What a monster! This guy is quite the calf!
Yesterday afternoon, Farmer Rick had to assist one of the cows in birthing. Thank goodness this was her second calf, because if it had been her first, she could have had serious problems. After a relatively short labor, though, Farmer Rick was able to deliver the calf and bring it up to his momma for her to begin to clean up. Surprisingly, this calf is a holstein/guernsey cross. We did not expect this cross to be this large. But, we are glad that both are doing well. When this guy is hungry, you sure can hear him bellow across the barn! He wants his tummy filled - NOW!
So far, this year, we're 3 for 5 on heifer calves. Maybe this will be a more normal year with a 50/50 ration of bulls and heifers (boys and girls). For the last four years, we have run 80% heifers, 20% bulls. We'll see how it goes! The barn is full of heifers, plus we have several outside. They burrow down into a big round bale that we put out for them and eat as much as they want plus bed themselves down in it. Once the silo unloader is turned on at night, though, they are all at the back door of the barn, waiting for their silage. YUM!
Chores are waiting, so off to the barn I go. I think I can hear that bull calf now . . .
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