Chocolate Moo at one day old. Now he’s seven months old.
I didn’t see the kick coming but I should have expected it. We had just weaned eleven calves from their moms and one of the calves, Chocolate Moo, escaped with two others through a gate we forgot to latch. We were able to redirect the other two back into their pen but not Chocolate. After taking out an electric fence and fence post his mother showed up which is when I got kicked.
We usually wean in October, when we bring all the cows home from remote pastures. This year due to good planning and good weather our cattle were able to graze remotely until December 18th. We wean the calves when the herd comes home for the winter.
Weaning calves is a joyous and sometimes painful (for the handler) experience. This is when the calf learns about people and we learn about them. Each calf has a name so when we lead them or scratch them we call them by name. This year Otis, a big red steer, is our quickest learner while Nina, the smallest in the group, is a wicked fighter. Cloe digs in her feet and drags her butt on the ground when we try to lead her but walks willingly when she “leads” the way. Each calf has it’s own personality and this is the time when we get to know them and they get to know us.
BluMoo’s kick and my flying through the air didn’t hurt. Hitting the ground is what hurt and caused my cell phone to slip out of my jacket pocket. We eventually got Chocolate back in the pen with the other weanlings and the next day I found my cell phone.
Tomorrow we’ll take each weanling for a walk. Would you like to help socialize a calf? We’re planning “calf walk” days where you can take a calf out for a stroll or in Cloe’s case, she’ll take you for a stroll. There’s no better way to welcome in a new year than with a hardy Mooo. From all the farmily (calves, cows and farmers) at Miles Smith Farm, “Happy Mooo Year to you all!”
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