Checking in on the Calves

In 2015 our three Jersey cows gave us three calves, two heifers and a little bull.  We haven't given a progress report on them lately and figured we'd summarize how they are doing.  First we'll start with Clarabelle.  Clarabelle is Rosie's heifer that was born on June 20, 2015

Clarabelle at 7 months old

Clarabelle is a beautiful little heifer and has a gentle disposition, perhaps the most gentle calf we've had.  She is clipped up for the District Livestock show in Lake Charles this next weekend.  She also has a weaning plate in her nose to wean her. She has managed to pop it out of her nose on at least four occasions, but has not robbed Rosie's milk.  I think she is content eating hay.  She leads beautifully with a rope and has the A2/A2 genetics that we were hoping for.  She's definitely a keeper!

Here is Luna, sitting comfortably in the hay that her mom, Daisy, manages to waste.  Luna got her name because she was born on a full moon on October 27, 2015.  She's three months old now and has a nice blue halter.  She gets to drink Daisy's milk all day long and then she gets separated and we get Daisy's morning milk.  In the picture below, you can see Daisy's big bag.  You would think that it is full of milk but actually, it isn't - it is scar tissue.  One of her quarters was ruined when she was just a heifer by Rosie.  We were weaning Rosie and had her separated from her mom and she began suckling on Daisy.  It caused Daisy to begin producing milk and by the time we caught it, one of her quarters was ruined.  Daisy still makes great milk that has a high percentage of butterfat, but only from three of her quarters.

Luna in her 'nest'

Luna, like Clarabelle, is a registered Jersey and has the A2/A2 genetics that we were hoping for.  This afternoon it was a beautiful January afternoon with temperatures in the mid-70's.  I put a lead rope on her and led her out into the yard and we made several long laps around the yard.  She is a spirited little thing, but is pretty much broken and leads without having to drag her.  While out in the yard today, she was introduced to her first patch of clover.  It was love at first sight!

Luna searching for a four leaf clover

And last but not least, we have little Chuck.  Chuck was born on December 5, 2015, so he's about two months old.  He's almost as big as Luna, though.  He was born to Amy and is her first calf.  He rushes out of the stall in the morning and hits Amy's bag, hoping to get more milk to drop for his breakfast.

Chuck' breakfast

Chuck is a muscular little guy.  He has lots of energy and is wild as a March hare. Before he gets too much bigger (and stronger) I intend on putting a halter on him and begin working on breaking him so that he'll lead with a rope.  We also need to get him registered with the American Jersey Cattle Association and check his genetics for the A2/A2 gene.

The only boy

I don't like to keep a bull on our little herd.  We're really not set up to handle all the drama that goes on with numerous cows going in heat with a bull around.  Our intent is to keep this little guy for right at two years and have him breed all our girls, then we'll sell him or process him.  We've actually had one bull calf that would charge you and try to hurt you.  We had to walk in the pasture with an ax handle for protection.  We don't want to go through that again.

A face to face encounter

We de-horned Chuck and you can see that his little head is healing up nicely.  He's drinking plenty of milk and have noticed that once he empties Amy's milk, he makes the rounds, robbing Daisy of any milk that she might have leftover after Luna has nursed.  Maybe that's why he's almost caught up with Luna in size.

Chuck, the milk thief

It is quite a rodeo to get everyone separated and situated at night.  We've been thinking about putting up a new corral to add a couple more areas of containment for our growing animal family.  Three cows and three calves on three acres.  That is a lot of animals for our little pasture.  The pasture is also shared by all of our laying hens and Annie, our Nubian dairy goat who will be having kids in less than a month now.