Ruby And Eve

Doing the chores for the main herd on the 24th was a mix-up morning every step of the way. We have had at least a trace and up to 1.6 inches of rain every 24 hour period since November 23. A month of constant moisture has turned the whole farm into a very sloppy mess and moving around with any piece of equipment or even walking is a chore unto itself. But this morning, the fencing that keeps the nursery field group separate from the main herd was messed up. Wires were down, the grass on both sides of the fence were stomped into chocolate pudding consistency and we were missing cow #47 out of the mother/daughter pairs.

During the night, #47 had come into heat since delivering her calf. It got everyone all excited and she ended up escaping for a visit with the herd sire. While we were getting the morning bales loaded onto the Gator and planning on dealing with the fence as soon as the meal was keeping everyone busy, Mike looked up to see a newborn calf struggling by a very muddy ditch with the cow Ruby trying to coax the little one to stand up in the goopy slop. We did not realize that Ruby was this close to calving and we thought the next calf would be born after the new year.

The meal for the nursery field and for the main herd was put on hold while we drove over to deposit several slabs of hay for Ruby up on turf that was not all churned up and we moved the baby up to be next to her. Then we went back to feed the main herd in the outdoor feeders and drove around the barn and fenced barnyard through the goofed up gate and into the nursery field where we got the remaining two heifers, two cows and three calves eating. We went back to the main herd and culled out rouge cow #47 (she was no longer in heat and starving) away from the feeders and into the barnyard before opening the wooded gate into the nursery field so she could return to her rightful place along with her calf that was ready to nurse.

The main herd was still eating, and the group in the nursery field was busy eating as well when we moved onto the next task of getting Ruby and her new baby moved into the nursery field where they could get cleaned up from their muddy escapade. Mike set the calf into the back of the Gator and I climbed in on top to hold the calf from getting hurt or jumping out. The calf was not happy about being jostled around and somehow the critter got a good kick in to my midriff, not causing a lot of pain but knocking the wind right out of me. While I was gasping for air and trying not to smash the calf, we bounced over muddy gullies, slippery slides and off grid bumps until we could drop the calf off at the gate to the barnyard. Ruby was following close and when we lifted the calf out of the Gator to stand near the entrance, Ruby enticed her baby to walk into the barn with gentle a gentle moo. The next task was to fix the electric fencing around the nursery field that had been an ineffective barrier to the wild night that our animals had.

Ruby and her newborn heifer calf will stay in the barn at least until both are clean, dry, eating well and ready to join the group in the nursery field. With more snow in the forecast and colder weather after that we are hoping the pair will be able to move on Christmas but are prepared for a day or two longer if necessary. Welcome to the farm heifer calf Eve. Born 12/24/2021 and weighing in at 63 lbs. This is the second calf born to our newest herd sire Sky High.