Surprises

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Surprises

February 6, 2012 by Amanda

Life is full of surprises. I think farming is like signing up for a ten-fold surprise increase. We were really surprised when we grew our first vegetables. We were very surprised when every single one of our mail order chicks survived. We were surprised that we got a cow as a wedding gift. Now we’re VERY surprised that that gift was a two for one!
Yes my friends, we have an unplanned pregnancy on our hands. Our little cow is getting ready to be a Momma. All signs point to a calf in the next ~1-4 weeks. Here’s the thing, this was NOT an intentional breeding. Nobody knew that she was pregnant. There is only one bull up at my grandmother’s farm so we know who the father is (thankfully). Problem is, she’s a young cow and he’s a BIG bull and we hope that she will be able to handle the calf. We also hope that the calf isn’t going to be big for her. We are thankful that she is in great health and has been eating well. We’re also thankful that she was the last calf from the old bull (so there aren’t any inbreeding concerns).
When we brought her to my parent’s house we started feeding grain to the cows (they were totally grass/hay fed prior to that). We like to grain our steers before butcher (I know there is some controversy here, but that is what we prefer for ourselves) and it is easier to just grain all of the cows (2 steers and our cow) instead of trying to separate them. We figured her rounding belly was due to the extra calories she was getting from the grain. But, then she started getting a bag and her udders started getting bigger. Then she started to sink in up top and her belly “dropped.” And then she started to show some discharge and “loosening.” And now there is no denying it.
She may be young and it may be early and we have no idea her exact due date, but this little lady is going to have a calf. We’re watching her around the clock and we have the birthing gear together. The vet is on call and the chains are ready in case this little guy/gal decides to get stuck. Now there isn’t much to do but sit and wait and hope that luck is on her side and everyone will be ok. Hopefully there will be some happy momma and baby pictures to come!

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Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on February 6, 2012 at 14:42 | Reply Alica

Hopefully all goes well! What a miracle it is to see a birth…I never get tired of it! Feeding the babies? Yes. But witnessing the miracle of birth? No!
on February 6, 2012 at 14:43 | Reply Alica

I forgot to ask…what breed is your cow? And the bull?
- on February 6, 2012 at 14:53 | Reply Amanda
  
  I agree, births are amazing. I haven’t watched one since I was a kid though so I am excited for the adventure to come. Both the cow and bull are polled herefords.
  - on February 6, 2012 at 20:05 Alica
    
    Our last steer was a holstein/hereford cross, and I must say, that was THE BEST meat we’ve had yet!
  - on February 6, 2012 at 20:14 Amanda
    
    Funny you say that. My grandfather was a die hard Hereford man and would stand by that breed as the best. But my dad has said a few times that Holstein crosses make great meat.
on February 6, 2012 at 18:52 | Reply kilax

Just found your blog through your link on HTP! Ca’t wait to see the baby pics

What is the thought process behind graining the cows before butcher?
- on February 6, 2012 at 19:25 | Reply Amanda
  
  We grain for flavor basically. It adds marbling to the meat and makes it a bit more tender (our homegrown beef is very different from store bought beef in flavor and tenderness). Our cows are on grass or fed hay all of the time and then a couple months before we butcher them we grain them in addition to their grass/hay. We purchase our grain locally and know exactly what goes into our cows. That gives me a lot of piece of mind when it comes time to eat them.
  - on February 6, 2012 at 19:31 kilax
    
    Thanks for taking the time to explain that to me! I am a vegan, and it’s so good to me to hear that there are still people who care about what they feed their cows. I am excited to follow your blog and gain insight on farming!
  - on February 6, 2012 at 19:44 vintagejenta
    
    Do you finish them on just grain or grain and hay? I ask because I know cattle aren’t built to digest only grain and sometimes it can make them sick.
    
    The boyfriend’s parents always raised two steers along with their dairy herd (steers were 1 year apart and so had 2 years to grow) and they ate mostly hay and grass but got about a quart to a half gallon scoop of grain as a supplement every day. The boy says that is the best beef he’s ever had and even straight grass fed can’t compare. They never finished on pure grain though.
  - on February 6, 2012 at 20:10 Amanda
    
    Grain and hay (or grass in the summer). They don’t get too much, just a coffee can worth morning and night but it does make a difference
on February 6, 2012 at 19:28 | Reply Verna

Congratulations! Hope everything goes well!
- on February 7, 2012 at 09:34 | Reply Amanda
  
  Thanks it’s certainly an interesting time!
on February 7, 2012 at 09:20 | Reply WolfSong

Congrats on the baby! Can’t wait to see pictures.
Does this mean once the calf starts to wean, you’ll venture into cheese making?
- on February 7, 2012 at 09:34 | Reply Amanda
  
  Haha good thought, but I don’t have the nerve to attempt to milk a beef cow. She is *just* starting to become friendly with people as it is. I’d like to keep my body intact I have no doubt she’d be quite the kicker! Hopefully she won’t be a jerk to a nursing calf… as a first time momma we have no idea what she has up her sleeve