Many girls love the idea of being married and living out the dream countryside, overlooking beautiful ground with no one around for miles. But for me, a single girl who owns her own cow herd, I look forward each year to one season. Calving season.
Who doesn't love calving season? All those days prepping to get those ladies ready have finally paid off. It's hard to put a finger on what I specifically love about calving season; the success? The calves?
Maybe it's the fact that the miracle of life is happening all around you and you get to watch and help out every once in a while. I have narrowed down a few of my faves.
1. Droppin' them like it's hot
Babies. Babies everywhere. In that 14-60 day period, babies are literally around every corner of the pasture and we love it! But watch your driving... Especially with the hay truck (they like to snuggle).
2. The feeling you get when a first-time heifer calves w/o assistance
I feel like I've just won the Nobel Peace Prize each time a heifer calves without help! You thank good genetics, good bulls, and great management.
One day during this spring calving season, we calved very, very few first-time heifers and they seemed to be taking forever to calve.
Finally, on one of the last days of calving season when it was pouring down rain, every stinking heifer that hadn't calved, did calve while it was raining cats and dogs out! We were rushing them babies into barns, using every hairdryer we had to keep them little ones alive and mommas happy!
We even had to call in extra help. The little cousins came out and assisted in drying them babies off. Great times! I love heifers... said no one ever.
3. When you hold the little one you don't think will make it
It's heartbreaking when you have a Momma cow pass or not accept her baby. So we become their new mommas. There is nothing more gut-wrenching than seeing a little one fight for its life and hoping you did everything you did to go down swinging. It's so rewarding when they make it and get to return to Momma or become a little kiddos 4-H project.
4. Because being shoulder deep on a cow takes talent
Yes, I am 5'1" and can pull a 100 lb calf out of a cow in the pasture at midnight all by myself, what's your superpower? Enough said.
5. Skipping the gym
You're guaranteed to get your cardio in for the day in the first 30 minutes of each day. You turn into Usain Bolt while tagging. We all moan and groan when "that momma" calves and you get volunteered (Dad or your siblings probably volunteered you) to tag her calf...
Praise God each time you don't get tagged by her when tagging her calf! Bonus points if you have mastered a technique, feel free to share it with the rest of us!
6. AdORaBLe Instagram pics
#Calvingseason #baldies #babies #Bootygotmelike
The options are endless and guaranteed to be a huge hit on insta! She knows she's fine.
7. When it ends
Why can't we train them to never grow up?! Oh right, beef is what's for dinner.
Despite the fact that calving season can be very long and tiresome, we all know those hard hours are worth it in the end and we are all striving for healthy babies that will flourish and grow to help feed this world one mouth at a time.
It's time to rest up, because breeding and weaning season are right around the corner!
P.S. we all hate it when calving season ends.
