Soule: An Orphaned Calf Finds a Good friend
This put up was contributed by a group member. The views expressed listed below are the creator’s personal.
I discovered June, a 2-month-old Scottish Highlander calf, standing subsequent to her mother’s lifeless physique, mooing to get her up. However Missy had eaten one thing poisonous and died. I am working with a veterinarian to find out what prompted the loss of life of my favourite cow. Was it the brewer’s grain, the greens, the warmth, or a mix of things that did her in? I am devastated, however I have to determine it out. The present drought means there may be little grass, so till we decide the trigger, we are actually feeding the cows solely hay.
Missy was considered one of our “using cows”; good sufficient to know her identify; affected person sufficient to face nonetheless whereas I placed on her halter; and mild sufficient to permit youngsters to sit down on her again. In August 2019, we have been positive she would give start on the Hopkinton Honest, so we arrange a field stall for her and watched and waited. Gosh, we acquired that improper, she wasn’t due, she was simply fats! She gave start in June 2020, therefore the calf’s identify, June. We made a video of the supply, and a few of you’ll have seen it.
June, a 100-pound ball of crimson hair, brief legs with a pixie-like face and a candy nature, had been nursing and consuming hay. Calves imitate their mothers, and June had realized to eat hay, however hay alone is not sufficient to maintain a 2-month-old calf alive with out her mom’s milk.
To provide her protein, we tried to bottle-feed June uncooked milk from Huckins Farm in New Hampton. However she wished nothing to do with the rubber nipple. One other protein supply, a grain known as “calf manna,” is particularly formulated to supply vitamin to weaned calves. She had not realized to eat grain, so how may we train her now? Enter: Murray, the slender steer.
Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm , the place she raises and sells pastured pork, lamb, eggs and grassfed beef. She may be reached at cas@milessmithfarm.com.
Murray and June will probably be accessible for snuggling at Miles Smith Farm on the subsequent Elspeth’s Place fundraiser on Sept 25 and 26. It will likely be by appointment — you do not need to stand in line lately. Book An Appointment Here
The views expressed on this put up are the creator’s personal. Wish to put up on Patch?
