Other Livestock
Although the dairy herd is considered the nucleus of the farm, over the years, other types of animals have also become an integral part of the farm organism.
Beef & Heifers
Today we raise about 15 bull calves a year specifically for beef. Cuts from these animals include all the bone-in steaks such as T-bone, Porterhouse, Chuck, etc. as well as ground beef and other cuts. We also slaughter about 10 to 15 of our dairy cows each year as they age or if they need to be replaced for some other reason. These dairy cows turned beef animals provide excellent fillet mignon, NY strip, boneless sirloin, ground beef, stew beef, and organs.
We raise all replacement dairy cows (heifers) and beef steers right on the farm. All the calves are raised on their mothers for 4 to 5 months before being weaned. From there on out, they form their own calf herd until they join the dairy herd or the beef herd.
Pigs
We raise all our pigs right on the farm with whey from our on-farm cheesemaking. We also feed the pigs left-over food scraps from the Farm Store & Deli, the summer camps, and on-farm learning programs. If you come to visit the farm, feel free to bring old bread, non-citrus fruit (apples are their favorite!), and any kind of greens. If they don't like it, they won't eat it! They also eat a small portion of certified-Organic grain.
Each sow raises two litters a year and each litter has 6 to 12 piglets. So, in a given year, we raise approximately 30 pigs and about 75% of what they eat is recycled from the farm. We have two sows, Betty and Spot. Our boar's name is Percy.
Chickens
Chickens are integral to our on-farm learning programs. Children collect and wash the eggs each morning, and enjoy them in meals throughout their stay!
Horses
Nobody has been at Hawthorne Valley Farm for as long as Brownie! Brownie has given thousands of children the experience of a first horseback ride and now, at over 30 years of age, still gives rides to Kindergarten students from Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School.
Dot, not much younger than Brownie, came to Hawthorne Valley Farm after a career as a racehorse. She enjoys her old age among the children who come to visit throughout the year.
Mickey is the most recent addition to the herd and, given her younger years, has become our main riding horse.
Gentleness, respect, determination, courage and acute attention to another sentient being, listening and leadership are the lessons the horses offer the children as they are first groomed and then led and ridden in the paddock or on the woodland trails. Awed by their beauty, impressed and sometimes fearful of their size and their physical strength, the children approach the horses. They do so under patient guidance from program staff and soon become aware of an inner strength in their own hearts and minds that equals the strength of the horse. With this awareness they are able to swing a leg over the horse's back and ride... with smiles that outshine the sun.
Brownie, Dot and Mickey are valued faculty members in our farm based learning programs and we are grateful to have them with us.
Sheep
The three sheep on the farm are also a mainstay of our on-farm learning programs. Children feed and otherwise care for them. In addition, the fleece is used in various fiber arts activities throughout the year.