Zion And ZuZu

While the main herd was over in the far, far field and we were feeding the evening meal, the count was off by one cow.

#9, Zion, was nearing her due date so while I finished feeding Mike went of in search of the missing cow. He looked along the tree lining the upper reaches of the far, far field. Drove along the old railroad grade and the tall firs that stretch up high above the embankments. He wandered around the hillside that is growing cedars and down along the riparian of the river but did not see her.

We crossed the river and looked at the field from the other side and spotted #9 along with her new calf in a sheltered mini-meadow surrounded by snowberry, wild rose bushes and blackberry briars. We missed the delivery by only sixty minutes or so. We could tell this because the calf was already cleaned off, had nursed and was napping while Zion cleaned up the afterbirth.

With everyone happy and healthy, we dropped off a couple a slabs of hay for #9 and left the new family to bond.

The next morning we were able to open the gate to allow the main herd back from the far, far field and #9 with her new baby in tow, walked up along the fence line and in with the newly moved herd.

Welcome to the farm, ZuZu. Weighing in at 65 lbs., but ready to join the herd within 24 hours and not afraid to joust with the other calves that are four times her size.