When I think of spring, I like to think fresh. Fresh flowers, fresh rain, and fresh born baby calves. But mostly, I like to think of a fresh start.
Just ask anyone, I hate clutter. If something does not serve a purpose or have sentimental value, in to the donation pile it goes. The same can be said on the farm. As warmer weather starts to become the norm once again, I find myself having the urge to declutter. Being well organized, I find, helps our family operation run smoother. Here are just a few places to start your spring cleaning.
- The hospital cabinet: Keeping an organized hospital cabinet not only makes it easier to find the needed treatment when an animal is sick or injured, but it also allows you to get rid of any expired medication or broken equipment. Read the expiration dates on all vaccinations, antibiotics, and treatments and be sure to dispose of them properly.
- The calf room: Take a look at all of the calf care equipment on the farm. If you are anything like my family, you probably have a few calf buckets and bottle nipples that have seen better days. It may be time to repurchase some of these items, as worn equipment can house bacteria more easily.
- The parlor: Just like the calf room, it may be time to replace some worn equipment, or at least give it a thorough scrub. On our farm, the walls could stand an extra cleaning and a broken window will need to be replaced. Plus, some of those worn, see-through towels used to wipe off teats need to go!
Fan blades: With warmer weather on its way, it won’t be long before those fans are up and running once again. It is recommend that fan blades be cleaned regularly. Cleaner blades help to improve the fan’s efficiency with air movement.
