Sometimes it takes a little “convincing” before a momma cow loves her calf

The other morning started out pretty slow. My Farmer left to do his morning route and I sat on the couch enjoying my morning brew soaking in the wonderful warmth of the sun through my west facing picture window. Then it occurred to me that it was actually warm outside so I should be sitting outside soaking in the sun while drinking my morning brew. I put my shoes on and was just heading out the door when my Farmer called. He needed some help getting a cow to the corral. He had found a new born calf and the momma had just walked away from it. There went my slow quiet morning and plans of sitting in the sun. So off with the shoes and on went the muck boots and my outer gear.

Seems crazy a cow would just leave her baby like that, but once in a while they do. With the use of two 4-wheelers, 2 dogs, a snowmobile (cuz the cows can now walk through the snow where our 4-wheelers can not go), and lots of yelling and cussing, we got her to the corral. We put her calf in a pen with her and right off the bat she kicked it and head butted it. She did not want it at all. The poor little baby was hungry and it wanted its momma. My Farmer got to thinking that since she was acting so weird maybe she had another calf in her. So into the squeeze chute she went so we could check. (Again I say “we” meaning “my Farmer” as I watch.) (And DON”T tell my Farmer I took this picture!!!) (hehe)

Sure enough, she had another calf in her. My Farmer assisted in the birth of that calf, so now she had two babies and was not wanting to mother either one. We put the first born calf up to her while she was in the squeeze chute and she still kept kicking at it. To solve this issue, my Farmer put a pretty set of bracelets on her. Commonly known as hobbles. Now the baby was able to get some milk from its momma without getting kicked. It was sure happy to get some milk! My Farmer also gave the cow another ear tag. This is how we mark them to remind us that she needs to go to town after she raises this calf. So this cows is really decked out…..ear jewelry in both ears and bracelets. She’s styling.

After the one baby milked her out, we released her and put her in one pen and the two calves in a pen next to her. This way she could see them and even smell them, but she couldn’t kicked them and harm them. Yes, we have had it happen. We had one momma literally stomp and headbutt her baby to death. It was terrible. We have learned to take precautions.
Anyways, after lunch, it was time for my Farmer and this momma cow to have a “convincing” session. She was gonna love one of her calves. We put the momma in the pen with the calves. She stayed at one end and the calves at the other. It was kind of funny. They all seemed afraid of each other. The “convincing” session actually went well. She tried to kick the calf off when he went to eating, but with her pretty bracelets on, she wasn’t able to. And my Farmer was standing right close so she couldn’t walk off. So the calf got to eat and was very happy. By evening, momma cow was mooing at both babies but would only let the one eat. But that’s huge! The youngest one will be fed with a bottle. If we happen to lose a calf, we can graph it on to that cow. If not, I will have the chore of feeding the calf for the summer. That’s how it is when you are Livin’ the Life, the Farm Life that is.