Aunty Anna
The new heifer, Aunty Anna, was allowed out into the field with the others for two hours yesterday to eat some fresh green grass – then back into the barn with her new friends. She has eaten a lot of grain in her short life so her belly will need to be slowly introduced to the rich spring pastures that my cows are on. We do not want a calf with bloat on top of everything else. To compensate I gave them all a small bowl of my special grain mix. It is 1/4 each of oats, barley, wheat and corn. All local grains and chopped and bagged for me at a local mill. To this I add dried molasses and dried seaweed. Usually this is only for fattening pigs but the cows can have it as an occasional treat.
Cows love to be part of a herd.
It makes them feel safe.
Lady Astor on the other hand is being kept off the rich spring growth and any grain at all, and is locked up in the barn with her calf every night. Her calf still seems to get left behind. Lady is on dry hay because we do not want to cause an increase in milk production quite yet, I don’t want her udder to be pushed until it is back to peak condition. Three quarters have drained properly but one quarter though smaller is still swollen and hard. It is softer after milking but I am sure it is not draining properly yet due to the swelling.
It is generally believed that the swelling from an engorged udder can take up to two weeks to go down but I still feel anxious.
But we are working on it. Bobby T, her calf, has a full belly every time I check and his digestive system is working the way it should so that is a good thing.
Good morning. It rained all day yesterday and is raining again today. We are soggy. Very soggy – another reason to keep the cows in.
I hope you have a good day.
Love celi
35 Comments on “Aunty Anna”
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thekitchensgarden 
I love that photo of you. I always delight when you’re included in the picture. Good morning, c, and wishing you a lovely week.
All is well, and we are blessed with a photo of the Goddess of the Farmy, contemplating her contented stock… Lovely photo of you, Miss C. And Aunty Anna looks healthy and strong. You’re right, your sister does take good photos.
They look like happy cows – I hope the rain stops soon!
Love the pictures of the contented cows, both inside and outside: hmm – the two-legged beauty at the door – you or your sister? Did not know your hair was long enough to be put into a chignon or . . . . 🙂 ?
The best rib-eye steak I ever had was (black Angus) in Scotland. I know it is early days yet but will Aunty Anna join the straw brigade and from what breed – another Angus or something different? Laura
I think that I will breed Aunty Anna to a straw: low line angus – preferably red if i can find one.. c
I like your growing herd because it’s varied. When the Dexters are in the picture it will be even more colorful & textured. Rain, Rain, Go away!
How is the vegetable garden doing?
Very slowly – too chilly – just not enough sun – maybe next week we will see some growth.. c
I still love a red cow…. as Daddy grew Red Brangus – “A Brangus is a hardy and popular breed of beef cattle, a cross between an Angus and a Brahman.” They have small calves that grow very rapidly but fully grown they are HUGE!
STORMS are expected here today….. BOOOOO!
Also – Boo and Lady Astor make quite the pair!
This year you’ve managed to collect a most beautiful and colourful little herd. I love them all. Also, that chicken photo looks lie autumn! Come on sunshine 😀
You have found your herd, I believe. You look peaceful. I am happy for you and your cows and pigs. And there, again, sits Ton, watching over his bigger black and white Lady. Perhaps he thinks they are distantly related.
I hope lady Astors udder mends soon. All the cows look contended. We are soggy here today too.
The rain is starting to leave here. Days and days of rain. We are worried that the corn seed has rotted in the field. Now the worry will be that the ground will crust. Sigh! It’s always something. But I feel hope, as I see sun poking out of the thinning clouds!
Linda
I hope the corn has not rotted – there is quite a bit sprouted around here now… c
Me too. So far it seems okay!
and there you are! Love seeing you with the herd! And Boo Boo is a CUTIE for sure!
I really appreciate all the education you give us and updates on Lady Astor’s recovery. You have a lot of patience. Now to wait out the rain.
That photo of Our Lady of the Fellowship is gorgeous. Thank the original Aunty Anna for that! And for her part in procuring AA the Second! What a lovely visit.
xo
K
Oh mercy Aunty Anna is the heifer. not the Aunt!! I won’t tell her.. c
You should write a book on how to run a farm like yours. A farm where humans care about the animals and study their behavior.
She is just gorgeous C. You have to love a redhead! I’m curious…what are those long round tree trunks?? nailed to your fence? Are they there for a reason or just decorative? Or both? And so nice to see you today! 🙂
Left by the last fellow who farmed this field – old telegraph poles.. c
You are so kind to explain so much to us greenhorns! I’m a farm girl but I didn’t grow up with much livestock and certainly not for dairy purposes. I love that you help us to understand why it is you do the things you do. May your weather be bright and sunny for a while, to dry things up a bit. We stayed clear of the wicked weather just south and east of us last night. The storm shelter we ordered can’t get here soon enough!!
There certainly was some weather around over your way! Terrifying.. c
Yay…lovely shot of you!
Are cows subject to colic like horses if they get too much rich grass in Spring?
The cast of characters is growing. When you have time, would it be a good idea to do an update for new readers?
Delightful pic of you – and of course all the others.
love,
ViV xox
Finally. You are on Discover. So well deserved. Enjoy.
Celi, you have our rain while we basked in glorious sunshine two daY’s on a row. 22°C yesterday that dropped to 19°C today. Alas we are on the slide again and it might cool down to 10°C by the weekend. Lovely peaceful photos today. Good to see you with the happy herd!
Rain, rain…. go away!
ur blog is awesome 🙂
I think we all, more or less, need our herds, eclectic as they may sometimes be. Love the pic of Ton and Lady A.
I loved reading this. Reading about Lady Astor’s engorged udder made me cringe though. It brought me back to my early days of breastfeeding and remembering how uncomfortable that is. I hope she is back to 100% soon.
I loved reading this and your pictures are gorgeous!
I never thought about the difference of a grain diet to a pasture diet and the problem it could cause! I’m hoping Lady’s utter gets some relief…I have been in that same situation breastfeeding, I can only imagine the discomfort.