Question, Farming 101

Scuse the mud, there is a lot of it this summer

At the exact instant that I got to the barnyard for morning barn check, Madison, a half-shorthorn, half-Jersey, first calf heifer popped out a calf. And I do mean popped. They should all come that easily.

As her fanny was pointed up the hill I hustled to get to the business end to see what was what. There, in a tangle of legs, and cleanings, with eyes the size of lemons....you are familiar with those big, brown Jersey eyes, with those foot-long lashes, right...was a brand new and utterly bewildered bull calf. 

He was looking back up at me as I looked down at him. His expression said Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, plain as the unfortunate evidence of his gender, which happened to be displayed quite plainly as he was upside down.

I grabbed some hind legs out of the macrame tangle of brown and dragged him around in front of his mother.

She leapt, nay, caprioled, to her feet, spun around quick as a top, to begin licking him.

And bellering just like a bull. Maw!!!!! Maw!!!! over and over. Guess she was kinda happy to see him or something.

Now comes the question. How do you get mosquitoes out of your hair when your hands are covered with afterbirth? Ditto opening the milkhouse door to go in to wash up?

Anyhow, he's cute and probably worth all the bites I got.