If this photo had sound effects you would hear a chorus of insistent bawling from these newly-weaned calves. (.....and they would not be trying to remind you that today is George Washington's birthday.) They want bottles of milk! For their first eight weeks of life, I was their mama, faithfully serving them warm bottles of milk twice a day. Alas for them, they grew and learned to eat grain, and yesterday they were moved out of their individual pens into this weaner pen. Everytime they see me walk by, they start bawling for their bottles. I just shake my head at them and say "Tough".
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I liken weaning-aged calves to human children entering the middle school years. These calves are in, say the 5th grade pen.......they still want their mama around. In a few weeks, they'll get moved into another pen......that will be like entering junior high. There they will acquire that adolescent attitude, too.....kind of scruffy-looking and they eye you suspiciously when you walk by. They appear forever on the verge of doing something they're not supposed to, like break out of their pen. Once finished with junior high, the calves move on to "high school" pens, which are over by the barn, closer to the adult livestock. After that, of course, comes their initiation into that ultimate bovine career......being a milkmaker.
Enjoy your children today......whatever stage they happen to be in!
(By the way, my son's basketball team lost last night.............[:( ]............so that sport is wrapped up for another year. I always feel bad for the seniors on the team, since its their last high school game.......but, they'll get over it.)
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6 comments:
ahh, the poor calves --I love that sound. (I am on my couch--my problem is that my si joint--pelvis goes out---It hasn't done this for years---I injured it some years ago and it took 2 years to heal to the point that I could again take long walks. I must have lifted my grandbaby too much the past two weekends when they were visiting and she weights 28 -29 pounds. I twisted putting her in her car seat--so it probably shifted my pelvis area again and caused it to go out this week when I bent the wrong way; I couldn't believe it. I have to walk baby steps and can not tilt certain ways. I think I have popped it back in place, but it really hurts! I just hope this doesn't take years to get back to a relative normal !! I love hiking and walking realllllllly fast. I know the exercises and stretches to do if it is the same condition.
Wow, you know I never thought of it, that way. I know I have kids in almost all stages of life right now (tween, toddler, and baby) and it is interesting to see the difference the kids take in the same world.
:)
Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog.
christine,
Thanks for your comment. Oh, my, have fun with your children in their diverse stages. Been there, done that.....I once had a high schooler, a six-grader, a first grader, and a toddler....all at once. Lots to think about and keep track of.....and not saying I ever did it very well. But, there was never a dull moment!
Oh! I loved this post!
It made me think of the children at school, and you're so right. I read it to my husband and we had a chuckle over the weanlings.
We've got our weanlings at the horse farm as well. But that won't happen for quite some time yet. They'll cry for their mothers, and the mothers will cry for their babies. But they'll all be in big fields, with others who are going through the same thing.
It's life on a farm, isn't it? Loved the photo, too.
It pains me to hear that they are separated from their moms, but I know you have to do it. I'm just glad they are destined to be milkers and not veal! That would crush me.
Kat
Hi, Poetikat,
I haven't been back to this post for awhile! Thanks for stopping in. Don't worry, we would never raise calves for veal....oh, my, I couldn't stand the thought.
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