by Jan Fielden
Last week we cut out a couple of mean cows and a calf from the Yearling Herd. The calf wasn’t mean but his mother was and he had to go with her. The cows beat up on every yearling there was and even on the calves. They wanted to feed their faces even if no one else got anything. So, we said, “hey, go join the Middle Herd and get pushed around and beat on while you are trying to reach your spot in the pecking order.” They still have not joined up with the herd and they always come around when we get ready to feed, hoping to get a pre-served meal I suppose. The calf became a source of amusement during one of the feedings.
They weren’t around and the hay was outside the pen while I was taking the wrap off of it. Big mistake but oh, well. The two cows and calf came in to view from nowhere and were waiting to make their move. I couldn’t pull the wrap off the bale so the tractor had to be driven off of it which left a little bit of hay on the ground. Here they came at a run. I was trying to pick up the wrap and they were intent on eating whatever they could and one long piece of the wrap tore off from the whole thing. I tried to chase them away and when I did, the calf got that torn piece hooked over his head and it scared him. He took off running with the wrap actually floating behind him. The cows took off running after him and the wrap was hitting his legs every once in a while which scared him even more and caused him to run faster! He was running everywhere with the wrap floating through the air like a dancer with a boa. At last the wrap fell to the ground and he stopped. He no longer comes around trying to get a free meal. Even the calves at the Red Oak Ranch are very talented!
