June Monthly Moos {What I've Learned About Cows}



I've had a number of readers email me in recent months asking for more posts on our cows and our farm.  So I've decided to write a consistent monthly bit of "moos" about our farm happenings.

In this first post of "Monthly Moos" I thought I'd share with you some of the things we've learned about our cows and some of their fun personality traits.  We spend a lot of time around our cows - they live in the same pasture where we're building our house, so we've gotten to know them very well!! 

 

 

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The birth of a baby calf is such an amazing thing to witness; probably the most incredible part is how quickly they stand up. Within minutes of being born the Momma is encouraging them to get

up and nurse.  I don't think I've ever seen an animal that is as maternal and nurturing as a Momma Cow.  They are incredible.

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A very calm, friendly cow will turn into a different personality when she has her baby. She becomes a ferocious Momma Bear if she ever feels that her calf is threatened in any way. The dog that was her best friend the day before her calf was born becomes her biggest enemy the next day. (Talk about confusing to the dog! Our dog quickly learned to just lay a safe distance away and watch - with only a little whimpering!)

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A Momma will often hide her brand new baby in a safe location so that she can go eat or drink.  The baby will not leave the location, but will quietly wait for the Momma to return.  And of course, they always do.   (I don't have a picture of a hidden baby calf because believe me, they are hidden well!)

 

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Its important to the Momma Cow to have a clean, nice looking calf. She will lick and clean her baby and have it shiny looking on a regular basis. The baby learns from the first few minutes of birth to stand still and let himself be spit-shined! We have a few calves that are half the size of the Momma and they still stand to be cleaned! 

 

 

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When a new calf is born the other calves love to come and introduce themselves.  There is something really precious about one of the bigger calves softly nudging the newest baby in the herd.  (The big calf on the left in the picture below looks huge next the tiny brand new baby on the right, but she is really only 3 months old - they grow fast!)

 

 

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Cows are extremely sensitive and if a Momma loses her calf she turns to humans for comfort.  MayBelle, our Momma that had twins, mourned for days when she lost one of her twins.  She was one of our very stand-offish cows, but when one of her calves died, she came to me and literally laid her head on my shoulder and cried.  Of course, so did I.  (The photo below is MayBelle with her twins.  They were darling and precious.  One survived and her name is Mercedes.  She's one of my favorite calves.)

 

 

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A calf loves to nurse its Momma.  If its in any kind of an intimidating situation it will run and nurse, or even just stand close to its Mommas breast!  

  (That white foamy stuff on the little calf's nose is milk!)

 

 

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Cows pick their noses with their perfectly formed long tongues!

 

 

 

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Its not a myth that Momma Cows will assign one of the other Mommas as a babysitter and leave their young babies while they go to the pond or to graze a little further afield.  Its a very sweet sight to see one calm Momma with five or more babies! 

 

 

 

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When Momma Cows have their calf they will hang out with the Momma that has the youngest baby.   They always remind me of  human Mommy's sharing in the stress and worries of having a new little one!

 

 

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Calves have best friends - and it is usually another calf born real close to the same time.  They will practically become inseparable.  They will often even nurse from each other's Mommas. 

 

 

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Cows love human companionship.  The minute I drive down to my garden they run to meet me there and will all stand around the garden fence watching me work.  

 

 

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They want to be where we are.  At dusk every evening they make their way up to the hilltop and do exactly what we do:  enjoy the setting sun and the cool breeze. 

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Calves come in all sorts of colors and sizes... and they are all beautiful and precious!

I'm thankful for our sweet Momma Cows and their even sweeter babies.  Our hope is to be the very best caretakers we can be for these sweet, gentle animals.

 

I hope you have had a wonderful week.  As usual, Eldon and I are working hours every day trying to complete our house so we can set a move in date!  The "to do" poster has more check marks on it now than it has empty boxes!  There will be a farm house progress post coming up soon.