Things people do not tell you about dating a dairy farmer

That’s Farming’s take on things people do not tell you about dating a dairy farmer.

• Forget about weekends away during springtime – You have reserved your accommodation at ‘Costa del Calving Shed’
• Measuring grass frequently is one of your most important jobs – that is one way to work towards your 10,000 steps/day target
• You must become a calf-rearing pro
• The weather forecast is your ‘Bible’
• You have milk prices, milk solid figures, TBC levels and EBI values at the tip of your tongue
• You cannot snooze the alarm clock – no time for lie-ins when cows are lining up to be milked
• You have to keep track of important events – such as AI and calving dates – in your diary
• You must learn the field’s code names – ‘The round field’, ‘the field below the road’, ‘the field beside McGrath’s bog’
• One must not take offence to the use of profanities – more than likely, they are swearing at a cow and not you (unless you closed the ‘wrong’ gate )
• Working cattle together could be your greatest relationship test
• All cattle might look the same to you, but you must have a good idea of which one is which
• Date nights involve watching MartEye, LSL Auctions, the weather forecast or CCTV footage from the maternity ward
• You are a pro app user – Herdwatch, PastureBase, Mart Eye and LSL Auctions (and That’s Farming), to name but a few
• Your other half will remember every cow’s (or nearly all) due dates but may forget your birthday or other important dates
• If you have not completed a milking course, get yourself signed up!

Becoming a farmer

That’s Farming’s light-hearted take on what people do not tell you about becoming a farmer.

• Farming is not for the faint-hearted
• Regardless of how strong your leadership qualities are, your animals are your boss – especially around calving and lambing season
• You will have to become a meteorological, a scientist, a DIY pro, an animal husbandry expert, and a mind reader all in one
• You will shed any amount of blood, sweat or tears and experience heartache and heartbreak when you have livestock
• Regardless of how stock-proof your fences are, your animals will always find a way to break out
• You must learn to develop patience – Livestock may decide to break out, or cows may decide to calve just as you are pulling off for a day or night out;
• Learn to expect the unexpected – including births and deaths
• No matter how hard you try, things do not always go your way

Read more on this news article.