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Mothering Up

I Luv Herfrds

Well-known member
Just got to wondering what the weirdest thing ever seen done by a cow mothering up a calf.

What got me thinking about this a 3yo cow that calved early this morning.
Found her and the calf at 12am. Since she was really working the calf over cleaning him off I thought to just leave them be.
Watching her she started to shove the calf away from her when he tried to nurse, now that concerned me, and then it hit me. Every time the calf would try to start to nurse around her shoulder or head area she would shove him back towards the bag. :shock:
Noticed that she was stretched out too. Never seen a cow do that. She was trying to make it easier for the calf to latch on to nurse. :D
Good mother. :D
 

Kato

Well-known member
Now that's a good cow! If only they could all be that way. :D :D

I have donkeys, and they are like that. It's amazing to watch. Mama will use her head and literally steer the baby to the right spot, and then keep it there if it has to. She will just put her head over the baby and gently move it wherever she wants it to go. It's like the little guys have power steering. If you touch one lightly anywhere on it's body, it reacts and moves. I've often told Hubby that if cows could mother like jennies, and bulls would breed like jacks we'd never have an open cow, and never lose a calf. :wink: :D :D :D
 

Triangle Bar

Well-known member
Wow, that is a good momma. It's amazing what some critters can figure out to do.

I had a Lim X Angus cow that had learned how to get her calves up. She would stand almost astride her calf, while licking it, reach over it with a front leg and use her leg to scoop under the calf. First pulling it up on it's chest & later helping it to stand. It was quite a site to see a cow standing on three legs licking her calf, with the other leg over it helping it to stand. I was sorry to see her go, died of Brisket at about 8 years old.
 

little bow rancher

Well-known member
Evening its D'

I once had a first calf holstien (she was my second in line milk cow or nurse cow when needed) that when I started milking her she thought I made a good calf and she would give me a little nodge to her back end so that I could get milking her. She did have her own calf but guess she just liked me to and thought I needed a little extra groceries too :lol: :lol: :lol:

When we first got her mom from the Hutterites we needed a nurse cow and she had spent 4 yrs in their dairy and never formally raised a calf, well we put 4 calves on her and she was so happy having babies to look after, I had never seen such a happy cow with that may little ones.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Yep-- I've seen it before...Some were almost like if they had arms they'd pick the calf up and put it back where it should be--"Here kid- this is the place, have at it".....Kind of bothers you first time you see it- and they are pushing the calf away from their front end- trying to get them to the right spot....
 

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