Calving Season

Fall and late spring are calving times here at the farm.

Here in October, we have several mamas due to give birth. The weather this season – dry as a bone – is ideal for the new calves. Mud is something we try to avoid at all costs when planning the calving season. It can be terribly hard for a young calf when the ground is so soft. But, that is not the case this fall with our lengthy stretch of no rain and warmer than normal temperatures.

Our calves are born on pasture unassisted. They are up and nursing within the hour and then they sleep and sleep sometimes to the point of worry on our end when we can’t find them.   In the case of a first time mama, we are careful to keep a close eye in case mama has some trouble adjusting to motherhood.   That is a rare event but when it happens once, you are always a bit more careful in the future.

There will soon be a little gang of young ones racing around the pastures.  The young calves hang out together, run, jump and generally drive their mamas crazy with their antics.  Mamas will be watching closely, ears perked, giving an occasional low moo if the play gets too rambunctious.   Then, when the playtime is over, the calves pair up with their mamas and get a good nursing.

Sometimes, we are lucky enough to witness the birth of a calf.  It’s an incredible experience to watch the little one take it’s first breath, gather all its strength and determination to stand and eventually latch on for it’s first meal of mama’s incredible milk.   And, mama, who just seconds after giving birth is intent on cleaning the calf from head to toe, then devotes herself to the care and feeding of her newborn.

We are incredibly lucky to watch these beautiful animals interact and function as a herd.

Ironically, as I finish off this post, a text has just come in from the pasture where a young heifer has given birth to her first calf.  Susannah and Laura were checking the cows and noticed this first time mama off by herself along the tree line looking ready to calve.  They waited and sure enough, she had it.  Another healthy calf.  Here’s the report:

And, here’s the new mama, J227, with her first calf about 4 days old.   This mother is a daughter of an amazing cow we simply called 227.   She was such a good mother, did extremely well on grass and was the matriarch of the herd.    She didn’t need to be friendly with us but that was okay.  She was an easy keeper and we’re so happy her daughter seems to be following in her hoof steps.