Photo of a brand new calf and her/his mama.
We have fairly mild winters here in the pacific northwest and we are told by other ranchers that fall is a good time to have calving. The fall rains bring up the new grass and the fairly warm temperatures give the grass some growth and vitality before cold sets in. It also makes our calf crop a bit more marketable as these young ones can be sold early summer after they fatten on the rich spring grass or held over for one more year and sold the following year to our neighbors for their freezers. I will keep you posted on how well this works. 
I worry that the cows could use more protein to make richer milk, so I like to supplement with a little hay. Or at least that is what I say, mostly I like giving them some hay at this time because their young are so dang cute and I really like hanging out with the cows too. I find that their presence is very relaxing.
The cows are really beginning to accept me as part of their herd, so the really daring calves will come up and give me a good look, or maybe a lick! 
Sometime they venture close only to then dart off helter skelter with tail held high and- of course-with the occasional blast of flatulence! I really am pretty crazy about calves and they must think it odd to hear some two legged creature, bent over with nostrils flaring, making low grumbly noises, sort of like their moms do. All I can say is that it is a good thing we don't have any neighbors nearby.
Now that's a picture I would like to see. How about getting Mark to take a camera the next time you get an urge to romp with the bovines.
ReplyDeleteDan
Dan, this is mark. You really don't want that picture. The romping, the flaring, the tails in the air, the flatulence... trust me. mark
ReplyDeleteGreat looking calves! Are the red ones a Red Angus? Do you have some Charlois? How many calves will you have this fall? I am going to stay away from any funny comments about the story. Snort, Snort!
ReplyDeleteRick P.
Rick our cows are very diverse! The red one looking at you in the photo is a red angus cross, the other is pure saler. We also have hereford, charolais, simmental, and limousin crosses. There are also a couple big bony black cows that I think must have some holstien in them! As you can see, we have few purebreds, almost everything has been crossed with something. Mostly angus! Good hardy stock though and our bulls are pure black angus.
ReplyDeleteMark, I don't trust you--I wanna see the picture for myself.
ReplyDeleteTj, I don't blame you. They're precious babies.