will share their findings, successes, problems, and recommendations for future success.  The Bull Semen Project gives students the opportunity to develop and apply knowledge and skills in Language Arts, Biology, Math, Genetics, Economics, and Marketing in a real-life, on-the-farm situation and have fun as they learn.

"Helping Troubled Youth"

September, 2008, Hall Farm Stewardship

The Hall Farm Stewardship program recently was featured in the September 2008 issue of Hereford World Magazine.  Beautifully written by Angie Stump Denton, the "Helping Troubled Youth" article explores how Becket uses its farm (with bragging rights to having the largest Miniature Hereford herd in the northeast) to help kids learn and grow by working with animals and the land. 

Please view the article in its entirety to enjoy the full effect of Ms. Denton's experience at her recent visit to Hall Farm.

The Animals Down at Hall Farm

July 2008

Imagine a job description like this:  Help wanted!  Someone to be a special friend.  Must be gentle.  Must like kids.  Must have lots of patience.  Compensation= good hay, a little grain, and lots and lots of love.

That pretty much describes the animals’ jobs Down at Hall Farm.  Their job in life is to be a kid’s friend… and they do it very well. 

Lily and Oliver (our beloved donkeys) love to have the boys brush their coats.  Charley and Leroy (aka the “Brown brothers”) are Romney-Corriedale sheep.  Mia and Ethel are the Hall Farm goats.  Alongside the mini-herefords, there is a flock of chickens, headed up by “Mr. Robert Redford” himself (he is such a handsome fellow.)  Robert is a Buff Orpington rooster who is often seen being carried around by the boys and has even made it to the classroom on occasion. 

Besides being a friend, these animals teach the boys responsibility and help them develop necessary work ethics.  Each morning and evening, the boys do chores which include:

 

• putting the animals out on their pasture
• cleaning the pens
• putting out fresh hay
• sweeping the barn
• bring the animals in for the night
• feed them a little grain
• fill their water tubs
• grooming

The boys learn that these chores must be done (even if they don’t feel like doing them) because the animals depend on them.  The experience students obtain while having someone trust you and want to be your friend (no matter what your hair looks like or what kind of clothes you’re wearing) is immeasurable.  All that the animals require is for someone to be their friend, in return for a little love and kindness. 

First Sign of Spring at Hall Farm

April 2008

"How do you know spring is near?"  Ask this question in the north country and you get a variety of answers, such as: "a red-winged blackbird sighting, a group of robins fluttering in the front yard, or maple steam rising from the local sugarhouse."  At Hall Farm, East Haverhill Academy, the first sign of spring is the rambunctious sound of newborn calves bleating for their mothers in the wee hours of dawn.  Spring announced its arrival at Hall Farm on March 14th with the birth of "Becket Tug Orissa 148H."  

Orissa is a Miniature Hereford weighing in at a whopping 55 lbs.  Becket Farms has been raising Miniature Herefords since 2000 and have grown their herd to be the largest in the Northeast.  Miniature Herefords are a highly sought after breed because their small size makes them easier to manage, they require smaller living quarters to be comfortable, and they eat much less food than the average sized Hereford.  Mini-Herefs are also known to be more docile than their larger counterparts, the Hereford.  Orissa will stay a part of the Becket family and become one of our foundation females to help the herd grow. 

Calving season provides many learning experiences for our students.  Before the calves start arriving, students learn:

• How to prepare the cows and their barns
• Supplies needed for the season
• Planning through winter with sire selection and breeding
• The stages a cow goes through during the birth process
• How to safely work around a new mother and her baby as students provide the proper care

Cows typically calve during the very early morning hours, but sometimes we get lucky and a cow will calve during school hours.  Two students recently had the rare experience to help a mother cow birth her baby.  Students help clean the newborns, weigh the calves, and tag their ears.  The boys beamed with pride knowing they successfully helped bring this little one into the world.

The calves will stay with their mothers throughout the summer in order to grow strong and healthy.  The first month they will get all their nutrition from their mothers.  After a month, they may venture to nibble on hay or grass, but milk will remain an important part of their diet for about 6 months.  During the summer, they will spend all their time out on the pasture enjoying the fresh air, lush grass, and play time with other calves.  If you'd like more information about our prized Miniature Hereford Herd (or you'd like to meet Orissa in "person") please contact Pat Underhill, Farm Manager, at pat.underhill@becket.org.  Moo.