Here is another story Carole sent to me for posting…enjoy:
Chapter 4
First Calves of the First Year
My first calf is born on February, Friday the 13. We have so much snow that school is cancelled. Sarah and I do a mama cow walk and find this cold baby on the wrong side of the fence from his mama. I shove the calf under the fence to the mama side of the pasture. The mama does not let the calf nurse. She kicks him every time he tries to nurse. Oh great. First calf and problems already. The baby needs milk….he needs colostrums. I carry the baby to the barn. Mama cow is hot on my tracks. What am I doing with the baby…her baby….that she does not want? I know nothing, but am totally determined that this cow and her baby are going to pair up.
I rope the mama and tie her up in the horse barn. I have no idea how I achieve this rodeo act, but I do. I then get a halter on her head while the mama is trying her best to kill me. I blindfold her and tie up a back leg. I get a bucket and I, who have never milked anything…milk her out. She wants to kick the heck out of me, but I am so quick. I am quick and I milk like I am in a contest. She kicks. I milk. She misses. I milk. I feed the baby with a glove nipple the colostrums milk. I put the calf on the milked out mama cow. With the milking her bag is not so tight and she doesn’t hurt. Besides I still have her tied up and blindfolded. I am covered with cow manure from head to toe. The mama cow has been feeling a little excited. Ranching is powerful stuff. I will not trade my ranch for a warm, safe inside job for anything.
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