by Jan Fielden
This past weekend we had 3 of the cutest calves born. Most things that happen at the Red Oak Ranch usually involve some drama too and this event was no exception.
A very young Momma (a Yearling) had her first “baby”, and it was the first birth of the three births. She chose the edge of the Sweetgum Grove. The problem was she was too far out from the edge and of course the buzzards came as quick as they could. The Colonel got her to move with her baby to the inside of the grove. The Momma and baby had a nice little spot with water running close. The next day The Colonel was starting to get ready working the cows this week and took the Middle Herd to the North East Pasture. All went except the newly born calf. Momma went but neglected to bring her baby. We hunted high and low for the baby and could not find it. Momma kept a path worn in the pasture, walking the fence, and bellering to no avail. Finally decided to get the Momma out of the pasture as the calf had been without milk for almost one and a half days. She walked right to it…places we had looked at but didn’t see it. That little group was safe and sound.
The second birth was an older Momma named “Sweet Girl” and she has had many calves, so things were not as dramatic with her. We took a square bale into the Personal Grove where she had her calf, only to find out she preferred eating old hay that was on the ground. Those two were safe and sound.
The last little calf was born in the Sweet Gum Grove on “the island”, so named because there is a patch of ground that is a little higher and once when we had a major rain event, she had a baby on that little patch of ground that at the time had water surrounding it. They were safe and sound. Drama over at the Red Oak Ranch for now.
