In the Thick of it
It’s hot and dry and we are in full calving mode.
The pregnant ladies enjoy cooling off in the pond.
The ladies that have calved are in the brush or in the willows, most likely to try to hide from us.
But we find them every time.
Once their calf has gotten up and sucked, we step in to vaccinate them and give them a shiny new earring with a number that matches mom’s. Once they’ve gotten up from that, mom hums and leads her calf away from us.
While we were tagging another calf, the cow in the distance in this image came running up thinking we had her calf. It wasn’t hers and she ran off from us in a panic. We found hers seconds later and Patrick bahhhed like a calf until she came over the hill.
It took her a minute but she soon realized we found her calf. She came over, claimed it and we tagged him and sent them on their merry way. I bet she’ll keep up with him after that episode.
Now this lady was scary. I mean flat out mad. So I stayed in the rhino.
She was so mad she would bellow and holler with her tongue hanging out and slobber flying everywhere.
Patrick had to swat at her with the plastic paddle. She was so mean and oh so mad. We barely got out of this one alive. Cows are mostly mellow creatures but once they have a calf, they can be dangerous.
Here are some peaceful and rather cute babies and mommies portraits.
I’m quite partial to the red and white spotted cuties.
This calf is one of my favorites.
I love this time of year.
I’m enjoying this time of year, too. Thanks to your photos!
Thanks Lenore!
I catch myself with a big grin everytime there’s a new uprooted. Love the story telling. Makes your photos even more interesting. Somehow a plastic paddle (flyswatter?) doesn’t seem like the proper tool to chill an angry cow.
Thanks Kenny! Well, the paddle is pretty tough but not too tough. It also rattles so that creeps them out as well. But sometimes it doesn’t shoo the angry cow away and you get run into a barbed wire fence like a neighbor of ours did recently. We do have hot shots (electricity) but that pisses them off even more.
Poor mumma cow, getting scared like that! The mean one looks mean, I’d give her a wide berth anyday!
You got that right! I don’t like the mean ones. We may try to get her removed from the herd this fall. Eeek!
Lucky for us, you share the love!
Great blog! I especially love all of your calving stories – I miss that time of year now that I’ve moved “up north” where a calf is a rare sight! Beautiful photos – you can bet I’ll be checking in regularly!
Thanks so much! It’s a busy but beautiful time of year. I hope you’ll stop back by!
Your momma cows look very protective! I love watching a newborn calf and it’s mum together, and how they can tuck them away in the grass for hiding. We have a few on this farm, but we mostly lamb…it should be our time in about a week. I am writing from Australia.
Oh lambs! I’m still looking for someone around here that lambs. They are so cute! I love watching the mother cows care for their calf. Nature is a beautiful thing.
I think they are such beautiful creatures but I guess that I won’t be stopping by the road to pet any with their babies! I always want too.
They’ll pull you in with their cuteness but watch out! If momma is close by, you’re gonna get it!