A Moving Target Indeed

I cheerfully took the camera to the barn with me this morning thinking that I was going to get a wonderful shot of our new baby, out of Alan’s show cow, Bayberry. Bay is a red carrier and was bred to the milking shorthorn bull so we knew from the start that there might be a red calf.
Yesterday morning while I was milking the east line where she stands, she began showing signs of impending labor. I was excited.

She sure didn’t waste any time. She had just lain for the first time when the black smith arrived to trim feet. I went over to the house, caught DG, held him while he got his pedicure, and by the time I got back, there was the calf. Bay was licking it off and quite proud of her efforts.
It was dark mahogany red and it was a heifer too. What more could you ask for?
I did all the usual navel dipping and colostrum feeding, drying off with warm towels and all that, and just couldn’t wait to get a picture to share with you.

However, crossbred calves tend to be, well, a bit vigorous, I guess you could say.
Little Broadway was delighted to see me with something in my hand. (After all I am the bringer of warm milk bottles.) She jumped to her feet. She tugged on her tie. She swapped ends. She licked her mother. She licked Hattie, the Jersey that stands in the next stall. She bucked and jumped and leapt through the air with the greatest of ease. She bobbed her head and switched her tail. She did everything but stand still so I could take her picture.

Out of about twenty-seven shots, this is the best I could do.

Sorry.

farming

calves