Six months ago this cow had a calf. She nursed it, licked it and could pick it out of the herd by its unique smell. They were put out on pasture to wander the grassy hills and rain and shine they would find each other and she would lick it and nuzzle it, and it would nurse and eat grass at the side of it's mother. Today the calf was loaded on a trailer and taken to the barn and off the mother. The mother's udder will become engorged with the milk that the calf would have nursed from her, until some time will pass and it will stop coming in. She will wander the pasture mooing for her calf, and know that it is no longer anywhere in the big wide pasture. Tonight the air is filled with the bellowing of the mothers in the pastures and the calves in the barn. They are hungry and want that wonderful milk they have known and has made them big and strong over the last 6 months. The noise will continue for a few days and then they will settle into the new normal.
The calves will learn to eat the feed in the bunk to fill their bellies and the mothers will forget (?) their calves. Nature is a bit different from us, but I felt a twinge today at the splitting up of the mother cows from their calves. They seem truly sad and upset to not have the love and caring and nurturing they have shared for the last 6 months. This is what being a farmer and in charge of how best to care for the animals and crops they are in charge of. I am just a parttime helper and trust that my husband is doing what he should to feed the world. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb
This cow and its calf tried to stay together, but...
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