Farewell to Amy

Amy is one of our registered Jersey cows that was born in November 2013.  She has a seven month old bull calf named Chuck that we talked about yesterday.  Amy has a really nice disposition, is honey-colored and is just an all-around good girl.  We have become attached to her.  She has a habit of pinning her ears back and we joke about that making her aerodynamic and able to run faster.  Here’s the problem, though.  Our little pasture is only 3 acres and is too small for the growing herd of dairy cows.  This means that we have to make the sometimes hard decision to sell cows and calves. 

Here are all of our Jersey girls lounging in the shade.  Starting from left to right, there’s Rosie, Amy (sitting down with her ears pinned back), Luna, Daisy, and Clarabelle (standing in front of Daisy).

Made in the shade

Sunday night Tricia sat down with me and we composed an ad that we placed in a Louisiana Agriculture Buy, Sell, Trade Facebook page.  We added six pictures and described her in pretty good detail along with our desired asking price.  We proof-read it and hit submit.  Saturday morning early on July 4th, we received a response from someone in a neighboring parish that was interested in purchasing Amy.  We dickered briefly on pricing and quickly settled on a sum that was beneficial to both parties.  The purchasers asked if they could pick her up at 2:30 pm that day.  Sure, we said, but that meant we had some work to do.  Things moved more quickly than we had imagined.

First, we had to go get her out in the pasture.  Amy has a penchant for going out in the heat and eating grass when all the rest of the cows are chewing their cud in the shade.  The heat doesn’t appear to bother her like the other girls.  I ran out to the pasture as she was on her way out to eat.

Amy on the Moooove

She looked at me as if to say, “What’s up?”  I petted her and killed a big old horsefly that was on her belly.  It was full of blood.  Those things are such a nuisance.

Amy

The purchasers asked us if we could go ahead and let Chuck nurse on her so they wouldn’t be rushed to milk her that day.  They have a beef cattle operation and are in need of a nurse cow for some calves and wanted time to introduce the calves to her.  They were interested in the timing of her cycle as they want to breed her.  Tricia keeps the cows’ cycle dates on a calendar and Amy will be coming in heat again on July 10^th.  That’s another reason they wanted to come get her quickly.

I led Amy back to the new bull pasture where Chuck now resides and let her stand in the shade and call Chuck over.

The wait by the gate

We opened the gate to the chute and Ol’ Chuck rushed into the corral, brushing by us, clambering for his Momma’s milk.   Now Chuck is 7 months old and really should have been weaned by now, but we weren’t ready to have to milk 3 cows twice a day, so we had not weaned him yet.  As you can see Chuck is almost as big as Amy.  That big galoot.

Chuck's Last Supper

Chuck drank his milk greedily, unaware that this was his last taste of Amy’s milk.  I hope he enjoyed it!

Got Milk?

We talked to Amy, telling her what a good girl she’s been.  It wasn’t long before the purchasers drove up in their truck and trailer.  We gave them detailed information about her tendencies and care.  Then we walked her to the trailer and loaded her up.  Tricia patted her on the rump.

Farewell Amy!

We are not animal rights activists.  In fact, we eat many of our animals.  However, every day we pray that we would be good stewards/husbands of our animals and we like to think that if you are going to be a Jersey Cow, Our Maker’s Acres Family Farm is the place to be!  In talking to the buyers, I think they’ll provide a good home to Amy.  We certainly hope so.  It’s always hard to tell ‘em goodbye, though, especially when they look at you with those big liquid eyes that seem to be saying, “What is happening?”

Adios Amy!

I’ll tell you who else is wondering, “What is happening?”  That would be Chuck!  He is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from his “cold-turkey” weaning.  He moo’d all yesterday and night for his Momma and her milk.  He moo’d loudly and repeatedly.  I’m sure the neighbors aren’t thrilled with us…  

Farewell, Amy Lou.  We'll miss you.