Nurse Cow and Babies

A year ago today, we got an offer on our Boulder house, thus ending the nightmare stress of the first few months after we moved. What a great relief that was!

Today was a great day. The Indian Summer has continued, with glorious weather in the 80s, and cool nights in the 40s. The fall leaves sift down on the pigs and the trailers, and the colors around the clearing grow more vibrant daily. Truly, the most perfect weather imaginable.

Phil somehow managed to maneuver a round bale all by himself into the new paddock for the nurse cow and calves. We never did come to a good conclusion about which cow should be the nurse cow, so we finally flipped a coin (hey—there's biblical precedent in Proverbs 16:33: "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD").

Bethany won the coin toss, so she'll be the nurse cow. I like that choice. Although I loved milking her those two days, since she just stood calmly and peaceably, I think both calves gravitate to her, and I noticed they had no difficulty nursing, even both at once.

Both babies are resting and hiding in the sparse grass. We watched them nibble at the greens, which is very sweet: they're learning to be good cows.

Tomorrow morning, we'll start once-a-day milking for Bianca. Although big dairies even do three-times-a-day milking now, for most grass-fed cows, they don't produce a whole lot, and once-a-day milking is enough. There is about a 15% reduction in quantity, but that is mostly water. The solids are the same.

For half the labor, to get 15% less (not to mention being free in the evenings), I think it's a good trade.

To get Bethany and calves separated was an experience in itself. Phil put Bethany on a leader and walked her calmly over. Belle is, perhaps, feeling a bit under the weather. He carried her most of the way before she scampered off.

That little Beatrice, though—she's a firecracker! She would not be guided or corralled into the proper pen! She would hop the water trough, dance through tight openings, charge around the chicken's electric netting, anything!

Meanwhile the other cows noticed the sparse greenery, and especially the stripped cornstalks, so they all walked through to Bethany and Belle. Even Bianca, and then Beatrice. And one sheep.

The sheep was easily manhandled back. Phil tugged Bianca back, and then we used the polywire to guide the remaining three cows back to the appropriate corral. Just as the three cows went back where they should go, two more sheep squeezed to the wrong side. Phil, crouching, with Isaiah at his side, cornered them, and at last: all animals in their proper pens! And, hopefully, milk tomorrow!

We moved the chickens today, and none got out. Phil worked on a more permanent roof (rather than just sheet metal laid on top). Part of the roof is chicken netting wrapped around a wooden frame. I love that we can pour water into their waterer just through the top! So awesome!

And the cow feeder is so wonderful, I made Phil make a new one for Bethany and babies. We were getting 2.5 or 3 days per bale. Now, we're at the end of day 4, and think we have another day to go. What a money saver! (You can see that it looks like about a third of the hay is left in the feeder!)