For the past couple of years our little herd of Guernseys has been on the decline until now, alas, we are down to one – one of the two original girls we started with years ago. Laura, our beautiful cow is part of our family now. We never realized she would not be able to have more calves, but according to our vet, she probably won’t. When we found that she was probably going to always be alone (without cow friends) we tried to appease her by keeping her near the rest of the farm animals. The chickens entertained her, but that didn’t do the trick. The goats helped eased the loneliness, but it just wasn’t the same. Biscuit, our faithful farm dog, went back and forth from being annoying to laying by her side all night long when the goats were put up in their own area. Biscuit somehow sensed it and knew that Laura was alone.
Several years ago we sold one of our second-generation cows to a nephew. This fall while he has been working out of state, we offered to keep Cloe here on our farm until spring, to help him out and to keep Laura company. Laura and Cloe certainly remembered each other right off and have been good company for each other since. Cloe was pregnant and due in December. I’ve been attentive and excited like any one expecting a newborn calf. Yesterday, Cloe had her third heifer and without any troubles at all. The little thing was up and nursing within minutes of being born. She was still wet all over and the winter wind was a bit chilly, but in no time at all she had a snoot full of white bubbles and being warmed up by Mommy’s milk and tongue massage.
It was a happy day to finally have a newborn calf on the farm again, even if it was from our borrowed cow!
~ Gwen of IRISH ACRES
