Vignette #2: A Real Good Mother
We have had lots of highlights and a couple of lowlights with our calving this year.
We pride ourselves on breeding low-maintenance cattle and excellent mothering cows. But when something happens that leaves a calf unusually vulnerable, we humans try our best to nurture these poddies and replace the missing Mama cows with our own brand of TLC…
but sometimes it’s just not enough.
…
Our latest drama has fallen into this category.
I haven’t really been able to bring myself to blog it til now.
It’s a little bit confronting, but I reckon the latest twist in the saga warrants a post.
A few days ago, while we were away, a calf was found badly injured in a paddock beside a road.
I felt sick when I heard the news And it was not just any calf but a gorgeous show-quality bull calf. This guy was not a baby (like this dude was) … the injured calf was about ten weeks old and glossy and in very good condition. He also had a great calm nature and appeared very alert, despite his injuries being quite extensive.
…
Some great teamwork between my Dad, our wonderful off-sider Lila and our neigbours kept this little fella alive. They kept giving him water, erected a tarp to shield him from the worst of the sun and injected him with anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. He could not walk or stand at all, with suspected spinal or hip injuries. Depite the constant care and visits, no-one ever saw his mother near him. We knew which cow she was, but with no sign of her during the regular checks and drive-bys, we decided she thought he had died and abandoned him.
…
So on our return to Granite Glen, we slid him into a horse float and brought him home from the paddock for some intensive TLC. We treated him and got him to drink, but could not tempt him to eat hay or calf crumbles or grain. It was very disheartening. Despite his good condition and great temperament, he had to eat something to have a fighting chance.
…
Mr Incredible and Dad decided to bring his mother in this afternoon. We didn’t know what good she would do – as much as we tried to encourage him, and as hard as he tried, his legs JUST wouldn’t work. He buckled and fell at every attempt. And she seemed to have shown very little interest in him since his accident.
…
On walking off the truck, the cow bellowed and immediately (despite not calling for her at any time before) he answered. They called back and forth as we moved him gingerly into a yard from the horse float, sliding him down the tailgate. As we released her into the yard, he tried once more to stand…
But to no avail.
The cow marched around the yard, seeming to look for a way out.
Her udder was very full and probably uncomfortable and we thought about trying to milk her but decided to leave them both for the night to settle down.
We sighed heavily, put some hay in a feeder and checked her trough
before heading up to the house.
It had been a long, hot day at the yards for us all,
and we were all tired and (I have to admit) a little bit ‘down’.
As we prepared to shower and get dinner ready,
Dad called out from the yards.
Mr Incredible went outside to see what was wrong.
And then he told me to grab the camera.
So I did.
And this is what I found…
This cow has literally reversed up to the paralysed calf …
And patiently stood over him, allowing him to suckle from each teat…
And I would say that each night (three in total)
that he was out there in the paddock beside the road,
while no-one was looking or driving by…
That this is EXACTLY what she was doing,
to ensure her baby got the nutrition he needed.
Even if she couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t get up and follow her,
or stand and suckle like normal….
I swear that is a tear of joy and relief you see there…
I swear that is a tear of joy and relief you see there…
…
This will no doubt be an ongoing story,
and you need to know it may not have a happy ending,
because sometimes it gets very, very real out here…
but I know this much is true:
whatever the ending is like,
it will be a story about
a REAL GOOD MOTHER.
25 Comments
A Novel Woman
Ah, dang it, you made me cry.
Between you and Deb, you're killing me here! I'm such a sucker for animal stories…
Just Julie in Oz
Is this the Christmas story I've been looking for to give me the 'spirit'?
Hope, love, and faith?
I think it might be.
Am sending all my love to the Mum and her baby.
With a few tears to help it along the way….
Amanda
Do you have any idea how the calf was injured? Poor little thing and such a nice looking cow.
Kelly
Aw, man! This is heart wrenching! I hope things work out for the calf, but living with cows, donkeys, and formerly goats, I'm well aware not all ending are happy.
Life.
Kate
He is just beautiful! Poor little guy, my heart is just aching for him. But what a great mama! I officially love her. I'm hoping for a Christmas Miracle over here! Thanks for the uplifting story 🙂
Debby
Oh, my, that single tear on that calf's face… I cried. I think that has become my latest favorite picture of yours.
Nope, this story may not have a happy ending, but it is a story with good charactors. Four legged AND two legged. It deserves its telling. And we can all pray for a good ending. Like Kate says, a Christmas miracle, maybe.
My WV was whole. Maybe he'll be made whole.
Gem
Oh – you did it to me – I cried!
Not fair!
Beautiful story.
Elizabeth from the Gold Coast
What a lovely story BB….isn't nature wonderful?….
Also wonderful are the dedicated farmers like yourselves who do everything humanly possible to save the lives of injured animals,
Yes, the reality is that you don't always get a happy ending which is upsetting and heartbreaking…this is the side of farming that non farmers don't see or understand. Some folk tend to think farming is a bed of roses, it's not – it's bloody hard yakka.
jeanie
You got me crying.
Amanda
Great story.
Linda
Oh, my. My heart hurts and the tears are flowing. I await, with trepidation, the end of the story. Stories of babies always get to me.
Linda D. in Tucson, Arizona
Debby
BB? Could you rig up some sort of sling so that he was off the ground and able to move his legs about, while not exactly putting his full weight on them? Or might that aggravate his spinal injury? And how did he get injured, and whats an off sider (Hi Lila) and how did the poor little guy get injured? Sorry for all the questions. The guy has been on my mind.
traceelements
Amazing. The realist in me is wondering what on earth the future holds for him if he has spinal problems though…. 🙁
corymbia
Oh that makes me smile – what a great cow.
A few weeks ago we had the problem of a mother rejecting her adorable calf. My hubby and his brother managed to coax another cow to take the little fella on and so far so good. But I know what you mean about it getting a bit real… hope the little fella does recover fully soon.
corymbia
oh and I was also going to ask abotu standing him up like Debby said. We've had success with doing this for cows that can't get up after calving….
The Accidental Housewife
Awww, man! You made me cry.
She IS a real good mother. Hopefully the calf will provide a Christmas miracle for you!
BUSH BABE
Thanks for your kind comments all… bit weary for individual replies tonight but thought I would update in comments section.
Our little bull is being very stoic but not improving much – I suspect a broken leg or hip which doesn't bode well. We have tried slinging cattle before but with little success – I might get some advice tomorrow from the vet (worried about other internal injuries being exacerbated). His Mama remains nearby (she can go out in the paddock if she pleases but returns to be with him regularly). She is just lovely – not quiet like our darling dairy cow but content to let us help her boy. She makes me proud.
I promise to keep you posted with updates on his progress.
🙂
BB
Debby
Ooh. It's a bad thing to have to put an animal down. Breaks your heart. I'll be anxious to hear what the vet says. Also have to say, here in hardscrabble, high unemployment, struggling farmer Pennsylvania, I think that the poor thing would have already been put down (in most cases) and not by a vet.
Debby
My wv was gledness. I'm hoping for some gledness to come your way…
JFKlaver
Tears as I read this beautiful story. No matter the ending, post it. We need to know this world…
Julie in Oz
BB…am praying for the little bloke and his Mum…prayers from my heart…much love attached.
Dont want to be in your place right now but want you to know you are all in my thoughts anyway.
If hoping helps I'm doing it.
Jayne
Fingers crossed for the calf .
Danielle Michelle
I have ot comment on this – because having worked around cattle all my life (and missing it now that I'm not at the moment) it never ceases to amaze me how wonderful mothers cows (those 'dumb animals') can be.
I had a 2 year old heifer that had a still born calf. Her mother had a 3 day old calf on her side. When I turned out the heifer, the mother shared her calf with her 2 year old daughter. When a few days later another calf was born and abandoned, I tried to get the heifer who had lost her calf to take it. Not only did she take it with no problems, both her mother and herself suckled the 'baby brother' and new calf until we weaned.
More than I can say about some humans…
Best of luck. Let us know what happens.
BOSSY
Ahhhhhhh geeeeeeeeeee, so sweet. And sad. And sweet. And did Bossy mention SAD???!!!!
Mikey
Awww, that is the best story! I hope it turns out well in the end. What a good mama she is. I hope the lil guy makes it.