~~ Life Goes On ~~ Well, the newborn red calf...born last Tuesday in the below zero silliness...began a new chapter in his life today. The frozen ears are no longer pinging and numb with pain. The frozen parts will soon begin to loosen and eventually fall off. The frozen bottom half of his tail has thawed and just dangles...awaiting falling off. His wind and frost chapped nose...the blisters have popped and the outer layer of nose skin is peeling off. He ventured out of the hay barn this morning when his mother came for her range cubes and water. He parked himself with his back to the wind and laid down by the fence while his mom had her breakfast. The cowdogs and I left. It was time to begin feeding hay at various places. A few hours later I got back to the home lot, unrolled some hay for some fall pairs and unrolled some hay in the lot where I had put the newborn and his mother last Wednesday before I moved him and her to the hay barn to see if I could get him thawed out and on the mend. It was now time. Time to get the little guy and his mom and let them venture back to where our journey of survival and repair began. Back to the lot. Back to some hay. And a normal calf and cow life. Ive been a cow/calf gal since I was a child and I think this little calf is quite possibly the smartest little guy Ive ever had the pleasure of saving from deaths cold door. I let my mind drift back through my mental library of tough times and Ive seen a lot of bad deals, impossible things to fix, good results and bad results ending in death. This little guy was a hungry, frozen mess when I walked him home that night in the below zero weather. It is a testament to his gestational health, his mothers disposition, and his desire to keep putterin and tickin. From the pennings of Where is Your Mom? to Hes Got This to Undertaker...we have come a long way baby. Yes, today we have come full circle to Life Goes On. The cow led her calf with her low, gentle, mother moos from one pen to another, to the lane, to the gate to the bigger lot, through the lot to the wide-open spaces of the pasture where she gave birth to her youngster. The cow and calf got to the terrace and the little guy stood on the terrace, looked to the S, the W, the N and then he took off in a full gallop heading W. He had his newborn wobbly legs going in high gear with his mom at a brisk walk following him. He got to the water tank and stopped. The cow got a drink and licked her calf. They stood in the pasture for about 30 minutes and she gathered her boy up and headed back to the lot for hay. She and the youngster got to the hay. The cow began to eat and like a true youngster ready for his next phase of life, he too picked up a soft twig of dried grass and began to eat like a big boy. He rolled his grass around, ground it up with his teeth, and got another sprig of dried grass. Just like a big calf he was going to eat just like mom. It wasnt long and he laid down in the hay, continued to eat his sprigs of dried grass and it wasnt long and his eyes were drooping. That big galloping frolic out of the lot, to the pasture and the stroll back to the lot had him in need of a nap. He slept in the same spot for nearly 5 hours. As the day ended and the darkness came, he was still in the same pile of hay...like a snug bug in a rug. It was overcast, very damp air and chilly today. Tomorrow, maybe 40 degrees. Hell be ready to take on the world, run, buck and play. Must admit, I had a lump in my throat when he took off in the pasture at a lumbering gallop this morning, So long little guy. I hope you dont forget me. You got this! ~ Feelin Grateful He Made It. Callin Him Tuesday
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:48:12 +0000
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