An Update on our new calf, Lili

Calving is always an exciting time on the farm.  Even though we've raised quite a few calves on our place, for the first several days we check on their progress quite a bit just to make sure that everything is okay with momma and the baby.  We want to make sure that the calf gets as much of the colostrum as possible and that there are no problems.

First time mom and newborn calf

I wanted to make sure that Maggie's motherly instincts had fully kicked in and that Lili figured out where the milk comes from.  First thing Saturday morning, I got my answer.  Lili found where the breakfast buffet line started.

Milk.  It does a body good!

After breakfast, Lili started imitating Maggie to see what this green stuff on the ground was.  Before around 3 - 4 months old, a calf's rumen is not developed yet.  Their bodies just can't digest the grass, so while they might imitate mom, their nourishment comes from mama's milk.

Like mother, like daughter

Speaking of grass, after Lili ate, she found a nice spot in the grass and took a little nap.  I walked up to get a closer look.  Ah, this is the life!

Do Not Disturb

I spotted some evidence in the grass right by her that proved something that I was looking for.  Sorry it is not in better focus, but the yellowish substance in the grass below is Lili's stool.  The reason it is bright mustard yellow is due to the colostrum.  This proves to me that the little girl got what she needs as far as microbes, antibodies, amino acids, and minerals are concerned.

Exhibit A (evidence of colostrum consumption)

A cow will produce colostrum for her calf for the first few days.  After that time, her milk is pretty much normal.  Because it is healthy, Tricia drank some colostrum, but didn't really like the taste or consistency. We try to save some colostrum and freeze it in the event that we need it to bottle feed an orphan calf.  You can see how bright yellow it is (as opposed to milk) in the photo below that I took of some of Daisy's colostrum we froze after she calved Bully back in May.

Frozen colostrum from Daisy

Little calves are so darn cute and trusting.  They'll walk right up to you on their long, spindly legs, curious as a cat...

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With Momma closely scrutinizing that you aren't going to hurt her baby, of course.

The funny thing to watch calves do is that they sometimes get confused as to which end of the cow milk comes out of.  Here you can see her going to Maggie's front end as Maggie looks on and seems to say, "No milk here, baby.  Try the other end."

Try again, Lili

Now she's getting closer.

Almost...

It is hard work being a calf.  After filling her belly with milk, she plopped herself down next to the electric fence and lazily spent the afternoon lounging about.  Isn't that what Sunday afternoon's are for?  

A Day of Rest!

I snuck up on her and she gave me "the eye."

Our little Lili - She's a cutie!

I think if I'm not mistaken, she seems to be smiling - a happy calf!