A Bouncing Baby!

We have the best news, a girl arrived on November 25th. 40 pounds, a sweet jersey brown and healthy and vigorous.

Meet Applesauce...our very first calf born on the farm. Her mother is Lassie and her Sire is the very thin bull we fed up to look as good as his genetics.

 Lassie, the young cow we purchased in August of 2018. She fed two steer calves for us but was a total failure to milk. She kicks with intent to harm and despite weeks of steady and gentle but firm handling never accepted being milked. Now as a fresh mother and after prehandling and working with her udder we find she is still a nasty kicker. She very nearly hurt her brand new calf to try to kill a cat on the other side of the gate.

Applejack...the sire. I called Mr Rider to tell him we had the first calf from the bull and he was really pleased. He has bred 35 head to the bull, most of them his best cows. He said something of note. "The bull is really quiet and that should help with the cows bloodlines. That family were tough to work with.
So truth will tell...I akways wondered why we got a deal on a young cow with high production.

So we will see how things go. The calf is sweet and friendly and this will be a true test of gentle handling over genetic disposition.

Enough of that...here are more baby pictures....

Applesauce is so very sweet and Lassie does love her despite her neurotic tendancies.  I know I love her already and will do everything in my power to gentle her to be a family milk cow.

We are so lucky to have a heifer calf. Mischief is due on the 14th of this month so that will be another adventure. Ralph is spending a lot of time with her and I think hes really looking forward to her calf.

God bless you all and keep safe.