Yesterday got away from me big time. I went out in the morning to see one of the Herefords bagging up. Not a good sign in January in Wisconsin. January is a tough month to be born in. Sure enough, later that afternoon we were presented with this little heifer calf.
She is just a tiny thing as all calves are, about the size of my dog, about 70# at best. When mama came for her drink the calf walked under the fence and was bawling so I went over and checked her out, gave her a good rub and encouragement. Se was barely dry and certainly feisty for something that could hardly walk. Mama's bag was down so I am guessing the baby got a good dose of milk. She then took baby off into the pine forest for the night and the rest headed back to the feeder.
Mother Nature, God, whatever you want to call it doesn't always plan well for its most helpless of creatures. Yet to watch this patient cow take care of and walk so slowly waiting for her calf to wade through over a foot of snow to follow is very humbling. As a mother myself I can relate to her instinct to take care of her baby.
Calves along with other hooved animals are most vulnerable their first two weeks of life. The come from a warm and nurishing womb into a cold harsh reality that requires great strength of them. Imagine, having to get up and walk with an hour of being born, to be able to follow your mother a quarter mile through snow with your umbilical cord still hanging, wet and soft. Her hair is so soft and thick and curly and she has that unmistakable new baby smell that all babies have no matter their species. She is very thin of course and with regular feedings, will be plump and rounded soon enough. Here is hoping she makes it.
Farming certainly teaches one to trust in God because that is all we have. Let go and let God.
