The Bovine Bugle

The little lost calf, not so little or lost anymore

Walking through the barn one morning last week I saw Thelma, the mother of Kathy, the calf that was lost in the woods for two days. [Use the archives, left, to see October 28, 2005 entry: "The Next 'Survivor' Contestant Is..."]I just thought I'd send a picture and let you know how they are doing.

Kathy, the "Survivor", never missed a beat and has had no ill effects from the ordeal. She is now 4 months old, eating hay and grain, and is keeping pace with her herdmates. By the time May rolls around she will be ready to go out on pasture with a bunch of her buddies. One of the organic standards we have to follow is that animals over 6 months of age must be out on pasture during the growing season. This means from May to October all our stock over 6 months must be outside and have access to adequate pasture.

Thelma, the Mom, is doing great, too. Our breeding technician, Bob Cole, artificially inseminated her several weeks ago. At our next monthly clinic with Dr. Steve, I think she will be far enough along to pregnancy check. If she is pregnant, she will be having another calf about the same time as last year, late October. Hopefully her third delivery will not be quite so stressful as the one last year.


--Jonathan (left), Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at March 1, 2006 05:55 PM