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 August, and yes a bull calf.
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Aug 17 2021 :  4:14:24 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hello all. Quick note to let you all know that Estella had a little bull calf at 1:40 this afternoon. Her first calf and she did well. Little guy has nursed and been walking around, so I believe all is well. Milked some colostrum from Estella and she was just fine with it. Whew! I don't believe there is anything cuter than a calf.

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown

maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Aug 18 2021 :  05:53:03 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Ahhhh, I haven't seen a pic of Estella in a while. She's all grown up!!! Happy to hear milking went okay. That's always a relief. Your calf has some white markings. Is that a first in your herd? Do you have a name for your little guy yet?

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Aug 18 2021 :  07:19:47 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, bless her heart, she has been so good through it all, the training, the birthing, milking, working with the calf. It's such a relief when things go smoothly. After milking Nellie this morning and turning her out, I let Estella out of her stall and she went to the stanchion to eat, little calf followed her. So milked her and turned her outside too. She took him, (Grady) to the far end of the pasture where he is hidden in the chicory. Yes, this is the first calf with any significant white markings. So today is clean up of stall and hopefully some housework. See how the day pans out. Next two cows due Oct. 4th. and I hope they don't deliver the same day. What are the odds? With the way things go around here I won't count it out. Meadow blazing star in bloom and monarchs love it.

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Aug 18 2021 :  1:26:25 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Estella is one of Darla's, right? Love the name Grady. Congrats Janet. It's always so wondrous, a new calf, and a new milker. I put Oct. 4 on my calendar.

I was talking with the gal who successfully AIed Buttercup for her most recent calf to see if she could come Sept. 17 and 21 (roughly) to AI her daughter Rosetta and also Buttercup again, but she said she and her children will be majorly involved in our county fair at that time.

Sounds like I'll be waiting until Oct. (for a couple of July babies).

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Aug 19 2021 :  07:17:16 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, Estella is Darla's calf/cow. As fast as time flies by, we will be talking and sharing pictures of your babies in July before we know it, and wonder where the time went. I feel like we just started 2021 and here it is August already. Yes, fair time. Crazy. Next we'll be scooping snow. Enjoy the day!

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Aug 19 2021 :  8:25:20 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
If you mark time by cow happenings, life seems much slower. Here's Rosetta in our head lock for the first time. You can tell she's pretty nervous about it (ignoring the grain she was enjoying only seconds before). Seems like forever ago she was born. Getting a calf to the point you have Estella is a long winding road.




MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Aug 20 2021 :  07:51:07 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Estella does really well in the stanchion. She is a little more nervous about it now that her calf is here, so we let him stand along side her, or like this morning he just laid down close by her until we finished milking. I just feel like I never have time for anything. I'm always doing something cow. AI'ing cows, milking cows, cleaning up after cows, taking care of the milk, keeping calendar of heat cycles, pregnant gestation dates... But it's by choice. We don't have to keep cows, but it seems my time flies and I really can't get over how quickly it passes. Then you add the four dogs and honey bees, chickens and all the chores and work that go along with those, and a day is gone in no time. And of course it's the little mishaps that pop up that can really make things crazy. So far we've survived. Too busy to do otherwise. I do relish the quiet peaceful mornings before things start up.

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Aug 20 2021 :  6:54:22 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Definitely it's the mishaps that sidetrack me, also. A good day is one when I map out what I want to get done and then when I lift my last foot off the floor to call it a day, I fall into a deep, accomplished slumber.

Today, I went to my historic mill all morning. Once I got home I decided not to water anything (we are officially in a "severe drought" here), but I'm at the point I dream of hoses I move them around so much. So a break all day was mighty nice.

I just got in from picking a bowl of raspberries and a mess of 'maters for a salad. Connie and Julie have been here helping with hoof trims. There's a storm and thunder in the distance with 70% chance of rain predicted. I think I'll leave something outside that can't get wet just to challenge the rain Goddess.

Here's Rosetta with her head in the stanchion for the first time.



Nothing like a sunrise (gorgeous!) and a cup of joe to start the day.

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Aug 21 2021 :  03:39:41 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Rosetta doesn't look unhappy in the stanchion. The pellets look familiar. It has to seem exceedingly strange to a heifer/cow to go through all the new experiences that we expect of them. I try and give the animal all the time they need to learn new things that I expect from them. With Estella, from the beginning, I let it be her timing to go into the stanchion, and with little steps, she allowed me to close the stanchion, wash her udder, stand in stanchion while I brushed her, let her hear the milker machine, experience it. Is it any wonder they get apprehensive or scared? There's so many new habits for them to learn, and I have learned patience is the key. Record crop of raspberries here this year and the vines are loaded yet, so I won't be done picking for some time. I've put away several bags already. We received a little rain last evening, which is desperately needed. Our large oak trees, look so thirsty. Curled leaves. Hard to watch things dry up. Yes, sitting on the front porch in the dark, with coffee cup warm in my hands, waiting and watching the sun come up is a simple pleasure I treasure. (while grounding) Fuel for the day.

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown
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